Kaieteur News

Monday April 18, 2016

Why did Magistrate Daly act this way? DEAR EDITOR, I wish to add my voice to the call of the Colwyn Harding Support Group, and to hereby express my utter shock and deep dismay with the suspicious and curiously rapid decision by Magistrate Daly to dismiss the Colwyn Harding case, simply due to Mr. Harding’s absence during the last court session. Something about that hasty decision stinks to high heaven, and I hereby challenge the Guyana Ombudsman’s office, Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc, and that indefatigable soldier of the people, Freddie Kissoon, to take a closer look at Magistrate Daly’s decision. After all, how can a Magistrate who is supposed to be an officer of the Law, treat the Law so scantily? Mr. Devin Singh, a police officer at the time, allegedly shoved a police baton sheathed in a condom into Mr. Harding’s anus, causing him life threatening injuries, and for which he had to undergo surgery in Jamaica. I am amazed that Guyanese can just sit there in peace and tranquillity, and let such a matter slide by unnoticed. I am amazed that I can still be shocked, although I saw myself how my Guyanese people just sat idly by, when another police officer set a young man’s penis and scrotum on fire, while in custody at a police station. That young life was simply destroyed by that cruelty. Not even 100 persons of a population of 750,000 persons demonstrated. I am amazed and deeply ashamed that I can still be dazed! This could never happen to Samuel Hind’s son, or Anil Nandalall’s brother. Why is it happening to Mr. Harding? Is it because he is no big wig, and so receives no special attention, and no special telephone calls, and no special “thank-you” and no Government Advisor positions, from persons like Joe Harmon? Nowhere in the civilized world would such an alleged distasteful, repulsive, criminal matter be allowed to just die this quiet death. Where has Guyanese humanity gone to? Magistrate Daly must be taken to task for such a suspicious rush to injustice! There is no doubt in my mind that Magistrate Daly would have had a different attitude had Colwyn Harding been a person of wealh, or some other form of relative, of the Guyanese elite classes. I am deeply suspicious of Magistrate Daly, and I wish to express my right as a citizen of Guyana to demand that the authorities look into his strange decision. This matter will not simply just go away, I assure you, Magistrate Daly! I hope that the Ombudsman’s office, or TIGI, or the People’s Hero, Freddie Kissoon, or Mr. Glenn Lall, take a look at this case, because like the Colwyn Harding Support Group, I am not going to rest until this matter is properly investigated. I hereby join the membership of the Colwyn Harding Support Group, comprising thus far: Joy Marcus; Norwell Hinds; Suzette Fortune; Elton Mcrae; Charlene Wilkinson; Danuta Radzik; Mellisa Ifill; Peter Persaud

Now Harmon is...

From page 4 present government with these latest allegations of interferences? In my opinion, the government of the day must move immediately to replace the State Asset Recovery Unit with an Anti-corruption Commission as the country’s final anticorruption body. Sherwyn Delano Downer

Kaieteur News

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President Granger needs to act now DEAR EDITOR, Since taking office, the Government has done so much to rebuild Guyana, however, buoyed by its one seat majority in Parliament, it assumed a right to arrogance and disdain for the public and the media. So undaunted and unmoved by the alleged misconduct of the Minister of State and consumed by its constant sniping at the media, the government seems to be heading into dangerous territory. Realizing that it is being snared by the behavior of the Minister of State who wielded incredible power, the president should have seized the opportunity and put an end to the scandal. While several ministers have distanced themselves from the scandals, the President desperately continues to praise and defend the actions of the Minister. At the same time, his preoccupation with the business adviser to the government, Brian “BK” Tiwarie, compounded by the inexplicable decision not to address the issue publicly, has only served to prolong the scandal. Being in office for almost a year, the government seems incapable to deal with the alleged

misconduct involving the Minister of State and the Tiwarie and the BaiShanLin scandals. The government seems ill-prepared and this has dampened the hopes and dreams of an already tired and despondent nation. Incredulously, the president continues to deny that the Minister of State has a preeminent role over other ministers, including the Prime Minister. Obviously, the AFC which is the second largest partner in the Coalition government has vented its frustration at its weekend retreat. It called for the stripping of some powers from the Minister of State in order to prevent the alleged misconduct from happening again. The AFC felt that its coordinating and supporting role as a partner in the coalition government has been abused and at worst, disrespected by a cynical and destructive political misconduct. Based on media reports, the President and some diehard supporters of the PNC continue to deflect the blame for the Minister ’s alleged misconduct on the media, including the picketing of Kaieteur News which for

years had exposed the corrupt practices of the former administration. Only a few had the willpower to stand up against the former administration as did the publisher of Kaieteur News. In truth, the perceptions of such cruel and dishonest display are likely to erode the trust and confidence placed in the government by the people. Many in the government have assumed that whatever they say or do will be accepted by the people, but the scandals have eroded that trust. Plain and simple, the attack on the media is wrong. This government which campaigned on change, good governance, transparency and to end corruption is accused of doing exactly the opposite. It has not learned from the mistakes of others. There are mistakes aplenty. The enlarging of the cabinet to 27 Ministers; a 50 percent increase in the minister’s salaries and the refusal to give civil servants a substantial increase in salaries coupled with the appointments of seniors and military personnel to government positions seem unbearable for the public, especially the youths. The common saying that

the buck stops with the president, seems not to be the case in with this government. It is the President who has the supreme duty to define the image of the government, exude influence on the population, and deal condignly with those who misused and abused their power and violate the rules of the state. This should never be delegated to others. In this, the President faltered and as primus-inter-pares must take the blame for the ensuing debacle. Above all else, the government’s silence on the Tiwarie’ appointment and the BaiShanLin scandal is troubling. Instead of investigating the Minister’s alleged misconduct, the President continues to defend him, which is bizarre. Even more disastrous, the g o v e r n m e n t ’ s communications team has reinforced its political folly. This was clearly shown in their over-worded, overly protective statements that were beyond the people’s comprehension, personal interests and desires. The government seems bent on a destructive path, and lest we forget, the buck stops with the President Observer (name supplied)

Who regulates Brush Cutter Operators? DEAR EDITOR, I have noted that some brush cutter operators, whether on behalf of the Georgetown municipality or subject Ministry, when weeding the parapets around the city, would use a protective covering to prevent objects from becoming missiles and either injuring passers-by or damaging private property. While this is commendable, I believe there is an opportunity for this practice to be mandatory for all such work including private brush cutter operators. The reality is that brush cutter operators perform these services for many residents and do not use this protective covering and when an incident

occurs where private property is damaged (e.g. moving or parked car), very little may come out of it. As many times, the individual who contracted the services of the operator excludes himself from any personal responsibility; and the operator is not likely to be held liable as it may be deemed as an unwilful act. The end result being one where the individual whose property has been damaged is left with no recourse. Additionally, if one were to examine a brush cutter, he/she would see modifications to the equipment with little consideration given to safety but more to clearing

needs. In our country there appears to be an increased emphasis on safety to tackle road and mining accidents which gives an impression of ‘fighting fires’ rather than a comprehensive and strategic country plan to transition and engender a generative safety culture among Guyanese where

safety becomes a way of life. I do not expect miracles over night, but I do believe we need to be adequately resourced to move beyond advisories and more into the realm of regulations, laws and strict enforcement of Occupational, Safety and Health (OSH) practices. Christpen Bobb-Semple

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Kaieteur News

Occupational Health & Safety Month…

Ministry of Social Protection launches book exhibition Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence (middle) during the book launch at the University of Guyana

In recognition of April being Occupational Health and Safety Month, the Ministry of Social Protection has launched a book exhibition at the University of Guyana. At the launching of the event which was recently held, the Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence said that Occupational Health and Safety Day will actually be celebrated internationally on April 28. She said however, that the

Ministry has dedicated the entire month to a series of events and activities in the hopes of educating and heightening awareness of Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace. Lawrence said that her Ministry is cognizant of the challenges that are presented on a daily basis in the working environment. The Minister said that she is also aware of the fact that the workforce is exposed to conditions and hazards, which may be

biological, chemical, environmental, and ergonomic, among others in nature and for which safeguards and preventive measures must be in place to limit or eliminate any risk of injury, illness or death. The Social Protection Minister said that it is crucial that all workers perform and execute their tasks in a safe and healthy environment hence theme for this month’s celebration is, “Workplace Stress: A collective Challenge.” She said, “Inherent in this theme is the call for all stakeholders- management as well as workers to embrace this issue collaboratively in an effort to minimize the stress that is evident in the working environment.” The Social Protection Minister continued, “Each worker, irrespective of the level at which he operates, has rights which must be honored and physical and emotional needs which must be adequately met. Each employee must be valued, respected and satisfied if we want him to work effectively (Continued on page 9)

Monday April 18, 2016

Guyana among few countries without restrictions on log exportation By Abena Rockcliffe- Campbell The forensic audit report on the operations of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has indicated that the percentage of log exportation out of Guyana continues to climb at a time when all other tropical countries have set restrictions on exportation of logs. According to a 2007 discussion paper prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Forestry Commission, the international trends in promoting and ensuring sustainable forest management indicated a growing occurrence of restrictions in the export of logs, especially in tropical timber producing countries. In some cases, there was a total ban on the export of logs. Guyana’s neighbour, Brazil has banned the export of all logs since 1969; so did Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire. Venezuela has banned five main species since 2001. Central African Republic has serious restrictions on log exports. Columbia also has regulations restricting the exportation of logs in force for over ten years. Only round wood coming from planted forests can be exported. Gabon instituted a log export quota system from January 2007; Ghana has banned log exportation since 1997. Levies are imposed on export of air dried timber for nine important species. India has banned logging in natural forests, while Indonesia has instituted bans particularly in East Kalimantan. Malaysia banned log exports since 1985. Papua New Guinea put a ban on exportation on certain species of logs. The Philippines and Thailand have also put bans on the exportation of logs. The Philippines has done so since

GFC Boss, James Singh 1990. Congo and Myanmar are swiftly moving towards log export restrictions Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran noted in his audit report that since 2009, GFC had expressed concern about the extent of export of logs. Accordingly, it had proposed a ban on such exports with a view to encouraging downstream processing. However, Goolsarran indicated that at a Stakeholders Forum held in the same year, an alternative proposal was agreed upon whereby there would be a phased increase in the export commission. For example, the export commission on wamara was seven percent in 2009. This was increased to 10% in 2010 and 2011. The current export commission for this species is 17 percent. Despite implementation of that measure, Goolsarran reported that log exportation in 2014 had increased by75 percent, compared with 2013. There was an increase from approximately 80,000 cubic metres to 140,000 cubic metres. Goolsarran said that it is evident that additional measures need to be adopted to restrict the export of logs and to encourage downstream processing in order to maximize the use of Guyana’s forest produce for the benefit of its economy in terms of revenue generation through the export of finished products as well as job creation. Goolsarran has recommended that Guyana restrict the exportation of certain species of forest produce in log form and allocate quotas to concessionaires desirous of exporting logs from their concessions. Goolsarran also said that the GFC should make it a mandatory requirement for concessionaires to engage in downstream value-added processing, failing which their

