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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
KNOWING OUR HISTORY MEANS EVERYTHING In Guyana as in most countries, teaching history is essential for the nation, especially for the youths. It has many important benefits. History provides the citizens with identity, improves their decision making and judgment, and helps them to be models of good, responsible and law abiding citizens. It also teaches people how to learn from the mistakes of the past and from others. It helps the nation to understand change and societal development. History provides us with a context from which to understand ourselves, others and country. History makes one’s life richer based on the books one reads, the cities one visits or the music one hears. It also broadens one’s outlook by presenting a mixture of races, a mingling of cultures and a spectacular drama of the making of the modern world out of diverse forces. It is of immense value to social scientists who engaged in research. It preserves the traditional and cultural values of a nation, and serves as a beacon light, guiding society in confronting various crises. History is a bridge connecting the past with the present and pointing to the future.The Spanish essayist and poet George Santayana said: Those who cannot remember the past is condemned to repeat it. A nation deprived of its history is also a nation deprived of its noble deeds. History makes a nation wiser; it is a search for light on the nature and destiny of man. It provides the only clue to what man has done in the past. History is important for human self-knowledge in that it allows people to know the past so that they can deal with the present and plan for the future. It is the key to national pride. Guyana is a developing nation. It gained its independence in 1966 and is about to celebrate its 50th independence anniversary, therefore the nation needs to be aware of the importance of teaching history so as to make all generations know its past in order avoid making the same mistakes. Teaching history from preschool to tertiary-level education is important, but it is not a simple matter of reading from texts. Rather, there must be a clear philosophical position and a vision of how to teach history in Guyana’s multi-racial society and what needs to be done to achieve this vision. It is important to tote that the majority of the population was born after the country gained its independence, which means that without history, they will not know of past events including the problems associated with colonialism and independence. Knowing one’s history should be the beginning to fill the gaping void in colonial and early post-colonial education which had left the country and its people disconnected from their past. In essence, colonial education and custom created serious societal divisions in Guyana, ranging from urban versus rural, to class superiority, to color separation and to the racial and political division of the people. The very colonial education system that caused the division among Guyana’s founding fathers still to some extent exists in the schools today. Understanding history is critical for students to know that the story of Afro-Guyanese did not begin with enslavement and neither did the history of Indo-Guyanese begin with indentureship. History has taught most Guyanese about the mental and physical cruelty inflicted on slaves and the pauperization of the country by the colonialists. It has also exposed not only the brutal way the Natives in Guyana were treated, but the fact that in many ways their civilizations and structure of government were deemed more advanced than those of the very people who sought to destroy theirs. Our streets, places of historical significance and important buildings should all bear the names of those who sacrificed to build our nation. We cannot change the past, but certainly, we can claim victory over the future.The nation should heed this lesson and popularize its own history.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
Former Ambassador Nawbatt clarifies
DEAR EDITOR; I refer to the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 13 April, 2016 in connection with my claim against the Government for damages for breach of contract. I am reluctant to engage the Government in the public domain with regard to my case but blatant misrepresentations need to be corrected. I am of the firm opinion that the issuing of the statement is due to the realization by the Government of Guyana that it has no defence and has resorted to the media and the consistent pro Government bloggers, in the hope of garnering the support of the public despite its unlawful conduct towards me. I was appointed Ambassador to Brazil in November 2008 on a one-year
contract. My contract was renewed ANNUALLY in November. I was appointed High Commissioner to Canada in February 2011, again on an ANNUAL basis, and which contract was renewed ANNUALLY in February of 2012, 2013, 2014 and in February 2015, the last such renewal being three months before the May 2015 elections, not a few weeks as alleged by the Ministry, except if the Ministry regards 13.57 weeks or 26% of the year as “a mere few weeks”. The course of action advised by the Ministry that my contract should have been for a short period, having regard to elections was not followed by a previous PNC Government in 1992 when it signed a contract shortly before the 1992 elections with Ambassador Cedric
Grant for three years. His contract was terminated. He sued and won. I wrote Minister Greenidge on 1st June requesting “to be guided as to the preferred course of action to be utilized with respect to my employment with the Government of Guyana.” I received no reply to this nor to the numerous reminders to the Minister and Director General and others in the hierarchy of the Government. I met the Minister on 9th September at Parliament Building and he assured me that I would be receiving a response. None came. I therefore has no alternative but to seek legal redress for the violation of my contract by the Government. Regrettably, I was unaware that when the APNU/AFC campaigned on (Continued on page 6)
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Joe Harmon’s story has AFC abandoned its voters and more holes than a basket APNU is in gross double standards DEAR EDITOR, I am equally flabbergasted as I am concerned with the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, press statements on the appointment of Brian Tiwari as Ministerial Business Development Adviser, allegation on his interference in the tax officers’ execution of their legitimate and legal duties and his traveling in a private executive jet with Bai Shan Lin’s local principal, Cho Hungbo and his family. In defending Tiwari’s appointment, Harmon had previously stated that the appointment was “honorific”, like several other persons from the APNU and AFC sides who helped in the 2015 election campaign, and “those who have the capacity to help us further”. Tiwari will fall in both categories; having financially helped the coalition in the 2015 election and who has demonstrated, by his own admission, his intention to further help this government. Harmon, in his statement, indicated that there were 33 other such “honorific” appointments; all of whom fall in either or all of the 2 categories cited by him. Why the President chose to rescind Tiwari’s appointment only? Who are the other 33 honorees? The nation deserves to know, since their appointments are instruments of the state, and not appointments of APNU or AFC. These appointments matter not if they are pro bono. They carry, at least, a status symbol of a diplomatic passport. It is baffling to have read earlier the Prime Minister, and Ministers of Public Security (Khemraj Ramjattan) and Business (Dominic Gaskin) denied having any knowledge of Tiwari’s appointment, when in Harmon’s statement, he claimed that between October 6, 2015 – February 8, 2016 persons were identified on the recommendation of the Leader of the AFC (Ramjattan), General Secretary, PNC and General Secretary, APNU (Harmon) to be appointed as “Honorary Ministerial Advisor” and a certificate entitled “Instrument of Appointment….Ministerial Adviser” was issued thereupon. It means, therefore, that Ramjattan, and the AFC, knew of these appointments. Tiwari was appointed on January 19, as such the recommendation for his appointment was within the window
period of October 2015 and February 2016. On the executive jet travel, Harmon, in his statement claimed that the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana arranged for the “four China-based companies, interested in Guyana, to transport him to their respective offices located in different parts of the country during his visit last month”. It’s an insult to the intelligence of Guyanese for Harmon to try this. Here is a senior Cabinet Minister leaving Guyana for China, with NICIL’s in-house legal counsel, with the knowledge of the President and approval of the Cabinet, to discuss the payment of the US$5M balance owed to the government by the Chinese company, Datang Telecom Technology, on the purchase of the 20% shares of the GT&T, and when he reached China, 4 Chinese companies indicated to him that they wanted to discuss investment interests in Guyana, and the Chinese Ambassador, who was in China at the time, made arrangements for him to meet with the officials of these companies that are located in 4 far-off provinces. When these 4 companies did realize that they have investment interest in Guyana? According to Harmon’s statement, one of these companies, related to Bai Shan Lin, intends to invest US$500M here. Editor, for a company that has an interest to invest US$500M here would not have waited until Harmon gets to China to indicate its interest, and the government of Guyana knew nothing of such an interest. What would have happened if Harmon had not gone to China? It’s laughable that Harmon went to China to deal with US$5M debt and stumbled on mega investment interests. Amidst all the imbroglio, chaos and confusion of his travel to China, and 2 weeks
after his return, Harmon found it appropriate to inform this nation that 4 Chinese companies have intention to invest heavily in Guyana. There are too much coincidences in this trip. Tiwari was on this trip; and claimed as not related with Harmon. Clinton Williams was on trip; and claimed as not related with Harmon; Larry London on this trip (at least in the executive jet with Harmon); not related with Harmon. The Chinese Ambassador on trip; not related with Harmon, but met him and arranged the jet travel. Cho Hungbo on this trip; not related to Harmon. Editor, who are these people fooling? In a separate statement, Harmon stated that his interference in a seizure operation by the GRA was as a result of a request by an official of the Chinese Embassy on March 17 for a 14-day delay of GRA’s intended action, which he facilitated because he “considered the importance of Guyana/China relations and the urgency of the matter”. Who was official of the Chinese embassy? Was there a quid pro quo to facilitate the provision of a private, executive jet in China? Harmon must have known that the Minister of Finance is the subject Minister for the tax authority. Why didn’t he channel the Chinese official’s request to the appropriate Minister, rather than usurping the Minister’s authority and interfering the works of the tax officers? Editor, in closing, I wish to adopt Khemraj Ramjattan’s famous phraseology to describe Harmon’s defense which is that it “stinks to the high heavens”. Rovin M. Khan Black Bush Polder
DEAR EDITOR, It was no surprise to see the questionable Harmon affairs unfold on multiple levels for the court of public opinion to make their judgement. This is the same court that APNU/AFC dragged the PPP through to claim victory with a promise to “do better” and provide a “good life” that is free from corruption. The latter of which was backed up by a “code of conduct” in which it stated that no gifts should be accepted by officials that are above a certain value. The question is then, how much does a flight in a private jet cost? The President rushed to clean up the mess, as if he was sleeping through all this, by rescinding Tiwari’s appointment and approved GRA’s move to seize the luxury vehicles of Bai Shan Lin. Then we waited to see how the President will navigate this dilemma. In a display of gross double standards, and to the shock and dismay of their supporters, the President and PM chose to back Harmon’s behavior 100 percent with the PM going against his own AFC party to say Harmon is honest. These series of hypocritical and visionless moves, made it clear that AFC has abandoned its supporters, who expected better from the coalition and even more from the AFC leadership. Now many wonder what is next for Guyana. Some are now saying that they may have jumped out of the frying pan in to fire. Very soon all Guyanese will come to the understanding that there are not many options to choose from in the political process and really the choice is two.
AFC has killed all hopes of taking Guyana’s democracy to the next level. If they had stood their ground and stood behind the people that truly wanted a third option, they would have possibly been a viable party for Guyana. But it is because of their inability to lead in a balance of power environment that made them chose the easy option. What the President doesn’t ’t seem to understand or is not willing to admit, is that he is surrounded by vipers, dragons and crabs who don’t give one cent for the people, much less two. This is our reality, a sad one that
shows no hope for the average Guyanese. The average Guyanese doesn’t have access to private jets and benefits of back door deals. The man and woman on the daily grind are feeling the pain; no money is circulating; people are struggling to get by, while there is a salary increase for Government’s top brass. I pray for my country as we head into the sad path that I unfortunately predicted before May 11 elections. At this time people should start researching what is the meaning of the “resource curse” when your country is led by incompetent people. Malcolm Watkins, CSPC.
Industrial complaints against BaiShanLin DEAR EDITOR; I will be grateful for this letter to be published. I have been following the issues in the news over the past few weeks regarding the Minister of State Joseph Harmond and Bai Shan Lin. In his statement issued on Thursday 14/04/2016, the Minister is reported to have said that based on discussions with the Chinese Ambassador the state owned logging company of China Long Jiang Forest Industry Company will be taking over Bai Shan Lin by June 2016. In fact the Minister said that Long Jiang Forest Industries Company already has 55 per cent shares in Bai Shan Lin. What is very disturbing to the Guyanese employees of Bai Shan Lin is that we are being kept in the dark since this take over is just about one month away and we have not
been told anything. While this is nothing strange since that is how the current management operates and treats the Guyanese workers. The employees have now being made aware of this development and are worried about their future with a change in management. The current management operates way above the laws of Guyana thereby disrespecting Guyanese workers and the current administration is fully aware of this, in fact several complaints have been made against management to the Ministry of Labour but nothing has come out of all the complaints which leaves us to believe that they have turned a blind eye to allow all these infractions to take place. Just to mention a few, (1) the company has not been remitting the NIS deduction (Continued on page 6)
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Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox I disagree with the Victory that denotes President on this one a new era of politics MR. EDITOR; I have found myself disagreeing with the actions of this government which I support and thank God every day came to power in May 2015. I think Mr. Granger is among a small number of nationalist residing in Guyana who are most suited for the office of President at this time. But even as I support him I have found; amount other things; that I disagree with him on some criminal justice issues and especially with his philosophy on pardons for offenders. I have said in previous letters that while I agree on the need to pardon some non-violent offenders I do not agree with how he seems to conceive this process should be under taken. I also indicated that the pardoning of criminals cannot and should not be divorced from redemption for the persons and communities they have wronged or offended. Holding that mothers should be home taking care of their children and merely on that ground pardoning female criminals is not good enough and misleading in its assumptions. In Stabroek News of 9th March 2008 I shared with readers the result of a research I did with 92 students at the New Opportunity Corps. In that study I found that of the 92 students I spoke with only 13 came from homes in which their fathers were present, the remaining 79 came from female headed homes - headed usually by mothers, aunts or grandmothers. Also in the said letter of March 9th 2008 I referred to findings of the famous social scientist Dr. Dobson who after years of research concluded, “Sons of single mothers are at greatest risk for violence, apparently because they spend less time with their fathers.” If we accept these findings the President’s action of pardoning convicted and imprisoned mothers because of his expressed concern for the children of these mothers, might have been misguided. At least in the case of sons, the president might
have been better advised to pardon imprisoned fathers. Recently the President was reported as having expressed how heartened he was at receiving a “thank you card from one of the 11 mothers who were pardoned by him.” I understand his joy and I hope all 11 of the pardoned mothers make good use of their second chance. However I would have preferred to also hear from the president on what has been done to restore to wholeness the lives of the victims of the crimes perpetuated by these pardoned criminals. I would have loved to hear that at least the victims of the crimes committed by pardoned convicts were informed of the president’s intention to pardon those who did them wrong. I would have loved to hear that representatives of the president met with victims to explain to them why he was giving the pardons and their support of his action sought. True most of the victims might not be convinced to support his actions, but at least by meetings with them the office of the president would have shown respect for the victims. This is what the President does not seem to get - justice cannot be achieved when wrong doers are pardoned while victims are left unattended. There is nothing moral about forgiving wrong doers and ignoring those damaged by the acts of the said wrong doers. Mr. Editor this brings me to the recently established Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy. As I understand it this council’s duty is to advise the president on the implementation of capital punishment. However based upon reported comments of the president the Advisory Council will also be relied on to offer the president guidance on other criminal justice matters including presidential pardons generally. If my assumption is correct I am forced to ask why then is an entire half of this 6 man (including the chairman) council made up of trained
From page 5 made from workers wages and salaries (11) the same with PAYE. The company has no staff welfare or benefits for workers and therefore the workers depend on their NIS benefits in the event of injuries or sickness. Over the last six years there have been no salary increases for workers,
management keeps telling workers that the company is not making profits but we know different. I do hope that with the publishing of this letter the relevant authorities including Minister Harmon will look into the concerns raised and further investigate more in-depth. Concerned Worker
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lawyers? Further the constitution says one member of the council shall be a doctor, this I can understand, but who are the other members? What specific skills and knowledge do they bring to this Advisory Council? Is there a sociologist among them? Was the Guyana Association of Social Workers invited to have a representative on this council? Is any of the council’s members trained or have worked in corrections/ rehabilitation? If the answer to these questions are no then will a representative of the government kindly explain why not? Mr. Editor, this is one occasion that cries of an absence of skills cannot be offered as an excuse. In Guyana there are a number of persons trained in sociology and social work. From this distance it seems to me that on criminal justice issues the president needs help. I am convinced that he means well, that his intention are laudable but he certainly seems to be wanting on the best socially acceptable alternatives that can be used for achieving his goals. For example persons awaiting trial and denied bail and persons who have committed crimes that many feel should not carry a penalty of prison time can be The President needs at his disposal advisory councils which have among their members’ persons with knowledge in the area of correction/rehabilitation. I know there is at least one person with this knowledge and experience presently living in Guyana. I read some of the offerings on criminal justice done by one Pastor Jeffrey, it is my understanding that he worked in the prison system here in the USA. As a person schooled in the area of Criminal justice I am mostly impressed with his writings. I think he and persons like him, can be of enormous use to the President in what he is trying to achieve as it relates to corrections/ rehabilitation. I wonder, was Pastor Jeffrey invited to be a part of this Advisory Council? Claudius Prince
DEAR EDITOR; There is refreshing indication from the recent Local Government Elections (LGE) that Guyanese are willing to take on the responsibility of governing their communities. With the low level of public interest, because the elections had not been held for more than two decades, one would have thought that the fervour of the 1970s for communitylevel participation in governance had all but died. Campaigns ran by political parties, groups, and independent s, told a different story. One would have tended to think that after the old political trail blazers would have outrun themselves, there were very few young people willing and ready to receive the baton. Notwithstanding poor voter turnout, the elections demonstrated that there is a new breed of people that are positioning themselves for development in political careers. Two teens, Jimmaul Baggot (19) from Beterverwagting, and Maxine Welsh (18), from Lethem, are examples. In my estimation, the teens are symbolic of a new breed of future political leaders who will understand the times in which they live and be able to get votes from traditional party strongholds. Jimmaul entered the race as an Independent Candidate in the First-Past-The-
From page 4 the platform of change, it meant that it would change the State’s policy of honoring its contracts with its employees to one of unilaterally and unlawfully terminating those contracts without regard to their terms. I am aware that the usual
suspects, who “know it all” would jump at this, my response, to earn some more media “coverage”. I would await my day in court.I respectfully request that my letter be given the same prominence that the Ministry’s statement was given. Harry Narine Nawbatt
Post component of the elections. He outclassed an established political party and Community Group, winning his seat on the Beterverwagting/ Triumph Neigbourhood Democratic Council. Maxine Welsh (19), backed by her organisation, not only won a seat on his district council but was elected Deputy Mayor of Lethem, Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo. Jimmaul’s victory is most compelling, as he is a new resident, living in the area for just about three years now. He said three things that stand out (SN April 11, 2016, p.14 &15): ‘I think I won because I am a people person’; ‘I believe I won because of the way people look at me’; ‘If there is anything to be done in the community, I was always first and always available’; and, ‘I am pretty sure I won because I garnered some of the PPP voters.’ His simple analysis of his victory can be instructive to all who seek leadership, and is a sobering awakening to the reality that in this new political culture, no political party will have monopoly over voters. Voters’ ballots hang in the balance, waiting for the individual or organisation that will woo them with authentic, and not lip service. Lennox Cornette
Protestors who can destroy the Coalition Govt.
DEAR EDITOR; I refer to the article “Clueless demonstrators mount protest outside KN” (KN, April 12, 2016) which described a handful of persons picketing the office of Kaieteur News. While there is great hilarity in the event, especially in the responses of the lead protester Kathlene Armstrong, there are also several philosophical ramifications. Firstly, is this the manner in which this government will react to criticism? One had hoped that this kind of action was a thing of the past. This protest is no different in nature than what was done with the withdrawal of government ads from the Stabroek News a few years ago. Secondly, what was the reason for protesting in front of the Kaieteur News? Was it to divert attention from the issue at hand? Lead protestor, Kathlene Armstrong said that the reason for the protest was to show that “We are standing in solidarity with the APNU+AFC government; we stand with President David
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Granger, and in support of Joseph Harmon. We, as a Region, are in solidarity with what Joseph Harmon is doing.” What was the necessity of showing this solidarity in front of Kaieteur News? Was Ms. Armstrong obfuscating the true motive of the protest? Couldn’t the protest have been held at a more central location? If Region Three wants to support Minister Harmon then why not hold the protest in Region 3? The responses of the lead protestor are even more outrageous. When asked about the reported actions of Honourable Minister Harmon, Ms. Armstrong said “I do not know what actions you are talking about.” It is incomprehensible that someone would be protesting and they do not know what they are protesting against. Additionally, if Ms. Armstrong does not know what the reported actions of Minister Harmon are, then what is the necessity of lending support? Armstong’s placard “Nigel Hughes is anti-coalition. Get on board” is even more troubling. APNU and the AFC are in an alliance and are in government. It is absurd to call the chairman of your partner party in government ‘anti-coalition’. What is deduced from this statement is the old cliché: if you are not with us (in all the mistakes we make and the good we do) then you are against us. Many of us had hoped that such unilateral thinking had ended after May 11, 2015. Armstrong’s
party should discipline her for this obvious political insensitivity. The comment that Glenn Lall has a “PPP/C motive” borders on insanity. Where was this ‘PPP/C motive’ when pictures were published of Mr. Jagdeo’s residence or Mr. Ali’s residence. Someone needs to tell Armstrong that if she visits the online home page of the Kaieteur News, she will find 8 articles, highlighted in red, on the travesties of the PPP/C’s governance of this country. It is under the caption ‘Heist of Guyana’ and it is there 365 days per year. As such, it is impossible to reason that a person with a PPP/C motive will continuously highlight the inadequacies of the party for which he has a motive. What is more preposterous is that there is a placard about Glenn Lall, while the lead protestor, Kathlene Armstrong is saying that she is “not here to talk about Glenn Lall, she is here to show support for the APNU+AFC government.” Finally, it is logical that supporters of the Government will use every opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty. The government must curb this enthusiasm and replace it ordinary common sense. The energies of enthusiastic supporters such as Kathlene Armstrong must be harnessed in more productive ways and in ways which do not destroy the fragile partnership that is the government of Guyana. Mohammed S. Hussain
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
UK QUEEN’S OUSTER AS Jamaica head of state sought (CNN) - Queen Elizabeth II could be out of a job. In Jamaica, at least. In a speech to legislators last week, Jamaican GovernorGeneral Patrick Allen proposed a constitutional amendment “to replace Her Majesty The Queen with a Non-Executive President as Head of State” in the Caribbean nation. While Elizabeth II isn’t involved much at all in the day-to-day functioning of Jamaica’s government, she’s officially head of state in 15 nations in what’s called the Commonwealth, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Like Jamaica, all have longstanding ties to the United Kingdom and British monarchy, even if they are independent otherwise. One irony if this plan goes through: Allen was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II, just like other Jamaican governorgenerals. In fact, the King’s House official website notes that his title is “Her Majesty’s representative in Jamaica,” suggesting that Allen is effectively pushing to push himself out. This isn’t the only proposal laid out in Allen’s speech to legislators, which comes weeks after a narrow election win for the once-opposition Jamaica Labour Party. He also talked about a host of other legislative pri-
Queen Elizabeth II orities in the so-called throne speech, which was posted on a government website. These touch on subjects like health care, housing, education and tourism. There was also a focus on justice, which Allen called “integral for the improvement of the general well-being and to create a prosperous society.” One element of this relates to the Dangerous Drugs Act. In his speech, Allen called for an amendment “to give legalization for marijuana to be used for specific purposes.”
Already, this legislation has been tweaked to allow the “use of ganja by persons of the Rastafarian faith and use for medical, therapeutic and scientific purposes.” It also states that possession of 2 or fewer ounces of ganja — another word for marijuana — is no longer a criminal offense. In his speech last Thursday, Allen did not specify how he wants to change the portions of the law related to marijuana, a drug long associated with Jamaica.
Ethiopia says South Sudanese gunmen kill 140 civilians in cross-border raid Reuters - Ethiopia said yesterday that gunmen from South Sudan had killed 140 people in a raid in its Gambela region, and that Ethiopian troops had crossed the border to pursue the attackers. The attack took place on Friday in the Jakaya area that straddles the border, in a region that hosts alongside a neighbouring province more than 284,000 South Sudanese refugees who fled conflict in the world’s youngest nation. “140 civilians died in the attack carried out by bandits that crossed from South Sudan,” a statement from the government communications office said. “Ethiopian troops are pursuing the bandits inside South Sudan. 60 of the assailants have been killed so far,” it added. The gunmen had no relation to South Sudanese government troops or rebel forces who fought the government in Juba in a civil war that ended with a peace deal signed last year, the body said. South Sudanese offi-
cials were not immediately available for comment. Under pressure from the region, the United States, the United Nations and other powers, South Sudan’s feuding sides signed an initial peace deal in August and agreed to share out ministe-
rial positions in January. Fighting broke out in December 2013 months after President Salva Kiir sacked his deputy Riek Machar as vice president, exacerbating a political dispute that reopened ethnic rifts between Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group and
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AFC debunks Harmon’s explanation Li’l Joe had a secret for appointing Brian Tiwarie wedding in China - as party distances self from Dem boys seh...
Li’l Joe who subsequently become Joe Humble, went to China and change he name by Dee Polli (Deed poll). It is now Joe ShanLin. Dem boys seh he was forced to change he name because he want de experience of flying in a private jet. When he come back he didn’t tell nobody nutten, not even Soulja Bai or Sandra Gyal. He didn’t bargain fuh that photo pun de front page exposing him wid dem scamps, BaiShanLin and others. Soulja Bai and Rum Jattan confront him and that is when he was forced to put out a statement wha a play school kid wouldn’t believe much less de Guyanese people. In de statement, dem boys wasn’t sure if he change he language because it look like that statement write in Chinese. Nobody coulda understand it because BaiShanLin owner was neither fish nor fowl; neither Guyanese or Chinese. When he buy up de forestry land and gold mining claims and people question him, he seh he is entitled because he got a Guyanese passport. But as soon as he run into trouble by not paying he fair share of taxes and not honouring his obligation wid de concessions granted, he tun Chinee man and running to de Chinese Embassy fuh help. This was de same man that Li’l Joe, now Joe ShanLin, accuse of raping this country, call dem parasites and pests and accuse dem of putting money in Jagdeo pocket. Since he tek power he nah satisfy hugging that same parasite and pest, BaiShanLin, in Guyana. He insist on going to China to hug up de bigger bosses of de BaiShanLins. Dem boys ain’t certain if he sleep in bed but dem know fuh sure a marriage tek place and he is now Joe ShanLin. De boys waiting to see when Joe ShanLin gun get baby fun mek Soulja Bai and Sandra Gyal grandparents. Dem boys seh shame of him and shame of this new coalition govt fuh abide and put up wid such contemptuous and crookish behavior. Dem boys throw him in de camp of de Bar Rat, that scamp Jagdeo who ain’t got no shame. Guyana voted fuh a change but it seems as if dem get an exchange. Dem boys think BaiShanLin woulda change, instead it exchange ownership—from one Pompey to another Pompey; from one thief to another thief. Is like a dog wid two face, you ain’t know if you watching de front or de back. Talk half and hope Joe ShanLin get this off he shoulder.
More than two weeks after Kaieteur News first broke the story of Minister of State Joseph Harmon’s appointment of Brian Tiwarie as business advisor, the Minister offered an explanation, through a press release. However, the Alliance for Change (AFC) has debunked the release, which stated that Tiwarie was one of 34 persons identified based on the recommendation of AFC leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, and the General Secretaries of the Peoples National Congress (PNC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). Calling the information supplied and carried in the state- run Guyana Chronicle misleading and erroneous, the AFC in its response emphasised that it was not consulted or informed of any advisors excepting four— Dr. Rohan Somar, Ron Alert, Ewart Marshall and Tameshwar Lilmohan. The party noted that these appointments were widely reported in the media. The same cannot be said of Tiwarie’s appointment. Tiwarie’s instrument of appointment dates from January 19, last, and was not in the public domain until two months later. In fact, AFC stated that it had recommended Floyd Haynes for a similar Diaspora advisor appointment, but to date was not aware whether this request had been
Ministry of the Presidency’s statement
AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon
Local businessman, Brian Tiwarie
fulfilled. “At no time was the party or any of its leaders aware of the appointment of Mr. Brian Tiwarie as Ministerial Advisor prior to the public revelation,” the party stated. “Following the public revelation of same, party Leader Khemraj Ramjattan raised the issue with President David Granger and the party supports His Excellency’s decision to rescind the appointment.” “The party reiterates that it was not consulted or informed of any advisor appointments other than those listed above.” In the wake of public criticism and pressure after the appointment came to light, Harmon presented a statement to Cabinet which explained several controversial issues including the Brian Tiwarie appointment. This statement had been approved and subsequently issued on Thursday. In the statement from the Minister of State, it was noted that after the General and Regional Elections of 2015, many persons, who had indicated their deep interest
in assisting the government and fulfilling its campaign promises were appointed to various positions. The statement added that some of those persons were not interested in formal employment or receiving remuneration, but were willing to contribute. “After some consultation, during which the Minister of Public Security and the Minister of Natural Resources gave advice, it was agreed that such persons should be appointed as Honorary Ministerial Advisors and that a Certificate entitled “Instrument of Appointment … Ministerial Adviser” would be issued.” The statement went on to add that over the period October 6, 2015 to February 8, 2016, thirty-four persons were identified on the recommendation of the Leader of the AFC, the General Secretary of the Peoples National Congress (PNC) and the General Secretary of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Instruments were accordingly issued.
According to the statement some of these appointments, particularly in the Diaspora, received wide publicity. “Mr. Brian Tiwarie, upon the recommendation of the General Secretary of the APNU, was one such person identified and issued with an instrument. “I was subsequently advised by the President, who was not aware of all the appointees, that he was not in agreement with this one and that the appointment should be rescinded on March 24, 2016.
Harmon gets cozy with future owner... (From page 3) almost two years. He continued, “But let it be known that once the laws of the country are breached by foreign or local companies, we will speak about it and we will take action. The level of examination and action to follow will surely arrest this wanton destruction of our forests.” Harmon had given his word to the nation that he would be unrelenting in his fight to ensure that the company is held accountable for its actions and that those responsible for allowing this abuse to continue be exposed.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 17, 2016
Jail keys returned to the prison officers - Deputy Prison Director’s leave exended Prisoners of the Camp Street jail were yesterday returned to their cells during a visit by the Director of Prisons Carl Graham, a source close to matter revealed. One prison officer indicated that the prison keys were returned to the prison officers, yesterday, and the prisoners were ordered into their cells. This, the source stated, occurred because Graham visited the jail and spoke to everyone—both the prisoners and the wardens. The officer opined that had he done this earlier the situation at the prison would not have escalated. The officer added that Graham instructed the wardens to continue working and that the situation will be changed. Graham, however, had denied that the keys were in the hands of the inmates, stating that the rumours were
being peddled to further ignite the situation at the prison after the unrest in March. On Thursday, tension in the prison rose after prisoners were given the keys and were allowed to roam free in the jail yard. This caused 42 prison officers to send in sick leave certificates in fear for their lives. President David Granger, last week, had ordered security to be beefed up at the prison during an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee at the Ministry of Presidency. He called for the police and the army to secure the jail. Director of Prisons (Ag) Carl Graham was forced to seek replacements from the Timehri and Lusignan Prisons and from the Administration Division at the Camp Street Prison in order to keep the situation under control. President Granger had
instructed that the outer cordons of the prison be extended to include D’Urban, John and Bent Streets, which will be blocked off to the public except for persons residing within those areas, as is done on Camp Street. The Guyana Police Force was ordered to assist Prison Officers in manning the Camp Street facility and the Guyana Defence Force to assist in guarding the outer cordons of its precincts. On Friday, 12 soldiers were seen guarding the four points of the prison, along with police. Since the deadly prison
unrest in March, the committee heard that inmates have become brazen in exposing their weapons, while behaving much more aggressively toward prison wardens. Thus, the officers, being fearful for their lives, have decided to stay away. The source indicated that policemen are inside the prison, helping the wardens to control the situation. This newspaper was informed that the wardens are frustrated because they feel nothing is being done to protect them. The officer
Camp Street Prison
related that on Thursday, the keys to the prison were handed over to inmates by a fellow officer. Since then, the officer said, the prison yard became crowded with prisoners. “They came out of their cells and went into the tuck shop and bought $17,500 in ration. When they were finished they went into the kitchen and cook their own food. Cobra, who is a high profile prisoner, is the ring leader and he was seen making an egg sandwich in the kitchen,” the officer said. The officer, in tears, had
indicated that there was no prison officer left in the prison. “We are all afraid to go in because we cannot talk to them and they have cutlasses and jookas.” “If Samuels was here none of this would be happening. Right now the female officers cannot go into the prison because they were told that they would be sodomized if they do. I just want them to show the video of the day of the riot…is the prisoners who are causing all of this. They were told to come out but they lock (continued on page 16)
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Petition to remove Region Nine REO ...
Most villagers did not know what they were signing – REO The recent revelation that some 1,200 residents of Region Nine have signed a petition to have their Regional Executive Officer (REO) removed from his position, has managed to raise further concerns. The petition was sent to President David Granger and copied to several government Ministries including the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and the Ministry of Social Cohesion. A copy was also sent to the main Parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). According to the Chief Whip of the PPP/C, Gail Teixeira, there were 14-points that were outlined by the residents which include sexual harassment; discrimination against Amerindian staff; “meddling in the affairs of the Amerindian Village Councils; disregard for the Regional Democratic Council by overriding decisions by the Regional Democratic Council; failure to provide requisite financial reports; and interfering with the duties and functions of the Regional Chairman’s office etc. When the REO, Carl Parker was contacted after the
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Housing officials complain to President about hostile Board
Regional Executive Officer, Region Nine, Cark Parker petition came to the attention of the media last Thursday, he declined to comment saying that he would have to first speak to his lawyer. When contacted yesterday, he informed this newspaper that he has already begun to examine the petition and is in the process of writing his response, which he will then send to the Ministry of Communities and then, to the media. These allegations against him, he said, are serious and are unfounded and not true. He continued that he is still receiving support from members of the communities and therefore, he is not discouraged but further motivated because he ‘knows what is the truth’. Parker sated that it was the PPP/C Regional Councillors, the Regional Chairman and the Vice Chairman, who went around with the petition and got villagers to affix their signatures. Some 98 percent of the villagers, he said, did not know what they were signing. Parker said that when he found out that these officials were ‘soliciting’ signatures, he informed the Ministry. “We know what was coming down,” Parker said.
Officials of the Ministry of the Presidency have confirmed that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Myrna Pitt, and deputy, Denise King-Tudor, have written to President David Granger complaining about hostility from the new board. Specifically, the officials complained about pressure from the board’s Land Allocation Committee, headed by Mark Jacobs. CH&PA’s board, headed by former City Mayor, Hamilton Green, has been looking into the financial affairs and other matters of the agency but areas of special interest fall under the purview of the Land Allocation Committee. Sources of the board said that billions of dollars are not properly accounted for and billions more have been
squandered on different projects, including the Remigrant Scheme and 1000homes project at Providence, East Bank Demerara. Yesterday, a number of CH&PA staffers disclosed that the Land Allocation Committee has sent Pitt and her deputy and other senior staffers multiple memos regarding the Remigrant Scheme, private developers, the issuance of titles and transports and other related matters. Jacobs was present at a CH&PA meeting with contractors and builders of the 1000 homes project, the Projects Department and senior management. None of the seven contractors currently working on the 1000-home projects appeared to have any technical training or qualifications, it was disclosed. Contacted yesterday,
Jacobs told Kaieteur News that he would prefer not to comment on CH&PA matters. CH&PA is an autonomous agency charged with overseeing government-run housing schemes and projects throughout the country. Housing officials said it would appear strange that CH&PA as an autonomous agency would be writing to the President to intervene on the activities of the board, an independent body.
CH&PA is under scrutiny by the administration for its past activities and managing of the housing lands and projects. For example, it appears that the authority took it upon itself to determine who was qualified as a remigrant for the Remigrant Scheme in Providence. There was little evidence the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which determines who is a remigrant or returning (continued on page 72)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 17, 2016
No evidence that BaiShanLin plugs back profit into Guyana
Managing Director for BaiShanLin, Chu Hongbo By Abena Rockcliffe- Campbell Local businesses have been a staple of economies all around the world ever since people first began trading goods and services. Baishanlin International Forest Development Inc. was incorporated in September 2006 under the Guyana Companies Act of 1991. It is indeed a local company despite the fact that its owners are Chinese. However, there is nothing to suggest that the operation of BaiShanLin in Guyana is helping the country’s economy which is being described as sluggish. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that all profits earned by BaiShanLin, through it exploitation of Guyana’s forest, go to the People’s Republic of China. Not a cent has been returned here. BaiShanLin’s Managing Director, Chu Hongbo, has on several occasions said that the company is experiencing serious financial difficulties. The audited Financial Statements of Baishanlin International Forest Development Inc, show the company to be financially unsound. However, a serious gap in the finances presents itself when the company’s financial statements are compared to documents which reflect the value of logs exported over the years.
Former Auditor General and Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran, in an audit report on the operations of the Guyana Forestry Commission, supported claims that the company is indeed experiencing losses. He reported, “A review of the audited financial statements of BaiShanLin indicated that the company was in dire financial difficulties.” The auditors acknowledged loans BaiShanLin received totaling $1.903B. Interest was also charged on some of the loans. Auditors said the company continued to make losses which amounted to $313.763M and there was an accumulated shareholders’ deficit of $1.187B as at December 31, 2011. Kaieteur News learnt that the “loans” which the company secured were granted by none other than Chu Wenze— the father of Chu Hongbo. Chu Wenze is also a part owner of BaiShanLin. Of the $1,903B granted, Chu Wenze doled out $1.177B, Wang Jan loaned $4.5M and a company called Bucc International Wood Industries Limited lent the company $721M. Kaieteur News understands that the loan arrangement is nothing new. It is the culture in the Chinese community in Guyana to pool resources when needed and the money is reimbursed to the
various families or entities in China. Documents seen by this newspaper as regards the export of logs during the period 2007 to November 16, 2015 by BaiShanLin and companies controlled by it indicated that the company is indeed making huge profits out of Guyana. Between 2007 to 2015 BaiShanLin and companies under its control exported logs valued well over US$8.4B That figure just represents the Free on Board (FOB)
value. The Cost Insurance Freight (CIF) value is way more. Also, Goolsarran had stated in his report that “when the logs are shipped to the destination countries, the final cost takes into account costs relating to insurance and freight as well as other costs for transporting the logs to locations within the countries where they are sold. In addition, the company exporting the logs will have to apply its own mark-up in order to derive a profit. There-
fore, the final price of the logs would be significantly higher that the FOB invoice price on which the export commission is calculated.” Kaieteur News understands that the company’s financial statements in Guyana are reflecting a serious deficit because of the fact that nothing is returned to Guyana, nothing at all. When the logs arrive at China and are sold at a much higher price, all that cash remains there. There are several benefits
to be derived from local businesses. Two main benefits are the provision of employment and boost to the economy. BaiShanLin is not presenting either. BaiShanLin was incorporated on with the main objective of setting up downstream wood processing operations in Linden and on the East Bank Demerara. This would have produced value added furniture and indeed would have provided jobs. Nothing of the sort materialized.
Financial records never showed Chinese Govt. as part of BaiShanLin It appears that directors of Chinese logging company, BaiShanLin, were not as forthcoming as they should have been to authorities in Guyana about who really are the principal owners of the company. During an interview with Kaieteur News last year, Managing Director of the company, Chu Hongbo, revealed that approximately 51 percent of the entity was owned by the Government of China. In fact, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon recently revealed that the Government of China actually has a 55 percent hold in BaiShanLin through a company called Long Jiang Forest Industries Group. This company is situated in the Heilong Jiang Province of China. Harmon said, “The Long Jiang Forest Industries Group is a state-owned company that had acquired 55 percent of the shares in BaiShanLin and is intended to fully take over the company in 2016.” But this is in stark contrast to a forensic audit report which was conducted by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran. In his report, the forensic auditor said
- Forensic Auditor that BaiShanLin was first incorporated in Guyana on September 20, 2006 under the Guyana Companies Act 1991. Goolsarran noted that the company listed three persons as its only shareholders/directors. These persons were Chairman, Chu Wenze, Managing Director Chu Hongbo, and Director Zhang Li Na. Never once did it state in its statements to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) or to the Deeds Registry or even in its financial records that the Government of China was ever a shareholder in the company. Goolsarran emphasized, yesterday, that the Chinese company only listed three individuals owning and operating BaiShanLin as well as taking over five other major logging companies. The forensic auditor said that this company has literally “fooled the nation” while enjoying millions of dollars worth in concessions, the grant of an exploratory permit covering a period of six consecutive years whereas the law allows for a maximum
Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran period of three years for such a permit among other “premium” privileges. Taking into consideration that the Chinese company has failed to fulfill its obligations to Guyana, and the fact that the Forests Act does not permit a renewal of a SFEP at the end of three years, the contract with the company, Goolsarran said, should be
terminated forthwith. Goolsarran also recommended that State forest should be returned to the Commission for reallocation. In addition, he said that the coalition administration should consider terminating the investment agreements with the company and recover the value of the fiscal concessions granted to it.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Harmon’s intervention in GRA’s seizure of vehicles...
Chu Hongbo, BaiShanLin’s boss uses Guyanese, Chinese nationalities conveniently Two of the vehicles seized by GRA earlier this month from BaiShanLin.
BaiShanLin’s local boss, Chu Hongbo
Earlier this week, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in a statement defending his intervention in a Customs operation last month to seize vehicles belonging to BaiShanLin for unpaid import taxes, claimed he did it because the Chinese Embassy said it involved a company belonging to one of their nationals. However, it would contradict the fact that BaiShanLin’s main principal in Guyana, Chu Hongbo, is a naturalised Guyanese citizen who used his citizenship to acquire several blocks of mining lands in 2014. It would appear from Harmon’s statement, that Chu Hongbo used his Guyanese citizenship conveniently. In the case of the GRA vehicle, he switched to his Chinese nationality. Harmon, in his statement, insisted that he intervened after considering the importance of Guyana/China relations and the urgency of the matter. “…I made contact with the GRA and requested the facility. This request was granted,” Harmon said. The Minister, who is also Cabinet Secretary, came under heavy fire in recent weeks for the intervention which occurred on March 17, during the operation by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). There were criticisms that he bypassed the Ministry of Finance, who has jurisdiction over GRA. BaiShanLin, a logging company from China, came to the spotlight two years ago after it became known that the company had managed to become the second largest forest concession holder after Barama Company Limited. It was exporting containers of raw logs monthly with little indications of the returns that
Guyana was getting. The manner of those forestry acquisitions along with the billions of dollars in tax breaks and waivers granted by the previous PPP/C government has been angering Opposition and Guyanese alike as the company has failed to honor commitments to build a wood processing plant, in keeping with an agreement signed with the previous government. BaiShanLin, with impunity, managed to use those pieces of equipment, including trucks and excavators, to compete with locals in the transportation and even the river barge business. The company has also been allowed to questionably purchase housing lands in Providence, East Bank Demerara and owes tens of millions for a prime hotel property it purchased from the previous Government. The David Granger administration, while in opposition, had complained b i t t e r l y a b o u t B a i S h a n L i n ’s operations here. The coalition vowed to regularise the situation w h e n t h e y c a m e t o p o w e r. Minister Harmon had been one of the most vocal. Wi t h r e g a r d t o t h e G R A operations to seize vehicles belonging to BaiShanLin for unpaid duty Harmon said that on March 17, representation was made to him by an official of the E m b a s s y o f t h e P e o p l e ’s Republic of China in Guyana on an urgent matter affecting one of t h e i r n a t i o n a l ’s c o m p a n y operations in Guyana. “I was advised that personnel of the GRA had gone to the premises of BaiShanLin in furtherance of a Tax demand by the GRA of G$1.5 billion.” He said that GRA personnel were intent on seizing movable assets of
the company. “The Chinese official explained that the principals of the company were not in Guyana and requested a stay of execution of the GRA’s action for 14 days pending the return of those principals, at which time they would go into the GRA to settle their indebtedness.” The embassy officials, according to Harmon, also gave the assurance that none of the assets of the company would be removed, during that grace period. “Considering the importance of Guyana/China relations and the urgency of the matter, I made contact with the GRA and requested the facility. This request was granted.” GRA had gone ahead and seized two vehicles, including a luxury Lexus SUV. It was the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) which first broke the news one year ago that Chu Hongbo has become a naturalized Guyanese and thus was entitled to acquire mining properties. In fact, 98 of his Mining Permits listed were won via an open competitive bidding process in 2014. Last year, it was reported that months before becoming a naturalized Guyanese, Chu Hongbo, had a Guyanese holding almost 700,000 hectares of state lands for him. The forested lands were immediately transferred to Chu and BaiShan Lin’s control after the Chinese investor received his Guyanese citizenship in 2014. The transaction has raised several questions, one of which is why concerns were not triggered by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) that a Guyanese who is not a known logger, could be given control of such a large swath
of forest as well as the legality of it being transferred later to Chu.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 17, 2016
Opposition Leader says DDL tax settlement is scandalous
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo The recently announced Consumption Tax settlement between the government and the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has raised
eyebrows in certain sections of the society. Chief among those expressing concern is Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, who condemned it as a “scandalous ‘out of court settlement’”, as a result of which, the State lost billions of dollars in revenue. Last week DDL announced that it had reached an amicable settlement with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in a longstanding dispute over Consumption Tax that began
in 2002. This settlement follows an extended legal battle between DDL and GRA arising out of the Consumption Tax assessment levied against the company by then GRA Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur in January 2009, in the sum of $5,392,020,753. The assessment was immediately challenged in the High Court by DDL through its lawyers Miles Fitzpatrick, S.C. and Timothy Jonas. The company announced
that after intense negotiations, however, both parties were able to arrive at consensus to fully and finally settle all claims by the GRA and liability by DDL for both Consumption and Excise tax up to March 9, 2016 in the sum of $1,500,000,000. This sum is payable over 12 months. DDL, in good faith, very recently effected the payment of $100,000,000 in compliance with the settlement terms. But Jagdeo in a statement issued yesterday said that while the assessment was from 2002 to 2006, the settlement was only arrived at on March 9, 2016. It means that DDL had used this money for 15 years and according to the Opposition Leader if one were to calculate interest on this sum, at a rate of 10 per cent per annum, using only the past 10 years, the liability would amount to $10.6B. According to Jagdeo, the settlement also writes off all possible liabilities in respect of Excise Tax up to March 9, 2016; so if the same situation obtains with regards to the Excise tax, between 2006 and 2016, then the liabilities would run into tens of billions more. The Opposition Leader, who was the Head of State during the period of assessment in contention, stated that the settlement has opened the door for other companies to seek refunds on taxes paid. “There have already been reports in the Private Sector of other major companies consulting lawyers about this possibility. Management officials from a major local
alcohol and beverage producing company have made it clear, in the past when I was President, that the company would be seeking a refund depending on the outcome of the DDL matter. If this company were to conservatively use DDL’s case to advance a call for a refund of taxes it paid this could result in the treasury balance being further diminished,” the former President stated. He recalled that during his meeting with President Granger, he had offered to have the current AttorneyGeneral be briefed by his predecessor, Anil Nandlall, about five major cases involving billions of dollars in taxes lawfully due to the State, including the DDL matter. Jagdeo said that this offer was rejected. “This offer was made because the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) believes we must safeguard the State’s revenue sources and this is not a matter that ought to be contaminated by politics. After all, it is upon the treasury that we depend to fund all the social interventions that touch lives and affect the welfare of thousands of ordinary Guyanese people,” Jagdeo added. He called on the APNU+AFC Government to disclose if an assessment of DDL’s liabilities in respect of Excise Tax for the period 2006 to 2016 was done and what was the sum of that liability? “Who negotiated the settlement? Is it legal? Was
DDL Chairman, Komal Samaroo the settlement approved by Cabinet or the Board of the GRA? On what principles was the sum of $1.5B arrived at? How many other deals have been concluded or are being negotiated?” asked the Opposition Leader. He said that the lack of transparency and the secrecy with which APNU+AFC continues to manage the affairs of the State are increasingly becoming causes for concern and are now being institutionalized. According to Jagdeo, the DDL settlement, as well as the possibility of other companies seeking refunds, will cost the State billions in revenue dollars – billions that could have been used in areas that the APNU+AFC Coalition told the nation they could not afford to fund. “It would have taken $1.7B to keep the Wales Sugar Estate functional, thereby safeguarding 2,000 jobs and the welfare of 28,000 residents on the West Bank of Demerara. It would have taken $1.6B to continue the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant for 177,000 public school children across the country. “ It would have taken a further $500M in water and electricity subsidies that would have benefited upwards of 40,000 pensioners. These would have amounted only $3.8B, but were callously not funded. While these social interventions would have cost only $3.8B, this single tax deal will cost the treasury upwards of $16B for the period 2001 to 2006,” the former Head of State declared. He pointed out that the settlement sends the wrong message to the business community; that a company can unilaterally decide to stop paying taxes, while other companies comply with the law, take the matter to court and drag it out until a sympathetic government comes to power and settles its debts to the State. The Opposition Leader and his party are calling on the International community and in particular the International financial institutions to note this wanton and deliberate haemorrhaging of the National Treasury by the Coalition Government.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 15
Hinterland airstrips to be upgraded …as MPI kicks off new development project Guyana’s hinterland aerodromes are slated for major upgrades. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) is beginning the process of establishing a remote monitoring operation known as the Aerodrome Management System (AMS). This system, which will allow the monitoring of aerodromes across the country without anyone’s physical presence at the airstrips, is expected to follow the Ministry’s latest project, the Hinterland Aerodrome Development Policy. The project entails four areas— the development of a policy to address hinterland aerodromes and airstrips; the development of an administrative framework; the addressing of maintenance issues; and the sustainability of the airstrips. The project was recently embarked upon and will see MPI officials visiting hinterland communities to not only physically assess the airstrips but to also receive input from the residents on the best way forward. Most recently, the team visited the villages of Kato and Paramakatoi in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) on April 12, Wednesday April 13, last. The airstrips in these
communities are just two of more than a dozen that are slated for upgrade across the four hinterland Regions One, Seven. Eight and Nine. The six-member team comprised of Saheed Sulaman, Director (Ag) of Air Transport Management; Patrick Thompson, Chief Transport Planning Officer; Ryan Singh, Transport Planning Officer/Engineer; Jamall Blair, Transport Planning Technician; James Lindo, Surveyor; and Alain Sirius, Surveying Technician. During its first stop in Kato, the team met with the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rafael Downes; Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), Gavin Gounga; and Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Member, Courtney Hardy. The Deputy Toshao of Kato was also present. The team spent time surveying and assessing the Kato airstrip. During discussions, REO Downes highlighted a number of issues with the Kato airstrip, including the lack of lighting facilities, potholes, poor maintenance and the lack of fencing. He further suggested the introduction of a regulatory body to ultimately improve the service provided to the
Residents and officials of Paramakatoi during the recent village consultation residents in far-flung communities, noting that there are sometimes cancellations with no warning. These cancellations, he said, greatly set back the community which heavily relies on planes arriving thrice a week. “What we need here in Guyana is a regulatory body that would visit air services…if we are going to move forward so taxpayers can benefit, we have to have a regulatory body. This is especially important if we are to develop tourism in the hinterland,” Downes stressed. He also called for greater communication between the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and those officials and residents in
hinterland communities. Similarly in Paramakatoi, residents and village council officials expressed concern at the safety of the airstrips. They noted that while the Paramakatoi airstrip was one which served the largest village in sub-region #1, it did not have lights at night. The residents emphasised that this shortcoming was both a threat and deterrence to pilots. They added that it was particularly difficult in situations of emergencies, such as transporting a sick patient out of the community.
“These pilots are taking a risk to save someone’s life; the least we can do is let them see where they are going,” a resident stressed. Residents also raised concerns on the maintenance of the airstrip as well as its length. According to the Deputy Toshao of Paramakatoi, an extension of the runway was long overdue. He added that while the village was willing to work along with persons from Georgetown, the Village Council would prefer more control over the airstrip’s
management. “Georgetown should not be dictating to us who must do this or who must do that,” he emphasised. Instead, he said, the protocols and policies of the airstrip should be shared with the Village Council to allow for some level of autonomy and improved management. Meanwhile, the residents admitted that they have been lax in some areas of the management of the airstrip, especially with regard to the presence of people and (continued on page 16)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 17, 2016
Fertilisergate: HDM Labs threatens $200M lawsuit against Guyana Times HDM Labs and Hardat Singh through their Attorneys, have written to the Guyana Times demanding an apology for various alleged defamatory statements concerning publications made by the newspaper on April 10 and April 12, last. “If an apology is not published HDM Labs and Mr. Singh intend to sue for not less than US$1,000,000. The Guyana Times published a headline alleging that “$420M fertilizer contract was ‘return’ on political investment.” In a scathing six-page letter, HDM Labs and Mr. Singh denied the existence of any political impropriety or connection. They never contributed in cash or in kind to the AFC or any other
political party, Singh said. In response to the Times publication that “Rahman is calling for Hardat Singh to be investigated since he is in receipt of information which shows that Singh was convicted in the USA on charges of fraud and money laundering” the letter states that Mr. Singh has never committed or been convicted or accused of any financial crime or fraud stating that “HDM Labs has flourished in a highly competitive, dynamic and regulated wholesale environment, relying exclusively on its goodwill and the integrity of its President, Mr. Hardat Singh, where distributors and end users trust the Plaintiffs’ integrity, reliability, creditworthiness and market
history to supply it with products that directly impact human life.” It also denied that Mr. Singh is an investor in “Spice Restaurant,” has any “Chinese shop” or that he was a campaign financier or organizer of the AFC in any way, but rather has made various philanthropic contributions to various medical centers countrywide. The letter states that since 1993, HDM Labs has been “a leading supplier of materials for medical research, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals, whose products are supplied globally.” It goes on to state that “HDM Labs is currently registered and is in good standing with the USFDA and
the USDA, and is currently affiliated with several leading global pharmaceutical manufacturing companies” generating “an approximate annual revenue exceeding $300 M” for at least the last decade. It was explained that after they discovered that the then market price for Urea approximately $5600-$5800 per 50 kg bag, they offered to sell Urea at approximately 25% less at an approximate market price of $4,160 per 50kg bag, which resulted in a contract with the GRDB for 5000 tonnes of Urea which is still in force and effect, the Urea currently being at port waiting to be delivered to Guyana. The letter states “[A]s part of the commercially
Hinterland airstrips to be upgraded From page 15 animals. While the airstrip had initially been completely fenced off, residents have, over the years, cut these fences and placed gates instead to create access to either side of the airstrip. Animals have also been able to enter the airstrip through these openings. The residents explained that while they understood the prohibition of animals and people on the airstrip, the recent drought has made it difficult to access water on one side of Paramakatoi. Therefore, they said, they
cross the airstrip each day to receive water from the other side. The Village Council indicated its intention to address this issue. Sulaman in turn urged the residents to adhere to regulations as much as possible and warned them that the presence of obstacles on the airstrip could prove to be a deterrent to pilots landing in Paramakatoi. “An airstrip is an asset to a community; it serves as the economic livelihood of that community so, if air operators decide that they’re not coming here, you will
ultimately suffer,” he emphasised. Sulaman stressed that as part of the new pilot project, the Ministry will be focusing primarily on the maintenance and sustainability of the aerodromes. In the coming weeks, the team will be visiting other hinterland airstrips for fact finding missions which will ultimately lead to the establishment of the AMS. According to Thompson, who has more than a decade of experience with the Ministry, the current system is complicated, with the use
of traditional methods slowing down work. “We want to collect data of the aerodromes we’re visiting and make a note of their deficiencies so, going forward, when we talk about upgrading the aerodromes, we’ll know exactly what needs to be done,” Thompson said. Besides Kato and Paramakatoi, the other airstrips that will be assessed are Baramita, Port Kaituma, Kamarang, Kaikan, Ekereku Bottom, Eteringbang, Bartica, Fairview, Surama, Karanambo, Annai, Lethem, Aishalton8 and Mahdia.
negotiated terms, and consistent with HDM Labs’ worldwide terms, HDM Labs requested that payment be secured by a transferrable irrevocable letter of credit, 50% to be paid on the issuance of the purchase order, 40% upon arrival at port, and 10% after receipt. These terms were in no way negotiated due to any financial constraints or unavailability of products. Moreover, the product being supplied is of the highest international standards.” These terms were incorporated into the parties’ contract. The letter states that “The explicit wording of the article falsely alleges that HDM Labs has been rewarded for some sort of campaign finance to the AFC, when HDM Labs has never made any contribution to any political party in Guyana… the Contract between the parties was awarded on the basis of competitive pricing and nothing more.” The letter states, “Almost immediately upon HDM Labs’ execution with its Contract with the GRDB, despite being kept at above $5,500 a bag for an extended period, retailers lowered their market prices in order to
compete with the price of urea being supplied by HDM Labs. “Upon information and belief, but for the contract, the local rice farmers would have continued to be gorged by suppliers at exorbitant prices, HDM Labs single handedly being responsible for an immediate reduction of the urea market price in Guyana.” In specific reference to the statements reported by the Guyana Times, the letter states that “these allegations that you have published mean, and were understood to mean, that not only are the Plaintiffs’ finances and management not proper, but that Mr. Singh has undertaken illegal financial activities and is corrupt, something that is not only untrue, but that has never been alleged by any third party against the Plaintiff.” The letter charges that the “Guyana Times has acted with actual malice, that is, with false or reckless disregard for the truth, and in a grossly irresponsible manner by failing to follow the most basic of sound journalistic practices by, among other things, failing to verify the truth of statements published before reprinting when it could easily have done so”.
Jail keys returned ... From page 10 the door and let the fire burn,” the officer stated. Deputy Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels was sent on six weeks of leave following the prison unrest. However, this newspaper was informed that Samuels was served with another letter this time to proceed on administrative leave. The duration of the leave is unknown at this moment. Samuels was expected to return to work on Monday. The prison unrest left seventeen prisoners dead and several others injured. The deadly fire was started by inmates housed in the Capital Offences section of the prison during the riot. It is believed that the men were burnt to death. There are reports of an upsurge in cases of marijuana being thrown over the prison fences and instances where prisoners would spit on wardens and throw faeces and urine on them. It was reported that 80% of the prisoners were in possession of weapons.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Getting the notion of daily water intake right By Sharmain Grainger
Disease, persons can suffer from dehydration.