Forensic Auditor, Anand Goolsarran

Managing Director of BaiShanLin, Chu Hongbo permits will be revoked. He recommended too that Guyana should also provide all concessionaires, both local and foreign, with the relevant fiscal concessions to enable them to engage in downstream valued-added activities. GFC RESPONDED In response to Goolsarran’s findings, the Commission commented that the first log export policy was introduced in 2009 as a mechanism to promote further value added activities and reduce the exports of logs. GFC said that the policy provided for a graduated increase in the export commission charged for the export of logs and also compute higher percentage for certain key species. It was noted that prior to 2009, a flat rate of two per cent export commission was charged on all species of logs exported based on the Freight On Board (FOB) value. GFC said, “This policy was revised in 2012 and an even higher levels of commission charged. Log export at the moment is less than 35 per cent of production which means in excess of 60 per cent of production is available for local value added activities. In terms of volume, log export for 2014 was 138,502m3 whilst production of logs was (Continued on page 24)

Monday April 18, 2016

Kaieteur News

Ethiopia says death toll from raid rises to 208; 108 children kidnapped Reuters - The death toll from a raid carried out by South Sudanese gunmen in western Ethiopia has risen to 208 people and the assailants kidnapped 108 children, an Ethiopian official said yesterday. The attack took place on Friday in the Horn of Africa nation’s Gambela region which, alongside a neighbouring province, hosts more than 284,000 South Sudanese refugees who fled conflict in their country. By yesterday afternoon, the number had risen to “208 dead and 75 people w o u n d e d ” f r o m 1 4 0 a d a y e a r l i e r, government spokesman Getachew Reda told Reuters, adding the assailants had also abducted 108 children and taken 2,000 head of livestock. “Ethiopian Defence Forces are taking measures. They are closing in on the attackers,” he said. Getachew did not give further details, but officials in Gambela said on Saturday

Ethiopian troops had crossed the border in pursuit of the attackers. Cross-border cattle raids have occurred in the same area in the past, often involving Murle tribesmen from South Sudan’s Jonglei and Upper Nile regions - areas awash with weapons that share borders with Ethiopia. Previous attacks, however, were smaller in scale. The gunmen are not believed to have links with 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. South Sudanese officials were not immediately available for comment. Under pressure from neighbouring states, 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 ministerial positions in January.

Chinese official calls Trump ‘irrational’ on trade

Reuters - Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei criticized Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, calling him “an irrational type” due to the candidate’s proposal that tariffs on imported Chinese goods be increased to up to 45 percent. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published yesterday, Lou said, “Trump is an irrational type. If he were to do this, that would be in violation of the rules set by the World Trade Organisation.” Lou said that if the United States put Trump’s proposal into effect, it “would not be entitled to its position as the world’s major power. The U.S. needs to recognize that the U.S. and China are mutually dependent on each other. Our economic cycles are intertwined.” He acknowledged that rhetoric in a U.S. presidential campaign can become heated. Trump yesterday again asserted that China has waged “economic war”

Donald Trump against the United States. “They’ve taken our jobs, they’ve taken our money,” the billionaire businessman said at a campaign rally in New York. “We can’t continue to be ripped off like we’re being ripped off.” At a Republican presidential debate last month, Trump said China will not allow free trade or U.S. manufacturers to compete freely.

“The 45 percent (tariff) is a threat that if they don’t behave, if they don’t follow the rules and regulations so that we can have it equal on both sides, we will tax you,” he said. Republican rival Ted Cruz criticized the 45 percent tariff proposal, saying during the same debate that it would be passed on to U.S. consumers. “How does it help you to have a president come and say ... I’m going to put a 45 percent tax on diapers when you buy diapers, on automobiles when you buy automobiles, on clothing when you buy clothing. That hurts you,” the U.S. senator from Texas said. The United States reported a $366 billion trade deficit with China in 2015, up from $343 billion in 2014 - the largest U.S. trade imbalance with any nation. The deficit is up nearly 12 percent in the first two months of 2016 to $57 billion. China is the United State’s largest trading partner.

Hundreds detained as Indian caste protest turns violent Reuters - Protests by an Indian caste demanding the release of one of its leaders turned violent yesterday, as police fought running street battles with stone-throwing demonstrators and detained hundreds. Statewide marches in Gujarat calling for the freeing of Hardik Patel, a young leader of the Patel community who has been in jail since last October on sedition charges, turned violent in the town of Mehsana. Police fired tear gas, deployed water cannon and staged baton charges against protesters. The local administrator imposed a curfew in Mehsana. Across the state more than 400 protesters were detained. At least two dozen people were injured in Mehsana, NDTV said in a report that could not immediately be confirmed. “The internet has been jammed so that no rumours are spread through WhatsApp and

other social sites,” said Mehsana District Collector Lochan Sehra. “Peace should be maintained throughout the city.” Hardik Patel, 22, emerged overnight last year as leader of a mass movement demanding more government jobs and college places for the Patel — or Patidar — community that makes up 14 percent of Gujarat’s 60 million population. Last year’s protests caught the state and federal governments off guard, and challenged the promise of new job opportunities made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who ran Gujarat for 13 years before winning the 2014 general election. Earlier this year the Jat land-owning caste launched mass protests in another Indian state, Haryana, only backing down when the authorities yielded to their demands for more jobs and opportunities to study.

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PAHO launches Zika virus research database WASHINGTON - CMC – The Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) has launched a new Zika Research Projects List, a database that categorises all scientific studies on the Zika virus worldwide, including the Caribbean. PAHO said it has “systematically identified and collected basic information on all investigations related to Zika, both those already published and those on track to be published.” The database includes the title, authors and a direct link to the article. According to PAHO, each study has been categorized in

the areas of virus, vectors and reservoirs; epidemiology; disease pathogenesis and consequences of Zika infection; clinical management; public health interventions; health systems and services response; research and product development; and causality. One can also search by publication type: published articles, protocol and publication of preliminary results, PAHO said. It said the search mechanism was created after a group of experts from around the world met in March to discuss a regional

agenda to prioritize and coordinate research on Zika. At that meeting, PAHO said researchers concluded that efforts must be increased to explore unknown factors about microcephaly and other congenital malformations that may be linked to infection by the virus. Experts analyzed and mapped the gaps in scientific knowledge about the virus, how it affects people, its implications for public health in the Americas, and the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the vector that transmits the disease, PAHO said.

To date, the Zika virus is circulating in 34 countries and territories in the Americas, including the Caribbean. The virus is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito, and now has been found to be sexually transmitted. Zika has been associated with congenital malformations such as microcephaly, and neurological complications, such as Guillain Barré syndrome. PAHO said the research projects list is an additional tool to coordinate and keep adding knowledge about Zika virus as it appears.

VALUE OF SEIZED COCAINE UPPED TO JUST UNDER J$1 BILLION Daily Observer - The value of the cocaine shipment that was seized in Westmoreland Saturday morning has now been placed at just under J$1 billion. Head of the Police Narcotics Division Senior Superintendent Calvin Small told The Gleaner-Power 106 News Centre that a total of 798 kilograms of cocaine was seized during the joint police-military operation in Belmont Beach. Small says the cocaine has a street value of US$7.5 million or approximately J$909 million. Jamaican law enforcement officials had initially estimated the value of the cocaine at approximately US$6 million or J$720 million.

Yesterday morning’s operation was conducted with assistance from the United States. In a statement issued Saturday the Jamaica Defence Force said a US Maritime patrol aircraft spotted a vessel suspected of illicit trafficking and passed the information to the Jamaica military. Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Small says the four men held in connection with the cocaine shipment are to be questioned in the presence of their attorneys. He says at the end of the interviews a decision will be taken on whether they will be charged with any criminal offence. Saturday morning’s cocaine seizure is believed to be the largest in the past decade.

Monday April 18, 2016

‘Govt. will not introduce price control’ Trinidad Guardian Government has no plans to introduce price control as it relates to the discrepancy in the price of grocery items. Chairman of the People’s National Movement Franklin Khan said the Government will protect the interest of consumers and the wider public by providing information about prices. However, he said it was up to the discretion of a consumer to pay exorbitant prices. Speaking at Saturday’s media conference after the party’s General Council meeting at Balisier House, Khan said Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon informed the council about the “situation with the price of food in Trinidad.” He said, “I want to state categorically at this time that Government has absolutely no intention of introducing price control but, having said that, we have to protect the public interest and the consumer interest.” Khan said this would be done by continuing to survey the market, in particular, food prices and publish and make available the information to the consumer as to what the prices should be.

Franklin Khan He said there will be a range of prices and if prices were to go beyond what was made public, then “you could know that price gauging is taking place.” He said that bandwidth would be established in the interest of the consumer. Khan said, “If you as the consumer want to go and pay exorbitant prices and we tell you what the bandwidth is, then that’s your judgment. But you’re supposed to seek out the supermarkets that sell the goods at that price.” He said it was still the role of the Government to regulate what happens and protect the consumer.

Monday April 18, 2016

Kaieteur News

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THE STAIN THAT CANNOT BE ERASED First, it was the breaches of the Cummingsburg Accord. The people were expecting that the Prime Minister would have been responsible for domestic affairs when the new government was appointed. This did not happen. The President is effectively wielding political power over all Ministers, including the Prime Minister. The Office of the Prime Minister was degutted of real power and was cocooned

within the Ministry of the Presidency which is headed, not by the Prime Minister, but by a Minister of State. There was no major fallout from this decision. The supporters of APNU could not be bothered that the agreement which created the coalition was being honoured in the breach. The AFC supporters buried their bruised pride, licked their wounds and pretended everything was honky dory with the coalition.

Everything is not fine with the coalition. Ambitions are running wild. People are jumping ship. Daggers are being pulled in the dark. There is backstabbing and backbiting. The coalition felt comfortable enough to hand the ministers a handsome salary increase of 50%. The workers in the meanwhile were told they had to wait for their increase. The people reacted negatively to the increase. They were appalled. They

Ministry of Social Protection launches... (From page 6) and make his contribution to the company or institution in which he is an integral part.” Lawrence added, “He must be happy to come to work and must be able to function without fear of being hurt, threatened or victimized. In a nutshell, this emphasizes the need for our workers and management to work together to provide the appropriate ambience in which the policies and regulations governing Occupational Health and Safety are prioritized.” It is upon this background that the Social Protection Minister indicated that she was elated to have the launch of the Book Exhibition which will see a wide array of books, journals and posters pertaining to the issue of Occupational Health and Safety. She said, “We therefore have no excuse for not apprising ourselves of this very crucial issue. As we peruse the titles, I am sure that our interest will be stimulated by one or more of them. Let us not lose this wonderful opportunity to educate ourselves. Make sure that you select a copy and share the information with your colleagues at work.” The Minister hopes that organizations will seize the moment and ensure that workers

are made aware of the requirements that an effective Occupational Health and Safety program entails. Lawrence noted that the Massy Group of Guyana has on exhibition the protective gear and equipment that will provide safety for workers on the job. As the theme suggests, the Minister said that all must be involved to ensure that workplace stress is kept to a minimum. She called on all Guyanese to advocate therefore for proper use of gear and equipment and make use of the books through discussions at staff meetings and professional development sessions. In this era of globalization, Lawrence asserted that information is power. Towards this end, the Minister of Social Protection said she aspired for Guyana to have a workforce that is knowledgeable in every aspect of the job particularly as it pertains to safety and protection. Lawrence commented that empowerment is best achieved when citizens have the commitment and participation of all stakeholders in the process. Lawrence thanked the University of Guyana Personnel for being the host of the exhibition.

were outraged. The government handled the situation badly and added fuel to an already fiery situation when an official said he had nothing to apologize. He eventually expressed regrets over that statement but the damage was already done. The storm passed and the coalition felt complacent. They are taking the people for granted. How else does one explain what has happened recently with the honorific appointment of an adviser on business and a controversial trip to China, the details of which are not yet fully known. This time the fallout is going to be permanent. . The supporters of the AFC and the APNU are furious about what is happening within the government at the moment. They are furious about the explanations being given. Three of four persons are giving different explanations for the same thing and this is fueling the disappointment of the people in the coalition. The AFC is trying to pull itself out of the present imbroglio. It recognizes the dangers and it senses that the

people are disappointed by what they are reading about honorific appointments and about the recent trip by a Minister to China. The revelations coming out of those two related controversies are going to taint the coalition. That stain is going to remain for a very long time. It will not be erased that easily. It will not be forgotten as the breach of the Cummingsburg Accord and the salary increases were. The coalition is splitting at the seams. The AFC is trying to distance itself from the honorific appointment of an Adviser on Business to the Minister of State. The AFC has already suffered disintegration of its party with a leading member offering his resignation which has now been converted into a leave of absence. All is not well within the AFC over this matter. All if not well between the AFC and APNU, with APNU supporters carrying placards critical of the AFC. The AFC is now contending, also, that a dispute settlement mechanism between itself and the APNU has not yet been

established. The Working Peoples Alliance is split down the middle on this issue. It is divided as to its loyalty and obligations to the coalition and its concern that instead of change the coalition is offering mere exchange. The WPA is also at odds with the government over the handling of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the death of Walter Rodney, its late co-founder. The coalition has problems. It is being held together by the fact that political power is at stake and this may be enough to prevent a splintering of the coalition. But no matter what the coalition does, it cannot erase the stain that it is now smeared with. It cannot erase that stain. It will permanently hurt the coalition because the supporters of both the AFC and APNU feel deceived by their parties.

China seeks Guyana’s resources... (From page 3) and economically sustainable model for its future development. The East-Asian nation has even earned itself numerous congratulations for demonstrating its commitment towards achieving a “greener economy.” Reports from China also indicate that there will be a ban on commercial logging of natural forests in State-owned plantations by the end of 2016. The country’s forest experts said that this move will have a positive impact on protecting the country’s forest resources. Zhang Yongli, Deputy Head of the State Forestry Bureau for example has been noted by the media there, as saying that China will also gradually stop commercial logging of collectively-owned natural forests beginning in 2017. What is even more remarkable is the fact that China, which logs about 49.94 million cubic meters of natural forest each year, initiated a landmark pilot program to ban all commercial logging of natural forests in key forest zones in the Northeast of China which is called Heilongjiang Province. This was in April 2014, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The prohibition forests experts said will be extended to all state-owned forests next year, and logging on privately owned land will be stopped by the end of 2017. The bans will cut timber output by 50 million cubic meters per year – the equivalent of 30 percent

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon of logs, Zhang said. Zhang is also reported as saying, “Our ecosystem has become so bad that it is no longer sustainable for China to continue serving as a world factory for wood products.” However, statistics show that the ban on commercial logging in Heilongjiang primarily affects two major stateowned logging companies – Long Jiang Forest Industry Group and Daxing Anling Forestry Company. Together, the two companies manage 18.45 million hectares of forests – covering 39 percent of the entirety of Heilongjiang province, according to China’s Xinhua news agency. What is even more interesting is the fact that Long Jiang Forest Industry Group is set to fully take over BaiShanLin forest Development Inc in Guyana by year end. Long Jiang already has a 55 percent hold in BaiShanLin. While China is already

taking measures to protect its forests, some of its companies in Guyana have been accused of carrying out a wanton abuse of Guyana’s forests. BaiShanLin has been at the centre of these accusations. Forensic auditor, Anand Goolsarran in a recent interview with Kaieteur News 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 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, Goolsarran in his recent audit report of the Guyana Forestry Commission made several recommendations. The fact that the Forests Act does not permit a renewal of a State Forest Exploratory Permit at the end of three years, the contract with the company, Goolsarran said, should be terminated forthwith. Goolsarran also recommended that State forest currently controlled by BaiShanLin 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.

Monday April 18, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Worrying gap exists between mercy for criminals and consideration for victims “The mercy that is entrenched in our laws and consciences should be tempered with the justice of a hearing accorded to victims…It would be a major step for our society and judiciary to take on board the rights of victims.” That is the view of veteran politician Ralph Ramkarran as reflected in his most recent online column. He believes that there are ample provisions in the Constitution that cater for and consider mercifully the plight of a prisoner while little consideration is in place for victims. President David Granger recently appointed an Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy. The council has been given the charge to lead with the teachings of the spirit of mercy and compassion. The newly sworn in members of the council are Dr. Carl Hanoman, Justice Duke Pollard, Former Minister of Information; Yvonne Harewood- Benn, Merle Mendonca and Justice James Patterson. Ramkarran pointed out that the Council has

- Measures to address this should be a matter of urgent consideration

Former President, Donald Ramotar

President David Granger

constitutional responsibility only in relation to persons who have been sentenced to death. But article 190 of the Constitution, which provides for its functions, omits to state what exactly in relation to the sentence of death the Advisory Council is to advise on, even though as a matter of practice it is known that the Advisory Council advises on the commuting of death sentences. The veteran politician said that article 188 gives the President extensive powers in relation to prisoners. After consultation with the

Minister, the President may grant to any convicted prisoner a free or conditional pardon, an indefinite respite or for a prescribed period, a less severe form of punishment or a remission of the whole or part of a punishment. He said too that the Parole Act makes provision for the release of convicted prisoners on parole. It also provides for the appointment of a Parole Board to advise with respect to the release on licence or recall of a person whose case has been referred to the Board. Despite all these

US$30M sea, river defence project to get NDCs, communities involved - as prerequisite of disbursement The collaboration between the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is expected to facilitate several programmes that will ensure that residents are updated on works to improve sea and river defence. This is according to CDB’s Social Analyst, Annicia Gayle-Geddes, speaking at the sea and river defence resilience project workshop recently. She explained that residents in communities throughout Regions Two, Three, Four and Six will be participating in the project. She explained that a Community Partnership Mechanism (CPM) was a prerequisite before the bank disbursed the loan for the project. The CPM, according to Gayle-Geddes, is expected “to keep community members informed on matters relating to implementation of the project and to facilitate reporting to the Work Services Group (WSG) through the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) on matters concerning residents.” It is understood that the CPM’s project coordinator will provide each NDC in the relevant communities with specification of the work to be executed. Gayle-Geddes also emphasized that the CPM must be representative and inclusive, taking into account gender, as well as reflecting the profile of each community. It was also announced that a Community Awareness Educational Programme (CAEP) will be implemented. Both CAEP and CPM are expected to embrace gender and age sensitive responsiveness, to ensure that the project is all inclusive. According to the Analyst, the consultants from the CAEP will develop and implement a programme of communication activities aimed

at reforming the attitudes and behaviour of residents in respect to how they treat the sea and river defences. This will be to ensure that residents are sensitized on issues of risks and resilience with regards to flood matters and to guarantee that there is practical, cost-effective community and household options for preparing for flood disaster. These programmes will also complement existing ones, as well as provide new opportunities to sensitise and inform the population on issues of flooding and hazards and protection of these communities. It is understood that in addition to provisions for communities, University of Guyana (UG) and Guyana Technical Institute (GTI) students will also be involved in the project. At the launching of the workshop, CDB’s Portfolio Manager, William Ashby, had related that the US$30 million project would encompass the reconstruction and improvement of 5.4 kilometers of sea and river defence infrastructure. He noted that at least 45,000 persons in about 9,000 households in Regions Two, Three, Four and Six would benefit under the project. He assured that the designs would be up to standard. Ashby also announced that provisions have been made for the shoreline change monitoring system. Government recently secured a loan agreement from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to the tune of US$25M for a project aimed at improving Guyana’s sea and river defense capabilities. Guyana will be providing US$5M to the project, which is anticipated to be able to protect some 45,000 people in flood prone areas.

provisions to benefit be difficult to legislate against perpetrators, Ramkarran this but said that training of pointed out that there is no magisterial and judicial provision in the Constitution officers coupled with public for the President or the education of victims of their Advisory Committee, or in the rights and the protection that Parole Act for the Parole they are entitled. Ramkarran Board, to take into said that there should be of urgent consideration the views of the matters victims of the crimes or their consideration. Veteran politician, “At the justice level families or relatives. Ramkarran said that such consideration of victims is Ralph Ramkarran an omission is grave, and has woefully lacking. Sentences been an historic, injustice in are handed down from was pardoned by President manslaughter (Donald) Ramotar after Guyana and many other murder, countries where the victim of causing death by dangerous serving 21 years in prison. It crime is given short shrift and driving and sex offences to was such a clear case that wounding, assault, robbery after adamantly defending his little consideration. “Starting from the Police and fraud where victims are decision, President Ramotar Station, through trial, to never heard and their pain and relented and later expressed commuting, pardoning or suffering never recorded or regret at not consulting the parole, there is little considered by the court parents.” Ramkarran also pointed consideration for the victims before imposing sentence. There is no law in Guyana out the fact domestic violence of crime.” “Wholesale criticisms requiring courts to hear often results in the death of a against the Police would be victims before passing partner, usually the wife, reputed wife unjustified or girlfriend. because some He said that victims are “Starting from the Police Station, through husband treated with trial, to commuting, pardoning or parole, the who is courtesy and respect and the there is little consideration for the victims charged may be either Police have of crime…” - Ramkarran found guilty carried out or pleads training in guilty to a lesser offence. relation to victims of sex sentence,” said Ramkarran. He pointed out that when “We often hear that the offences and domestic violence. But numerous sentences are commuted or parties have children. The complaints of contemptuous prisoners are released by children are victims too but treatment of victims by the pardon or parole, there is no any consideration that might Police suggest that training in legal provision for evidence be given to children is at the how to treat victims needs to from or consultation with discretion o f t h e j u d g e . be consistent and ongoing.” families or relatives for their There is no requirement The former Speaker of the views to be taken into that the children be heard in chambers with a National Assembly also consideration. “Families get no counselor present or that pointed out that when matters reach trial stage there opportunity provided by any their welfare be otherwise is little protection for victims statute to speak to magisterial considered. Quite often from aggressive or hostile or judicial authorities, or the magistrates and judges do questioning by defence Advisory Tribunal, President ask for probation reports but or Minister. Families these are at the discretion of counsel. In fact, Ramkarran said themselves are victims in a the magistrate or judge, even that some inexperienced sense – victims of a system in the case where children are magistrates and judges are that has too long ignored their involved.” Ramkarran said that it known to lose their patience rights.” The former PPP stalwart would be a step in the right with victims who are witnesses and join with said, “We recently witnessed direction if Guyana pays more defence counsel in harassing the pain of the parents of consideration to victims. Vishnu Bhim, an only child, (Abena Rockcliffethem. Campbell) He admitted that it would whose killer, Ravindra Deo,