You must have heard the expression ‘water is life’ before. But exactly what does this mean to you? Well I can tell you for sure this is no understatement; it means exactly that. In school we are taught that the human adult body is made up of as much as 60 per cent of water. Babies understandably have a higher percentage. This, however, does not mean that we always have enough water in our bodies. There are occasions when our bodies can become dehydrated and this can result from a number of reasons, according to health officials. Dehydration is said to occur when the body loses excessive water and by extension our electrolytes (needed minerals) diminish. While it can be linked to some sicknesses, it must be noted that an individual does not have to be sick to become dehydrated. While among the top triggers of dehydration are vomiting and severe diarrhea, an intense workout or simply being exposed to long hours of fierce sunlight and not consuming enough water daily are definitely factors that lend to dehydration. Dehydration has also been linked to some health conditions such as Type Two diabetes and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. In the case of Type Two Diabetes, an individual can become dehydrated when their blood sugar level is high and their kidneys attempt to filter the body prompting frequent urination. This of course causes the body to lose, too fast, needed fluids. Because of the diarrheal nature of Inflammatory Bowel
CAN DEHYDRATION BE PREVENTED? It is my belief that it really doesn’t take a doctor’s diagnosis to tell you that you are dehydrated. A veteran nurse once told me that ‘if you have a bout of thirst that requires you drinking several glasses for it to be quenched is a clear indication that you are experiencing dehydration’. But can dehydration be prevented? I have long been inclined to believe so. From a relatively young age I remembered being told that at least eight glasses of water should be sufficient to avoid becoming dehydrated. There are, however, other theories to this whole dehydration issue. One that I have read in recent days was authored by Dr. Aaron E. Caroll, a United States-based Paediatrician, which was published online in the New York Times (http:// www.nytimes.com/2015/08/ 25/upshot/no-you-do-nothave-to-drink-8-glasses-ofwater-a-day.html?_r=0). Dr. Caroll not only reduced the eight-glass notion to merely a myth, but insisted there was never an inkling of science to support it. In substantiating there is no need for people to drink the mythified amount of water, Dr. Caroll in his exposé made it clear that his deductions were only for persons who are healthy and therefore not subjected to conditions that would require them to consume excess amounts of water. In fact Dr. Caroll, arguing from a purely scientific perspective, pointed out that “there’s no real scientific proof that…drinking extra
The Baccoo Speaks Guyana is at the crossroads and anything can happen. The conditions are there for a jailbreak. The only deterrent are the guns that are lined up outside. However, there will be an attempt because of the taste of freedom that the prisoners enjoyed on the inside. A return to prison conditions will play on the mind of some of the prisoners and the nation will be provided with something to talk about. ** The guns are out on the streets and in restless hands they will be tested in the hands of some young men with a lot of bravado. They will be confronted by the police.
Another group will be taken on by a homeowner. One of them will be wounded and will be picked up later. ** There will be another road fatality along the eastern corridor. An intoxicated driver will lose control and cause a collision even as he attempts to overtake a slower moving vehicle.
water has any health benefits.” Yes, you read correctly. According to Dr. Caroll, drinking eight glasses of water per day is nothing but a medical myth. This was definitely a shocker to me, given the fact that I grew up thinking otherwise. I can even remember advising a friend or two about the “so-called” importance of consuming eight glasses of some good old H2O rather than carbonated beverages to ward off dehydration. But while Dr. Caroll did not downplay the importance of drinking ample amounts of water, he did emphasize that “water is present in fruits and vegetables. It’s in juice, it’s in beer, it’s even in tea and coffee.” “Although I recommended water as the best beverage to consume, it’s certainly not your only source of hydration. You don’t have to consume all the water you need through drinks,” he underscored. Based on my further research, though limited to the internet, no one has thus far disputed Dr. Caroll’s disclosure. In fact he has co-authored a paper in 2007 on this “medical myth” which was published in the British Medical Journal, and then a book two years later dispelling the ‘eight glasses’ notion. Now despite the time and
effort plugged into dismissing the notion, in words that suggested that he was despondent, Dr. Caroll noted in the New York Times “I thought it would persuade people to stop worrying. I was wrong…” He nevertheless has deduced that “there is no formal recommendation for a daily amount of water people need. That amount obviously differs by what people eat, where they live, how big they are and what they are doing.” Now this had me wondering from whence did this ‘drinking eight glass of water per day’ recommendation come. Well I just had to keep reading to get the answer. Based on an article written by Fiona McDonald (http:// www.sciencealert.com/theres-no-evidence-we-need-todrink-eight-glasses-of-watera-day-researcher-advises), in which she dubbed ‘drinking eight glass of water’ “the great water myth”, it is generally believed that the source is a 1945 Food and
Nutrition Board Recommendation report. The report, she revealed, states that ‘a suitable allowance of water for adults is 2.5 litres daily in most instances. An ordinary standard for diverse persons is one millilitre for each calorie of food’. McDonald, who highlighted Dr. Caroll’s work, and that of Dr. Heinz Valtin from Dartmouth University, United States, who in a 2002 review spoke of ‘water myth’, sought to point out that while the 2.5 litres Food and the Nutrition Board Recommendation is essentially, more or less, equivalent to eight glasses “what’s usually
ignored from that report is the crucial next sentence: Most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods.” Some might call me gullible, but I do believe it is high time to dispel the eight glasses theory that has consumed so many of us for so long. After all, I couldn’t put it over more eloquently than McDonald who noted that “…don’t stress out about following some preprescribed formula to health, because all it’s going to do is see you running to the bathroom more often than you need to. And ain’t nobody got time for that.”
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Sunday April 17, 2016
Who killed ‘Big L?’ By Michael Jordan On the evening of Wednesday, August 4, 2010, Shumaine Archer heard a car stop in front of her aunt’s Lot 285 Well Road, North Ruimveldt home shortly before 21:00 hrs. She surmised that this meant that her aunt, Learia Bristol, had returned from church. Aunt Learia seldom walked with her keys, and it would sometimes be left to Shumaine or one of the other occupants to open the door. Then Shumaine heard something else…three explosive sounds that reminded her of firecrackers. She felt no panic. She assumed that the neighbourhood boys were playing in the street. After all it was the August holidays. But then she heard a ‘tumbling’ in the upper flat, and her aunt’s boyfriend bolted down the stairs leading to the bottom flat where Shumaine was sitting. “Is Learia!” he shouted. It took some time for Shumaine to finally unbolt the grills and unlock the front door and gate. And when she finally got outside, she understood what had made the explosive sounds. Forty-two year-old Learia Bristol lay motionless on her bridge in a rapidly spreading pool of blood. She had been shot at close range behind the
A photo showing injuries Bristol sustained at the hands of one of the men suspected of killing her right ear. By the time relatives rushed her to the Georgetown Hospital, she was already dead. Everything about Bristol’s murder suggested an execution-style killing, besides the fact that the killers had fled without taking any of the victim’s jewellery and other valuables. And in this case, there were suspects aplenty. Bristol, known as ‘Big L’, was a successful businesswoman who owned Bristol’s Electronics and Vintage Variety Store in Robb Street. Relatives allege that the former property owner had sold the building to Bristol around 2000 after encountering financial
problems. But it is alleged that a local bank somehow sold the same premises to another business entity. Bristol took the matter to the High Court, which ruled in her favour. The other person in the dispute appealed. Bristol was allegedly gunned down a few days before the appeal was scheduled to be heard. But close relatives also pointed to two other men whom they believe had strong motives for wanting Learia Bristol dead. While Bristol, from all reports, had been a shrewd businesswoman, her personal life, close friends say, was in disorder.
At the time of her death, Bristol was emerging from a long and abusive relationship with a man who she had met long before her then boyfriend. Persons in whom she confided said that she often wore heavy makeup to hide bruises that had been inflicted by her abuser’s fists. They said he even struck her in the face with a gun. Aside from that, they alleged that the man had almost ruined Bristol’s thriving business when he was left briefly in charge. Close relatives eventually persuaded Bristol to take pictures of her bruises and make reports about the abuse and threats at the East La Penitence, Ruimveldt and Brickdam police stations. Eventually, she reportedly got a court order restraining him from coming near her business place. Some relatives claim that the man had even told ‘Big L’ that she would never move into her new home in Well Road, North Ruimveldt. “Three days before she died, she said she was no longer afraid of him because she could not live her life looking over her shoulder,” a relative said. But some relatives feel that Learia Bristol had a premonition of impending tragedy. According to those who were at church with her on the night of her execution,
Learia Bristol ‘Big L’ prayed the closing prayer. “Everyone was surprised at the way she prayed, members opened their eyes to see if it was really her and joined in with her. She prayed like it was her last… and indeed it was.” Among the persons
questioned were Bristol’s boyfriend—who had taken her to hospital—and her exhusband, who was overseas at the time of her execution. However, no one was ever implicated in her death. But there’s a third man who some feel should have been questioned. That man is an individual who was well known to Learia Bristol. Some feel that he might have pulled the trigger, or somehow conspired with the abusive man with whom Bristol had once shared a relationship. The relatives claim that this man, and the one who had abused her, have both benefitted from her death. “All we need is justice. Who killed her, only God and the killer or killers know.” If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office. Our numbers are 22-58458, 2258465, 22-58482 and 2258491. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s : mjdragon@hotmail.com
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
President Granger’s image could be damaged by these things It is not even one year since the Coalition Government has been in power, yet supporters and officials of the PNC, or if you want to say APNU, have manifested disturbing signs of an old culture that has been with this country from the time the PPP and PNC competed for power in the early fifties. One can forgive such dangerous expressions and egregious deportment three or four years from now, but not a mere eleven months after the PPP was removed from office. Surely, to use that kind of language so soon after the PPP leaders used it must be offensive, unacceptable and morally indefensible. From the time the Joe Harmon imbroglio hit the news stands, the language of some PNC officials was identical with the semantics of the PPP leaders. It included the following; “conspiracy to bring down Mr. Harmon”; “witch-hunt by the press”; “irresponsibility of the press”;
“ulterior motive of some to get Mr. Harmon.” Just eleven months ago, these identical semantics were used by the PPP leaders against Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Prime News, Capitol News and Demerara Waves, among others Just eleven months ago, Mr. Harmon, and all PNC and APNU leaders were stretched out across Guyana sharing with the Guyanese nation damaging material about the PPP Government that they got from the press, particularly the Kaieteur News. Year after year, before 2015, the independent press provided the people of Guyana information on corrupt government. Guyanese from all walks of life used that information to condemn the PPP, and it influenced the way they voted. It is obnoxious for leaders, whether high or low in the PNC and APNU, to see a conspiracy to hurt the
Coalition Government, when that very government partly owes its existence to the manner in which the press reported on authoritarian power under the PPP. Then came the picketing exercise in front of the Kaieteur News. We never know what lies in store for us. But I can tell you this; if just eleven months after the PNC came to power, its supporters could mount a picket against a newspaper that rallied against the hegemony of the PPP autocrats, then the future of democratic power looks bleak. Then came the Bobby Vieira outburst against the Stabroek News. That Mr. Vieira’s deportment could mirror the past behaviour of most PPP leaders, then time is surely not on the side of this country. What Mr. Vieira did to the Stabroek News invokes memories of Robeson Benn. Benn pulled into NCN and ordered a calypso - the lyrics of which he didn’t appreciate - removed from the airwaves. The Stabroek News reported Mr. Vieira as saying that he
could say whatever he wants, as he ordered the Stabroek News reporter out of a public place. Which world was Mr. Vieira living in before May 2015? If he was living in the real world and followed events in his homeland, then he would have seen thousands of expressions of similar behaviour by PPP leaders as what he displayed. Is President Granger watching? These kinds of behavioural patterns, if they persist, will destroy Mr. Granger’s image of a good, decent leader. These negatives are coming into the face of the Guyanese people a mere eleven months after an historic election. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s image could go down the same path. The Chronicle refused two columns from its Sunday columnist, Dr. David Hinds. One of the columns, the Sunday editor, Neil Marks told me he had a problem with. One of the columns objected
to any plan by the Coalition Government to employ Nanda Gopaul and Robert Persaud. The other piece was Hinds’ criticism of President Granger’s condemnation of the Rodney Report. What was wrong with Hinds’ two columns to warrant such censorship a mere eleven months after the Guyanese people voted to clean up the Chronicle? I asked the chairman of the Chronicle Board, Ms. Jean La Rose, to read the two columns and offer me her opinion. She promised to do so then backtracked. She said the rejection of the two columns is a matter for the editorial department. She directed me to the Editor-inChief, Nigel Williams. I disagreed with Ms. La
Frederick Kissoon Rose. Dr. Hinds was censored and that is a policy matter for the Board. I asked Ms. La Rose if the policy of the Board is to reject racism and a column advocates racism, if that isn’t a Board matter. Again she disagreed. We have new editors and a new board at the Chronicle. We have a new government in place, but Guyana’s destructive, undemocratic, old culture persists. Sooner rather than later it will kill off this country. The world may rejoice when that happens.
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Sunday April 17, 2016
AFC reaffirms its commitment to the Coalition Govt. The Alliance For Change strongly affirms the party’s commitment to the APNU+AFC Coalition. We wish to allay the fears of all Guyanese in and outside of Guyana which suggested that the AFC may have been getting ready to separate itself from the APNU+AFC Coalition. This is not so! Without minimizing any concern or misgiving that any supporter may have, the AFC intends to remain true to every single caveat in the Cummingsburg Accord that was signed on Valentine’s Day 2015. This accord, though not written in stone (all signatory parties may suggest and obtain consensus for adjustments as circumstances unfold), remains the light that is guiding the Coalition through the long process of restoring Guyana’s economy, our
international image, and the physical and procedural infrastructures that EVERY citizen must benefit from, including the instruments that distribute power and control. One of these instruments was the Local Government Elections which is intended to disseminate governmental powers and responsibilities among communities, neighbourhoods and municipalities. On Sunday 10th April, the Alliance For Change issued a statement to the public following our Leadership Retreat to review our performance to date, the role that we play as part of the Coalition Government, and to discuss a number of current issues. These included the January 2016 appointment of a Ministerial Advisor on Business Development made
by the Minister of State. After the Retreat we issued a statement which said in part:“The Alliance for Change is of the opinion that the current difficulties which the government has encountered in the continuing revelations arising out of the appointment of the Advisor on Business Development and the issues surrounding this, have their roots in the concentration of the powers of the office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency, and the effective Head of (the) Presidential Secretariat in a single person. The responsibilities of each of the above portfolios are substantial and of critical importance to the smooth operations of the Government (which) would benefit from separate
appointments.” This statement appears to have startled some people who incorrectly interpreted it to mean that the AFC was reviewing its status in the Coalition Government. Many people did not read the entire statement that also clearly stated, “The Alliance For Change reiterates its commitment to the Coalition Government while recognizing that the principles of good governance, transparency and equal opportunity are fundamental to the success of the Coalition”. In truth, what is effectively emerging before the people of Guyana is a new political culture. This new paradigm is an exhibition of political maturity and tolerance for different political views. This new culture also allows space for political partners and political adversaries to demonstrate independence of thought and the freedom to ventilate their disagreements without acrimony or discord. It allows for partners to share different points of view and to discuss these differences in order to arrive at common ground, just as married couples do. This new, open culture can only benefit the nation. We’d like the nation to accept that while the members of the
Coalition will not agree on every matter, we are tolerant of other people’s opinions, and mature enough to accept constructive criticism. We are obliged to conduct our affairs in a civil but forthright manner, which will always be focused on doing what is best for the people of Guyana. This, we believe, is the guiding principle of national leadership. In the days following the Sunday announcement, the AFC’s leadership communicated our points of view to H.E. President David Granger, and to the Cabinet of Ministers. The matters were exhaustively discussed at that forum without acrimony. This, our good people, is what we mean by MATURE GOVERNANCE. No more should Guyanese people be forced to endure the culture of complete and total adherence to the “maximum leader” as was practiced by the PPP regime. No more should our disagreements or dissent be “ruthlessly beheaded”, or the dissenter be cast out into the ‘wilderness’ and declared persona non grata as was the habit of the PPP regime. Guyana has not only changed our political leaders, we have changed the culture! We are growing up and the coalition will keep its promise
to govern responsibly, with clear heads, while we guard against any tendency towards dictatorship. Guyanese will not stand for any more of it, we are sure of that! Prior to May 2015 we had all been subjected to a decadent political culture which did not consider the best interest of the citizenry. This new culture that the Coalition is honing is a deliberate departure from the ‘old’. The process is not easy or simple. Sometimes we stumble, sometimes we disagree, sometimes we take missteps. We are certainly mature enough to take some steps back, re-examine the decisions we make, change them when they need to be changed, then move forward with consensus from all concerned. There is one other element that seems to be ingrained in the national consciousness of some Guyanese, a thought process that will not be shifted if the Opposition continues to sow seeds of discord in their traditional support bases, and openly encourage Guyanese people to live their lives in exclusion from national events. The coalition is aware that people living in some rural communities are being (continued on page 31)
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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My column
When the Chinese come the rules change During the colonial days when Britain was responsible for this plot of land called Guyana, the financial aid came from that country. But that aid came at a cost. Sugar was shipped out as was lumber, and most importantly, the brains. The education system was geared to produce people for the Mother Country. The examinations were all British. What the students wrote in England, that was what the locals wrote. There was Oxford and Cambridge out of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge; there was the London Certificate of Examination; and at the lower level, the College of Preceptors. And those who did well boarded either a ship or an airline for England. To this day there are many who now say that they have Guyanese roots. They came to prominence in the area of politics as Baroness Amos; sports like Chris Lewis and Michael Carberry, and singers too numerous to mention. Of course there were the people who did so well on television like Ramjohn Holder and Norman Beaton. Independence came and with the Cold War in effect aid began to come from the United States. As has been the pattern, many Guyanese then headed there, to the
point where just about every Guyanese now has a relative or family member in the States. There are large Guyanese communities there to the point that the officials must take notice. Now Guyana is about to enjoy Chinese patronage. The economic crisis forced many of the traditional countries to cut back on their aid programmes but the Chinese, with one of the fastest growing economies, stepped in. It started with trade. What people began to notice was that any money was not free money. Guyana had to find something to make the trade meaningful or suffer to market its primary products. The nation did not say much when the earlier colonials exploited this country, because these colonials were more or less home people. We spoke the same language and the countries were accessible. With the Chinese it is a different kettle of fish. There is the difference in language and culture. But the money is needed and so this country enters into numerous trade arrangements. Unlike the other countries where the aggressive media expose just about every deal, the Chinese media are rather more in the background. The government is not pressed to disclose anything,
because from our point of view there is no hesitation to jail those perceived to be rocking the boat. This is what makes deals with the Chinese so testing to the ordinary person. Where we were exposed to private investors, with China we have all the companies that are all state owned for the most part. So we had BaiShanLin which everyone, given the tradition, expected to be a private company. There are very few private companies, and even if there are, the Chinese government has some hand on it. For example there is the online shopping company, Alibaba. The founder insists that it is all private, but he was quick to admit that the Chinese government had approached him for some favour (that is an understatement). He told ‘60 Minutes’ that he did what was requested, but he was quick to say that he asked for no compensation and suggested that he would not be happy granting many favours. So we come to the most recent brouhaha. The local media singled out BaiShanLin because it seemed to be breaking all the rules of Guyana. That company came during the tenure of the People’s Progressive Party government. We were not aware of the agreement, but
we did know that the company was granted large swaths of Guyana’s forest. Investigations revealed that there were a lot of questions to be asked about the timber extraction process. It then surfaced that the company failed to honour some of the agreements it had entered into with the government. But there were other companies in Guyana. In fact, the Chinese had spread their wings in the region. They were in Suriname, Jamaica, Antigua and Trinidad, spending money on a lot of projects. Perhaps these countries in the region were aware that they were dealing with the Chinese government but with different faces. This would explain the problems with Minister Joe Harmon and the local media. There had to be government to government discussions, so when the media railed at Harmon for intervening in the
move by the Guyana Revenue Authority to seize some highend vehicles, it was not an individual decision. But the media did not know this, so they zeroed on Harmon. For his part he said nothing. He thought that he had no reason to say anything. And this situation explains why the newspaper that former president Bharrat Jagdeo controls, did not get into the imbroglio. Jagdeo knew what was going on; he did not see the need for any fuss, because he understands the way of the Chinese. The news is now out. The Chinese government by way of a state-owned company will take over the operations of BaiShanLin. This will for certain continue to be a government to government arrangement. Any indiscretions by the Chinese company will be the indiscretions of the Chinese government and we know that
Adam Harris this government does not take kindly to criticisms. Meanwhile, the Granger administration will have to do its damnedest to keep explaining to the Guyanese people any indiscretion by the Chinese companies, since we locals are comfortable with private companies. When all is said and done, it is a case of Guyana needing the money but for certain the people will not stand by and watch the resources exploited. The Harmon issue made this clear.
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Sunday April 17, 2016
An education of innovation (Excerpts from an address by His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the Closing Ceremony of the National Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Fair and Sagicor Visionaries Challenge 2016, at Linden Foundation Secondary School) Guyana is a blessed country. We have inherited, by the grace of God, a precious patrimony. We have a luxuriant land of forests, savannahs, lakes, mountains, waterfalls and rivers; we possess bountiful timber and mineral resources. We also have necessities – the food we eat, the water we drink, the houses we live in, the clothes we wear, the boats, buses and bicycles we use to get to and from school and the books we read or write in – can be produced only by some form of science. Science, also, is about energy-generation, solidwaste management and creating ‘green’ communities
and ‘green’ economies. Guyana needs an ‘education of innovation’ to satisfy these essentials. Guyana needs thousands of persons in manufacturing to fabricate machines to process foods and make utensils; miners to produce bauxite, diamonds, gold and manganese; architects, contractors and construction workers to build our houses; medical doctors and technologists to protect us from epidemic disease or to cure our everyday disorders and diseases and computer scientists to enhance our knowledge and expedite our transactions. Our needs are limitless. Guyana’s young people must be educated and encouraged to be inventive and innovative. They must be provided with the opportunities to develop practical solutions to the physical challenges we face. We encourage our young people to undertake studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics – STEM – in order to satisfy
our needs. STEM, however, should not be mistaken simply as an acronym for four separate subjects. It represents a curriculum based on educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — but in an interdisciplinary and applied approach. STEM requires a different approach to teaching. This method, rather than teach the four subjects separately, integrates them cohesively into a system based on practical applications and realistic solutions to problems. It aims at showing students how science could be applied to everyday situations. STEM education, therefore, must start while students are young and continue through three levels of their adolescence: · Primary level education provides inquirybased, problem-based learning, connecting all four of the STEM subjects. It aims at stimulating students’
interest in pursuing the required courses; · Secondary level education, as we see here today, is more challenging as students must satisfy specific academic requirements. Programmes of study should focus on the application of the subjects in a rigorous manner. · Tertiary level and postsecondary education will place more emphasis on outof-school employment and career opportunities. The mastery of these four subjects at three different levels encourages logical and critical thinking. This is essential to problem-solving by our leaders and teachers and to success in science and technology to ensure our survival in a competitive world. We are looking at a new generation of teachers. We are looking at a new generation of textbooks to support the new teaching. We are looking at new techniques which can transform our lives. There are good reasons why more students should be studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics: · INNOVATION: Education, more particularly science and technology education, is the key to innovation. The capacity of developing countries such as ours to compete in global markets will rely on our ability to innovate.
Innovation requires that greater emphasis be placed on education, particularly STEM education. STEM education must be emphasized in our schools from an early age if we are to develop the skills and attitudes necessary to foster the innovation. · INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: The greatest innovation in the global economy is in the scientific and information technology fields. The classroom of the future will be the “smart classroom.” The use of digital technology and media will revolutionize the classroom. Smart boards will replace blackboards; tablets and computers will be the future notebooks and e books will replace the voluminous printed text books of today. STEM studies will prepare students for the evolution in the delivery of education in the classroom. · INFRASTRUCTURE: Guyana’s economy is in the process of physical transformation. This emphasises infrastructure development such as the building of aerodromes, bridges, canals, highways and stellings; economic diversification, including into tourism services, and the promotion of increased value-added manufacturing. These changes in our economic thrust will generate
H.E. President David Granger increased demands for agronomists, botanists, engineers, geologists, technologists and technicians. The local job market will see an increase demand for science-based skills. Guyana faces threats from various sources – the adverse effects of climate change; concerns over the sustainability of our water supplies; the security of food supply; the generation of cheaper, cleaner and renewable sources of energy and, inevitably, the prevention of the spread of diseases such as Ebola and Zika – across borders. The response to these global challenges requires scientific solutions which: · provide the present generation of students with an opportunity to be part of the process of finding solutions to these challenges; · promote solutions to (continued on page 31)
Sunday April 17, 2016
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What really is sickle cell anemia? By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Life with sickle cell anemia is literally very painful and debilitating. It is a lifelong condition and is more common in Guyana than we may think. Being undiagnosed with sickle cell anemia leads to unexplained, repeated bouts of illness than can leave those affected by it in a conundrum. Knowing about this disorder is an important step in ensuring it is diagnosed, because appropriate treatment will improve quality of life with sickle cell anemia. WHAT IS SICKLE CELLANEMIA? Sickle cell anemia, also called sickle cell disease, is a condition that affects the red blood cells. The red blood cells carry oxygen to organs in the body. Normal red blood cells are round. When people have sickle cell anemia, some of their red blood cells can have an abnormal shape. They look like a crescent (or an old-time
tool called a “sickle”). The abnormal red blood cells get stuck in the blood vessels easily, and so they don’t bring enough oxygen to the body’s organs. This can cause pain or organ damage. Sickle cell anemia is a condition that people are born with. It is caused by an abnormal gene. To get the disease, people need to get the abnormal gene from both their mother and father. If people get the abnormal gene from only one parent, it’s called “sickle cell trait.” People with sickle cell trait do not usually have any of the symptoms of sickle cell anemia. Patients with sickle cell anemia tend to have a life based around regular hospitalizations for treatment of the many different complications that can arise with this illness. Their lives are shortened and sadly they rarely live past the fifth decade of life. WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SICKLE CELLANEMIA? Symptoms usually start after a baby is a few months old. Most commonly, people
with sickle cell anemia have episodes of pain. Some doctors use the term “sickle cell crisis.” The pain can be in the bones, chest, or other parts of the body. It can be mild or severe, and last hours to days. People can have other symptoms with their pain, including: * Fever * Swelling (for example, in the hands or feet) * Trouble breathing normally Most episodes of pain just happen because of the abnormal red blood cells, and can’t be predicted. But sometimes, the pain can be related to other things, such as: * Infection – People with sickle cell anemia are more likely than others to get certain infections. * Dehydration – Dehydration is when the body loses too much water. * Weather or air conditions * Travel to high-altitude places – These are places where there is less oxygen in the air, such as mountains. Flying in an airplane might
AFC reaffirms its commitment to the Coalition Govt. From page 28 encouraged by their leaders to ignore their country’s 50th Independence Anniversary. People, this is too big a milestone to ignore. Every single Guyanese, alive or deceased, has contributed in some way to our reaching this point in our history. Every single person has a RIGHT to celebrate this achievement in whatever way s/he wants to. It is spiteful and antidevelopment to encourage your supporters to bypass the national Jubilee celebrations. They are being asked to deprive themselves of the opportunity to celebrate the work that THEY
DID! That is unfair! The National Jubilee is a celebration of the achievements of Guyanese people, from Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran and Clive Lloyd, to Madame Justice Desiree Bernard, Justice Mohammed Shahabuddin, Sir Shridath Ramphal and Ambassador Rudy Insanally. Terry Gajraj must be celebrated, as should be Keith Waithe, John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul, Aubrey Mann, Charlie Couchman, the Sugar Cake Girls and Winston Caesar. Their achievements have taken them and this country to the far corners of the world. There is no reason why they
An education of innovation From page 30 national concerns and help us to navigate through an increasingly interdependent and technologically well-informed global environment; and · prepare students for the technological changes that will open opportunities for school-leavers to participate in a competitive economy. We are happy to see so many schools participating in this National Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fair and the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge 2016. Your enthusiastic
participation is a signal of your seriousness not only about success in your personal careers, but about solving problems in your communities and in this great country. It is t h e s t a r t o f a n innovation education.
should not be celebrated. Our Coalition Government is still in every sense a very young one, and admittedly, mistakes are made. Supporters have expressed frustration with certain developments and the purported slow movement with respect to criminal actions expected to be taken against individuals aligned to the previous despotic PPP regime. Please be assured that with time, experience and sage counsel, we will iron out all the kinks, complete the necessary procedures, and move forward on a smooth plane. The procedures have to be undertaken with extreme care so that when the ball drops, all concerned will be placed where they should be. We will not stop until Guyana becomes a nation of happy people who live, work and earn in a true democracy, and this applies to every single Guyanese, irrespective of their political affiliation.
also cause symptoms for people with sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia can also cause many different health problems, including: * Anemia – Anemia is a condition in which the body has too few red blood cells. It makes people tired or weak. * Getting a lot of infections * Lung problems – Symptoms can include trouble breathing or chest pain. * Strokes – A stroke is when a part of the brain dies because it goes without blood for too long. * Open sores on the skin (usually on the legs) * An erection that lasts too long and is very painful (in men) WHO’S AT RISK? Sickle cell anemia is an inherited illness and is more common in certain ethnic groups, including: · People of African descent · Hispanics from Central and South America · People of Middle Eastern, Asian, Indian, and Mediterranean descent IS THERE ATEST FOR SICKLE CELLANEMIA?