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Kaieteur News

Monday April 18, 2016

President David Granger chief celebrant as Fyrish unveils week of activities

President David Granger stands with Pastor Phillip Campbell (at his right) and elders of the church A section of the congregation President David Granger yesterday joined with the worshippers at the 180-year old Albion Chapel Congregational Church for a special sunrise service to

usher in a week of activities that will culminate next Saturday with the hosting for the community’s inaugural Village Day. The activities are being

spearheaded by the Fyrish, Gibraltar, Courtland, No.1 Association Incorporated, which is celebrating its sixth anniversary. In his address to the

congregation, the President said that while the planned week of celebrations will allow for reflection on the past, residents must also use it as an opportunity to take stock of where they are as a community and chart the way forward for the future. He spoke of the four pillars that drive development in any community; the church, the school, the home and the farm (work). He urged the residents to strengthen the pillars to ensure the revival of the fortunes of their village, which once stood as an agriculture powerhouse on the Corentyne Coast. “When you rock those four pillars, your village will collapse… When this community developed, it was

the fruit-bowl of the Corentyne, even when Black Bush Polder was opened for the first time, they got their planting materials and their seedlings from Fyrish. But now we have seen that other communities, which have benefitted from beneficence and generosity of Fyrish seem to be overtaking Fyrish in prosperity,” the President pointed out. President Granger used the opportunity to encourage residents to make the Fyrish, Gibraltar, Courtland, No.1 Association the bedrock of a new form of development in the community. The Head of State’s remarks were followed by an inspiring sermon by Pastor Phillip Campbell, who said

that President Granger’s spirit of patriotism and his commitment to developing Guyana is indeed praiseworthy. “I believe that there is a burning desire in his heart to see every citizen of this country rise to the occasion; bringing back honour, dignity and pride… we have to begin to change the world that you are in. If change is going to come you have to begin to work on yourself. It is time for us to get up and begin our work. Do not wait for the President to come and do it for you. Everyone must take up their responsibility,” Pastor Campbell said. The week of activities are being held under the theme, “Uniting our Community.”

Monday April 18, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 21

DUPPIES, HUSBANDS AND GREAT HEAD “Balls! Balls!” I repeated loudly. It is not that I am prone to vulgarity in either my choice of expressions or ejaculations. Not for me the British “dog’s bollocks” and true I was on my way to a cricket match but “Balls” was highly appropriate in the context and circumstances. It is the name of a plantation in Barbados which now houses the Barbados Horticultural Society which causes me to recall a Dorothy Parker pun as I pass by. “You can lead a horticulture but you can’t make her think.” She also said, “Ducking for apples. Change one letter and it is the story of my life.” I am not sure if this was the right fruit. Like most women she found that whenever you think you’re in a permanent relationship the mangoes. Well the story of my life features Barbados in a big way and it is not a total balls up or down. Actually, I was looking for Comfort and had strayed but eventually

Providence was on my side and before I knew it I was in Yorkshire where the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Anyhow, these are all place names in Barbados and if you are ever down and depressed you can at least find Comfort here. The drivers tend to be very fierce, not yielding an inch and the roads are even angrier. I encountered Six Cross Roads but only my Good Intent kept me Constant. I am in Barbados tending to my two teenage BajansZubin, 15, and Jasmine, 16, and staying with my cousin Liz in Cane Garden where the canes have long since disappeared since there is more money in housing than in sugar. Zubin is part of an Antigua Under-19 team playing in the Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Cricket tournament and Jasmine came to get a new passport. I am here to keep a parental eye on the proceedings and watch the

cricket at the same time. Being back in Barbados is nostalgic and recalls the days when I started my newspaper column here. We initially called it “New Man In Town” and it featured a cartoon of me tearing around Bridgetown in my “mini-moke” machine. It was a canvas-covered car, without doors or windows. I had paid Bds.$1,000 for it and the insurance cost Bds.$1,500. This caused me to joke that I had to sell the car to pay the insurance. Few Barbadians ever accepted my offer of a lift and my ongoing fear was that one of the neighbourhood dogs which chased after me every morning would jump into the car and bite me. I could see myself trying to explain this to the police or the nurses in the appropriately named Casualty Department of the Hospital. “What happen?” the nurse would ask. “A dog bite me,” I would explain. “Where dat happen?” she would ask. “In my car,” I would reply. “Is your dog bite you?” she

would ask. “No,” would be my response. “I don’t know the dog.” ‘So what it was doing in your car?” she would query. “Biting me,” I would say. And then it would come out that I own a Moke and she would send me home without even bothering to look at the wound. I also learnt the vagaries, variations and varieties of the Barbadian art of giving directions to the lost. I was heading north looking for Friendship which as some ladies will know is not far from Mangrove and Husbands and hard by Mount Peter which is a possibility. Mount Gay and Gays are not too far apart, Six Mens also, and both are subjected to sermons from Bishops. The use of the word “above” was still over my head. In Barbados it is really further “up” the road and “below” is behind you or where you’ve just come from. Every direction or course correction involves above and below as well as words like “gap”, “lands” and

“bottom”. In driving around Barbados I have seen places like St Lawrence Gap, Prescod’s Bottom and Mottley Lands and wondering why Mottley has only Lands but not a Gap or a Bottom. But this might be a political issue and not something I should touch. Directions from a Bajan are no mere Bagatelle and you are as likely to end up in Bakers, Farmers or Mose Bottom. Pure Mount Misery actually as you won’t find many rabbits in Warrens. Barbados has everything for the visitor. If you’re looking for friendship it is a “mount” or hill right above Upton. If you’re looking for a place to sleep don’t bother with Tyrol Cot because it is a village and definitely not a bed of roses – Balls will be better for this because of the horticulture. There is no motel in Roach and you can be a Bournes Barbadian and

well as a born Barbadian. For all I know, Goneril, Regan and Cordelia might still be in Lears. Mother’s Day is a Bay and Duppies too which gives Great Head and Maycocks a different perspective especially when you pass Holetown. There is even a village for people my age (Seniors) and only Barbadians will have the gall to have two places named Gall Hill. Barbados being what it is - a country where things work, buses are on time, the most remote villages have sports facilities, especially cricket grounds that make me envious- it is not coincidence that Hope and Endeavour are not far apart and even if you go there on a whim, there is a village by that name also. * Tony Deyal was last seen saying that only in Barbados you will find a village called Society that is almost as high as you can get.

Prison officer shows disturbing signs of trauma... (From page 18) have items listed as contraband. “A prisoner threatened to bite off my husband’s wedding ring and he started leaving it at home,” she recalled. “Another time he parted a fight with them and took away the knife. And they threatened him.” She related her conviction that it is ‘dirty’ prison officers who put honest officers in danger. Giving an example, the woman noted that if one officer allows a prisoner to have narcotics, while another enforces the rules against drug possession, the prisoner will express hostility for the ‘uncooperative’ rank. She recalled that some time before the fire her husband’s work boots had come loose and there was a two week delay before the situation was rectified. She stated that while there are prisoners with specific skills, such as tailoring or shoe making, it usually took some kind of incentive like cigarettes to get them to use that skill. “He walk for two weeks with that open out shoe, rather than give the prisoner that cigarette,” she related. “A few days ago I asked him to stay home because of the sores in his head and he said no, he don’t play with his job. Once he has strength he will go. That is the kind of man I married.” As if the threats within prison are not enough, she has revealed that persons on the bus and car parks have marked her husband as a

prison officer, despite him not wearing his uniform and are threatening him. According to this prison officer’s spouse, some minibus operators have gone as far as to deny him entry to their buses when he is headed to work. She stated that as recent as Friday evening he was forced to make a report at the Stabroek Market police outpost, because of an altercation between himself and a bus conductor. “My husband has to travel to Georgetown and then to Camp Street,” she related. “Now he has to take a taxi from the park, because people know him and are threatening him. And it is expensive. He is now stigmatized against and it is very bad. He cannot wear his prison uniform.” She believes that measures taken by Ministers of Public Security and State, Khemrj Ramjattan and Joseph Harmon, to go into the prison and appeal directly to the inmates may have emboldened

prisoners, who are now having a free run of the prison during the day. “When he came home Friday night, they were still threatening him,” she said. “During the day the prisoners have free reign. If they say they want Dhal and rice, they get it. They go into the restricted areas. They are not allowing their cells to be closed. You have prisoners on Facebook every day.” “Meanwhile, my husband has to lodge his cell phone at the front. I can’t even call and check on him unless I call at the front and sometimes I get busy tone. He has been put in a setting where he has no cell phone and in addition, goes unarmed, so no protection.” Low pay, no overtime According to sources, 42 prison wardens have reported sick out of fear of an attack from prisoners. There are even reports that a warden was struck in the head by inmates. And though President David Granger has ordered

Home alone pensioner... (From page 17) slept in every night. An alarm was raised and several neighbours came out; but they could do nothing to save the house or the pensioner, who they knew was trapped inside. “We ain’t hear no screaming, was just big fire,” the neighbour said. The most villagers could have done was to assist in preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Firefighters are carrying out investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire while police investigators are awaiting the results of a post mortem examination on the elderly woman’s remains.

beefing up of security and an extension of outer cordons, there are reports that prisoners have become more menacing than they ever were. While her husband has continued on duty, the emotional woman shed some light into what he earns for all the extra hours he works. According to her, he earns no overtime pay and gets the flat salary of $51,000. The woman also expressed that she has been closely following the events at the CoI in the media. However, she is concerned at the fact that no one is taking the stand to represent the prison wardens, while a number of prisoners have already had

their say. It is understood that in the wake of the March 5 prison fire, 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. It is reported that policemen are inside the prison, helping the wardens to control the situation. There are

also 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. The deadly fire, which precipitated the launch of the CoI on the orders of President Granger, was started by inmates housed in the Capital Offences section of the prison during the riot.