A blood test can show if someone has sickle cell anemia. Some parents choose to test their unborn baby for sickle cell anemia. The most common test done is called Hb Electrophoresis and will tell if you have the abnormal red blood cells associated with sickle cell anemia. Because sickle cell anemia is one of the most common blood disorders, every newborn in the US is tested for it. Babies with unexplained recurrent illnesses should be tested for sickle cell anemia in our setting. Life with sickle cell anemia can be a bit easier if it is diagnosed. I urge that we all show compassion for those with sickle cell disease as it’s a life of pains with recurrent illnesses. Emergency departments
Dr. Zulfikar Bux do give priority to sickle cell patients, but at times it’s not always possible to deliver immediate care, given that there are so many other extremely sick patients. Having pain clinics for sickle cell patients will help to prevent unnecessary reliance on emergency departments for pain management and will help everyone involved in this debilitating illness.
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SUNDAY SPECIAL BREACH OFDUTY-FREE CONCESSIONS…CHINESE CONTRACTOR CAUGHT TRUCKINGAIRPORT SAND TO MOVIETOWNE SITE The Chinese contractor working on the multi-billion-dollar expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) was caught using its equipment illegally on a private job. According to officials, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) used its trucks and other vehicles and possibly even sand from the airport project on the MovieTowne construction at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara. CHEC’s trucks, more than 25 of them, were granted duty free concessions by the previous government for the US$150M airport work. CHEC also reportedly received tax waivers on at least six pick-ups and four SUVs. Somewhere along the way, the company’s sister company, China Harbour Engineering (T&T) Ltd (CHEC) also managed to win the contract to construct the MovieTowne project. The Turkeyen project, to include eight cinemas and food courts among other things, was contracted to CHEC in December 2014 for US$30M. However, it appears that CHEC decided to use the equipment that it has stationed at the airport, including the trucks, to work along with the MovieTowne project. Under the terms of conditions for the granting of concessions, equipment and vehicles have to be utilized specifically for the purposes it was granted—- in this case the airport project. Late last year, CHEC’s trucks were spotted on the East Bank Demerara road with sand. It was after hours. The trucks were not supposed to be working at nights. The supervising consultant of the airport project, a Canadian company called MMM Group, was alerted but CHEC had an explanation why the trucks were on the road at that hour. The company said the trucks were taking sand from a sandpit belonging to a businessman who operates in the Yarrowkabra area, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, to the MovieTowne site. CHEC reportedly managed to even acquire receipts of payments from the businessman to prove its story. What was not explained was how the trucks that could only work on the airport project were allowed to take sand to another location. HARMON’S CHINA TRIP MORE THAN GOVT REVEALS “Fighting corruption is not just good governance. It’s self-defence. It’s patriotism.” That is the belief of serving American Vice- President, Joe Biden. All believers of Biden’s mantra are keen on finding out exactly what was the nature of Minister of State, Joseph Harmon’s recent trip to China. When questions were raised ini-
tially, Harmon’s press secretary, Malika Ramsey, sent out a statement that sought to set the record straight about the controversial trip. However, the information contained in that press statement runs counter to the evidence presented in a photograph that was subsequently leaked to this newspaper. The statement indicated that Harmon and an In-House Legal Counsel at National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL), Ms. Natalia Seepersaud, visited China on state business. The purpose of the visit was to engage in discussions with regard to the payment of the US$5 million balance owed for the purchase of 20 percent of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) shares by Chinese company, Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group from NICIL in 2012. The statement said that separately, but during the same period, a team from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) comprising Head Project Coordinator, Fitzroy Corlette, and Supervisor, David Hermonstine, along with the representative of the Chinese companies in Guyana, Clinton Williams, visited China to participate in negotiations with NUTECH, a Chinese security scanning equipment supplier, for the acquisition of container and baggage scanners. Nowhere in the statement was anything said about the officials of a controversial logging company, BaiShanLin, being part of that trip. MONDAY EDITION STRIP HARMON’S POWERS, ENFORCE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR GOVT. OFFICIALS – AFC The Alliance For Change (AFC) says that too many responsibilities have been placed in the hands of
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon. The Party thinks that this is the root of many problems in the coalition government which it is a part of. In a statement issued last Sunday evening, AFC revealed that key leaders met earlier in the day on a retreat which is part of an ongoing effort to review the party’s performance. At that forum, the politicians also discussed a number of issues of concern to the Party. The AFC also reviewed and considered internal matters with regard to the party’s operations and structure along with its role as part of the Coalition Government of Guyana. ”Among the matters discussed at the retreat was the issue of the appointment of a Ministerial Advisor on Business Development by the Minister of State and other revelations in the public domain.” The AFC said that it is of the opinion that the current difficulties which the government has encountered in the continuing revelations arising out of the appointment of the Advisor on Business Development “and the issues surrounding this, have their roots in the concentration of the powers of the office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency and the effective Head of Presidential Secretariat in a single person”. AFC said that it thinks Guyana would be served best if these powers are divided. ”The responsibilities of each of the above portfolios are substantial and of critical importance to the smooth operations of the Government and would benefit from separate appointments,” it stated. AFC said that it has mandated its leadership in Cabinet to have these issues raised and addressed “as a matter of national importance.” Further, the AFC said that it is committed to responsible and trans-
parent governance and looks forward to the conclusion of the Code of Conduct for government officials and the application of same. CABINET COLLEAGUE AMNAALLY SAYS…NOTHING WRONG WITH HARMON’S ACTIONS 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 visited Region Three on Sunday 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”. 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 news-
paper 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.” SEIZE BAISHANLIN’S MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES UNTIL $1.8B RECOVERED – AUDITOR GOOLSARRAN Former Auditor General and chartered accountant, Anand Goolsarran says the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has every right to seize all of BaiShanLin’s materials, equipment and vehicles until it has recovered the full $1.8B in fiscal concessions that have been granted. Goolsarran is the accountant who conducted the forensic audit into the Guyana Forestry Commission. Commenting on the fact that GRA was recently allowed to finally seize two of the company’s vehicles, Goolsarran said that it should not end there, since the Chinese company is in high debt because of its violation of agreements. The accountant and anti-corruption advocate said that BaiShanLin has persistently defaulted on the investment agreement it has signed with the Government to set a wood processing plant at Linden. Instead, it has bought five logging companies and has been involved in the wholesale exportation of logs with impunity at a time when most tropical timber-producing countries have either banned log exports or have severely restricted their exportation. Goolsarran said that it is a situation of “an unadulterated raping of (Continued on page 33)
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(From page 32) our forests and destroying the lungs of the earth”. The auditor said that the investment agreement specifically states that if the machinery, equipment and materials for which fiscal concessions have been granted have not been used for the purpose(s) specified, the value of the concessions must be repaid to the Government. During the period 20122015, Baishanlin brought in US$38 million worth of machinery, equipment and materials of which fiscal concessions amounting to G$1.8 billion were granted. ”GRA should therefore seize all of these, not just the luxury vehicles, until the fiscal concessions granted are fully repaid,” said Goolsarran. TUESDAY EDITION CABINET TO FOCUS ON HARMON TODAY President David Granger has stated that the concerns, which have been raised by the Alliance For Change (AFC), a member of the governing coalition, with regard to the roles and responsibilities of the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, will be given due attention at today’s sitting of the Cabinet, once it is raised. The President was responding to questions posed after the launch of the El Dorado 50th Anniversary Special Edition R u m a t t h e Demerara Distillers Limited Headquarters, Plantation Diamond, last evening. According to the Guyanese Leader, while the AFC has made its statement to the media, no objection was made at the Cabinet level or even when the roles and responsibilities of various Ministers were agreed on in January of this year. However, although this concern has not yet been raised at the Cabinet level, the President indicated that once it is raised, it will be discussed. He noted that the responsibilities, which have been assigned to the Minister of State, were responsibilities, which were agreed to by the Cabinet at the retreat, held earlier this year. ”We had a retreat earlier this year and we put out a very clear statement on the responsibilities of all of the Ministers and the Ministry of the Presidency, so there is a book that states it and nobody made any
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Region Three residents who mounted protest outside KN’s office on Monday objection to the duties, which were assigned to the Minister of State then and it would be surprising that after two months that people feel that the duties…need to be trimmed. So I have to wait to find out from our colleagues what they actually mean,” Granger said. Responding specifically to questions on whether the Minister’s portfolio was too large, the President said that it is his belief that the work, which has been assigned to the Minister, can be adequately handled. NIGELHUGHES QUITSAS CHAIRMAN OFAFC
present at the meeting, subsequently spoke with Hughes and a meeting was arranged for Tuesday. AFC further stated, “The party confirms unequivocally that the statement issued on April 10th following its leadership retreat was a one which was unanimously approved by the attendees of the leadership retreat. The party will make no further statement on this matter at this time.” AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and Executive Member Raphael Trotman were not at Sunday’s meeting. BK LASHES OUT AT GRANGER OVER RESCINDED APPOINTMENT
Nigel Hughes The Alliance For Change (AFC) on Monday evening sent out a statement confirming that at a statutory Management Committee meeting held by the Party, its Chairman Nigel Hughes “made an announcement with regard to his Chairmanship of the party.” AFC leader said that Party Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, who was
Businessman, Brain Tiwarie, on Monday lashed out at President David Granger criticizing the Headof-State’s decision to rescind Tiwarie’s appointment as Ministerial Advisor on Business. Tiwarie said that the President acted recklessly and ought to rethink his actions. Via a release, Tiwarie told the media that he was never appointed advisor to the Minister of Business but as Harmon’s personal advisor on business. He said that such an appointment should only be seen as legitimate, especially since he was offering his advice to Harmon for free. Tiwarie said, “Other Ministers, including the Prime Minister,” have made several such appointments. Admitting that the public has been hurt by revelations of Harmon’s actions, Tiwarie said, “And relating to (Nagamootoo’s appointments) there is an absence of a sustained campaign and public outcry.”
Tiwarie ventured to advise the President to, in the interest of fairness, revoke all other related appointments. He said that Granger “acted impulsively” in revoking his appointment at a time when his appointee (Harmon) was out of the country. He added, “It may well be that in quieter time the President may have an opportunity to reflect upon the propriety of impulsive decision making.” The short-lived Ministerial Advisor said in the statement that his relationship with Minister Harmon predates APNU, Guyana Elections and Harmon’s appointment as Minister. He added, “The truth of the matter is that a political struggle is underway between various elements in high places and the Tiwarie so called appointment is being used by many to achieve their objectives.” Tiwarie also admitted that he flew to China on the same private jet as Harmon did. He found “absolutely nothing wrong with this.” Tiwarie boasted that Harmon is “rightfully perceived as quiet, powerful and influential even more than the now famous Dr. Luncheon and this has provoked the struggle for power, for influence, for turf.” ‘I DON’T KNOW WHAT B.K. TIWARIE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO’ – GRANGER “I don’t know what Brian Tiwarie is looking forward to. It is true that we have received a lot of support from the business community. We have launched the five B’s initiative. All of those buses have been donated by members of the business community,” President David Granger said Monday evening.
”A lot of bicycles have been donated by members of the business community, so it is true that the Government has received a lot of gifts from the business community. They have helped clean up, they are corporate citizens, but I am not aware that they have asked for anything in return,” the Head of State declared. He was the main speaker at the launch of El Dorado 50th Anniversary ‘Special Reserve Rum’. He also addressed reports that the coalition had benefitted from $100 million from the businessman. The President made it clear that this was not true. ”I don’t know about that. I don’t know about any $100 million. Not from Mr. Tiwarie or any other source”, he said. The President, while responding to questions posed by media operatives on the press statement which was released by Mr. Tiwarie, made it clear that he will not respond to the c o n t e n t s ”I won’t respond to Mr. Tiwarie and Mr. Tiwarie does not determine my policy. I will just leave it at that,” he said. CLUELESS DEMONSTRATORS MOUNT PROTEST OUTSIDE KAIETEUR NEWS OFFICE Just under a score of persons hailing from Region Three on Monday mounted a protest outside Kaieteur News in “solidarity” with the embattled Minister of State Joseph Harmon. The lead protestor who identified herself as Kathleen Armstrong told Kaieteur News, “We are standing in solidarity with the APNU+AFC government; we stand with President David Granger, and (Continued on page 34)
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(From page 33) in support of Joseph Harmon. We, as a Region, are in solidarity with what Joseph Harmon is doing.” Armstrong said that she is APNU+AFC Regional Councilor for Region Three. Asked if she is indeed supportive of Harmon and all his recently publicized actions, Armstrong said, “I do not know what actions you are talking about.” She said that all she knows is that she is a Harmon supporter. Armstrong had a placard erected that read, “Nigel Hughes is anti-coalition. Get on board.” Kaieteur News asked Armstrong about her making of such a strong allegation against the Chairman of the Alliance For Change whose Party plays an important role in the coalition government. She eventually responded, “I am telling him to come on board, can’t you see that?” Another protestor held a placard which read, “Glenn Lall has a PPP/C motive. Coalition is it.” Asked to explain the reason behind such a conclusion, Armstrong responded, “I am not here to talk about Glenn Lall, I am here to show support for the APNU+AFC government.” Armstrong declined to say how she felt about the President’s decision to rescind Brain Tiwarie’s appointment which was made by Harmon. She said, “I will not discuss that because I am not here for that. I will not be the judge of any of the actions of President Granger. I am going to stand in support with whatever President Granger does.”
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Minister of State Joseph Harmon Political commentators Frederick Kissoon and Mark Benschop expressed disappointment in politicians whom they feel must have been the force behind the protest demonstration. WEDNESDAY EDITION MUZZLED…CABINET MUM ON HARMON ISSUE, MINISTERS REMINDED OF PRIVACY OATH Cabinet Members were reminded Tuesday of their “oath” to keep discussions private.
The caution was issued in light of the fact that Cabinet discussed matters relating to controversies surrounding embattled Minister of State Joseph Harmon. Kaieteur News understands that the Cabinet meeting concluded around 17:30hrs, but much more is to be discussed. Because of this, another meeting was set for Thursday. But the existing silence was deafening. A source close to the Cabinet indicated that “the Harmon issues indeed came up”. However, it was stressed that the matter was surprisingly not addressed as one of “national importance.” These revelations would come as something of an affront to the Guyanese people. There is every indication that the secrecy which was practiced during previous administrations, and in recent times had totally destroyed the people’s confidence in government, is once again rearing its ugly head. Photographic evidence that showed Mr. Harmon posing on a private jet with BaiShanLin’s Managing Director, Chu Hongbo and family, has raised serious questions. The government in a statement that preceded the leaked photo had emphasised that the purpose of Mr. Harmon’s visit was to engage in discussions with regard to the payment of the US$5 million balance owed for the purchase of 20 percent of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) shares by Chinese company, Datang Telecom Technology and Industry Group from NICIL, in 2012. Nowhere in the statement was anything said about any meetings or interaction with officials of the controversial logging company. Harmon has maintained a worrying silence as the media reported on a series of his recent shady actions. The Minister had promised to hold press conferences since his return, but never did. POSING ON A JET WITH PERSONS UNDER INVESTIGATION IS A “RECKLESS MOVE” – RAMJATTAN Numerous questions are being raised in the press over the recent “controversial” decisions made Minister of State, Joseph Harmon as well as his alleged coziness with the contentious Chinese logging company, BaiShanLin Forest Development Inc. In light of the concerns, Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan believes that his colleague should face the press. Ramjattan made this, among other comments, during a recent interview with Kaieteur News. In addition to this, the Leader of the Alli-
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Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan ance for Change (AFC) is of the firm view that it would not only be a “massive error in judgment” but also a “reckless move” for a politician to be on a private jet ride with officials who are under investigation by his country. He made this assertion after being pressed by Kaieteur News to say whether in a “hypothetical” situation if he would have been caught in such a circumstance. AFC TIGHTLIPPEDABOUT HUGHES’RESIGNATION …AS FORMER CHAIRMAN CHAMPIONS “BETTER MUST COME” DRIVE ”Better must come!” Those are words featured on the Facebook page of Nigel Hughes in the wake of his recent resignation from the Alliance For Change (AFC). Hughes, who portrays himself as a patriotic Guyanese with a desire for genuine change, on Tuesday issued a brief statement confirming his decision to relinquish chairmanship of the AFC. The statement, issued on his Facebook page read, “On the 11th day of April 2016, I tendered my resignation to the leadership of the Alliance for Change (AFC). My continuing to act as Chairman of the party had become difficult and untenable. It has been a privilege and honour to have served in the capacity as Chairman of the party. Better Must Come.” Kaieteur News contacted Hughes for comments on the short statement he published (Continued on page 35)
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(From page 34) on Facebook but he indicated that he had nothing more to say on the issue. Hughes said that there is “nothing to add.” However, a keen look at Hughes Facebook page gave perspective. The phrase “better must come” was used quite often. Commenting on the protest staged outside of Kaieteur News on Monday in support of Harmon Hughes said, “Guess the price of an independent view is being branded as opposition. Better Must Come.” AIRPORT EMPLOYEE DRIVES INTO ROADBLOCK WITH STOLEN CAR Police on the East Coast of Demerara have detained a young airport employee who drove up to a roadblock with a stolen Toyota Runx on Monday night. The car disappeared sometime between Sunday and Monday from the Ogle International Airport where it was parked by its owner, Andre Stoby. Kaieteur News understands that Stoby, a gold miner, had parked the vehicle at the airport on Sunday with the intention of having a friend pick it up while he boarded a flight to the interior. He left the keys with a trusted security guard and told him that the friend would collect them. According to Stoby’s wife, Cindy James, when the friend turned up to collect the car, it had vanished, and the security guard who was entrusted with the keys could give no reasonable explanation. A report was made to the police and a countrywide alert was issued. This newspaper was told that on Monday night, a police roadblock at Sparendaam, headed by Inspector Christ o p h e r H u m p h r e y, o b s e r v e d a d a r k coloured car approaching from Ogle to go further up the coast. The driver of the car, upon seeing the roadblock attempted to turn around, immediately arousing the suspicions of the alert ranks on duty. At the time they did not know that the car was the one that was reported stolen. Nevertheless, they ran towards the car and challenged the driver. They enquired from him why he was trying to turn around. Kaieteur News learnt that the driver recognized Inspector Humphrey and tried to “reason” with him to be given a chance; but the Inspector did not budge. The driver, who was later identified as an Ogle Airport employee, was ordered to come out of the vehicle, and a search was carried out on his person as well as the car. When asked for his driver’s licence, the airport employee told the police that he had left it at home. Of course the police did not believe him, and he was promptly taken to the nearby Sparendaam Station where he was booked for the traffic offences. The matter certainly did not end there. The police carried out checks and to their surprise, they discovered that the car was the same vehicle that was reported stolen earlier in the day. When this was put to the airport employee, he claimed that the car belonged to his uncle. The police contacted the owner’s wife and she denied any relations to the employee, even going further to inform that she did not know him. The airport employee is facing several charges, including larceny of a motor vehicle and being an unlicenced driver.
THURSDAY EDITION PRIVATE ‘JET TRIP’ WAS ARRANGED BY CHINESE GOVT. – PRESIDENT GRANGER Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has finally offered his Cabinet colleagues an explanation for a photograph which saw him posing comfortably with officials of Chinese logging c o m p a n y, BaiShanLin. This is the very company that is currently under the watchful eye of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU). Ironically, it is the same company that was heavily criticized by Harmon for its wanton abuse of Guyana’s forests, excessive breaches of the nation’s laws and failure to fulfill its promise of a wood-processing facility. Asked about Harmon’s explanation, President David Granger said, “(Harmon) has explained it to the Cabinet… The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China was in China at that time and he (Harmon) had to go to about three or four different cities.” ”The Ambassador arranged the Executive transport because of the distance betw e e n t h e c i t i e s a n d t h e a m o u n t o f t i m e h e ( H a r m o n ) had at his disposal, so it was arranged by the Chinese Government to enable him t o t r a v e l t o d i f f e r e nt cities so that he can conduct the business he was there to conduct.” Granger was then asked who funded the trip from Guyana to China. Granger said he understands that it was funded by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). ”I know that he went to China on NICIL business. I saw the Cabinet decision,” the President added. HUGHES RESCINDS RESIGNATION -TO CONTINUE AFC’S POLITICAL AND POLICY WORK As was predicted by some, the hierarchy of the Alliance For Change (AFC) refused to accept a letter of resignation by one of its members, Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes. On Monday, the Executive Member announced that he was resigning as Chairman of the AFC. This was just one day after the
party released a statement to the media indicating that perhaps the time has come for the powers vested in Minister of State, Joseph Harmon to be revised. A few critics wondered if this time around, Hughes’s resignation would be allowed to go through as he had revealed on his Facebook page that his decision to leave was due to the fact that the post of Chairman was “difficult” and “untenable”. However, the AFC via a statement to the media, made it clear that it is not prepared to part with such an invaluable member. It was explained that subsequent to Hughes tendering his resignation, a high level meeting was held with the Leader of the Party, Khemraj Ramjattan, the General Secretary, David Patterson and Mr. Hughes. The members said that this was mandated by the AFC’s Management Committee. The Party said, “During this meeting, detailed and frank discussions were had on the current political environment in Guyana and in particular, the Coalition Government’s first year in office, the party’s relationship with its coalition partners and the AFC’s performance during this period.” The AFC noted that after a most productive working session, it was agreed that Hughes’ resignation letter will be “deferred” and he will instead proceed on a leave of absence from the duties and responsibilities of Chairman for a period of reflection and review after which a mutual decision will be taken. Kaieteur News understands that Hughes has reiterated firmly and unequivocally that he remains fully committed to the AFC and its development agenda for the country and he will remain an active and vocal member of the Party. GUYANA MUST MOVE AWAY FROM ‘DOG EAT DOG’POLITICAL CULTUREPRESIDENT GRANGER -AS PREROGATIVE OF MERCYADVISORY COUNCIL SWORN IN Last Wednesday saw the members of the Prerogative of Mercy Advisory Council taking their Oaths of Office. In the wake of the swearing in ceremony, President David Granger also made an impassioned appeal for persons to forsake the ‘dog eat dog’ culture that has characterised Guyana’s politics for years. The Council members, who took the oath before the President at the Ministry of the Presidency, are Dr. Carl Hanoman, Justice Duke
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Pollard, former Minister of Information, Mrs. Yvonne Harewood-Benn, Ms. Merle Mendonca and Justice James Patterson. Granger charged them to be fearless in executing their duties, but also to be prepared to accept criticism. He thanked them for taking on the responsibilities and also expressed hope that in the future, younger persons would follow in their stead. Querying what kind of country would be left if the current culture continued, Granger stated that the population must also look at the young people and be compassionate and helpful to those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law. “We need to transform our political culture from this ‘dog eat dog’ mind-set that some people seem to have adopted over the years,” Granger emphasised. “We need to be more compassionate, more merciful. If you have a President, who is not compassionate or capable of extending mercy, what sort of country are we living in?” “What sort of country do you want our children to grow up in?” the Head of State continued. “You will be criticised every day but you must be prepared to bring your culture, your values, your religious faith, your beliefs, your spirit of compassion into the functioning of this Advisory Council and let those values permeate society.” “This is the spirit, I want to feel, that this Council would spread; that we are not at war with each other. We should show greater compassion to persons who might have fallen foul to the law. To youngsters, who might have committed some offence, give them a break. Give them a second chance.” FRIDAY EDITION HARMON SAYS POTENTIAL CHINESE INVESTORS FUNDED PRIVATE JET TRAVEL Minister of State Joseph Harmon has provided an explanation to Cabinet for the photograph which was published in the Kaieteur News Edition of April 10, in which he is surrounded by Executive Members of Chinese Logging Company, BaiShanLin. On Thursday, the Ministry of the Presidency issued a statement purportedly from the desk of Minister Harmon, explaining the use of the private jet. The correspondence was captioned “Statement by Minister of State, Hon. Joseph Harmon on mode of travel while in China” The statement read inter alia: “I visited the People’s Republic of China on official Government business in March 2016. The Ambassador of China to Guyana, who was in the country at that time, made arrangements for me to meet officials of four companies which had signalled their intention to make significant investments in Guyana. These Companies were located in Beijing, Shanghai, Hebei and Heilong Jiang Provinces. In this regard, because of the significant distances involved and the limited time available on that trip, the Ambassador made arrangements for these companies to provide transportation, both air and land, for me to travel to their respective Head Offices. On March 27, 2016, one such arrangement was made for me to visit Long Jiang Forest Industries Group, a Company situated in Heilong Jiang Province. The Long Jiang Forest Industries Group is a state-owned company that had acquired 55 percent of the shares in BaiShanLin and is intended to fully take over the company in 2016. Two officials from the Long Jiang Forest Industries Group, along with two officials (Contineud on page 36)
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(From page 35) from BaiShanLin, accompanied me on the aircraft on the flight from Beijing to Heilong Jiang Province to attend the meeting.” CHINESE EMBASSY “REQUEST” PROMPTED HARMON’S GRAINTERFERENCE Minister of State Joseph Harmon has finally given an explanation as to what led to accusations of his interference in a seizure operation that was being carried out by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Chinese logging company, BaiShanLin. Harmon said that on March 17, last, representation was made to him by an official of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Guyana on an urgent matter affecting one of their national’s company operations in Guyana. The Minister said he was advised that personnel of the GRA had gone to the premises of BaiShanLin in furtherance of a Tax demand by the Authority of $1.5 billion dollars. The Minister explained that the GRA personnel were intent on seizing movable assets of the company. He said that the Chinese official explained that the principals of the company were not in Guyana and requested a stay of execution of the GRA’s action for 14 days pending the return of those principals, at which time they would go into the GRA to settle their indebtedness. He said that the Embassy official also gave the assurance that none of the assets of the Company would be removed, during that grace period. Harmon said that considering the importance of Guyana/China relations and the urgency of the matter, he made con-
Guyana Police Force to assist Prison officers in manning the Camp Street facility, and the Guyana Defence Force to assist in guarding the outer cordons of its precincts. tact with the GRA and requested the facility. The Minister of State said that this request was granted. He said that at the expiration of the 14 days requested, the GRA proceeded with its work. Harmon said that several reports in the media on the matter conveyed “the erroneous impression” that he had used his official Government position to interfere in GRA’s work. BK’S APPOINTMENT WAS RECOMMENDED BYAPNU GENERAL SECRETARY – HARMON The controversial appointment of businessman Brian “BK” Tiwarie as Ministerial
Business Development Advisor was on Thursday explained by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, in a statement. He said that after the General and Regional Elections of 2015, many persons who had indicated their deep interest in assisting the Government and fulfilling its campaign promises, were appointed to various positions. The Minister said that some of those persons were not interested in formal employment or receiving remuneration, but were willing to contribute. After some consultation, during which the Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan and the Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman gave advice, Harmon said it was agreed that such persons should be appointed as Honorary Ministerial Advisors and that a Certificate entitled “Instrument of Appointment … Ministerial Advisor,” would be issued. Harmon explained to the media via a statement that over the period October 6, 2015 to February 8, 2016, 34 persons were identified on the recommendation of the Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), the General Secretary of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the General Secretary of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Instruments were accordingly issued. He said that some of these appointments, particularly in the Diaspora, received wide publicity. ”Brian Tiwarie, upon the recommendation of the General Secretary of the APNU, was one such person identified and issued with an instrument,” Harmon added. ARMED POLICE RANKS TO BEEF UP SECURITY IN CAMP ST. PRISON – AS PRISON WARDENS STAY AWAY OUT OF FEAR Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President David Granger has ordered reinforcement in the form of the joint services to secure the Camp Street Prison, as the situation there is threatening to explode, with wardens staying away out of fear for their lives. The President on Thursday convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee at the Ministry of the Presidency to discuss recent developments at the prison, where only two out of the 15 Prison Officers scheduled for the day shift, reported for duty Thursday morning. According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, Director of Prisons (Ag)
Carl Graham sought reinforcements from the Timehri and Lusignan Prisons and from the Administration Division at the Camp Street Prison in an effort to keep the situation under control. The Committee was informed that since the deadly prison riot in early March, inmates have become bolder and much more aggressive, displaying weapons and acting menacingly towards prison officers. As such, the officers have become fearful to carry out their duties. This is suspected to be the reason behind 13 officers submitting seven-day sick leave certificates. The National Security Committee was also informed that there has been an increase in cases of marijuana being thrown over the prison fences and wardens are afraid of being harmed by prisoners, who are under the influence of the drug. According to a source in the Camp Street prison, the situation has become messy to the extent that prisoners are spitting on wardens and even throwing feces and urine on them. The source said that prisoners have even threatened to rape female wardens. SATURDAY EDITION PRISONERS ‘TAKEOVER’ CAMP ST. JAIL …42 PRISON OFFICERS ON ‘SICK LEAVE’— SOURCE REVEALS Tension continues to mount at the Georgetown Prison. Inmates have taken control of the reformatory, forcing some 42 prison wardens to take sick leave out of fear of an attack from the prisoners, a prison officer said. The officer, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, stated that on Thursday, 42 prison officers sent in sick leave certificates, following a takeover of the prison by the inmates. This is contrary to reports being peddled in the media that 13 prison officers submitted sick leave certificates. On Thursday, President David Granger ordered security to be beefed up at the prison during an emergency meeting of the National Security Committee, at the Ministry of Presidency. He called for the police and the army to secure the jail. Also Director of Prisons (Ag) Carl Graham has sought backup from the Timehri and Lusignan Prisons and from the Administrative Division at the Camp Street Prison in order to keep the situation under (Continued on page 49)
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Kaieteur News
Guyana-Venezuela border issue: The juridical option for a solution By Odeen Ishmael Just after the conclusion of the conference of Commonwealth leaders in Malta, Guyana’s President David Granger on November 29, 2015, declared that the ongoing process by the United Nations could resolve the border controversy with Venezuela in three years’ time. While some may regard the president’s outlook as optimistic, Guyanese everywhere surely will want the Venezuelan claim to their territory to be rescinded with immediate effect. However, Venezuela is not expected to satisfy this yearning Guyanese desire, and it continues to rely on the UN Good Office to find a solution to the long existing controversy over that country’s claim of nullity of the arbitral award that delineated the territorial boundary in 1899. Venezuela’s reliance on the Good Office process seems to be an adamant position, even though that course has failed to produce any tangible result since its implementation 25 years ago. It is obviously because of the failure of this means that Guyana decided to request the UN Secretary General to choose the juridical avenue to find a lasting solution to the controversy. Venezuela, on the other hand has objected to Guyana’s proposal, insisting that the activity of the Good Office must continue. For his part, the Secretary General himself does not seem to be enthusiastic over the snail-like movement of the Good Office procedure, and this is evidenced by the fact that he has not expressed interest in naming a successor to Dr Norman Girvan, his last “Good Officer” who died two years ago. Since July 2015, Venezuela had asked him to name a new appointee. But since it was the practice in the past for both Guyana and Venezuela to first agree on a nominee, this definitely will not occur since Guyana is no longer interested in what it regards as a failed route. THE UN GOOD OFFICE METHOD The Good Office method had certain advantages since it acted as a liaison between the two countries and the Secretary General’s representative (the Good Officer), with no powers to mediate, undertook periodic visits to both capitals to hear opinions on the issue from high level government leaders. The Good Officer, if he was present, also presided at meetings of the “facilitators” — the officials appointed by the two countries — to ensure that the discussions had
By Odeen Ishmael clarity and focus. He looked out for any raised issues requiring an input from him or the Secretary General and volunteered his assistance where appropriate and was expected to investigate possibilities of assistance. In the end, he summed up the discussions and defined the conclusions and the tasks to be accomplished, if any, until the next meeting. But there were times when the Good Officer did not fully understand his role. For instance, the late Oliver Jackman, the Good Officer from 1999 to 2007, felt that he was a “mediator” until he was told by the Secretary General’s office that such a task was not in his portfolio. In May 2003 at a meeting in Barbados with the facilitators, Ralph Ramkarran (appointed by Guyana in 1993) and Luis Herrera Marcano of Venezuela, Jackman, in an unusual request, asked them to explain the Good Office process to him, and to jointly prepare a short paper for his edification on his role. Both facilitators, who had met separately from Jackman a month before in order to restrict his tendency to mediate, subsequently prepared for him a document detailing his role as the Good Officer. Actually, the meetings of the facilitators formed the more successful part of the Good Office approach, but they were rarely held more than twice annually. There was a lasting cordiality between the two officials and they freely shared their views and made suggestions without any animosities. This was an “easy” course of action since the two countries, particularly up to early last year were enjoying very amiable relations despite two shooting deaths of Guyanese and the destruction of Guyanese dredges on the Cuyuni River by the Venezuelan military. However, even though in July 2010 Venezuela named Ambassador Roy Chaderton
as its new facilitator, there is no report of any meeting between him and Ramkarran. And actually, the last time the Good Officer, the late Dr Girvan, met with the Guyanese and Venezuelan foreign ministers was in October 2013 during their meeting in Trinidad following the arrest by the Venezuelan navy of the Guyana-contracted survey ship, the RV Teknik Perdana. THE JURIDICAL OPTION Even though Venezuela had displayed aggressive tendencies during the last year of the PPP administration by its actions against Guyana’s offshore oil surveys and exploration, a more hostile approach developed after the new APNU-AFC coalition took power in May 2015. That month, President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree claiming most of Guyana’s offshore waters and the Venezuelan navy was commanded to defend that claim. Subsequent parliamentary elections in Venezuela saw an overwhelming victory for the opposition coalition which in September 2015 declared its preference for mediation of the border issue. As Guyana has now opted out from the Good Office procedure, it is obvious that the facilitators’ meetings are now abolished. The focus is now of how the Secretary General will proceed with respect to choosing a method of solution listed in Article 33 of the UN Charter. The proposal by Guyana for juridical action lies before him, and no doubt the separate meetings between the Secretary General and the Guyanese and Venezuelan presidents in New York and visits by UN senior representatives to both capitals (earlier this year) engendered discussions on this aspect. AMERICANAND BRITISH ROLES Even though the border controversy is purely a problem between Guyana and Venezuela, both the British and American governments can have influential roles in prodding the UN to move forward to a juridical solution. Actually, the 1899 arbitral award was of a juridical nature and this action was the result of American intervention on the side of Venezuela in 1895. The American government threatened war on the British if they did not decide to arbitrate. And acting on the request of President Grover Cleveland, the US Congress approved the establishment of the “United States Venezuelan Boundary Commission headed by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court David (Continued on page 47)
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Mormons give millions to Education Ministry to aid Special Education
Some of the donated material Millions of dollars in materials to aid the delivery of Special Education Needs (SEN) were on Friday handed over to the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) by the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints religious organisation (LDS), also known as the Mormons. The crucial endowment comes on the heels of workshops that were facilitated by experts in the field of SEN attached to the United Statesbased religious entity. Among the facilitators were Marc and Katie Steed, a couple involved in SEN for a number of years. Marc Steed is a Neuropsychologist and Katie Steed is a Professor. “When we were asked to come and assess what the needs in Guyana are, to see what we can do to help, we were really happy to do so,” said Katie Steed. The couple came on the bidding of representatives of LDS who had forged a relationship with the Ministry of Education. According to Katie Steed, “where much is given much is required as the scriptures tell us, and so we really felt a strong desire to help our brothers and sisters in Guyana. So with a background in special education, we came and put a lot of the things I typically teach on a college level to my students... we kind of condensed them and tried to share as much information as we could and we hope to come back and follow up.” According to SEN Subject Specialist attached to NCERD, Mrs. Savvie Hopkinson-Hamilton, the workshops were seen as necessary to advance training for teachers to be able to better assess and help children with Special Education Needs within the public education system. The recent training sessions held at NCERD during the past week, she said, were instrumental in helping to detect where the deficiencies are within the system; where students are in their cognitive development so that the educators in the classroom could
be more informed, and by extension, more effective in the delivery of SEN. One of the SEN workshops conducted during the past week focused on training educators so that they could be able to assess children in their care. That workshop was attended by 14 educators including SEN officers, literacy officers, lecturers from the Cyril Potter College of Education who function in the early childhood department, an SEN Coordinator from Region Six, Two Heads of SEN Departments from Regions Six and 10. A reading methodology workshop was also conducted and attended by 28 educators. According to HopkinsonHamilton, she is hopeful that the collaboration with the LDS team will be a long term one which will see them returning to do follow-ups with the educators and monitor their evolution in terms of improving SEN. At a closing ceremony for the workshops last Friday, the educators were presented with certificates of completion. This, however, was not before they were addressed by Director of NCERD, Ms. Jennifer Cumberbatch, who urged them to make use of the training they received. In fact she shared her belief that the training came at an opportune time, even as the Ministry of Education is gearing to upgrade its Strategic Plan. And according to her, the Ministry is looking to ensure that there is inclusion, thus the need for the educators to consolidate on what they learn. She also spoke of the need for trained educators to facilitate staff development sessions even as she appealed to the educators to “think about the children; do what you do for the sake of the children...remember you have a job to do.” But even as they undertake their teaching responsibility, Cumberbatch warned the teachers to always be accountable. This she premised on the fact that they will be expected to take responsibility for the donated materials they will be given to conduct their work.
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Guyana-Venezuela border issue: The juridical option for a solution From page 45 Brewer and including prominent diplomats and jurists who employed a team of renowned scholars to determine by diligent research where Venezuela’s eastern boundary with Guyana should run. (All the commission’s reports and research documents were later given to the Venezuelan government to form part of its evidence before the arbitral tribunal.) The US secretary of state, Richard Olney, was also involved in high level diplomatic exchanges with Lord Salisbury, the British prime minister, and these eventually
led to an agreement signed on November 12, 1896, between the United States and the United Kingdom by which the latter agreed to arbitrate the border between Venezuela and Guyana (then British Guiana). The terms of this agreement formed the basis of the Treaty of Washington signed by Venezuela and the United Kingdom on February 2, 1897, by which the two parties agreed to the composition of the arbitral tribunal to bring about “a full, perfect, and final settlement” of the then existing territorial dispute. Interestingly, chief justice of the US Supreme Court
Melville Fuller and Justice Brewer were the two judges selected by Venezuela to serve on the five-member arbitral tribunal. Therefore, with all these historical antecedents, the United States, as a much involved party in the juridical solution of 1899, must ensure that the award is upheld in perpetuity. Regarding the British government, it is an equal party to the Geneva Agreement of 1966 aimed to find “satisfactory solutions for the practical settlement of the controversy” resulting from the Venezuelan contention of the nullity of the arbitral
award of 1899. Thus, the British government cannot abandon its responsibility to ensure the non-violability of Guyana’s territorial integrity and urging the UN Secretary General to move forward, under Article 33 of the UN Char-
ter, to ask the International Court of Justice to make a ruling on the binding validity of the arbitral award of 1899. (Dr Odeen Ishmael, Ambassador Emeritus (retired), historian and author, served
as Guyana’s ambassador in the USA (1993-2003), Venezuela (2003-2011) and Kuwait (2011-2014). He is the author of the trilogy, The Trail of Diplomacy – The Guyana-Venezuela Border Issue.)
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Report soon on way forward for constitutional reform - PM Nagamootoo Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo believes that with constitutional reform a new culture will emerge in Guyana. The Prime Minister who has responsibility for all governance matters, explained during an interview with the Government Information Agency that, “We believe in reviewing the constitution and changing some aspects. We may be able to bring about the over-arching principles that would guide a new political culture in Guyana, a new consultative, democratic and inclusive political culture.” A six-member steering committee on constitutional reform was established by the Prime Minister in August 2015 with prominent attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes as the convener. The committee has since presented an interim report. The final report should have been presented at the end of March. However, as a result of the sudden death of one of the most experienced professionals on the subject, Haslyn Parris, the report has delayed. The Prime Minister advised that he was assured by Hughes that the report will be submitted shortly. “He will be able to deliver the final report on the recommendations on how to proceed with constitutional reform in Guyana.” Nagamootoo reminded that constitutional reform was one of the promises made during the elections campaign. “We want constitutional reform to be on the front burner, based not on the infighting between political factions, but based on the su-
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo preme law that would deal with a country like ours, that would require a plural, inclusive, multi-party, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural system of governance so we don’t want this to be a rush-rush matter.” The Prime Minister stated that the constitutional reform process has to be one where quality time will be invested and the advice of experts sought. With regards to the latter, he said the experts would be those persons “who have advised other countries and governments in multi-ethnic societies, to be able to have some of the changes that would see us having a government that is more responsive to all the people of the country. No one needs to be afraid of being alienated or marginalised or discriminated against under the law.” When the final report is received, the Prime Minister said he will further advise on the next step.
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woman lamented. Another person called this newspaper and claimed that she has been going to the hospital to collect insulin but is being told to return at another time. Kaieteur News was unable to make contact with the Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton. Norton, in the past had lambasted the then administrator of the GPHC for drug shortages at the institution. ROBB STREET GRANNY EXECUTION… KILLER REFUSES TO GIVE COPS STATEMENTAGAINST PLOTTERS
(From page 36) control. President Granger has ordered that the outer cordons of the prison be extended to include D’urban, John and Bent Streets, which will be blocked off to the public except for persons residing within those areas, as is done on Camp Street. He has directed the Guyana Police Force to assist Prison officers in manning the Camp Street facility, and the Guyana Defence Force to assist in guarding the outer cordons of its precincts. The ranks took up their positions yesterday. Twelve soldiers were seen guarding the four points of the prison, along with police. Since the deadly prison unrest in March, the committee heard, inmates have become brazen in exposing their weapons, and behaving much more aggressive toward prison wardens. Thus, the officers, being fearful for their lives, have decided to stay away. The source stated that the wardens are frustrated because they feel nothing is being done to protect them. Graham, on the other hand, denied these accusations. Last night, he stated that the prison was not taken over by the inmates. He said that the prison authorities have never lost control of their keys. “The keys are in the hands of the officers. Prisoners are not unsupervised. There are a lot of speculations coming from outside of the prison but it is not true,” he said, adding that the speculations were being peddled to further ignite the present situation in the prison. But one warden said that on Thursday, the keys to the prison were handed over to inmates by a fellow officer. Since then, the officer said, the prison yard has become crowded with prisoners. “They came out of their cells and went into the tuck shop and bought $17,500 in ration. When they were finished they went into the kitchen and cook their own food. Cobra, who is a high profile prisoner, is the ring leader and he was seen making an egg sandwich in the kitchen,” the warden said. The warden, who was in tears, indicated that there was no prison officer left in the prison. “We are all afraid to go in because we cannot talk to them. They have cutlasses and jookers,” the source cried, indicating that even though officers from the Mazaruni Prison were called in to control the situation, they too refuse to enter the prison walls. “If Samuels was here none of this would be happening. Right now the female officers cannot go into the prison because they were told that they would be sodomized if they do. I just want them to show the video
of the day of the riot…Is the prisoners who are causing all of this. They were told to come out but they lock the door and let the fire burn,” the officer stated. The prison unrest left 17 prisoners dead and five injured. The deadly fire was started by inmates housed in the Capital Offences section of the prison during the riot. It is believed that the men were burnt to death. The source recounted that a female prison warden was pushed down a flight of stairs by a prisoner after she found him using a cell phone. “These prisoners are walking around with jookers in their waist. Up to [Thursday] they were playing cricket and football in the yard after six. The prison has lost control of prisoners. There is no control. The directors are not communicating with us and the condemned prisoners are walking up and down in the prison as they please.” Another source indicated that 80 per cent of the prisoners possessed weapons. The source further stated that a gang fight broke out in the prison early Friday morning. However, the tension in the prison has not affected prisoners going to court or the selfhelp programme. “They are walking around with jookers in their waist, their cell phones and ear pieces in their ears making calls in front of you. Smoking marijuana free, free,” the source said. Tactical Services Unit (TSU) ranks were placed inside of the prison to overlook the jail yard. They were geared with bullet-proof vests and guns. Last week, a warden was gravely injured after he was attacked by inmates. BASIC MEDICATION ABSENTAT GPHC Patients are being asked to purchase basic medication due to the shortage of critical drugs at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. These medications range from panadol, aspirin, and lanoxin injection to 70/ 30 insulin among other critical drugs. According to reports, the hospital has been without these basic drugs for more than three weeks. It is unclear when these medications will be back in stock at the facility. One woman said that she went to the hospital last Friday and the doctor prescribed pain medication for her, including panadol. She claimed that when she turned up at the pharmacy, she was informed that she had to purchase the tablet since it was out of stock. “We are poor people going to the hospital and then we have to line up and wait only to be told that they don’t have panadol,” the
He had named the individuals that he claimed paid him to kill 72-year-old Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris. But now that investigators are trying to lay charges against his alleged paymasters, one of the men who was convicted of Mrs. Parris’s murder is bluntly refusing to co-operate, police said Friday. The convict had fingered the alleged plotters in an unsworn statement he had given police shortly after being arrested for the June 30, 2011 murder. The statement was admitted as evidence during the trial of Orwin Hinds, Kevin October, Cleon Hinds and Roy Jacobs, who were subsequently sentenced to 81 years each for the killing. “We contacted the individual who had implicated the two other persons as the planners and he was very uncooperative and refused to answer further questions,” a police official said Friday. “We are working with the Police Legal Advisor and based on her suggestions, we are working. There are other recommendations that the police will continue to explore.” Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had con-
Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris
firmed earlier this week that investigators were going after the individuals who allegedly plotted to have the old woman killed. Blanhum said that the police submitted the file on Monday to the legal advisor “to ascertain if we have sufficient evidence to prosecute the individuals who allegedly orchestrated or planned” the murder. Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris was in her Lot 42 Robb Street home on the night of June 30, 2011, when two men entered her yard and asked to see her. When the elderly woman went to her door, a gunman riddled her with bullets before fleeing in a car with his accomplice. The execution was said to be part of a conspiracy for money, and was reportedly linked to a property dispute.
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WALKING: TRIM YOUR 12 Unexpected Reasons to waistline, improve your health Drink
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(http://www. mayoclinic. org:) Can you really walk your way to fitness? You bet! Get started today. Know the benefits Physical activity doesn’t need to be complicated. Something as simple as a daily brisk walk can help you live a healthier life. For example, regular brisk walking can help you: · Maintain a healthy weight · Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes · Strengthen your bones and muscles · Improve your mood · Improve your balance and coordination The faster, farther and more frequently you walk, the greater the benefits. Consider your technique Turning your normal walk into a fitness stride requires good posture and purposeful movements. Ideally, here’s how you’ll look when you’re walking: · Your head is up. You’re looking forward, not at the ground. · Your neck, shoulders and back are relaxed, not stiffly upright. · You’re swinging your arms freely with a slight bend in your elbows. A little pumping with your arms is OK.
· Your stomach muscles are slightly tightened and your back is straight, not arched forward or backward. · You’re walking smoothly, rolling your foot from heel to toe. Plan your routine As you start your walking routine, remember to: · Get the right gear. Choose shoes with proper arch support, a firm heel and thick flexible soles to cushion your feet and absorb shock. Wear comfortable clothes and gear appropriate for various types of weather. If you walk outdoors when it’s dark, wear bright colors or reflective tape for visibility. · Choose your course carefully. If you’ll be walking outdoors, avoid paths with cracked sidewalks, potholes, low-hanging limbs or uneven turf. If the weather isn’t appropriate for walking, consider walking in a shopping mall that offers open times for walkers. · Warm up. Walk slowly for five to 10 minutes to warm up your muscles and prepare your body for exercise. · Cool down. At the end of your walk, walk slowly for five to 10 minutes to help your muscles cool down. · Stretch. After you cool down, gently stretch your muscles. If you’d rather stretch before you walk, remember to warm up first.
(http://greatist.com:) Whether it’s a New Year’s resolution to drink more H2O or you’re still fending off that hangover, we’ve uncovered some convincing reasons to knock back more water in the New Year. Water It Down—The Need-to-Know Water is the second most popular beverage after soft drinks. This is a scary stat, since sugary soda is a huge health hazard, upping the risk of obesity, stroke, and other heart problems. However, these dangers can be avoided if people choose to drink water, which doesn’t have negative side effects. So help put the sugary stuff to the side and make water the number one drink of choice. The benefits really are endless. (Just take a look!) Fluid balance Roughly 60 percent of the body is made of water. Drinking enough H2O maintains the body’s fluid balance, which helps transport nutrients in the body, regulate body temperature, digest food, and more. Calorie control Forget other diet tricks— drinking water could also help with weight loss. Numerous studies have found a connection between water consumption and losing a few pounds. The secret reason? Water simply helps people feel full, and as a result consume fewer calories. Muscle fuel Sweating at the gym causes muscles to lose water. And when the muscles don’t have enough water, they get tired. So for extra energy, try
drinking water to push through that final set of squats. Clearer skin Certain toxins in the body can cause the skin to inflame, which results in clogged pores and acne. While science saying water makes the skin wrinkle free is contradictory, water does flush out these toxins and can reduce the risk of pimples. Kidney function Our kidneys process 200 quarts of blood daily, sifting out waste and transporting urine to the bladder. Yet, kidneys need enough fluids to clear away what we don’t need in the body. Let’s drink to that! Productivity boost In order to really focus, a glass of water could help people concentrate and stay refreshed and alert. Fatigue buster Move over coffee—water can help fight those tired eyes too . One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is tiredness. Just another reason to go for the big gulp! (Not the 7-11 kind.) Hangover help If booze has got the best of you, help a hangover with a glass of water to hydrate the body and stop that pounding headache. Pain prevention A little water can really go a long way. Aching joints and muscle cramps and strains can all occur if the body is dehydrated . Keep things flowing Nobody wants to deal with digestion issues. Luckily, drinking enough water adds fluids to the colon which
helps make things, ahem, move smoothly. Sickness fighter Water may help with decongestion and dehydration, helping the body bounce back when feeling under the weather. Just beware—drinking fluids hasn’t been scientifically proven to beat colds in one swoop, so don’t swap this for a trip to the doctor or other cold remedies. Brain boost A study in London found a link between students bringing water into an exam room and better grades, suggesting H2O promotes clearer thinking. While it’s unclear if drinking the water had anything to do with a better score, it doesn’t hurt to try it out! Bottoms Up - Your Action Plan The amount of water people need per day is up for debate, but studies suggest adults need nine to 16 cups of H2O. However this number varies depending on activity level, age, and how much water people are consuming in coffee, tea, or water-rich veggies and fruit. Here’s how to keep yourself hydrated: Begin by drinking a glass of water as soon as you wake up, and 30 minutes before eating any big meal. (This will help control appetite, too.) Get in the habit of keeping a water bottle on hand at all times. And if the taste beings to bore, spice up the taste buds with a squeeze of citrus to the glass! Before you know it, all the benefits of water will be right at your fingertips… and in your body.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Proud Parents Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling Are Expecting Another Baby!
Playing Proud Parents Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling Are Expecting Another Baby! Eva Mendes and her longtime boyfriend, Ryan Gosling, are reportedly expanding their family. According to Us Weekly, the 42-year-old actress is pregnant with the couple’s second child. The new bundle of joy will join 17-monthold sister Esmeralda. Mendes and the Big Short heartthrob, 35, began dating shortly after meeting on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011. Despite being one of the most popular couples in Hollywood, the pair has managed to maintain their privacy. In September, they celebrated Esmeralda’s first birthday at their Los Angeles home, surrounded by only fam-
ily and close friends. Additionally, Esmeralda has yet to make any public appearances and mom and dad have refrained from releasing any photos of her. With the new baby on the way, will Mendes and Gosling enlist professional help to assist around the house? In September, Mendes told Wendy Williams that they elected not to hire a nanny. “I’ve never appreciated my family so much, they’ve been amazing,” said Mendes, revealing that her family has been a big help with her daughter. “I don’t technically have a nanny, but I do have help. I like to clarify. I’m certainly not anti-nanny, you do what you need to do as a parent, but I’m so grateful that I have help with my family and [Gosling’s] family.”
Tyrese Gibson Pens a Message to His ‘Future Wife,’ Says He’s Looking for a ‘Regal’ Woman Are you a single woman looking to date Tyrese Gibson? You might be in luck. The actor and singer posted a picture of his fleet of cars to Instagram on Friday, captioning the shot with a long, introspective post about the kind of things he’s looking for in a woman. “I love a woman that’s smart, confident, educated, self sufficient, (( available to be as spontaneous as this lifestyle I live.),” Gibson, 37, wrote. “I use to be attracted to women with HUGE personalities LOUD and AGGRESSIVE and I would always [hit] a wall.... Now I’m in a zone where I am ONLY attracted to women who’s voice is so soft and she has the energy and presence of grace and regal sophistication..... Not subservient REGAL!!!” The Fast & Furious franchise star - who started out as a model and singer in the ‘90s before breaking through as an actor in 2001’s Baby Boy - says his tastes have changed as he’s matured. “As sexy as my small collection is I never leave home I’m too grown for clubs and turn up every night..... Although I make moves
sometimes.... I’m on my #GrownManShit heavy........ I can’t wait to get home,” he wrote. “I don’t remember the last time I lost sleep over a hater..... This is a life and lifestyle that I’ve earned.” Gibson also wrote that, as an adult and father to an 8-year-old daughter, Shayla, he’s more cautious about the people he allows into his life, adding that people used to “take advantage,” but now “that ATM is shut all the way down.” “I’m 3,500 flights, a lot of sleepless nights, a lot of stages and political warfare into this life and lifestyle if you want it get off your ass and GO GET IT!!!!!!!” he concluded his post. “Message to my future wife...... Hello!” ET recently spoke to Gibson about Charlize Theron joining the Fast & Furious family for the next installment, Fast 8. “There’s so many powerful women behind the scenes, now we got to get them on the scene,” he said. “So, Charlize, from Roman Pearce himself - and girl power herself [my daughter] Shayla Gibson - welcome to the family!”
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Prince William and Kate Middleton Honor Princess Diana With Stunning Visit to the Taj Mahal
Prince William and Kate Middleton honored the late Princess Diana with a visit to the Taj Mahal on Saturday. The royal couple concluded their incredible trip to India by making their way to the famous mausoleum in Agra, where took a moment at the same stone bench that William’s mother famously sat on 24 years ago. The seating area, which rests in front of a long reflecting pool, has become known as Princess Di’s Bench. The Duke and Duchess looked happy and peaceful as they posed for a number of photos at the iconic spot. Kate looked stunning in a gorgeous blue-and-white printed shortsleeve Naeem Khan dress and nude heels, while William looked equally as dapper in a navy blue blazer, white button-down and khakis. Kensington Palace also shared a few photos of William and Kate from their trip to the monument, tweeting, “TRH want to say thank you to the people of India for their hospitality and warmth.” The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were fully aware of how important it was to see the Taj Mahal, so much so, in fact, that they released an official statement on their website acknowledging Diana’s 1992 trip there before they even stepped foot in Agra. “The Duke of Cambridge is of course aware of the huge esteem his mother, the late Princess of Wales, is held in India and he appreciates the iconic status of the images that exist of The Princess at the Taj,” the statement read. “He feels incredibly lucky to visit a place where his mother’s memory is kept alive
by so many who travel there.” “24 years on from her visit to the Taj, The Duke and The Duchess are looking forward to seeing this beautiful place for themselves and creating some new memories as they say thank you to the people of India at the conclusion of this tour,” the statement added. The stunning image is one of Diana’s most iconic and, though beautiful, it’s also steeped in sadness, a marked difference from William and Kate’s joyous, history-making visit. Diana took the trip with her then-husband, Prince Charles, but visited the Taj Mahal alone because he was apparently attending meetings. The princess was reportedly very upset that Charles refused to join her at the famous monument. Diana had told a Sky TV News Reporter that the visit “was a fascinating experience — very healing,” but when pressed about what that meant, she paused and simply said, “Work it out for yourself.” Diana and Charles would separate a few months later, in December 1992, and officially divorce in August 1996. One year later, Diana died in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997. William and Kate began their seven-day tour of India and Bhutan on April 10. The weeklong trip - which they’re taking on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, who turns 90 on April 21 was the first in either country for both of them. The successful tour took the pair to a number of historic and fascinating places throughout the two nations, including stops at the Oval Maidan public park in Mumbai, a safari at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, and an archery demonstration in Thimphu.
PRINCE Hospitalized After His Plane Makes an Emergency Landing Prince is on the mend after being hospitalized just hours after performing an intimate set at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre on Thursday night. A private jet carrying the 57-year-old music icon made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, early Friday morning, at which point he was transported to a nearby hospital, treated and released three hours later, Prince’s rep tells ET. The singer is still recovering from his bout with the flu, which had caused him to postpone two shows on April 7. Prince decided to hit the stage on Thursday, and a concert review from Paste Magazine speculated: “From the look of it, [Prince had] made a full recovery.” After the brief hos-
pitalization, Prince’s rep said that he is now home. TMZ first reported the news.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Region Six launches 50th Independence anniversary activities
Members of one of the performing troupes in New Amsterdam execute a dance at the launch of the Region Six 50th Independence anniversary at Statre House, New Amsterdam
East Berbice Corentyne, has joined a number of other regions in launching its activities to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary. The launch which was held at State House, New Amsterdam on Friday, featured a mix of musical and dance performances with national songs ushering in the activities. Speaking briefly at the
event, following the rendition of ‘Let us cooperate’ and ‘My Guyana, El Dorado’ performed by the Council of Friends of New Amsterdam (COFONA) Drum Corporation, Regional Chairman, David Armogan, welcomed all those present, especially visitors to the region. He made a call for all to “join hands” in showing the rest of the world that “we are unified to charter our way for the next fifty years.”