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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 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 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 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Rupo Arch Welding, Fabrication & Construction Services @ Soesdyke E.B.D. Call: 658-4334 or 603-9633 for genuine & reliable service

Responsible hire car drivers. Call: 231-7200

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 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 We seriously pay cash for land on La Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Herstelling, Uitvlugt, Farm, Zeelugt. Call: 603-9224; 611-7223 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 1 Driver for interior locations -$250,000 per month. Call: 231-8053 Experienced driver/dispatchers with mini bus hire car license- Call: 645-0025

Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822

PEN PAL 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 RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park with free WiFi, recently renovated, 2 bedrooms - $70,000. Call: 6413318

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 Reliable rentals: Cars, SUV – low rates & security deposits, special rates for long term. Call:227-2322;601-2622

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

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

One Toyota IST 2007 Model, PRR series, female driven, in excellent condition. Call: 6736250 One Toyota Hilux 4X4 pickup 2L diesel engine, in excellent condition. Call: 6480111 or 645-0240 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

House for sale in West Ruimveldt -$9M & South Ruimveldt Park. Call: 6624975

33.6 Acres farm land @ Linden Soesdyke Highway; one garden tiller. Call: 6791151; 225-7794

Two storey concrete building @ Schoonard, owner migrating within 3 weeks (42X26). Call: 6254052; 617-5004; 643-8069

Magic Chef, gas stove, and like new kitchen aid, toaster, cuisinart food processor. Call: 658-1097

2 Bedrooms apartment in Eccles, Short & Long term. Call: 225-3234; 698-7807

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 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

One bedroom apartment single person or couple$30,000 monthly @ Howes Street Charlestown. Call: 6228306

EDUCATIONAL

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

LAND FOR SALE 1 House lot in Crane Housing Scheme & 1 house & land in La Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 622-4841 Land at La Grange Race Dame W.B.D 37’X780’. Call: 661-9111

One truck chassis without axle for sale. Call: 618-9010

TAXI SERVICES

Property @ Lot 87 Albert Street- Call: 669- 8701

Executive apartments @ Queenstown -$1000US; Prashad Nagar -$1000US, LeRessouvenir -$2300US, office spaces. Call: 225-1017; 623-6136

French Muscovy Ducklings. Call: 670-2608

West Demerara Cabs: Base # 1- Tel: 253-3600; 6563872; Base #2 – New Road V/Hoop. Tel: 254-0578; 696-6709

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

4 Bedrooms house @ BelAir Park with modern convenience -$2500USD monthly furnished. Call during working hours: 2317839; 227-2322, No agents.

Semi automatic stationary hydraulic hollow block & paver machine. Specificationhydraulic pump, vibrator conveyer belt. Call: 220-6168; 618-1754; 681-1508

GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244

Buddy’s House Scheme E.B.D: 6 six bedrooms $36M, Diamond A.A -$27M, New Hope, Swimming Pool -$35M – Call: 225-1017; 6236136

1-2 Bedrooms bottom flat apartment located 1 Nouvelle Flanders W.C.D. Call: 674-4929; 662-0187

Cybertron BeReady Driving School: $20,000 2 weeks @ Vreed-En-Hoop. Call: 2643057

Smart choice Auto: 08&06 Premio, 08&06 Allion, 212, Runx, IST, Fielder. Call: 6523820; 665-4529

3 Bedrooms house @ Bel-Air Park with modern conveniences -$2500 USD monthly- furnished. Call during working hours: 2317839; 227-2322. No agents

Mazda RX8, in immaculate condition -$2.8M negotiable. Call: 602-6024 (11am-5pm)

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

PROPERTY FOR SALE

TO LET 4 Bedrooms House @ Bel-Air Gardens with modern conveniences- $3,200USD monthly .Call during working hours: 231-7839; 227-2322. No agents

One prime business place to rent at Mon Repos Public Road. Call: 220-6168; 6181754; 681-1508

3 Bedrooms house @ Diamond New Scheme, upstairs @ Grove Second Bridge & grill. Call: 223-6765/ 661-3234 (anytime)

VEHICLE FOR SALE

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

Sheep! Sheep! A flock of sheep (Texana), foreign blood line. Call: 699-6499; 665-2139; 442-0299

Earn a Diploma in Computers, 9 Courses @ Cybertron Technology, Vreed-EnHoop. Call: 264-3057

CAR RENTAL

4 Commercial treadmills refurbished, suitable for gym or home used etc- Call: 6842119 or 680-2377

New Grandville Park furnished from bedrooms house to rent, all modern amenities. Call: 332-0115; 663-9289

EDUCATIONAL

Divine Diva’s , Independence Special! Flatter Stomach in 1 week or money back guarantee. Call: 684-9409

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One Honda 150cc motorcycle; One LN 170 Hilux manual, gasoline –Call: 650-7501, 682-6111 1-80CC Yamaha (Chappy) $200,000 negotiable. 1-5L RZ minibus -$1.2M negotiable. Call: 642-7555; 220-6385

WANTED 1 Female to work in snackette & bar. Must know to cook- between ages 20-35 -Call: 647-7432/ 223-5798

Drivers. Call: 227-1720, 2271721 or 674-3800

Monday April 18, 2016

I.A.E Classes for CSEC January/June 2017: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subject for Students, Adults & repeaters. Call: 683-5742 Computerized Accounting: 4 Courses Excel 2016, Qickbooks, Peachtree, POS, Cybertron Technology VreedEn-Hoop. Call: 264-3057

Highway land at Hararuni, Close to the highway, give away prize -$4M negotiable per acre. Call: 692-8216; 2335539 La Parfaite Harmonie $1.2M, $1.3M, $1.4M, & $3M, Eccles -$5.5M, Herstelling Cornerlot (100ftX50) -$3M. Call: 6036224; 611-7223 Titled 70’x100’ land @ Eccles, E.B.D for sale at $4.5M Tel : 624 2857 (Continued on page 23)

Monday April 18, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Trade and investment mission WRONG PADDY SOLD TO FARMERS coming to Guyana DEAR EDITOR, The business executives representing some 28 companies and three chambers of commerce on the upcoming trade and investment mission to Guyana next month are impressed with the program of meetings and activities being arranged and are excited about viewing the products and services that will be on display at Guyexpo 2016. The 30 plus strong team of business representatives of US companies will be in Guyana from May 10-14, for a series of briefings by government, private sector and US embassy officials, visits to the operations of local companies, and one-onone meetings with government agencies and private companies. “I am really excited about this mission and look forward to learning more about the business opportunities that Guyana has to offer. Even more exciting is that we get to view at a single event many of the companies operating in Guyana and hopefully will be able to speak with those whose operations fit our interests,” said GaryArkin, president of Premiere Stoneworks, LLC of Delray Beach, Florida. The mission will open its formal program on Wednesday, May, 11th with briefings by the United States Embassy to be followed by meetings with the Honorable Dominic Gaskin, Minister of Business and a team from the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest). The mission will visit Parika for lunch that day to be hosted by the chairman of Ming’s Products and Services, Stanley Ming who will present his Guyana 20/30 plan. Later that afternoon the mission is slated to visit the headquarters of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat for a briefing on arrangements in place for intra-regional and international trade. On Thursday, May, 12th the mission will receive an overview of the Guyana economy from the Honorable Winston Jordan, Minister of Finance and will later pay a courtesy call on the Honorable Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo. Visits are planned to a number of companies including Global Seafood Distributors and the new Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) which will host a lunch in honor of the mission. Members of the mission will also attend the opening of Guyexpo 2016. The companies

represented on this mission are involved in a range of sectors and their interests in Guyana cover agriculture and agri-business including shrimp farming; electronic a s s e m b l y ; telecommunications; light manufacturing; infrastructure including road and railway construction (BOOT model); tourism; real estate development including housing development; transportation and logistics; the sourcing of Guyanese products for export, particularly seafood and the supply of raw material, equipment and other products to Guyana. Another member of the mission, Michael Devin Young, executive director of the Belize American Chamber of Commerce of Florida says that “the program is a very impressive one and demonstrates that Guyana is serious about business. I also find it a very novel idea to include a courtesy call on the leader of the opposition. In the Caribbean especially, it is good to know the thinking of the opposition on business issues.” Peter Yu, president of US1America, Inc., who is also a leading member of the Taiwan Business Association of Florida says he and other members of the association are particularly interested in the advantages Guyana can offer in the area of electronic assembly and light manufacturing not only for the local market but for preferential access to international markets under special trade agreements. “ I am glad that there will be meetings with the necessary officials and with CARICOM to learn more about these agreements and what percentage of the value of products must be local in order to qualify,” he said. The mission is being mounted by Outreach Aid to the Americas, Inc.’s (OAA) Caricom Outreach Program and the newly established Guyanese American Chamber

of Commerce (GACC) Inc. Chairman of the board of directors of the GACC, Oscar Spencer says the organization views the visit as the first step in a process that hopefully would lead to mutually beneficial business relationships. A retired senior official at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Spencer stressed that job creation is key to Guyana’s economic and social development and “investment and trade are critical to the job creation process.” Coordinator of the mission, Wesley Kirton is thankful for the assistance being offered by a number of agencies and companies in an effort to make the mission a success.”The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Business and Go-Invest as well as the Honorary Consul in Florida have been quite helpful as have some companies such as Surinam Airways and the Ramada Princess Hotel. A number of government ministers and agencies I am assured will be available for one-on-one meetings with those businesses interested in the tourism, agri-business, public infrastructure, mining and other specific sectors,” according to Kirton. He also pointed to the unique interest of one company-medical marijuanawhich while having legal implications could result in significant job creation and revenue earnings for the country, not to mention the availability of prescribed marijuana based medicines for patients.” I saw their presentation last month to the Government of Belize and am of the belief that it is worth looking at. I made it clear to the company’s representatives that marijuana remains an illegal substance in Guyana but I see the value of making a presentation to the relevant authorities. It is expected that they will make the presentation to the Ministry of Health and the Attorney General’s Chambers and even possibly to the general public,” Kirton explained. Victoria Gordon

DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to share my views on malpractices taking place at the Burma Rice Research Station. It is alleged that the present administration and management of the Burma Rice Research Station are engaged in practices which contradicts the guidelines principles that govern the cultivation of basic and certificated seed paddy. The allegation is several seed fields which were heavily logged cause rouging not to be done properly; many other fields were not rogue at the correct stage and timing during the crop resulted in the paddy harvested contaminated with high percent of red rice, off-types, other varieties. I was told that based on the directives given by the Head (Dr. Mahindra Persad) to a highly favored seed production officer, all those questionable paddy were harvested and sent to the processing facility for drying and cleaning for the purpose to be sell to farmers as high quality seed paddy. A GRDB official, who asked to remain unnamed, told me that this is not the first time seed paddy that does not pass the field inspection and quality standard analysis were harvested, dry, clean and sold to farmers as high quality seed paddy under some name called C3. Paddy that does not pass field inspection and quality analysis must be sent to the mills as commercial and not sold as seed paddy. The farmers who are the end user are the persons who will stand to suffer the most. If the above is true the off-types, other varieties and red-rice will end up in the farmers’ fields. Farmers already faced great challenges to manage increasing red-rice weed problem, with very little or no definitive solution to the problem forthcoming from the Burma Rice Research Station. The allegation is a very serious one and the Minister of Agriculture and rice board management should pay keen attention to and investigate. It is time for some structural changes at Burma Rice Research Station to improve the efficiency and deliverables. T. Ross

Former PPP Executive praises Karl Marx DEAR EDITOR, It was the German philosopher and revolutionary Karl Marx who famously wrote that ‘philosophers have interpreted the ways in various ways; the point, however, is to change it’. Inherent in this postulate is that while it is important to have a world view, in particular a scientific world view, it is much more important for us all to play our part in making this world a better place, regardless how modest such contribution may be. This is why I never become too involved in any religion or religious organisations. Religion for me is basically all about faith in the unseen or the unknown. There is no scientific way

These youths assure Guyana of its future DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese, both young and old turned out in their numbers Saturday evening, April 09,/ 2016 to witness a spectacular, multicultural presentation that had really entertaining and talented individuals on show. It was quite uplifting to witness so many aspects of our Guyanese culture and heritage on stage. One could tell by the audiences’ reaction that they would agree. It was a learning experience for us all and quite necessary as many individuals, especially the younger ones now have a sense of pride and awareness as to how important it is that we as “ One People, One Nation, One Destiny” are fortunate to

celebrate our 50th Independence anniversary. Honorable mention must be given to the organizers of this event; The Ministry of Education- Department of Culture, Youth and Sport Youth Department in collaboration with the Volunteerism Support Platform whose tireless efforts paid off. The dedication and hard work of the individuals involved in this initiative must be applauded. Thank you for a wonderful evening. The future of Guyana indeed looks bright, promising and prosperous as youths like these pave the way for others to follow. Denica Henry

of knowing whether or not there is life or salvation after death. The saying ‘dead men tell no tales’ is very apt in the context of our ability to comprehend life after death. This is why I always believe that there is no point in arguing which religion or religious beliefs are superior. Religion for me is a way of life, a cultural phenomenon which has evolved over the centuries in man’s attempt to explain and come to terms with the harsh realities of life and the objective conditions of our being. As someone who has had more than a passing interest in philosophy and sociology, I found the Marxist interpretation of man and society particularly exciting, in particular his class analysis. Writing in his celebrated work, “The Manifesto of the Communist Party” well over a century and a half ago, he said that “the history of all hitherto existing society is a history of class struggles”. Today, the class struggle continues to play out in almost all of the major capitalist countries, in particular Western Europe. Society is richer for the works of such great philosophers as Marx, Engels, Lenin and several others whose writings have enriched our lives. Hydar Ally

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VACANCY Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 Exist for 1 entertainment manager to work @ Club on Essequibo Coast, must have PR skills. Call: 226-9768 Security guards to work with a mining firm in the Interior must have military background. Call: 226-9768 1 Cook to work in Kitchen in Trinidad, able to cook Indian & English dishes. Call Selwyn Persaud: 001868-680-2083 1 Female cleaner apply @ Technical Service 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles. Exist for cashiers and sales clerks at Nirva Supermarket. Apply in person with written application. Call: 227-5771 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 Accounts Grades I/II, familiar with QuickBooks POS & Accounts. Email application:info@guygas.com 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

Monday April 18, 2016

Kaieteur News

ILO director general to visit Trinidad and Tobago PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The directorgeneral of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder, is expected to visit Trinidad and Tobago today and tomorrow. This marks the second time that Ryder will visit the country since assuming his post as directorgeneral in 2012. Ryder is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley today. He will also hold individual meetings with Senator Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, minister of labour and small enterprises development; as well as key officials of the Employers’ Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ECATT); the National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (NATUC); the

Guy Ryder Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN); and the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM). The visit comes at a key moment for both the ILO and

Trinidad and Tobago, since the director-general is expected to meet with key Cabinet officials in the new elected government for the first time. It presents an opportunity to hold discussions and examine labour and employment issues, at the global and national levels, especially as it relates to remedial measures to deal with the current rising retrenchment and unemployment levels that the country is experiencing as a result of the economic crisis. Trinidad and Tobago and the ILO have collaborated closely since the country became a member of the ILO on 24 May 1963. Trinidad and Tobago is currently a member of the ILO Governing Body. (Caribbean News)

PM warns of human trafficking

Freundel Stuart Daily Nation - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has warned that Barbados and other global countries are under threat from human trafficking. Declaring this a new form

of slavery, he said it is no less dangerous than what existed for our forefathers. “The battle fought and won by General Bussa still has to be fought because although slavery as we knew it then was abolished, today a much more subtle but no less dangerous kind of slavery is very much a part of our global landscape. “It rejoices in the name of human trafficking, which is what slavery was. When we all thought we’d put that behind us it has now reappeared in a new form,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s comment on Saturday night preceded the three hour production From Bussa to Barrow and Beyond at Golden Grove Plantation, St Philip. It was staged to celebrate the bicentennial of the 1816 Bussa Rebellion and the 50th Anniversary of Barbados’ Independence. During the ceremony, chairman of the Barbados Reparations Committee Professor Pedro Welch symbolically passed on the reparations baton to Monique Jackman, Guyana’s deputy consul general in Barbados.

PM should not be allowed more time to file integrity report — PNP Patriots KINGSTON, Jamaica – The People’s National Party (PNP) affiliated group of young professionals – the Patriots - has stated that Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ request for additional time to file his annual integrity report should not be allowed. In a press release yesterday, the Patriots said that rather than a timely declaration as is required under the law, the prime minister is seeking additional time to file his return without a sound basis. “We would all recall that a commitment was given by the prime minister (then leader of the Opposition) in the justconcluded campaign to disclose his financial records in light of questions raised about his

Andrew Holness association with an offshore company in St Lucia,” the release said. According to the release, the stated timeline has passed and the reasons being used for delaying the filing of

these reports are “unacceptable”. “We find it troubling that the budget process is being cited as reason for the delay,” the Patriots said, adding that the prime minister is capable of a t t ending to the official functioning of his office and “spinning” simultaneously. In the lead up to the February 25 general election, Holness promised to release both his financial and health records for public scrutiny. “ We , therefore, encourage Prime Minister Holness to follow through on his words and follow the example of his overseas peers and release his integrity report as promised,” the Patriots stated. (Jamaica Observer)

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Security guards nab Regent Brazilian legislators vote Street store thief

to impeach Rousseff

President Dilma Roussef BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff lost a decisive impeachment vote in the lower house of Congress yesterday and appeared almost certain to be forced from office in a move that would end 13 years of leftist Workers’ Party rule. As thousands of pro- and antiimpeachment protesters demonstrated outside Congress, the leader of the Workers Party in the lower house conceded defeat with the vote standing at 314 votes in favour to just 110 votes against sending Rousseff for trial in the Senate on charges of manipulating budget accounts. The surprisingly one-sided vote had a raucous atmosphere with opposition legislators crowding around the microphone and cheering every vote against the unpopular president. At least two deputies let off poppers full of confetti as they voted to impeach Rousseff. If the Senate agrees to go ahead with the impeachment, as seems likely, Rousseff would be suspended from her post and be replaced by Vice President Michel Temer as acting president

pending her trial. Temer would serve out Rousseff’s term until 2018 if she is found guilty. The impeachment battle, which comes during Brazil’s worst recession since the 1930s, has divided the country of 200 million people more deeply than at any time since the end of its military dictatorship in 1985. It has also sparked a bitter battle between the 68-year-old Rousseff and Temer, 75, that appears likely to destabilize any future government and plunge Brazil into months of uncertainty. Despite anger at rising unemployment, Rousseff’s Workers Party can rely on strong support among millions of working-class Brazilians, who credit its welfare programmes with pulling their families out of poverty during the past decade. “The fight is going to continue now in the streets and in the federal Senate,” said Jose Guimaraes, the leader of the Workers’ Party in the lower house, conceding that the government had lost the vote. “We lost because the coupmongers were stronger.” Opinion polls suggest more than 60 percent of Brazilians support impeaching Rousseff, Brazil’s first female president. While she has not been accused of corruption, Rousseff’s government has been tainted by a vast graft scandal at state oil company Petrobras and by the economic recession. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators from both sides took to the streets of towns and cities across the vast nation. Millions watched the Congressional vote live on television in bars and restaurants, in their homes or on giant screens in the street. On the grassy esplanade outside Congress, a 6.5-foot-high (2-metre)

People celebrate a vote for the impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as they watch the session of Brazil’s Lower House on a big screen in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, yesterday. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

security barrier ran for more than 1 km separating rival demonstrations, a symbol of the political rift that has emerged in one of the world’s most unequal societies. In Brazil’s southern economic powerhouse of Sao Paulo, thousands of pro-impeachment demonstrators packed the central Avenida Paulista, draped in Brazilian flags and waving banners reading: “Dilma out”. The impeachment battle has paralyzed the activity of government in Brasilia, just four months before the country is due to host the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and as it seeks to battle an epidemic of the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects in newborns. Critics of the impeachment process say it has become a referendum on Rousseff ’s popularity - currently languishing in single digits - which sets a worrying precedent for ousting unpopular leaders in the future. They note that Rousseff is accused of a budgetary slight of hand commonly employed by many elected officials in Brazil. With Brazilians transfixed by the Congressional vote, broadcast live on television, legislators denounced corruption and the economic downturn as they voted against Rousseff - but few of them mentioned the budgetary allegations. However, business lobbies have thrown their weight behind the ouster of Rousseff, as they look to Temer to restore business confidence and growth to the world’s ninth largest economy. Once regarded as an emerging markets powerhouse, Brazil has been hit by the end of a long commodities boom and lost its coveted investment grade credit rating in December.

RK Officer transporting bandit Last Friday turned out to be unlucky for a burglar, who literally ran into the arms of the law after raiding a Regent Street store. The thief had reportedly just carted off several items from the store and was making his escape through Light Street. His flight ended when he ran past security officers who were just outside the RK Security firm’s headquarters. The guards apprehended him after a brief struggle. After he was subdued, Security Manager Colin Boodie placed him in handcuffs. The CEO of RK’s Security Services, Mr. Roshan Khan stopped a passing police officer and assisted in transporting the thief. The suspect was subsequently handed over to officers at the Alberttown Police Station.