Education, within the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry, the guest speaker at the launch, reflected on her upbringing in the region. She told her fellow Berbicians, “We will make great progress, build a home [for ourselves and the upcoming generation], where we can celebrate [Guyana’s] Golden Jubilee.” The launch concluded with the releasing of 50 balloons with colours of the
He is happy that the Region has launched its activities and assured that the region was fully onboard with the rest of the country to join in national celebrations. “We have a full range of activities to unleash ourselves.” Regional Executive Officer, Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya, encouraged citizens to be ready for the celebrations but “specifically Guyana’s Independence Day
celebrations on May 26. Fitting with the 50th Golden Jubilee theme: Reflection, Celebration and Inspiration, cultural dances ‘Greater things are yet to come’ and ‘Promises’ performed by Anbal Praise Dance Ministry, expressed the region’s expectations and willingness to cooperate for Guyana’s 50th Golden Jubilee. Meanwhile, Minister of
Guyana flag signifying Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations by the junior Anbal Praise Dance Ministry and national songs performed by the COFONA Drum Cooperation. Other officials who attended the launch included Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Keith Scot and Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Claude Henry. The activity was chaired by designer/promoter Maxine Williams.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 17, 2016
Recently sworn-in Members of the Council
Code of Ethics being crafted for City Councillors A code of Ethics is in the making for Councillors at the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown. A proposal for the document was submitted
by Town Clerk, Royston King, and accepted by the full Council. King had recently proposed that Council should
craft a Code of Ethics to guide professional behaviour of Councillors. The Council’s Legal Affairs Committee was given
the responsibility to draft the document and present it to full Council for perusal and debate. It is expected that the document will be completed
during the course of next month. The members of the Legal Affairs Committee are Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan,
Councillors – Bishram Kuppen, Andrea Marks, Selima Bacchus- Hinds, Welton Clarke, Carlyle Goring and Yvonne Ferguson. King said that this is the first time in the history of the municipality that such a document would be crafted by Councillors. The crafting of a Code of Ethics is in keeping with internationally accepted standards. It is the norm for professional bodies to set guidelines that would help them strive for excellence. King noted that the purpose of the Code of Ethics is to provide guidance and set common ethical standards to be adhered to on a consistent basis. It is anticipated that the Code of Ethics would govern the actions, working relationships and set a standard of excellence for Councillors. The Officer Core of the Council would be crafting a similar document for Senior Officers.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Dennis Street, Sophia reopened ahead of schedule
Dennis Street, Sophia, between ‘A’ Field and Eastern Highway, is now reopened to vehicular traffic, days ahead of its scheduled completion. Construction, which began on April 4, was slated to be completed by April 18. However, recognising that the closed area was an important one for residents and commuters in Sophia, General Contractor Colin Talbot and his team worked harder to ensure that the work was done before its deadline. The road works saw the completion of approximately 300 metres of timber revetment along Dennis Street, Sophia. This construction included the installation of steel tie-rods and “dead man” structures. Besides Sophia, the Ministry will be undertaking other major infrastructural works in Pattensen and Turkeyen as part of its Urban Areas Development Plan for 2016.
AFC finding out weaknesses... (From page 61) Members. This should be a council of representatives of the Coalition partners.” The University professor stated that the APNU has such a council, “but as the WPA had complained in the past, it does not meet frequently.” Dr. Hinds said that it is imperative for the Coalition to have such a council. He said that sensitive matters involving politicians cannot be left to the Cabinet or entirely to the President. He commented that coalitions are difficult to manage in the best of circumstances. The University professor explained that the partners have to be in permanent session, always dealing with the issues that actually divide them or have the potential to do so.
Changes expected at... (From page 20) work to be done by the students themselves. “The President was very much accommodating, him being alumni of the University of Guyana and we did share wholeheartedly. He outlined the plan forward with regards to engaging ministers and engaging the administration. “We did set some timelines and so what we have to do now… we also have some homework. So we need to get the work done on our end so that we can work together to develop our University of Guyana [to]best serve the interests of the Guyanese, the students and all other stakeholders and that is what we intend to do,” he said. (Ministry of the Presidency)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 17, 2016
Suspected rapist ALBOUYSTOWN MAN JAILED on $60,000 bail FOR DRUG POSSESSION The Richmond Housing Scheme man, who is accused of raping a 55-year-old Windsor Castle woman over a week ago, is expected to answer to a rape charge on Tuesday. The man was released on $60,000 bail. The man reportedly told police that he was part of a group that attacks and rapes vulnerable middle age women who live alone. Last Saturday, the Richmond Housing Scheme man left his home on his bicycle and headed for Windsor Castle, a little over a mile away. The man then liaised with the other members of his gang before entering the woman’s house by removing louver panes from the front window which was not secured with grills, unlike the other windows. The rapist reportedly took the time to prepare tea after raping his victim and later fled with her foodstuff and underwear. The rapist was previously implicated in court for having sex with a sheep. The animal was found in his house. He was fined $10,000 for that crime. The 55-year-old mother and grandmother lived at her Windsor Castle home for almost three years. The woman who has sought refuge at her daughter’s Richmond Housing Scheme residence is afraid to return to her home at Windsor Castle out of fear of being attacked again.
An Albouystown resident was jailed for three years by Magistrate Annette Singh after police found him with an improvised pipe and one gram of cocaine and marijuana. A handcuffed Shawn Peters of Lot 183 Callendar Street, Albouystown, Georgetown could not contain his smile as reporters snapped his picture while he was headed to the courtroom. The 28 year old pleaded guilty to the charge that said that on Tuesday April 12 at Albouystown he had in his possession one gram of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. He is also alleged to have, on the same day, one gram of cannabis sativa (marijuana). The defendant who was unrepresented by an Attorney also accepted that on the same day he had in his possession a utensil used in
Shawn Peters
connection with smoking that is to say an improvised pipe. Police say Peters is well known to
the police and last Tuesday ranks sought to perform a random search on him in his home town. Court heard the man agreed to the search and the ranks discovered parcels wrapped in paper with the drugs and utensil concealed in his pockets. After hearing the facts from prosecutor Michael Grant, Peters asked for a ‘light’ prison sentence “if you could just give me some community work yuh worship” he said, “ah beggin for a light sentence.” However the magistrate sentenced Peters to three years in prison along with a $6,000 fine for the utensil charge, $10,000 for the cocaine and $3,000 for the marijuana charge. He was also ordered to complete 15 hours of community service. All the sentences will run concurrently.
Reputed wife accuses man’s brother, Three arrested for daughters of fraudulent behaviour
gas station robbery Three persons were arrested yesterday for the robbery at the McDoom, East Bank Demerara (EBD) gas station which occurred around 2:45 hrs on Friday. Kaieteur News was told that the men are among 11 persons who were arrested during a raid in the village Friday afternoon. During the raid, police found an unlicensed 9mm Glock pistol with 35 matching rounds and twenty-six .32 rounds Three bandits, early Friday morning, stormed the McDoom gas station, held one pump attendant hostage and sent the other worker to attend to customers so that they could get more money. The police said in a statement that three men, all armed with firearms, entered the Shell Fuel Station at McDoom and held up the security guard and three female employees. They also took away cash and a cell phone. It was further stated that while the robbery was in progress, the police were informed and responded promptly to the scene. On arrival, the ranks came under fire from the perpetrators and returned fire. The men managed to escape into the village after the exchange of gunfire. The gas station operator, Joel Edmond, said, “I am satisfied with what the police did. They always get negative publicity but they
really, really worked.” He recalled that around 03:00 hrs Friday morning, he received a call from one of his workers who informed him that there was a robbery at the gas station and that everyone was okay. “I came down here immediately and was told that the police arrive at the scene and there was a shootout with the men,” Edmond said. According to Edmond, the men entered the service station and held up the workers at gunpoint. They were held hostage in the washroom which is located at the side of the mini-mart. Kaieteur News was told that the men were demanding the keys to the office and after they failed to get it, they shot at the grills on the door at the Mini Mart but could not get the door open. “They got like $10,000. One of the attendants had like over $3,000 and the other one didn’t have any. We got a policy where they drop the cash as they sell,” Edmond stated. After the gunmen did not get what they expected, they locked one pump attendant in the washroom and sent the other one to attend to customers. As the employee sold gas, they collected the money. An employee, who was inside the Mini Mart, informed the police. Investigations are ongoing.
Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it
An allegation against Earl Lambert, the Chairman of Beterverwagting (BV) Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), is being denied most vehemently. Sherryann Lambert and Reshana Lambert are also named in the accusation. The trio is being accused of fraud by Earl’s older brother, Layton Lambert and his common law wife Kim Crandon. Sixty-six year old Layton Lambert, bedridden and ailing from prostate cancer and his common law wife Kim Crandon are making damning allegations that Earl is in possession of Layton’s pension book and has for the past four months been uplifting Layton’s pension without his legal authorization. Earl Lambert is accused of withdrawing Layton’s pension from January to March of this year. Crandon also claims that Earl may be after the plot of land that her home is on. But the NDC Chairman refuted all the allegations leveled against him. Earl stated that it is the other way around. Layton’s daughter looked after him for two years before she migrated and that Crandon was not a part of his brother’s life. After his daughter’s migration, Layton was left in the care of Reshana and that was when Crandon showed up, removed him from her custody and took him to the house in Industry.
Kim Crandon said that she has been living with Lambert for the past 22 years. But for the last two years (2013-2015) Layton had been back and forth between their home and his daughter’s (Sherryann). During that period Sherryann is said to have acquired her father’s bank card and other documents. Crandon said that the daughter claimed that she needed the documents to procure a passport and a US Visa for the sick man. She reportedly asked him for his bank card’s PIN as she explained that she needed it for transactions at the US Embassy. She reportedly proceeded to withdraw well over $3 million and promptly left the country last December. Before leaving Guyana, Sherryann is said to have left all her father’s documents with her daughter, Reshana Lambert. After his daughter’s alleged robbery and flight the pensioner moved back to his home with Crandon in Industry, East Coast Demerara. Crandon claims that she approached Reshana about Lambert’s documents but she only received his emptied bank card after Earl had lodged it at the Sparendaam Police Station, but his pension book was not included. She is accusing Reshana of withholding Lambert’s old age and NIS pension books unlawfully and withdrawing his pension without any
legal authorization. Crandon said that she has made several reports to Sparendaam Police Station but they referred her to the Beterverwagting Police Station and that the police officers have had her on a royal run around. Efforts to urge police into action have been to no avail, she said. She said that the officers at the Sparendaam station said that if they claim they have lost the documents they can do nothing about it. She also made some serious allegations that involved the bribery of Guyana Post Office employees stationed at the BV Post office, saying that they accept sums of money in return for the favour of handing over Layton’s pension. Earl Lambert contends that Crandon is on a wild goose chase and that her motives are unclear. He also said that she even took police officers to Reshana’s place of work and caused embarrassment to girl who is a respected teacher. He said that at that point he felt the need to intervene and lodged all of Layton’s documents at the Sparendaam Police Station from where Crandon picked them up. He further stated that should Crandon persist in making these ridiculous accusations against him, he will sue her for defamation of character.
Sunday April 17, 2016
By Dr. Neromini Fagu It is important to take care of your teeth and gums in general but if you are pregnant, you need to pay extra attention to them. During pregnancy, the body undergoes a lot of changes and there is also an increased risk of developing gum disease. The rise in hormonal levels during pregnancy causes the gums to swell, bleed, and trap food causing increased gum irritation. This may not only affect your health, but the health of your baby as well.If you plan on getting pregnant or think you might be pregnant, you should schedule a visit with your dentist to ensure your dental health is in order. Your dentist will do an examination
Kaieteur News
Dental Health during Pregnancy and highlight any dental issues that need addressing. Of course, not everyone can plan their pregnancy so you may have to receive dental treatment during your pregnancy. Routine dental care can be done any time during pregnancy with the ideal time being the second trimester. Any urgent procedure such as a root canal or tooth extractioncan be done as well but it may be more difficult to lie on your back for an extended period of time as your pregnancy progresses. All elective dental procedures, such as teeth whitening and other cosmetic procedures should be postponed until after the delivery. Before you have your dental appointment, check with your doctor to see if
there are any special instructions for your dentist. You will need to provide your dentist with the names and dosages of all drugs you are taking – including medications and prenatal vitamins. Your dentist may need to alter your dental treatment plan based on this information. Some women may develop certain dental conditions during their pregnancy. Pregnancy gingivitis is an increased inflammatory response to dental plaque during pregnancy resulting in swelling and bleeding of the gums. Pregnancy gingivitis typically peaks during the third trimester but can develop into periodontitis if left untreated. In approximately five per cent of pregnancies, women develop a lesion in the front part of their gums, called a pregnancy epulis. It usually
goes away after pregnancy but if there is severe pain it may need to be removed beforehand. If you have morning sickness and vomit a lot during your pregnancy you may get tooth erosion from the exposure to gastric acid. Dental caries may also increase during pregnancy due to the increased acidity in your mouth, greater intake of sugary snacks and drinks due to pregnancy cravings, and decreased attention to oral hygiene practices. Currently, there are conflicting studies about possible adverse effects on the developing baby from medications used during dental work.If anesthesia is needed for dental work, the amount administered should be as little as possible but sufficient to make you comfortable. Lidocaine is the most com-
monly used anesthesia drug in Guyana for dental work and is considered safe. Dental work often requires antibiotics to prevent or treat infections. Antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin, and clindamycin are safe during pregnancy and may be prescribed by your dentist. However, tetracycline should be avoided both during your pregnancy and breastfeeding as it will stain your child’s baby and adult teeth. Dental x-rays should be avoided in the first trimester as this is the period when your baby’s organs are developing and are most sensitive to radiation and chemicals. If emergency dental x-rays are needed, digital x-rays combined with proper radiation protection are a safe option. If you notice any changes in your mouth during preg-
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Dr. Neromini Fagu nancy, see your dentist. Dental experts say it is important not to overlook oral health care during pregnancy. Your oral health is an important part of your overall health, and good dental hygiene habits not only help prevent oral problems during pregnancy, they may also positively affect the health of your unborn child. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu @hotmail.com.
CONSUMER CONCERNS
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND CONSTRUCTIVE PARENTING PAT DIAL A few days ago a travelling Exhibition on child abuse was launched under the auspices of UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministries of Social Protection and Public Security, the European Union, the Guyana Police Force and several NGOs. The Exhibition consists of artwork done by sexually abused children and would be travelling to various police stations countrywide. The paintings and drawings manifest the terrible sufferings sexually abused children have to bear, resulting in their having lifelong scars on their psyche. Such abuse destroys personality and continues to be destructive even as the child grows into adulthood. Ms Marilyn Flatt, the UNICEF representative, in her remarks at the launching of the Exhibition, described the hopeless, silent and severe suffering which envelop abused children: “Children often remain silent because they find it difficult to talk of their abuse because they are afraid and are not sure where to turn>” Much of the child abuse occur within families The abuser is very often an older relative who had inveigled himself into the trust of the child and uses the respect for age which the child has in carrying out his wicked designs. Ms Flatt suggested in her remarks how such abuse
could be dealt with: “Children need to know that they need to speak out and not to be afraid and to speak out when they are being touched inappropriately ... We can prevent and protect children from suffering abuse and violence beginning in early childhood through parenting education and changing attitudes and beliefs that encourage violence and discrimination at an early age. Educating families, caregivers and parents on their child’s early development increase the likelihood that they will use positive disciplining methods and thus reduce the risk of violence within the home.” First Lady Sandra Granger, in her feature address at the launching noted, “Increasingly the Internet and mobile phones also put children at risk of social violence as some adults look to the Internet to pursue sexual relationships with children.” We will enjoin both adults and children to visit the Exhibition, the first time an Exhibition of this type has been mounted in Guyana. The drawings and paintings bring home the horror of child sexual abuse and one feels abhorrence to it. We think the Exhibition should also be mounted in the prisons. The Exhibition was meant to highlight one important aspect of child abuse though the organizers of the Exhibition are fully aware of the other aspects of child abuse. Because of uninformed parenting, most children to a
greater or lesser extent suffer much mental and emotional distress. Most adults tend to treat children as if they were little adults and are not aware of the special needs of children at various ages as they grow into adulthood. For example, a child between 8 to 12 years is changing from infancy to childhood and between 14 and 18 years is becoming an adolescent With the onset of adolescence, certain glands of the body which did not function
before now begin to function producing new chemical substances leading to emotional instability. Certain physical changes begin to take place in the body such as hair on the face of boys, And the adolescent sometimes behave like and adult and at other times like a child causing puzzlement and irritation to parents and others with whom the adolescent comes into contact. The adolescent has no conscious control over such changes or behav-
ior. Whipping of children in schools and by certain teachers and even by parents because they are slow or fail to comprehend what they are taught will never help children and may damage children’s capabilities. The teacher or parent should realize that he or she has failed to find the way of communicating with the children. Parents should also try to understand peer pressure on their children and learn how to accommodate them. Or fre-
quent harsh speech, or embarrassing or violence to a child for some perceived offence or failing could cause a child to quietly ignore parents or may even result in open rebelliousness or even delinquency. Parents must understand that they have to learn parenting and to empathize with their children. It would be helpful if all parents were to be exposed to a few hours of Child Psychology. This could be done on the TV or at parent-teachers meetings.
Govt. agrees to pay teachers debunching money by end of school term Public school teachers will finally be able to receive the debunching monies that the Guyana Teachers Union has for years been appealing for. This information was shared by GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte, when asked to give an update of ongoing negotiations between the Ministry of Education and the Union regarding a multi-year remuneration package for teachers. The package being negotiated for will cover the period 2016-2020. But payment of the debunching money was in fact part of an agreement that the GTU had with the previous administration. The monies should have been payable during the period 2011-2015. However, even after years of appeal which
ended with protest action during the lead up to regional and general elections last year, the previous administration belatedly reneged on its commitment. However, the current Government has decided to honour the promise of the previous administration which was detailed in the multi-year agreement which expired at the end of last year. The debunching money is one that would see teachers being eligible for one per cent of their salaries for each year. “The Union and the Ministry have agreed to have the payout of one per cent of all teachers’ salaries beginning from 2011 to 2015...this means that for each month they will get one per cent of whatever salary they are receiving in
that year ,” related Lyte yesterday. He explained that this translates to a teacher who earns $100,000 in 2011 being entitled to $12,000 at the end of the year. This amount is expected to increase by five per cent each year over the five year period under the previous agreement. Teachers would also be eligible for an increased per cent if they were given a promotion. “All of that would have been taken into consideration to apply this one per cent,” said Lyte According to Lyte too, “This would be for teachers who were active over the period. Even if a teacher retired in 2012 that teacher will be eligible for a portion of the debunching money; one per
GTU President, Mr. Mark Lyte cent of their monthly salary in 2011 and 2012...for the period they would have worked.” And based on the agreement with the Ministry, the debunching monies should be (Continued on page 71)
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Kaieteur News
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
WANTED One experienced larry driver (water truck). Call: 678-1234 One experienced; legal computer clerk. Call: 6247087; 258-0213
Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.
1 Female to work in snackette & bar. Must know to cookbetween ages 20-35 -Call: 647-7432/ 223-5798
Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 INNOVATIVEMARKETING & 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
Experience carpenter, masons & Construction Foreman. Pacific Development Inc 3 Church street, Georgetown. Tel: 2236035 Responsible hire car drivers. Call: 231-7200 Drivers. Call: 227-1720, 2271721 or 674-3800 Do you have a backhoe & need to rent or lease it for long term, then call: 645-3474; 693-6627 Canter Driver & Porter to work on water truck on W.C.D -$5,000 per day. Call: 684-8231 Driver/salesperson. Please contact: 231-6256 for further details
Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
Wanted Accounts Clerk and Pump Attendants. Call/Text or Whatapp: 627-2550 Porters wanted to work @ Grocery Stall in Stabroek market, experienced is an asset. Call: 226-9800
Rupo Arch Welding, Fabrication & Construction Services @ Soesdyke E.B.D. Call: 658-4334 or 603-9633 for genuine & reliable service
We seriously pay cash for land on La Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Herstelling, Uitvlugt, Farm, Zeelugt. Call: 603-9224; 611-7223
Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!!
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
Divine Diva’s , Independence Special! Flatter Stomach in 1 week or money back guarantee. Call: 684-9409 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822
Experienced driver/dispatchers with mini bus hire car license- Call: 645-0025 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
PEN PAL
EDUCATIONAL I.A.E Classes for CSEC January/June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742
Earn a certificate in cosmetology; enroll now at Artee’s Beauty Salon & School of cosmetology. Call: 275-0267; 680-0156
9 Stalls 64 to 72 (47feet long x 7 feet wide) @ La Penitence Market Albouystown, Also 80 Mannequins @ $800 per pieceCall: 663-1597; 218-4837 One Honda 150cc motorcycle; One LN 170 Hilux manual, gasoline –Call: 6507501, 682-6111 1-80CC Yamaha (Chappy) $200,000 negotiable. 1-5L RZ minibus -$1.2M negotiable. Call: 642-7555; 220-6385
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Newly built lower flat two bedrooms fully secured, unfurnished apartment @ Block 8 Mon Repos. Call: 628-5055 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park with free WiFi, recently renovated, 2 bedrooms - $70,000. Call: 6413318 New Grandville Park furnished from bedrooms house to rent, all modern amenities. Call: 332-0115; 663-9289 One prime business place to rent at Mon Repos Public Road. Call: 220-6168; 6181754; 681-1508 1-2 Bedrooms bottom flat apartment located 1 Nouvelle Flanders W.C.D. Call: 674-4929; 662-0187 Two bedroom apartment $40,000 monthly -Call: 6873017 3 Bedrooms house @ Diamond New Scheme, upstairs @ Grove Second Bridge & grill. Call: 223-6765/ 661-3234 (anytime) KITTY APARTMENTS: 2 BEDROOMS, 1 BATHROOM, GRILLED, BRAND NEW, NOAGENTS, NO SHORT TERM. STARTING $70,000 MONTHLY. CALL: 695-1138 Rooms in guest house at Soesdyke Linden, Highway @ H.Comfort Villa, 10 mins from airport. Call: 261-6454/ 600-0036
US Citizen seeks Single professional Health care female as a partner. Name, age, profession, addressText only to 611-9970 Afro-Guyanese seeks 4044yrs single, adventurous, woman, desirous of exploring, remote places. Call/ Text: 672-8844
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Wholesale pork for sale. Call: 684-0926 4 Commercial treadmills refurbished, suitable for gym or home used etc- Call: 6842119 or 680-2377 24ftX8ft & 250HP Yamaha Engine with turn system. Parika to Supernaam, excellent condition- $5.2M. Call: 683-8989 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call: 225-9032;647-2943;6045198 Sheep! Sheep! A flock of sheep (Texana), foreign blood line. Call: 699-6499; 665-2139; 442-0299 Mazda RX8, in immaculate condition -$2.8M negotiable. Call: 602-6024 (11am-5pm) Semi automatic stationary hydraulic hollow block & paver machine. Specification- hydraulic pump, vibrator conveyer belt. Call: 220-6168; 618-1754; 681-1508 Mining equipment: excavators, engines, pumps, tanks, camp equipment etc. Call: 610-0001 33.6 Acres farm land @ Linden Soesdyke Highway; one garden tiller. Call: 6791151; 225-7794 One queen size air bed with built in pump- Call: 655-1341; 647-9596 New and used clothing for sale- retail & wholesale. One turbo deluxe refrigeration Call: 655-1341; 647-9596 French Muscovy Ducklings. Call: 670-2608 Apple laptop Mac book 2, 1 2GHZ duo, 1GB ram 150GBHD, mac-05X -10.6.8, dual boot windows 7 -$55,000. Call: 621-9604; 694-1748 ROAD TO BELWASA & A DIP AT THE SANGAM. AVAILABLE @ AUSTIN’S BOOK STORE- TEL: 2267350/7 & AT LATCHMANSINGH DRUG STORE. TEL: 226-5053
Sunday April 17, 2016
VEHICLE FOR SALE 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: 655-3400 One Toyota IST 2007 Model, PRR series, female driven, in excellent condition. Call: 6736250 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 Seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 Seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192 Carina PGG9034, very good condition. Call: 685-5594 Toyota Hilux Surf 3Y fuel injected automatic transmission. Call: 600-6195 One Toyota Hilux 4X4 pickup 2L diesel engine, in excellent condition. Call: 6480111 or 645-0240 1 Toyota Ractis (PVV 3417) 2006 model: navigation, TV, reverse camera, price negotiable. Owner migrating. Call: 666-3745; 260-2400 One Toyota Fielder in excellent condition, dark interior, seven months oldCall: 611-6632; 664-3488 1 Toyota Premio PNN series with AC, alarm, CD Deck, 12" Mag rims, price negotiable – Call: 618-5509
FOR SALE One XE limited vintage sprinter, very good condition, female driver. Call: 223-0654 One Pajero 10, good working condition, price -$1.2M. Call: 223-6147 Magic Chef, gas stove, and like new kitchen aid, toaster, cuisinart food processor. Call: 658-1097 One truck chassis without axle for sale. Call: 618-9010 Ashly Crossover PV 2000 & 800 QSC 4000 & 1450: 12", 15", 18" speakers mixers & speaker boxes etc. Call: 6453474; 693-6627 TOURS Suriname Tours: Labour Day Weekend April 29, 2016May, 2nd 2016 & Indian Arrival Weekend May 5th8th, 2016. Call: 663-5171; 6927270; 639-2663; 223-0056
PROPERTY FOR SALE Flat house in Grove, (corner property) 1 Block from main road, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 House for sale @ 638 Kuru Kururu. Call Gary: 664-2576 Haslington, E.C.D: Building ‘A’, concrete/timber modern 2 storeys, 7 bedrooms, grilled & fenced. Building ‘B’, 3 apartments, fenced -$18M negotiable. Call: 255-3437; 694-4473 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 4 Bedroom property @ Enterprise, 3 bathrooms, 2 garage, pressurized system, overhead tanker, generator, etc- Call: 600-6195 Property @ Diamond, junior staff compound 100X100 and Bel-Air 60x90. Call: 6781575; email: wynettebritton@hotmail.com Property @ Cummings Street; 4 storey building, club, 8 self contain rooms. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536 House for sale in West Ruimveldt -$9M & South Ruimveldt Park. Call: 6624975 2 Storey property: 4 bedrooms (1 master), grilled, toilet (both flat), concrete fence @ Q68 Guyhoc Gardens, Ruimveldt. Call: 231-9174 Transported property @ Grove $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Brand-new flat house @ Republic Gardens: 3 bedrooms self-contained, selling as is -$22M negotiable, owner migrating, quick sale. Call: 639-8182 Buddy’s House Scheme E.B.D: 6 six bedrooms $36M, Diamond A.A -$27M, New Hope, Swimming Pool -$35M - Call: 225-1017; 6236136 Two storey concrete building @ Schoonard, owner migrating within 3 weeks (42X26). Call: 6254052; 617-5004; 643-8069 Property @ Yarrowkabra: 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 storey, concrete fence, 1 Acre lots of fruit trees. Call: 682-5212 or 0011- 305-232-5843 55 Hadfield St. Stabroek: top & bottom flat, 2 bedrooms each, concrete bottom, wood top. Call: 218-2192; 651-8151 One 2 flat concrete 6 bedrooms house in Strathspey, E.C.D, big land space -$14M- Call: 689-5103 (Continued on page 71)
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 71
GGMC rescinds all permission granted to mine in buffer zones
By Jarryl Bryan The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has issued an order banning all mining or excavations on river banks (buffer zones), without specific permission from the regulatory body. The order, which was issued by GGMC Commissioner (acting) Newell Dennison, yesterday, also made it clear that all “permission” previously granted to breach these river banks, under the premise of claims or mining permits or for prospecting, mining and quarrying operations are henceforth revoked. “Please be advised that mining of river banks (buffer
zones) is against the law,” the order stated. “Any breach of river banks for access to claims or mining permits, or for prospecting, mining and quarrying operations require specific permission from GGMC.” “As such, there should be no mining or excavation of the river banks without due consideration of or specific permission from GGMC.” It was explained in the notice that protocols relating to applications and how they are considered and granted are being reviewed due to policy directives from the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman. “Consequently, all
“permissions” previously granted to breach river banks for access to claims or mining permits or for prospecting, mining and quarrying operations are rescinded with immediate effect until further notice.” A highly publicized case had been the dredge which operated off the river bank of Isseneru village, Region Eight, late last year. Village leaders had cried out because of damage wrought on the environment. The Tashao, Dhaneff Larson, had stated that the distance between the operation and the river bank, on which houses are located, was less than 100 metres. The village had also been
complaining that its water and food supply, from the nearby river, was under threat. According to the Tashao, there was an urgent need for intervention as the dredge was a noise nuisance. Minister Trotman had subsequently issued a directive that the operations be halted, pending the completion of a fact finding mission. The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) had stated that the village and the miner had a previous arrangement where he was granted permission to operate the same river dredge on village lands (in the village buffer zone) in exchange for a 12% tribute. “This deal was negotiated and put in place by the village council which collected the tribute,” the association had stated. “The GGMC subsequently stopped this arrangement as it is illegal to mine in the buffer zone. The current/new arrangement for the tribute for the river dredge was an additional agreement based more on previous partnerships rather than in a legal right to demand tribute for lands which are not within the village’s title.”
difference.” Added to this, the Union is advocating for an additional performancebased incentive of three per cent per annum, of the total teachers’ wage bill. Based on the proposal of the Union, it is expected that this will be paid to eligible teachers with effect from January 1, 2016, once the multi-year agreement is accepted and approved. If the agreement under consideration is approved, teachers will also benefit from a monthly emotional/stress/ risk allowance of $5,000, and all teachers who received duty free concessions will be granted a maintenance allowance of $7,000 monthly for their vehicles including cars, motorcycles and boats.
Further, the GTU is proposing that all teachers who are owners of motor vehicles be granted mileage when they are invited to meetings or to meet with officials at the Ministry of Education, and when they are required to attend Teaching Practice sessions organized by the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). If the Union’s proposal is approved, teachers will also be eligible for double salaries in the month of December each year. The extensive proposal brought to the negotiation table entails benefits for teachers teaching in hinterland areas, and addresses the need for scholarships and other nonsalary issues.
TO LET 4 Bedrooms House @ BelAir 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.
CAKES & PASTRIES
1 Cook to work in Kitchen in Trinidad, able to cook Indian & English dishes. Call Selwyn Persaud: 001868-680-2083
Exist for cashiers and sales clerks at Nirva Supermarket. Apply in person with written application. Call: 227-5771
Eccles furnished single apartment includes cable, internet, AC, etc –top floor. Call: 660-9139; 233-3974
Experienced bartender and cleaners. Call 225-8572 between 7am-9am Admin assistant, CXC Grades 1-3 Computer literate. Apply @ HR Supervisor, Survival 173 Sheriff Street, C/Ville, GT. One female cook, ages 2540yrs for information. Call: 611-5398 from 9am-5pm ACCOUNTS CLERK, qualification CXC A c c o u n t s G r a d e s I/ II, familiar with Quick Books POS & Accounts. Email application: info@guygas.com
Land at La Grange Race Dame W.B.D 37’X780’. Call: 6619111 Highway land at Hararuni, Close to the highway, give away prize -$4M negotiable per acre. Call: 692-8216; 2335539
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M, $1.3M, $1.4M, & $3M, Eccles -$5.5M, Herstelling Cornerlot (100ftX50) -$3M. Call: 6036224; 611-7223
Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807
Titled 70’x100’ land @ Eccles, E.B.D for sale at $4.5M Tel : 624 2857
Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494
TAXI SERVICES West Demerara Cabs: Base # 1- Tel: 253-3600; 6563872; Base #2 – New Road V/Hoop. Tel: 254-0578; 696-6709
Reliable rentals: Cars, SUV – low rates & security deposits, special rates for long term. Call:227-2322;601-2622
Security guards to work with a mining firm in the Interior must have military background. Call: 226-9768
Executive apartments @ Queenstown -$1000US; Prashad Nagar -$1000US, LeRessouvenir -$2300US, office spaces. Call: 225-1017; 623-6136
LAND FOR SALE 1 House lot in Crane Housing Scheme & 1 house & land in La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 622-4841 CAR RENTAL
Exist for 1 entertainment manager to work @ Club on Essequibo Coast, must have PR skills. Call: 226-9768
1 Female cleaner apply @ Technical Service 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles.
Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery; also edible images and Wedding dresses for sale. Call: 670-0798
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
VACANCY Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
2 Bedrooms apartment in Eccles, Short & Long term. Call: 225-3234; 698-7807
One bedroom apartment single person or couple$30,000 monthly @ Howes Street Charlestown. Call: 6228306
Govt. agrees to pay teachers... From page 69 payable before the end of this school term, according to Lyte. The GTU and Ministry are expected to continue negotiations for the multiyear agreement for teachers. The Union is negotiating for a 40 per cent across the board increase in salary for teachers this year. The Union is hoping to negotiate for 45 per cent next year (2017) and 50 per cent for the following three years (2018-2020) for all categories of teachers. In a proposal seen by this publication, the Union has taken into consideration inflation and made it clear that “Should there be inflation higher than the percentage agreed upon, then the teachers/teacher-educators must get the benefit of the
From page 70
One male wash bay worker needed @ J.Ville Car Wash, Tucville. Call: 672-0352; 6895830 Security – apply in person to Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling, Stabroek Male site engineer with 2yrs experienced and above, road & bridge. Call: 261-2280 Male construction engineer, 28-40yrs: 3 project experience; know auto cad and prepare method statement, quantity survey. Call: 261-2280 1 Female creek -$25,000 weekly. Call: 231-8053 1 Driver for interior locations -$250,000 per month. Call: 231-8053 1 Male office assistant $20,000 weekly. Call: 231-8053 1 Female receptionist -$25,000 weekly. Call: 231-8053
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 17, 2016
Berbice murder accused back in court Two of three men, including two teens, who were part of a marauding gang that caused terror in Guyana by executing two brutal murders within seven days, are before the court on one of
the charges. The men, Rooplall Abrahim, called Vijai 24, of Bath , West Coast Berbice; and Gocoul Madanpaul, 18, called ‘Clown’, of 175 Block B Bath Settlement, West
Coast Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weever at the Fort Wellington Magistrate on a joint charge of murder. The case for the prosecution is that Abrahim
and Madanpaul between January 3 and January 4, last, at Plantation Hope/ Bath West Coast Berbice murdered Anita Baichan in the course of a furtherance of arson in relation to a dwelling house. Prosecuting the case are Sergeant Althea Salomon and Corporal Rocquel Mars. Four witnesses were called when the PI began. Three of the witnesses completed their evidence while the fourth, Taramattie Ramdeen the mother of the No.2 accused had her testimony curtailed since she
was deemed a hostile witness. Those completing their testimonies were Bemal Rajkumar, an uncle of the deceased, Azim Jameer, a security guard who was reportedly robbed by the two bandits and Kumkarran Sookai a nephew of the deceased. The witnesses were all cross examined by attorney at law Murseline Bacchus who is appearing for the two accused. The men who were reportedly armed with cutlasses and knives entered the home and held up Baichan
and her son Moshim Khan, 28-years-old, and demanded cash and jewelry. After torching and robbing the woman and her son the men reportedly set the house on fire. The woman had tried to escape from the building, but could not because she had been gagged with duct tape and her hand and feet bound. They reportedly escaped with over $250,000 and some silver jewelry. They were remanded to jail by Magistrate Weever until May 10.
Housing officials complain to President about hostile Board From page 11 Guyanese was consulted. It appeared that the person processing the applications was a senior official in the Information Technology department of the authority. The programme requires allottees to build within six months. However, the absence of infrastructure works, like drains and roads, saw disinterest by land owners. CH&PA did nothing to enforce the timelines, similar to the little monitoring it did with the hundreds of acres of lands it sold to private developers on East Bank Demerara. In many cases, the ‘remigrant’ lands were sold to overseas-based Guyanese who saw it as an investment. There was no hurry to start building as CH&PA was not moving to enforce its sixmonth construct regulations. The new Board was set recently to send home a
CH&PA’s deputy CEO, Denise King-Tudor
CH&PA’s CEO, Myrna Pitt
number of officials to make way for a probe. This was after the board said that it was being denied access to documents it requested. However, the vote has been deferred. Government has been complaining about the quality of homes under a 1,000homes project at Perseverance, behind Providence, East Bank
Demerara saying that it reeks of corruption. Several break-ins have been reported, with CH&PA failing to report them, despite losses of several millions. Several hundreds of acres of land also sold to private developers on the East Bank of Demerara are also being investigated for delays and the manner in which it was sold.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Ted Cruz wins Wyoming Republican presidential nominating contest Reuters - Republican U.S. presidential hopeful Ted Cruz won all 14 delegates at stake yesterday in Wyoming, besting rival Donald Trump, who made little effort to win the rural state, and further narrowing the gap in the race for the party’s nomination. Cruz is trying to prevent Trump from obtaining the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the Republican nomination at the July convention in Cleveland. By continuing to rack up small wins, Cruz is gaining ground on the New York real estate mogul, who has thus far failed to shift his focus on the local-level campaigning necessary to win delegates. Trump has been critical of the process, again yesterday calling it “rigged” while speaking at a rally in Syracuse, New York. He has repeatedly complained about Colorado, which awarded all 34 of its delegates to Cruz despite not holding a popular vote. Trump said his supporters are becoming increasingly angry with states such as Wyoming and Colorado. “They’re going nuts out there; they’re angry,” Trump said in Syracuse. “The bosses took away their vote, and I
Ted Cruz
wasn’t going to send big teams of people three, four months ago, have them out there.” While Trump has won 21 state nominating contests to Cruz’s 10, the billionaire leads the Texas senator by only 196 delegates (755-559). That means he must win nearly 60 percent of those remaining before the party’s political convention in July. Wyoming does not hold a primary vote. Instead, 475 party activists convened in Casper yesterday to hold a state convention and award 14 delegates. Previously, 12 other delegates had been designated at county-level conventions. Cruz won 10 of those, with one
going to Trump and another being elected as “unbound.” Cruz spoke at the convention, capping off a months-long effort to organise support in the state. Trump had originally planned to send former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who remains popular among conservatives, as a surrogate, but she cancelled at the last minute. Cruz spoke about local issues in Wyoming, the largest coal-producing state. He discussed the Democratic “attack” on the fossil fuel, saying President Barack Obama has tried to put the coal industry out of business through government regulations targeting air pollution.
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Sunday April 17, 2016
Syria rebel group slams Geneva talks, opposition body Reuters - A Syrian rebel group yesterday said United Nations-led peace talks had so far been extremely negative and criticised opposition negotiators as divorced from a deteriorating military situation on the ground. The statement from Ahrar al-Sham, an Islamist group and one of the biggest rebel factions involved in the conflict, indicates the pressure facing the opposition High Negotiations Committee as it takes part in a second round of indirect talks with the government in Geneva. The talks appear to be making no progress towards ending the five-year-long war that has killed more than 250,000 people, while a military escalation has stretched to breaking point a truce agreement brokered by the United States and Russia. “There is a clear division between the work of the (HNC) and the reality on the ground, for while Russia realises field gains for the benefit of the regime, giving it political momentum, and while the regime and Iran breach the truce ... we see insistence from the (HNC) on pursuing the negotiations,” it
Members of the Syrian opposition delegation of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) George Sabra (2nd L) delegation head Asaad Al-Zoubi (C) and Chief negotiator, Army of Islam rebel group’s Mohammed Alloush (2nd R) attend a meeting with U.N. mediator. REUTERS/FABRICE COFFRINI/POOL
said. Russia and Iran have both provided military support to President Bashar alAssad, with Moscow deploying its air force and Iran sending members of its elite Revolutionary Guard Corps and, more recently, its regular army to support Damascus. The HNC was formed in December at a Riyadh meeting of the political and armed opposition to Assad. It includes rebel groups including
Jaysh al-Islam and a number of Free Syrian Army rebel factions deemed moderate by the West, some of which have received military support from Assad’s foreign enemies. Ahrar al-Sham withdrew from the Riyadh meeting, citing reasons including what it described as the sidelining of “revolutionary groups”. Further distancing itself from the political process, Ahrar al-Sham said in its
statement yesterday that it had not taken part in any of the Geneva talks. It also said there was “a gulf” between the HNC and “the revolutionary street with all its military and civilian elements”, calling its performance “weak and stumbling”. The HNC has itself expressed deep misgivings about the outlook for peace talks which it says must be focussed on a political transition. The Syrian govern-
ment has ruled out any discussion of the presidency. Ahrar al-Sham said the Syrian government was meanwhile still “working for a purely military solution”. Ahrar al-Sham is an ultraorthodox Salafist group and has fought as part of a military alliance including the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, which was not part of the cessation of hostilities agreement brokered in February.
Ahrar al-Sham, whose late leader had fought alongside Osama bin Laden, last year denied sharing al Qaeda’s ideology or having organisational ties to the group. The Ahrar statement also noted that important opposition conditions for the start of the political process had not been realised, including an end to government blockades of opposition-held territory and a release of detainees.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Thousands evacuated from homes as hunt for Japan quake survivors goes on Reuters - Japanese authorities have ordered nearly a quarter of a million people from their homes after a deadly earthquake struck a southern island and the search for survivors went on into the early hours today amid worsening weather conditions. A 7.3 magnitude tremor struck early yesterday morning, killing at least 32 people, injuring about a thousand more and causing widespread damage to houses, roads and bridges. It was the second major quake to hit Kumamoto province on the island of Kyushu in just over 24 hours. The first, late on Thursday, killed nine people. Heavy rain and wind were forecast overnight, with temperatures expected to drop to 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit). Firefighters handed out tar-
paulins to residents so they could cover damaged roofs. “The wind is expected to pick up and rain will likely get heavier,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a government meeting. “Rescue operations at night will be extremely difficult ... It’s a race against time.” Television footage throughout Saturday showed fires, power outages, collapsed bridges, a severed road hanging over a ravine and gaping holes in the earth. Residents near a dam were told to leave because of fears it might crumble, said broadcaster NHK. “I felt strong shaking at first, then I was thrown about like I was in a washing machine,” said a Tokai University student who remains isolated in the village of Minamiaso. About 422,000 house-
holds were without water and 100,000 without electricity, the government said. NHK said around 240,000 people had received evacuation orders across the affected region amid fears of landslides. Some shelters were too crowded to admit any more people, it said. Troops set up tents for evacuees and water trucks were being sent to the area. Around 25,000 extra soldiers were due to arrive, as well as more police, firefighters and medics. The National Police Agency said 32 people had been confirmed dead. The government said about 190 of those injured were in a serious condition. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said nearly 80 people were believed trapped or buried in rubble. Rescuers pulled 10 students out of a
Saudi Arabia could sell off billions in American assets if bill passes - NYT Reuters - The Saudi Arabian government has threatened to sell of hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of American assets should the U.S. Congress pass a bill that could hold the kingdom responsible for any role in the September 11, 2001 attacks, the New York Times reported on Friday. The newspaper reported that Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir told U.S. lawmakers last month that “Saudi Arabia would be forced to sell up to $750 billion in Treasury securities and other assets in the United States before they could be in danger of being frozen by American courts.” The bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year, would take away immunity from foreign governments in cases “arising from a terrorist attack that kills an American on American soil.” The New York Times, citing administration officials and congressional aides, said “the Saudi threats have been the subject of intense discussions in recent weeks between lawmakers and officials from the State Department and the Pentagon.” It added that the Obama administration had lobbied Congress to block the passage of the bill. The State Department said it stood “firmly with the
Adel al-Jubeir victims of these acts of violence and their loved ones.” “We remain committed to bringing to justice terrorists and those who use terrorism to advance their depraved ideology,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby. In September a U.S. judge
dismissed claims against Saudi Arabia by families of victims of the attacks, saying that the kingdom had sovereign immunity from damage claims by the families and from insurers that covered losses suffered by building owners and businesses.
A university student (R) takes a rest in front of their collapsed apartment caused by earthquakes in Minamiaso town, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, yesterday. Mandatory credit REUTERS/KYODO collapsed university apartment in the town of Minami yesterday. Japan is on the seismically active “ring of fire” around the Pacific Ocean and has building codes aimed at helping structures withstand earthquakes. A magnitude 9 quake in March 2011 north of Tokyo touched off a massive tsunami and nuclear meltdowns at Fukushima, contaminating water, food and air for miles
around. Nearly 20,000 people were killed in the tsunami. The epicentre of yesterday’s quake was near the city of Kumamoto and measured at a shallow depth of 10 km (six miles), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The shallower a quake, the more likely it is to cause damage. However, no irregularities were reported at three nuclear power plants in the area, a senior government official said.
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Brazil’s Rousseff scrambles for votes to avert impeachment
Sunday April 17, 2016
Moonilal claims 400 nationals left for Isis…
Serious threat to T&T
Dilma Rousseff
BRASILIA (Reuters) Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff hunkered down at her residence yesterday for last-minute negotiations with wavering lawmakers in an effort to secure crucial support the day before an impeachment vote that could lead to her removal from office. Rousseff canceled an appearance at an anti-impeachment rally of union and leftist social activists led by former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, her predecessor and the Workers’ Party leader. Instead she met with lawmakers behind closed doors in a bid to obtain their vote or abstention today when the lower house of Congress votes on whether she should be impeached for breaking the country’s budget laws. The talks indicated that today’s ballot may be tighter than expected as Rousseff seeks to swing the estimated two dozen additional votes she needs to prevent a twothirds majority in favour of impeachment in the 513-seat lower chamber, which her opponents need to push ahead with this process. In a rowdy session of speeches that went through the night, opposition congressmen shouted: “Out with the Workers’ Party!” Rousseff’s supporters, meanwhile, called for the ouster of House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, her political archenemy who has sped up the impeachment process. Rousseff is fighting to survive a political firestorm fueled by Brazil’s worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s and a spiraling corruption scandal centered on state oil company Petrobras that has reached her inner circle. The president’s opponents want her dismissed from
office on charges that she manipulated budget accounts to boost public spending to boost her 2014 re-election. They also blame her for running Latin America’s largest economy into the ground. In a video and a newspaper column, Rousseff – Brazil’s first female president - strongly denied she had committed an impeachable crime and called the bid to oust her “the biggest legal and political fraud” in the country’s history. “We are facing the threat of a coup d’état, a coup without guns that uses more destructive methods like fraud and lies to try to destroy a legitimately elected government,” she wrote in the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper’s yesterday edition. If her impeachment is approved by the lower house, the Senate must then vote on whether to go ahead with putting Rousseff on trial for disobeying budget laws. If she loses that vote, which would likely take place on May 10 or 11, Rousseff would automatically be suspended and replaced by Vice President Michel Temer. Temer, who would serve out Rousseff’s term until 2018 if she is found guilty by the Senate, has little popular support. He would face a daunting task restoring confidence in a country where dozens of political leaders, including his close associates, are under investigation for corruption. Even if Rousseff wins today’s vote, her coalition has been left in tatters by the acrimonious impeachment process and analysts say her pledges to form a national unity government are unlikely to bear fruit in a bitterly divided country. A case before the Supreme Electoral Court concerning
charges of illegal funding of her 2014 campaign could eventually lead to both Rousseff and Temer being dismissed from office and new elections called. In the video posted on social media on Friday, Rousseff warned that if she is toppled by the impeachment process, a Temer government would force Brazilians to make sacrifices as well as roll back social advances that have reduced poverty during 13 years of Workers’ Party rule. The vice president, who has been preparing to form a new government aimed at restoring confidence and economic growth, replied on Twitter that accusation that he will cut social programmes for the poor was a “baseless lie.” Temer is considering the chairman of Goldman Sachs in Brazil, Paulo Leme, and the founder of asset manager Mauá Capital, Luiz Fernando Figueiredo, as candidates to join his economic team should he take over the presidency, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
Trinidadian fighters Shane Crawford, from left, Arshad Mohammed and three other unidentified Trinidadians pose for a photo last year. Crawford has since been killed. Trinidad Guardian - The state has information that over 400 T&T nationals - men, women and children - have gone to Syria and undergone military training and indoctrination with the Islamic State (Isis) and have been radicalised, Opposition MP Roodal Moonilal revealed Friday. “Government has information on the most significant security threat facing T&T and our generation - the threat of Isis infiltrating the Caribbean and T&T. What are you doing about it?” Moonilal asked in Parliament. Speaking during debate on legislation to amend the Strategic Services Agency (SSA) to deepen local intelligence capabilities, Moonilal challenged Government to comment on information coming to hand that Government has received intelligence on the stockpiling of weapons in T&T and threats to the State. “What are you doing with it - act on it the intelligence,” he said. Moonilal held up a thick sheaf of documents to support his revelations. The Oropouche East MP noted in Parliament, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had acknowledged some T&T nationals had gone to Syria where Isis was active and have returned and are now under surveillance. He called on Government to say what was being done on policies to handle such returning nationals. He indicated
one option was creating criminal offences to charge people involved in financing such travel. He noted that T&T had once banned Stokely Carmichael and CLR James for ideology. Calling for investigation of the current situation and policies to deal with it, he said people who have gone to Isis and become indoctrinated and radicalised pose a clear and present danger to the state. The T&T Guardian has also obtained part of a file - 50 pages long - from a top-level police agency, which lists “T&T citizens who have left the country and journeys to Syria which align themselves with the Islamic State terrorist group”. The file features the names, sex, date of birth, last known local address of each person and date of their departure, date of arrival, their status (whether confirmed in Syria) and a photograph of them. Departures range between 2013 and 2015. The list comprises 32 males, 30 females and 40 children. The adult males in this listing are largely of Afro T&T descent between the ages of 30 to the 50s. The women-most wearing hijabsare also largely of Afro T&T descent, bearing Muslim names and ranging age between the 30 to 40 age group. The children, however, range in ages from two years to 16 years. This list comprises boys and girls, some mere tots, and babies.
Guatemalan ex-president linked to new corruption case Guatemala City (AFP) Former Guatemalan president Otto Perez, who is in jail awaiting trial on corruption allegations, now also faces charges of accepting millions of dollars in bribes from a Spanish port company. Perez, who took office in 2012 but was forced out after mass protests last year, used his position as president “to facilitate negotiations where he would obtain direct financial benefit in detriment to the interest of the nation,” said prosecutor general Thelma
Aldana on Friday. Perez is accused of heading a “criminal network” that helped the Terminal de Contenedores Barcelona (TCB) firm win a 25-year contract to operate a new container terminal in Puerto Quetzal on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. Perez and former vice president Roxana Baldetti are in jail awaiting trial for allegedly heading a vast tax fraud network, which allowed companies import goods taxfree. According to the new allegations, the contract with
the Spanish company was signed in April 2012 and included $30 million in commissions for local and international negotiators. Perez and Baldetti allegedly walked away with $4.2 million each. This was “a criminal group with clearly defined roles” led by Perez and Baldetti, Aldana said. Spanish businessman Juan Jose Suarez, head of TCB’s local affiliate, was also arrested, along with eight Guatemalans including a former cabinet official under
Otto Perez Perez. Perez and Baldetti are accused of conspiracy, passive bribery, money laundering and fraud, said Interior Minister Francisco Rivas.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Gambhir, bowlers lift KKR to convincing win ESPNcricinfo - With an attack comprising six international bowlers, Kolkata Knight Riders stamped their authority on Sunrisers Hyderabad to keep them to 142, and then hunted it down with eight wickets in hand. The game was set up by incisive spells from Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav, who hit good lengths and used the cutters effectively to prise out the top three within the Powerplay. In the chase of 143, Gautam Gambhir struck his 28th IPL fifty, and his second in succession, to help Knight Riders to the target with 10 balls to spare. Sunrisers’ innings began in disastrous fashion after they chose to bat. David
Warner, who averaged 63.10 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium before this match, miscued a pull to square leg off Morkel, who was playing his first T20 game since August 2015. However, Warner was reprieved as replays showed Morkel overstepped. The luck did not last long, though as Knight Riders chipped away at the top order. The situation got worse when Deepak Hooda holed out to long-on in the 10th over with the score at 50. Gambhir saw a chance and used Sunil Narine, bowling with a remodeled action, in a way he rarely has. Narine bowled four overs in a spell in the middle overs, but did not extract much pur-
chase. Eoin Morgan and Naman Ojha nudged him around, but ensured they laid onto any scoring opportunity. Six boundaries, including two lofted fours over cover from Morgan off Narine, between overs 11 and 15 helped yield 42 in those five overs, setting the platform for a competitive total. As his innings progressed, Morgan transitioned from deft touch to muscular strokes in front of the wicket as he accrued 51, his fourth IPL fifty. It required a moment of athletic brilliance from Andre Russell to remove Ojha. Running around from long-on, Russell held onto a onehanded stunner and parried
Sunday April 17, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may need to lend an ear to an old friend. Your attitudes are changing rapidly. You are best to work at home if you can.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Don't hesitate to take short trips. You need to do more research before you make your final decision. Daydreaming will be your downfall.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Make some notes regarding the changes that you should make. Now is the time to concentrate on building a strong financial future for your family. Good friends will give you honest answers.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your home environment appears to be a little shaky. You have been going through a period of change that no doubt caused problems with your loved ones.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Take time to help children with projects that may be too hard for them to do on their own. You always seem to spend more than you make. You can make progress professionally. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You can make progress professionally. Someone you live with may cause drastic alterations in your usual routine. You can enhance your reputation if you treat family and friends with respect and dignity. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may interest some of them in a service you have to offer. Balance is required if you want stability. Emotional upset may prevail on the domestic scene if you have neglected your duties or your mate. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Get thinking about prolonging longevity. You may find out that someone is trying to undermine you.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) If they don't want to get involved, work by yourself. Sudden changes regarding colleagues may surprise you. Personal problems may be hanging over your head but don't confront the situation. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) They will jump at the chance to do something without you if it sounds like more fun. Your time, not your cash, will do a lot more for your relationship. Joining organizations will provide you with stimulating romantic contacts. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Don't let yourself get rundown. Try to be a bit more understanding or you may end up spending the evening alone. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Take a look at the possibilities of starting a small part time business with friends or relatives. Your flair for dramatic appeal will unleash itself at social functions.
Gautam Gambhir goes back to play a cut, Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2016, Hyderabad, April 16, 2016 ©BCCI the ball to Piyush Chawla as his momentum carried him over the boundary. Sunrisers mustered 142, and their bowlers needed a special performance to get close. They did not get it as the Knight Riders openers, Gambhir and Robin Uthappa, made a solid start. In the first ten overs, the pair found a boundary in every over, save two, and hunted down 72 more than half the target - in that period. Then, Gambhir used swift footwork against Karn Sharma’s legspin for three successive fours in the 11th over to bring the equation down to a run a ball. Sunrisers saw a ray of hope when they took two wickets in the space of eight balls. First, Uthappa was trapped in front by Ashish Reddy and then Russell, promoted to no. 3, was undone by an inch-perfect yorker from Mustafizur Rahman that uprooted the middle and leg stumps. Thereafter, Gambhir struck seven boundaries in a
49-run, third-wicket stand with Manish Pandey to take Knight Riders home in another one-sided encounter in this season. Scores: Kolkata Knight
Riders 146 for 2 (Gambhir 90*, Uthappa 38) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad142 for 7 (Morgan 51, Ojha 37, Umesh 3-28) by eight wickets.
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Four Horsemen Promotion 50th Independence Horserace Meet
One more event added, stakes now close to $10.5M In an effort to have maximum participation in the 50th Independence Anniversary Horserace Meet the organisers of the event - the “Four Horse Men Promotion” has added another race the to the programme. Instead of seven races the event will now be an eight race one with the stakes jumping up to close to $10.5M in cash, trophies and other incentives. Dubbed “The 50th Independence Anniversary Horserace clash”, the event is slated for Sunday 22nd May at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice. The event for three year old Guyana bred and J and lower horses with a winners take of $200,000 and trophy over 1200M, has now been divided into two to cater separately for the three year old Guyana Bred animals and the J and lower horses. Massive preparation is being undertaken to make the venue up to scratch and in the best of shape for the signature event which is expected to be a mega affair. All the top horses in the country are expected to be a part of the day’s activity. The full list will now see- The feature event will be for horses classified A’ and lower with a lucrative first prize of $1.5M and the 50th Independence Anniversary Cup from a total package of close to $2.8M over a grueling 1900M. The other events listed are the 1400M event for D3 Maiden and E and Lower horses for the $750,000 and trophy. The F and lower 1200M race fetches the winner $320,000 and trophy. The three year old event for West Indies Bred and G3 and lower horses for a winners take of $350,000 and trophy over 1200M. The H3 Maiden and I and lower 1000M race has a winning pocket of $250,000 and trophy There is an event for three year old Guyana bred horses for a winners take of $200,000 and trophy over 1200M. The horses classified J and lower will now have an opportunity to compete for winner’s take of $200,000 and trophy with the distance being 1200M. The final event is for horses classified K and L and lower over 1200M event has a pole position taking of $170,000 and trophy. The top Jockey along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the Trophy Stall and the organizers. The event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. Interested persons can make contact with Bobby Vaughn 624-6788, 223-5097, 227-7061, 333-0290, 333-0301, Fazal 6577010, Ramnauth 337-5311 or Campton Sancho on 690-0569. The coordinator is Colin Elcock. Race time will be 12:30 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
STAG / EBFA Senior League
Grove Hi Tech play Diamond; KK Warriors oppose Herstelling Raiders Defending champions Grove Hi Tech and party spoilers Herstelling Raiders FC will both be in action today when the STAG sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Senior League continues at the Grove Playfield with two matches. Grove, coming off an upset 0-2 loss to Kuru Kururu Warriors last Sunday, will be hoping for a change in fortunes today when they oppose bottom of the table Diamond United. This would be Diamond’s third game of the season and they will fancy their chances of rubbing salt in the wound of the defending champions. However, Grove will not want to lie down and allow opponents to run them over
thus a renewed and energized team is anticipated to take to the field in their quest for full points. Herstelling, in their best season yet, already doubling the amount of wins from their first season will come up against the equally exciting Kuru Kururu Warriors in what is anticipated to be an enthralling showdown. Both sides have played well so far this season and will be seeking to further consolidate. The Warriors are coming off a big win against Grove, while Herstelling are also coming off a huge win victory against Agricola Red Triangle the number two team on the East Bank; they won that match 2-1. Kick off time is 13:30hrs.