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Oil meeting in Qatar collapses without freeze DOHA, Qatar (AP) — A meeting of oil-rich countries in Qatar that had been expected to boost crude prices by freezing production fell apart yesterday as Iran stayed home and vowed to increase its output despite threats by Saudi Arabia. Oil prices, which hit a 12year low in January by dipping under $30 a barrel, had risen above $40 in recent days, buoyed by the bullish talks surrounding the Doha summit. But instead of a quick approval of a production freeze, the meeting of 18 oilproducing nations saw hours of debate and resembled the dysfunction of an unsuccessful meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in December that sent oil prices tumbling. The fact that producers couldn’t agree to a freeze, let alone a production cut, likely means oil prices will drop again as markets open today. “Prices will trade lower. Maybe sharply lower,” said Robert Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho Securities USA, noting the failure to reach agreement in Doha.

He noted that other factors were negatively impacting prices: U.S. crude oil storage remaining at all time highs, Iran increasing production, and Libya looming on the horizon to boost output. Speaking to journalists after the summit, Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, Qatar’s energy and industry minister, tried to say the lack of a decision showed officials believed “the fundamentals of the market are generally improving.” However, he largely dodged the questions about whether another special summit will be called before OPEC’s next meeting in June and whether Iran had anything to do with the breakdown of the talks. “We of course respect their position and ... we still don’t know how the future will unroll but it was a sovereign decision by Iran,” said alSada, who is serving as OPEC’s president. “The freeze could be more effective definitely if major producers, be it from OPEC members like Iran and others, as well as non-OPEC members, are included in the freeze.”

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, center right, arrives at an oil-producers’ meeting in Doha, Qatar, yesterday. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) Yesterday’s gathering grew out a surprise Doha meeting in February between Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, in which they pledged to cap their crude output at January levels if other producers did the same. The idea of a freeze and not a cut initially looked more

palatable to producers already suffering after oil’s dramatic fall since the summer of 2014, when prices were above $100 a barrel. Production continues to rise as countries try to make up the difference. Ahead of yesterday’s meeting, Iraq boosted its production to record territory of over 4 million barrels a day in March, and Kuwait pumped 3 million barrels a day with homes of reaching 4 million a day by 2020. And while car owners and airlines have enjoyed the low oil prices, the plunging oil revenues have wreaked havoc on countries like Nigeria and Venezuela, both of which attended yesterday’s meeting along with non-OPEC member Russia. The biggest wild card of the talks, however, wasn’t

even in the room. Iran decided to stay home late Saturday after saying the day before it would send an emissary to the meeting. Speaking to Iranian state television, Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zangeneh said it didn’t make sense to send any representative from the Islamic Republic “as we are not part of the decision to freeze output.” “We can’t cooperate with them to freeze our own output, and in other words impose sanctions on ourselves,” Zangeneh said. With many international sanctions lifted under its nuclear deal with the U.S. and other world powers, Iran began exporting oil into the European market again and is eager to claw back market share. It produces 3.2 million barrels of oil a day now, with hopes of increasing to 4

million by April 2017. Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia had said it wouldn’t back any freeze if Iran, its Shiite rival, didn’t agree to it, throwing the deal into question before the meeting. The kingdom seems determined to ride out the low prices that could squeeze Tehran. The enmity between Saudi Arabia and Iran has spiked in recent months. In January, Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite cleric, a move that sparked protests in Iran that saw demonstrators attack two of the kingdom’s diplomatic posts there. That broke the conflict between the two countries into the open, amid them backing opposing sides in both Syria’s civil war and the war in Yemen. Saudi Oil Minister Ali alNaimi repeatedly declined to speak to journalists during the meeting. The dispute underscores the level of discord inside OPEC as it faces arguably its biggest challenge since the oil glut of the 1980s. Though more-costly U.S. shale oil production has dropped, it could re-enter the market if oil prices rise. And a large amount of crude already building up provides a major damper on prices, as does a generally weakened global economy, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The immediate effect of the summit’s collapse likely will be seen in crude prices. Western markets were closed Sunday and not immediately affected. Stock exchanges in Saudi Arabia and Dubai closed in negative territory Sunday, with the Saudi Tadawul down 1.48 percent.

Syria opposition threatens to quit peace talks amid Aleppo carnage Beirut (AFP) - Fighting in Aleppo killed at least 22 civilians as the opposition delegation threatened yesterday to quit Syria peace talks in Geneva if there is no progress on a political transition. The opposition High Negotiations Committee said the indirect negotiations could collapse if Syria’s regime refuses to compromise on political and humanitarian issues. “We might suspend (our participation in) the talks if things carry on this way, and then there will be no prospect for any political solution,” HNC member Abdulhakim Bashar told AFP. The opposition’s chief negotiator also said there could be “no compromise” on Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, and called for renewed attacks on regime forces despite a fragile ceasefire. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the number of civilians killed in flashpoint Aleppo city was one of the highest single tolls

since the truce began on February 27. The truce has seen violence drop across parts of Syria, including the northern city, but renewed clashes there in the past 24 hours have seriously strained the truce, the Observatory said. At least six civilians were killed and eight wounded in regime air strikes on rebel-held eastern parts of the city on Saturday. And a barrage of rockets and sniper fire by opposition groups onto governmentcontrolled western districts killed 16 civilians, including 10 children and two women. Rebel groups fired more rockets at western areas of Aleppo city late yesterday, but there was no immediate information on new casualties. “There’s a clear escalation. This was the bloodiest incident in Aleppo and its province” since the ceasefire began, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. “This escalation directly threatens the truce.”

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Earthquake kills 235 in Ecuador, people still trapped Reuters - The death toll from Ecuador’s biggest earthquake in decades soared to at least 235 yesterday as rescuers using tractors and bare hands hunted desperately for survivors in shattered coastal towns. The 7.8 magnitude quake struck off the Pacific coast on Saturday and was felt around the Andean nation of 16 million people, causing panic as far away as the highland capital Quito and collapsing buildings and roads in a swath of western towns. President Rafael Correa rushed home from a trip to Italy to supervise the emergency. “The immediate priority is to rescue people in the rubble,” he said. “Everything can be rebuilt but lives cannot be recovered and that’s what hurts the most.” Vice President Jorge Glas visited the quake zone and said 235 had died and more than 1,500 people were injured. Coastal areas nearest the epicenter were worst affected, especially Pedernales, a rustic tourist spot with beaches and palm trees, which appeared largely flattened.

A Reuters witness said residents in Pedernales were using makeshift funeral caskets and holding veiling ceremonies to bury their dead. Nearly all homes appeared damaged. Some residents went through rubble looking for loved ones or belongings and police, soldiers and firemen were on site. Authorities said there were some 163 aftershocks, mainly in the Pedernales area. A state of emergency was declared in six provinces. The quake has piled pain on the economy of OPEC’s smallest member, already reeling from low oil prices, with economic growth this year projected at near-zero. It has also propelled Glas - a possible candidate in Ecuador’s February 2017 presidential election - into the limelight. One photo on social media purporting to be the entrance to Pedernales showed a torn-up road with a crushed car in the middle and people standing behind. Local TV broadcast images from Pedernales showing locals using a small

tractor to remove rubble and also searching with their hands for people buried underneath. Women cried after a corpse was pulled out. Locals said children were trapped. “Everything is completely destroyed,” a resident named Katrina told TV station Ecuavisa. “The majority of the buildings have fallen and there are a lot of dead.” Many people spent the night on the streets. Enner Munoz, 40, a teacher from Pedernales, said he was in his car when he saw wooden houses and lampposts collapse around him. “It was devastating. All the roads are cracked open, there were two landslides,” he said by phone, adding that bricks had landed in the bed of his home in Pedernales. His terrified family spent the night on the patio. In Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, rubble lay in the streets and a bridge fell on top of a car. “It was horrible, it was as if it was going to collapse like cardboard,” said Galo Valle, 56, who was guarding a

Scotland should hold new referendum if forced out of EU – Sturgeon Reuters - Scotland should have the right to hold a new referendum on independence if the country is taken out of the European Union “against our will”, the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) said yesterday. Facing a British referendum on whether to stay in the European Union on June 23, Nicola Sturgeon used her party’s manifesto before the election for the Scottish parliament next month to make clear that she wanted another independence vote in Scotland. There should be such a referendum, she said, “if there is clear and sustained evidence that independence has become the preferred option of a majority of the Scottish people”. “Or if there is a significant

Nicola Sturgeon and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will,” Sturgeon, who leads Scotland’s devolved government, said in a statement. Scots voted 55-45 percent

against independence in a referendum in 2014, but Sturgeon’s party then won a sweeping victory in a British election in May, taking all but three of Scotland’s 59 seats in the Westminster parliament. The party is expected to be returned to power in the May election in Scotland. Scottish nationalists have told Prime Minister David Cameron that he cannot rule out giving Scotland another independence vote and that a situation in which Scots voted to stay in the EU but a majority of all Britons voted to leave could be a trigger. According to polls, Scots are more likely to vote to stay in the European Union than other Britons, and with voters almost evenly split on the EU membership referendum, it is unclear which campaign will win.

The extent of the damage from Saturday’s earthquake is becoming clear as day breaks. (AFP) building in the city where windows fell out and parts of walls broke. “I prayed and fell to my feet to ask God to protect me.” About 13,500 security force personnel were mobilized to keep order around Ecuador, and $600 million in credit from multilateral lenders was immediately activated for the emergency, the government said. Ramon Solorzano, 46, a car parts merchant in the coastal city of Manta, headed away from built-up areas with his family. Photos from Manta showed Red Cross workers arriving, police hunting through debris, a smashed sculpture, injured people receiving treatment under tents in front of a hospital, and badly damaged buildings. “Most people are out in the streets with backpacks on, heading for higher ground,” Solorzano said, speaking in a trembling voice on a WhatsApp phone call. “The streets are cracked. The power is out and phones are down.” The government called it

the worst quake in the country since 1979. In that disaster, 600 people were killed and 20,000 injured, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that two Canadians were among the dead and that the “scope of the devastation in Ecuador is shocking.” The U.S. State Department said in an email that it was working to confirm reports of Americans injured in the quake, although it had no reports of any U.S. citizens killed. In international aid, Venezuela, Chile and Mexico were sending personnel and supplies, the left-leaning Correa government said. The Ecuadorean Red Cross mobilized more than 800 volunteers and staff and medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said it was sending a team from Colombia. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tweeted his nation’s solidarity and offered assistance. Although tsunami warnings were lifted, coastal

residents were still urged to seek higher ground in case tides rise. The government said oil production was not affected, but closed its main refinery of Esmeraldas, located near the epicenter, as a precaution though it is likely to restart soon. Residents on the Galapagos islands far off Ecuador’s coast, home to numerous rare species, said they had not been affected by the quake. The Ecuadorean quake followed two large and deadly quakes that struck Japan since Thursday. Both countries are located on the seismically active “Ring of Fire” that circles the Pacific, but according to the U.S. Geological Survey large quakes separated by such long distances would probably not be related. “Even the earth’s rocky crust is not rigid enough to transfer stress efficiently over thousands of miles,” it said on its website. Quakes can cause other big quakes within a range of hundreds of miles, but can cause only small, brief quakes at a distance of thousands of miles, it said.