Sunday April 17, 2016
GCA’s GISE, Trophy Stall & Star Party 2-day Cricket
Fifties from Barnwell, Hinkson put DCC in control
Randy Lindore, who top scored for GDF, hits one from Totaram Bishun (3-38) just past the short-leg fielder at GCC yesterday. By Sean Devers Contrasting half-centuries from National player Chris Barnwell (70) and Jamal Hinckson (70) put DCC in control over GDF on day one of the GCA’s GISE, Trophy Stall & Star Party two-day Cricket Final yesterday at Bourda. Barnwell’s run-a-ball 70 came from 192 minutes and was decorated with 13 fours, while Hinckson faced 53 balls and batted for 119 minutes; reaching the boundary five times and clearing it once. West Indies U-19 opener Tevin Imlach retired hurt with cramps in his forehand on 45 with four fours and a six. He added 62 for the fourth wicket with Hinckson as DCC ended the day on 184-5 in reply to GDF’s 160. Six GDF batsmen got into double figures but Randy Lindore, who batted for just over an hour, top-scored with 25 with three fours and put together 49 for the fifth wicket with Ishwar Singh, whose 24 included two fours and six. Barnwell (3-36) left-arm spinner Totaram Bishun (338) and pacer Paul Wintz (219) bowled well for DCC. Berbice and Guyana pacer Romario Sheppard took the first two wickets to leave DCC on 10-2 and returned to dismiss the stylish Hinckson to end the day 3-19 as DCC finished with a lead of 24 runs with five wickets in hand, including Imlach who needs 55 more to register consecutive centuries in the competition. Put in to bat, GDF lost Quacey McPherson LBW to Barnwell for a duck at 2-1. Wintz got rid Hakeem Hinds (1) and Leon Andrews (14) whose top-edged hook ballooned to the Keeper to leave the soldiers on 32-3. It was soon 34-4 when Richard Ramdeen (23) fell to Bishun before Singh and
Lindore joined forces in operation rebuild. Both batsmen went after the spinners with Lindore using his feet to hit Bishun for a couple of boundaries in one over and Singh lofting Dennis Squires into the Rohan Kanhai stand. But both batsmen departed with the score on 87 before Dexter Solomon (4) was run out at 101-7. Jerimiah Harris (21*) and Sheppard (22) threw their bats around before Bishun ended the Soldier’s fight by having Nial Smith (12) caught and bowled. DCC, without four of their players because of the GCB U-19 tournament which continues today, lost Brian
Sattuar (2) and Kevin Boodie (0) in quick succession before Barnwell and Imlach repaired the damage. Just when Barnwell, a bully at the local level with consistent performances for DCC, was looking set for a hundred he lofted Lindore to the fielder on the mid-wicket boundary to again throw his wicket away at 94-4 after a confident caught behind appeal from all the fielders was turned down by First-Class Umpire Shannon Crawford. Hinkson, who got off the mark with a first-ball six off Lindore, joined Imlach, who was pacing his innings excellently. Imlach, who effortlessly deposited spinner
Andre O’Neil onto the sightscreen, was forced to retire with cramps in sweltering heat. A fair size crowd of mostly vocal DCC supporters watched as Hinckson stroked Lindore for two fours with consummate ease and pounced upon Smith like a cat upon a mouse and smashed him for consecutive boundaries. Hinckson was soon LBW to Sheppard at 181-4 before Jahron Bryon was run out by the length of the pitch without addition to the score. Kemol Savory (2) and Squires (0) survived to the close. The final day is scheduled to start at 09:30hrs today.
Annual T&G Outreach U13 Interschool football competition in Berbice
Berbice Educational Institute and Vryman’s Erven through to final The finalists have been decided as action continued in the annual Trinidad and Guyana Sports Club and Outreach Programme (TGSCOP) U13 Inter Secondary School football competition for school in the NA/ Canje district. The tournament, which is being held at the All Saints Scott Church ground in New Amsterdam, is being played in collaboration with the Hearts of Oak Masters Football club. The teams into the finals are Defending Champion Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) and Vryman’s Erven Secondary (VESS). In semi final play BEI thumped Canje Secondary School (CSS) 4-1 with Keron Hamilton leading the way with a double in the 12th and 28th minutes, while Shamar
Clements and Daniel Welcome netted one each. CSS goal came off the booth of Jevon Persaud. In the other semifinal, VESS squeezed past Berbice High School (BHS) 1-0 with Tyrick Ogleton scoring. Earlier, in the final round of preliminary matches, there were wins for VESS and BHS. Results of those games showed BEI winning from VESS 1-0 with Nicholas Chase being on target. In another match BHS eased past Tutorial Academy Secondary 20. Scoring for BHS were C h a r l e s Wi l l i a m s a n d Jeffery Adams. The top school in the competition will be presented with the Trinidad and Guyana (T&G) Sports Club and Outreach Programme trophy and 15 gold medals, while the runner up will collect a trophy and
15 silver medals. Trophies and other incentives will also be given to the other participating teams. A number of individual prizes will also be presented including the most valuable player, best striker, best defender, best midfielder, best goalkeeper, most promising player(s), and most goal scorer. Players will also be presented with jerseys, trunks, shin pads, hoses, boots and balls among other things. The competition is sponsored by Isaac Daniel a resident of Trinidad and a regular visitor of Guyana who started to organise the activities over a decade ago. The tournament is being coordinated by former national players Neil “Grizzly” Humphrey and Kenrick Bowry. (Samuel Whyte)
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Warriors rout Rockets, easily take Game 1 USA TODAY Sports - OAKLAND – For all the flattering focus on Stephen Curry and his understated ways, there’s a downside to his quiet confidence for anyone who enjoys a good sports storyline. The soon-to-be two-time MVP rarely, if ever, tells the truth about what fuels him. So when Players Association MVP James Harden and the Houston Rockets came to town for a first-round playoff matchup against his defending champion Golden State Warriors that was a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals, only Curry knew how much the shared history would be on his mind. And when the Rockets’ renowned agitator, Patrick Beverley, tried to manhandle Curry midway through the first quarter of the Warriors’ 104-78 rout, only Curry knew if that was truly the poking-the-bear moment that so many deemed it to be. As always, the reigning MVP let the results speak for themselves. And his Warriors, who benefited so greatly from his 24-point outing, are up 1-0. The key question entering Game 2 on Monday, however, isn’t what Curry is saying but how he’s feeling. When Curry turned his right ankle late in the second quarter, hobbling back up the floor before making his way to the locker room, it dampened the mood of an already-salty crowd. As if Beverley’s antics weren’t enough – the Rockets guard tangling up with Curry before the two exchanged fearless pleasantries and were assessed double technical fouls – here was their favorite basketball son looking human at the worst possible of times. The place went eerily quiet, the Beverley boos quickly becoming a thing of the past as Curry’s status remained in question. In the end, he played a little more than two minites in the second half (17 in the first half) but was deemed available to return. From Warriors owner Joe Lacob on down, they can breathe again. It’s a luxury the Rockets cannot afford, as they showed about as much ability to slow the Warriors as they did repeat the valiant 2014-15 effort that now seems so far away. From a 56-win effort back then to a .500 effort (41-41) that included three consecutive wins at season’s end to sneak into the playoffs, this is simply not the same gritty team. The Warriors won all three of the regular season matchups during their historic 73win campaign. And Harden, who pushed Curry so hard for the actual MVP honor last season before winning the NBPA one that seems so silly now, has been relegated to second-tier status. While Harden recovered in the second half to finish with 17 points, the halftime line said it all about the state of these star-studded affairs: Curry 24 points (8 of 13 shooting; five of seven from three-point range); Harden four points (two of nine shooting; 0-1 from three). Rockets big man Dwight Howard had 14 points and 11 rebounds, but Houston’s 35.7% shooting and 24 turnovers brought their series-opening doom. Harden, who is adept at getting to the free throw line, had no foul shot attempts in this game. The Warriors, who shot 42.9% overall and buried 10-of25 on three pointers, are officially on their way in this title defence.
BA Paradise SC... (From page 77) the level that will feed into the senior ranks. He informed the players and gathering that the concluded tournament is the precursor to the Guyana Football Federation organised Intra Association NAMILCO Flour Power U-17 tourney which will kick off mid May. King also announced that in an effort to build partnership with a sister association while affording players the opportunity test their level
against other teams, the EDFA and the EBFA have agreed to pit their top two U17 teams against each other over two weekends. To this end, Paradise will oppose EBFA’s second placed U-17s, Soesdyke, while EBFA’s champions Grove Hi Tech will take on Buxton Stars on Saturday at the Golden Grove ground from 13:00hrs. The respective winners and loser will then clash on the East Bank the following Saturday.
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Rising Stars are South E’bo T20 champs On a day blessed with glorious sun shine in the village of Pomona on the Essequibo coast, Rising Star defeated New Opportunity Corps (NOC) by 29 runs to capture the South Essequibo Cricket Committee T20 title recently. Rising Star batted first and posted 141-8. They were largely indebted to Kaman Lackhan and Sachin Persaudthe duo added 84 for the third wicket after they were reduced to 37-2. Lackhan scored 42 with four fours before he was dismissed, while Persaud retired hurt on 37 (4x4). Anil Lackahn and Jagdesh Dindyal chipped in with 16 and 14 respectively. Miguel Jones had 4-26 while Akenie Adams took 3-19. NOC threatened but finished on 112-9 in response. Heresho Paul struck three fours and one six in scoring 35; he added 45 for the fifth wicket with Neilan Cadogan who made 15. Orin Heyliger hit 26 and Jones
The victorious Rising Star team.
made 13 down the order as Ravindra Narine captured 319 and Anil Lackhan 2-21. Kaman Lackhan was named man-of-the-match while both teams received trophies and cash incentives.
Earlier, Hibernia Sport Club overcame Jaguars in the third place play off. Jaguars were bowled out for 104 with Norman Fredericks scoring 67 (5x4), (2x6); Mangal Samroo took 5-19 off 4 overs and Suraj
Persaud 4-23. In reply, Hibernia got to 105-9. Suraj Persaud made 38 (5x4) and Reaz Mohamed scored 29(3x4); Wazim Kamal had 320; Suraj Persaud was named man of the match.
The 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championship in Havana, Cuba
Although Guyana failed to medal four boxers were outstanding Forty – two years ago, August 1974, seven young pugilist, Michael Reid, Mark Harris, Egbert Evan Parris, Keith Neil, Ramesh Best, Winfield Braithwaite, Reginald Ford accompanied by Coach Humber Green, Manager Leslie Alleyne and Doctor Ishri Singh departed Timehri International for Havana, Cuba to participate at the World Amateur Boxing Championship. Although Guyana failed to medal, Mark Harris and Reginald Ford reached the quarter finals. The other outstanding Guyanese pugilists were Michael Reid and Evan Parris. Today, Kaieteur Sports and Sports Statistician Charwayne Walker looks back forty – two years ago at the performance of the seven men who carried the Golden Arrowhead in Havana. We start with the late Ramesh Best fighting in the junior fly weight division. Best was stopped in the first round after being floored two times. He lost to Hungary’s Gregery Jedo. Keith Neil fighting in the light middle weight division, lost to Poland’s Jerzy Ribicki. Neil retired in the second round. Nineteen year old Winfield Braithwaite, fighting in the feather weight division, lost on points to Italian Salvadore Melluzzo. Michael Reid fighting in the light weight division left an indelible impression on the Cuban people and their leader Fidel Castro in his
first fight. Reid destroyed Switzerland’s Mark Ritterschofer in the second round in his first bout and gained a standing ovation from the capacity crowd of sixteen thousand but he was disappointed in his second fight and failed to produce the same form he had shown on his debut. According to sports journalist Al McDonald, who went with the team to Cuba, Reid in his next fight against Japanese Okhubo used the wrong tactics. He held his guard two high, while endeavouring to mix it with the muscular Japanese with his body weight of one hundred and twenty six pounds against a hundred and thirty two pounds of the Japanese, that was a mistake and he was floored in the second round whereby the referee halted the contest. Egbert Evan Parris fighting in the bantamweight division knocked out Kufuti Byanjine of Zaire in the first round. In his next fight against Nigerian Enenogo, Parris was way ahead on points when the bout was halted in the third and final round with blood streaming from Parris’ face. The Nigerian was repeatedly warned by the referee for ducking too low and using his head in the clinches and as the boxers disengaged from one of those clinches Parris’ face was streaming with blood from two cuts. The referee immediately
halted the bout and the ring side doctor ruled that Parris was unfit to carry on. Reginald Ford fighting in the welterweight division beat East German, Manfred Weider on points. Ford won his second fight when Northern Ireland, John Rodgers was disqualified in the third and final round. Ford lost in the quarterfinals to the Cuban, Emilio Correa by technical knockout in the second round. Mark Harris fighting in the light welterweight division, stopped Gustava Flores of El Salvador, the referee called a halt to the proceedings in the second round. Harris won his second bout
by a unanimous decision against Canadian Robert Proulex. Harris lost to Ugandan, Kalule in the quarterfinals by a split decision. The other West Indian boxers that lost in the quarterfinals were Trinidadian, Nathaniel Jones and Jamaican, Malcolm McCallmon. The land of many waters never attended another World Amateur Boxing Championship, so let’s salute the flag carriers of 1974. Mark Harris (deceased), Ramesh Best (deceased), Winfield Braithwaite, Michael Reid, Egbert Evan Parris, Keith Neil and Reginald Ford.
Seven teams move to second round in GT Beer 4-A-side Knockout Football Tourney The action was electric last Thursday night at the Aracari Resort when the GT Beer 4-A-side Football Tournament kicked off. Some fourteen teams engaged in fiery battle in the first round under floodlights, providing quite an entertaining spectacle for patrons at the venue. It the end it was seven teams that served up enough fire to move to the next round billed for April 21, 2016. Those moving forward are Team Agricola, Parfait Harmony B, Sparta Boss, Future Crane, Comfort Ballers, King Street Ballers, and Show Stoppers. Battling for supremacy on the first night were Sparta Boss, Parfait Harmony A, Water Street, Reggae Boyz, DC Warriors, Fix Time United, Agricola and Boom Bang. Also in competition were Team Admiral, Parfait Harmony B, Traders, Jetty ‘A’, Team Showstoppers, Bagotsville, Brothers United, Jetty ‘B’, Comfort Ballers, Patentia Street Ballers, Stewartville Gunners, Team Speedboat, Samaroo Dam and Vergenoegen. The sponsors making this venture possible are GT Beer, Twisterz Digital Audio entity, Tina’s Variety Supermarket, and the Aracari Resort.
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Sunday April 17, 2016
STAG ELITE LEAGUE – FINALE
Bakewell Slingerz and Fruta Conquerors march on By Franklin Wilson Bakewell Slingerz continued their roller coaster ride towards an historical double when they arrested the Guyana Defence Force 2-1 in a hard fought feature match when the STAG Elite League – FINALE continued on Friday evening at the GFC ground, Bourda. In the opening encounter, Fruta Conquerors had to show some resolve in clawing their way back from a goal down to defeat Buxton United also by a 2-1 score line. In maintaining their unbeaten record whilst positing their ninth win in as many matches, Slingerz were led by Golden Jaguar Vurlon Mills who scored either side of play to confirm the win as the West Coast Demerara based side moved to 27 points, six clear of second placed Conquerors. Mills netted the first goal of the match in the 10th
minute, slicing the ball into the back of the nets on an assist from the nimble footed Trayon Bobb who continues to show that he is a notch above the rest with his crafty play and ability to control the ball on first touch. Slingerz were not allowed to celebrate their goal for too long as the Army side drew even six minute later when Clifford Garraway scored. With the match now in the balance the exchanges continued end to end as the GDF did not relent. Slingerz did not look their best on the night but still managed to keep up the pace with the fast paced soldiers. Chances were created at both ends but it was the GENESIS winners and FINALE leaders which muffed the most opportunities. The first half ended 1-1 even as the GDF fancied their chances of at least holding on for an equal share of the spoils but that was not to be.
GDF’s goalkeeper is brought into action from a corner kick against Slingerz on Friday night at GFC ground. Mills it was who put the game beyond the GDF’s reach when he doubled Slingerz’ advantage seven minutes into the second half; Slingerz 2 GDF 1. That was the proverbial icing on the cake for Slingerz
even though many more chances were created and they would have also felt they could have gotten a few more. However, it was win number nine for them as they remain the side to beat. Fruta conquerors were
shut out in the first 45 minutes of their clash against the resurgent Buxton United which should have been at least four goals up in the first half, as it turned out, they only led 1-0 compliments of a Clive Andries 43rd minute
penalty. As it always turns out, well, most of the times, teams that mess up their chances end up paying the price and that is exactly what turned out to be the case with Buxton. Conquerors, on an excellent run of form, dug in deep in the final 45 minutes and reaped the rewards with two goals which in the first instance neutralized Buxton’s advantage – Hubert Pedro hitting the network in the 76th minute to bring the score level. Three minutes later, Eon Alleyne notched in the sealer to secure full points for the Tucville based side which consolidated its second place moving to 22 points with their seventh win in nine matches. FINALE action will continue today at the same venue (GFC) from 18:30hrs when West Berbice’ Monedderlust will take on Pele with the main attraction between Alpha United and GFC.
Headquarters are COP Birth Anniversary T20 champs
The runner up Presidential Guard side. By Zaheer Mohamed Headquarters defeated Presidential Guard by 97 runs to capture the Commissioner of Police DSM Seelall Persaud Birth Anniversary
T20 title yesterday at Eve Leary. Headquarters posted a challenging 203-4, batting first in front of a decent crowd. Troy Benn and Muniram Persaud gave
Headquarters a dream start with an exciting 117-run opening stand. Both Batsmen showed little leniency for their opponents’ bowling as they mixed aggression with defence on a decent pitch. Muniram clobbered four fours and three sixes in top scoring with 56, while Benn smashed five fours and two maximums in his 51. Khalia Ramkaran and Steven Harris struck 39 each as Bissoondyal Roopchand picked up 2-56, Kester Hardcort 1-31 and Kevin Allicock 1-34. Presidential Guard lost opener Allicock who was caught off Harris for two, but Zane London and Hardcort
Members of the Headquarters and Training School football teams. took the score to 54 with levelheaded batting to keep their team in hunt. Troy Benn then removed Hardcort after he had slammed four fours in scoring 27 before Dwayne Dodson sent back London for 26 (4x4) to leave the score at 57-3. Despite a cameo 28 from Paul Tyndall who hit three fours and two sixes, Presidential Guard were bowled out for 106 in 19.3 overs mainly due to some steady bowling by Headquarters.
Man-of-the-match Benn was the leading wicket taker with 4-13, while Harris claimed 2-28, Bowam Ramkarran 1-16 and Dodson 1-21. Randolph Knights (best catch), Harris (most sixesnine), Benn (best bowler in the final), Persaud (best batsman in the final and MVP) were all rewarded for their efforts. Stephon Blacks was the tournament leading run scorer with 85 runs. Chairman of the cricket section of the Guyana Police
Force Nigel Hoppie congratulated t h e w i n n e r s a n d thanked the other participating teams, while Sports Officer Tiffany Williams expressed gratitude to the sponsors. The competition was sponsored by Zara Group of Companies. Meanwhile, Headquarters overcame Training School 21 to win the 5-a-side football competition. Natasha Alder who won the MVP and Onica Eastman found the net for the winners.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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EDFA Golden Jubilee U-17 Tourney
BA Paradise SC needle Buxton Stars to win tournament By Franklin Wilson Bachelors Adventure / Paradise Sports Club ( B A P S C ) e m e rg e d a s champions of the East Demerara Football A s s o c i a t i o n ( E D FA ) organised Golden Jubilee Under-17 tournament when they defeated a tough Buxton Stars 1-0 yesterday afternoon at the Golden Grove ground. Golden Stars ran away with the third place trophy on account of a 3-1 win over Victoria Kings. In a closely fought championship match, BAPSC absorbed lots of pressure from the nippy Buxton side throughout the encounter and it was a long range shot early in the second half that separated the two sides. BAPSC, enjoying a size advantage were airtight at the back even as the Buxton players tried for all their
worth to dribble past their opponents but were not successful. Shots on goal were few and far; it took a long range missile off the boot of Ingram Clarke three minutes into the second half to decide the winner. The previously unbeaten Buxton Stars, much to their credit were all over their opponents in the final 15 m i n u t es b u t ex c el len t goalkeeping by the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper Ryan Edward Harris denied and kept Buxton at bay. The final whistle saw the BAPSC team celebrating a well deserved victory. Golden Stars FC were golden in their display against Victoria Kings whom they blanked 3-1 thanks to first half goals from Michael Scott in the 2nd minute, Cevon Montrose in the 27th and Shemar Kingston 31st m i n u t e . Vi c t o r i a ’s
- Teshawn Stewart is MVP
Bachelors Adventure Paradise Sports Club U17 Captain Teshawn Stewart receives the winner’s trophy from EDFA President Alfred King in the presence of his club mates. consolation goal was netted by Nairon Johnson in the 78th minute. Shemar Scott of Buxton Stars ended as the Highest
Goal Scorer with a total of four (4) goals. At the presentation ceremony, EDFA President Alfred King complimented
the winners and all the participating clubs as well as coaches for their combined efforts which contributed towards the success of the
tournament. He noted that the Under17 level will be one of their main focus areas since this is (Continued on page 75)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 17, 2016
Miss World Guyana Finalist Marva Langevine Charity Football on today at Den Amstel Miss World Guyana 2016 Pageant Finalist and Beauty Ambassador for Region #3 - Essequibo Islands West Demerara - Ms. Marva Langevine is set to host a Charity Day of Football today at the Den Amstel Community Centre G r o u n d , We s t C o a s t Demerara. The Secondary School Teacher attached to the North Georgetown Secondary School has informed that the Guyana Football Federation has granted approval for today’s event which will see three matches being contested from 17:00hrs with an Under-17 match between Eagles and Den Amstel. Next up will be a masters’ clash featuring
sides from West Bank and West Coast Demerara while the feature attraction pits old rivals Den Amstel and Uitvlugt Warriors in a senior exhibition showdown. Proceeds from this Beauty with a Purpose activity will be in aid of bereaved young people and their families. Ms. Langevine informed that she chose to start a national conversation on childhood bereavement because her personal aim has always been to create a safe, loving and therapeutic environment for bereaved children, especially orphans. ”By empowering my fellow citizens, I am optimistic that together, we will express dedication to serving the needs of grieving
children and families and as I am providing education and support to those who serve t h e m . ” ”I have plans to create bereavement support groups though my membership in the Den-Amstel Youth Empowerment Network and the Periwinkle Cancer Club. Thousands of Guyanese children and their family are bereaved by death due to domestic violence, cancer, suicide, accidents and other top causes of death in this country.” Langevine further noted that it is her intention to help these families by first catering to the emotional needs of the child by organizing a bereavement camp for children and young people dealing with loss of
death. ”A place where they can be around others with similar e xperiences, share their feelings and form lasting friendships under the care and guidance of mentors including social workers, teachers, caregivers, missionaries and councilors among others.” She further explained that her dream is to give young people a chance to grow and develop their individual talent as they learn to cope with their grief. Ms. Langevine also plan to highlight the financial burdens of bereaved families, especially widows who often head down a road of poverty as a result of their spouse’s death. ”Beauty with a Purpose is at the heart of Miss World as it strives to help children
Ms. Marva Langevine (center) displays some of the trophies along with the Trophy Stall Rep. at left and Coach Wayne Dover. worldwide; therefore it carries higher marks than any other challenge events.” Gratitude is being extended to the executive body of Bakewell Slingerz FC and Slingerz Family Entertainment for making this event possible, Ms
Langevine informed. The Trophy Stall of Section “C” Bourda Market has donated trophies for this Beauty with A Purpose Project that will be presented to each of the participating clubs at the end of the matches.
GCC claim first innings from MYO Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) grabbed first innings points from Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) when the Georgetown Cricket Association/Noble House Sea Foods second division two-day tournament continued yesterday. Batting first at MYO, GCC managed 149 all out with Deonarine Seegobin scoring 44, Steffan Wilson 34 and Manny Forde 22; Richard Latif bagged 555 and Chien Gittens 224. MYO were sent packing for 131 in reply. Latif struck 43 while Abdool Kumar
Richard Latif
Deonarine Seegobin
made 24 as Devon Lord grabbed 4-23 and Seegobin 3-24. GCC were 20-1 at stumps batting a second time; a lead of 38 with
Umesh Budram on nine and Forde on seven. Wilson was the wicket to fall lbw to Latif for two. Play continues today.
Fiona Harris to be laid to rest on Wednesday The first female President of the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) Fiona Harris who passed away last Sunday will be laid to rest on Wednesday. Wake will be held at her mother’s residence South Ruimveldt on Monday and Tuesday night with the funeral on Wednesday. Viewing of the remains will take place at the Crematorium on Princess
Fiona Harris
Street between 13:00 and 14:00hrs with Church Service slated for the North
Ruimveldt Nazarene Church, Kaikan Street from 15:00hrs.
Sunday April 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
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UG could continue rise at Boyce/Jefford Relay Festival The University of Guyana (UG) will look to continue its ascendancy in track and field on Sunday at the Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival after some recent outstanding performances that suggests that the team will be challengers for podium places at the event. The University recently returned with five medals from the University of the We s t I n d i e s ( U W I ) Invitational Track and Field Competition in Mona Campus, Jamaica, one of which was gold in a 1600m Medley relay. The team of Owen Adonis, Floyd Phillips, Kadeem Peters and Cleveland Forde ran the 1600m Medley race that featured a 400m, 200m,
200m and 800m in that order in 3:37.50 for first place. The University won three gold; one silver and one bronze medal at the meet. The other members of the University of Guyana’s Track and Field team included Kezia Bess, Vanessa Shelto, Travis P o o l e , S a l i m Yu s s u f , Ameer Yussuf and Kleon Spelling. Mark Scott was appointed Coach of the team for the UWI Invitational. The team returned to Guyana and competed last Friday at a Golden Jubilee Relay Festival at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora where the team reportedly put in some performances that were
creditable, winning several events. The University will be competing at the Boyce and Jefford Relay Festival this coming Sunday at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary where they will hope to continue the rise among some of the best athletes and clubs in Guyana. The Events for the Relay Festival include (male and females): 4x100, 4x200m 4x400, Sprint Medley Females (100m, 100m, 200m, 400m), Sprint Medley Males (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m) Distance Medley Females (400m, 600m, 600m, 800m), Distance Medley Males (400m, 600m, 600m, 1200m).
The University of Guyana Athletics Team pose for a photo opportunity Friday at the National Track and Field Centre. (Lavern Fraser/Facebook photo) In addition, each relay race carries a total prize of $40,000 with $20,000 for the
winner; $12,000 for second and $8,000 for third place. Teams are expected from
Linden, Berbice, East Coast and Georgetown-based clubs.
Junior table tennis team qualifies for Pan Am Championships -after securing silver, gold medals at Caribbean C/ships
Guyana Boys Table Tennis Team
Guyana’s junior table tennis boys’ team qualified for the first Pan American Junior and Cadet Championships scheduled for the June 25-30 in Vancouver, Canada after its gold medal doubles performance at the Caribbean Championships on Friday. The 18 years and under junior boys’ doubles pair, Kyle Edghill and Elishaba Johnson secured gold at the Caribbean Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championships
in the Dominican Republic. The pair stormed to the title after overcoming, Trinidad and Tobago’s Aaron Wilson and Joshua Maxwell 3-1 in the finals. In the semifinals round, they defeated the number one ranked duo, Dominican Republic’s Carlos Guzman and Pedro Balbuena 3-0 in a thrilling high intensity g a m e . Guyana’s other contestants in the U-18 doubles competition, Shemar Britton and Miguel Wong lost 1-3 in the second
r o u n d t o Wi l s o n a n d Maxwell. The team has now added gold to its silver medal secured in the team events, which concluded on Friday. The perf o r m a n c e s guarantee Guyana’s team qualification into the Pan American Junior Championships in Canada. The Singles competition of the Caribbean Junior Championships began yesterday.
t r o Sp STAG ELITE LEAGUE – FINALE
Warriors rout Bakewell Slingerz and Rockets, easily Fruta Conquerors march on take Game 1
Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry led his team to 1-0 up in the playoffs. (Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP)
Conquerors’ Hubert Pedro in control against Buxton United on Friday night.
Headquarters are COP Birth Anniversary T20 champs Members of the victorious Headquarters team display their hardware with members of the GPF and sponsors.
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