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Vijay, Vohra fifties give Kings XI first win ESPNcricinfo - Halfcenturies from openers M Vijay and Manan Vohra gave Kings XI Punjab their first win of the IPL season after their bowlers had kept Rising Pune Supergiants to 152 in good batting conditions. There were a few hiccups towards the end, when the legspinner M Ashwin took three wickets in the space of eight balls, but Glenn Maxwell calmed Kings XI’s nerves with an unbeaten 14-ball 32 and took them home with eight balls remaining. In a clash between two good batting sides with suspect bowling attacks, the difference came down to small things. Kings XI’s bowlers made the batsmen work harder than their Supergiants counterparts did, with Ishant Sharma and Thisara Perera particularly prone to sending down freebies. The toss was important,

though not in the way MS Dhoni might have expected when he chose to bat first. He wanted his bowlers and fielders to escape the worst of the afternoon heat, but that left his top order braving temperatures in the mid-30s. It told on Faf du Plessis, who tired visibly as his innings wore on. He began brightly, but struggled to find the boundary when the fields spread, with the Kings XI bowlers making a concerted effort to make him hit towards the long square boundary on one side of the pitch. Having hit six fours off the first 20 balls of his innings, he only hit two more off the last 33 to finish with 67 off 53 balls. Du Plessis’ innings ended in the final over of the Supergiants innings, when he miscued a Mohit Sharma slower ball, hitting it high in the air for the bowler to

complete a well-judged return catch. Mohit’s slower ball had also removed Supergiants’ second-highest scorer, Steven Smith, in the 18th over. There was a bit of grip available on a Mohali surface that was drier than it looked, and bounce too, and Mohit exploited both expertly with his back-of-the-hand release, causing the two well-set batsmen to hit the ball earlier than desired, and off the high part of the bat. Mohit finished with figures of 3 for 23, and gave away only 11 runs off his two overs in the slog. Kings XI’s other seambowling Sharma, Sandeep, was also effective, bowling stump-to-stump and getting a bit of movement, usually into the right-hander, to finish with figures of 2 for 23. The two Sharmas were primarily responsible, in the end, for keeping Supergiants

Opening burst of Thunder too much for Mavs

Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris (34) fouls Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the third quarter in game one of their first round NBA Playoffs series at Chesapeake Energy Arena. (Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports) Reuters (The Sports Xchange) - Russell Westbrook scored 24 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 108-70 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder took a 1-0 lead in the firstround series with the Mavericks. Westbrook shot 7 of 15 from the field to go along with 11 rebounds and five assists. Kevin Durant added 23 points, five assists and five rebounds in only 26 minutes of work and Serge Ibaka posted 17 points and nine boards. Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting. No other Maverick scored in double figures. Game 2 is today in Oklahoma City. The Thunder came out of the gates trying to blow the Mavericks out from the start. Built on the scoring of Durant and Westbrook and the dominant work on the boards, Oklahoma City jumped out to a 26-11 first quarter advantage.

Dallas didn’t help its cause with its inability to score. Even though Oklahoma City’s defense gave the Mavs opportunities to knock down wide-open shots, they were unable to connect and fell behind by 20 points midway through the second quarter. The Thunder didn’t let up on the struggling Mavericks. Enes Kanter and Ibaka got involved in the offense and the lead grew to 59-33 at halftime. It didn’t get any easier for Dallas in the third. Starting point guard J.J. Barea re-injured his groin and sat out the second half. Without Barea, the Mavericks plan to slow the pace of the game took a serious hit. It also deprived Dallas of its one perimeter players who seems to relish facing Westbrook. With only Nowitzki able to find his shot, and after Oklahoma City went up by 30, Carlisle bench his starters. With the score 93-51 heading into the fourth, Thunder coach Billy Donovan sat his starters for the rest of the night.

down to 152. It was at least 10 runs short of the total they may have expected when they were 76 for 2 at the halfway stage. Vijay gave Kings XI the early impetus their chase needed, stepping out of his crease to hit Ankit Sharma’s left-arm spin over the top for two fours in the second over. He did the same to Ishant Sharma in the next over, giving himself room and launching him over extra cover for the first six of the match. Supergiants’ total of 152, incidentally, was the highest among IPL innings that did not include a six. Vohra joined the boundary-hitting spree with three successive fours off Ishant in the fifth over. He would hit three successive fours off Perera too, in the 11th over, and the bulk of these six fours came off bad balls - short, wide, or both. There was only one other boundary in Vohra’s 33-ball 51. The openers put on 97 before Vohra fell, missing the sweep off a straight ball from Ankit. M Ashwin then caused a bit of a wobble, as Marsh

Faf du Plessis scoops one over the wicketkeeper’s head, Kings XI Punjab v Rising Pune Supergiants, IPL 2016, Mohali, April 17, 2016. (BCCI) and Miller perished to uncertain strokes against his legspin and Vijay top-edged him, trying to cut one that wasn’t short enough for the stroke. Maxwell quickly settled Kings XI’s nerves, taking 10 off successive balls from M Ashwin, and repeating the dose against R Ashwin in the

next over. He had come into the match with scores of 2 and 0 in his last two innings; this was a welcome return to form. Scores: Kings XI Punjab 153 for 4 (Vijay 53, Vohra 51, Maxwell 32*, M Ashwin 3-36) beat Rising Pune Supergiants 152 for 7 (du Plessis 67, Smith 38, Mohit 3-23) by six wickets.

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Last-gasp penalty earns Leicester point, Arsenal held LONDON (Reuters) Premier League leaders Leicester City salvaged a point from Leonardo Ulloa’s penalty with the last kick of the game to draw 2-2 in a thriller with West Ham United and open an eight-point gap over chasing Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Ulloa struck five minutes into added time to earn a draw for the Foxes, who had looked headed for defeat after West Ham scored twice in three minutes through Andy Carroll’s 84th minute spot kick and Aaron Cresswell’s fine strike to lead 2-1. Although Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri praised what he called his team’s fantastic performance built on “blood, heart and soul”, the match proved costly for the hosts as they chase a first top-flight title. Their first-half scorer Jamie Vardy was sent off early in the second and will be suspended for the match at home to Swansea City next Sunday and they dropped points for the first time after five straight wins. Leicester lead the standings with 73 points from

Andy Carroll scores the first goal for West Ham from the penalty spot. (Reuters / Darren StaplesLivepic) 34 matches, followed by Spurs, who have 65 from 33 and play their game in hand at Stoke City on Monday. Arsenal, who drew 1-1 with visiting Crystal Palace on Sunday, remain fourth on 60 points, behind Manchester City, 3-0 winners at last season’s champions Chelsea on Saturday, on goal difference. FANTASTIC ATMOSPHERE A victory over West Ham and defeat for Spurs today

would have left Leicester 10 points clear with four games to play and there was a fantastic atmosphere at the King Power Stadium with thousands of fans arriving in the sunshine hours before kickoff. West Ham almost scored in the second minute when Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel saved a header from Cheikhou Kouyate, tipping the ball on to his lefthand post before it rolled

across the line and hit the other upright. Leicester took the lead through Vardy after 18 minutes with the striker grabbing his 22nd goal of the season to join Tottenham’s Harry Kane as the league’s leading scorer. But Vardy was dismissed

for a second yellow by referee Jon Moss and, although Leicester’s 10 men coped well with West Ham’s constant pressure, they wilted in the 84th minute when Wes Morgan fouled Winston Reid and Carroll equalised from the spot. Two minutes later the visitors were ahead thanks to a fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area from Cresswell, before Carroll fouled Jeffrey Schlupp and Moss awarded Leicester a penalty which Ulloa calmly converted. “The sending off changed our match,” Ranieri said. “But I never speak about the referee. “Our performance was fantastic, this is our soul, we play every match with this blood, heart and soul, it was magnificent. This point is very important psychologically.” West Ham remained sixth on 53 points, three behind Manchester United as the pair chase a European spot. BAD RESULT Arsenal’s lingering title

hopes appeared to all but end after they were held by lowly Palace, who equalised eight minutes from time when Yannick Bolasie sent a low shot from the edge of the box past Petr Cech at the near post. Alexis Sanchez headed Arsenal ahead just before halftime. “That was a bad result for us,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “...we had a lot of possession but could not turn that into real clear-cut goal chances. “We lacked a change of pace today, our passing was slow and maybe we lacked complete confidence to go for it.” Eighth-placed Liverpool, with 10 changes from the side that beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 to reach the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday, won 2-1 at Bournemouth with goals at the end of the first half from Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge. Josh King scored a late consolation for the hosts.

Messi scores 500th goal but Barca beaten again

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi shoots against Valencia. (REUTERS/ALBERT GEA) BBC Sport - Lionel Messi’s 500th career goal could not prevent stumbling leaders Barcelona suffering a third successive La Liga defeat for the first time since 2003. Ivan Rakitic deflected Guilherme Siqueira’s cross-shot into his own net to give Valencia a shock lead. Santi Mina then finished a terrific move by slotting in a second goal in first-half stoppage time. Messi ended a club goal drought of 515 minutes, but Barcelona now only lead Atletico Madrid on goal difference. MESSI’S BIG MOMENT FALLS FLAT When Messi scored for Barcelona in a Champions League victory over Arsenal on 16 March, few would have expected he would have to wait more than a month to find the net for his club again. The forward did score his 499th career goal in the meantime - a penalty for Argentina in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia on 30 March - but his form for Barca has dipped at the same time as their fortunes. Messi was denied three times in the first half as the home side created a host of chances without taking advantage. Eventually, he did score - turning in Jordi Alba’s pull-back from the left - but with Barca two goals down by that stage, there was little reason for the reigning world footballer of the

year to celebrate his landmark achievement. VALENCIAVINDICATED This was some transformation for a Valencia side humiliated 7-0 on their last visit to the Nou Camp, in the first leg of a Copa del Rey semi-final on 3 February. Pako Ayestaran, who replaced the sacked Gary Neville as manager on 30 March, put out a line-up with far more discipline and spirit than they showed on that miserable night. Shkodran Mustafi, once part of the youth set-up at Everton, was pivotal to their victory. The German centre-back was outstanding in frustrating Barcelona’s much-vaunted forward line for much of the night. Siqueira, on loan from Barcelona’s title rivals Atletico Madrid, also had a significant role to play for Valencia. The Brazilian full-back broke forward on to Andre Gomes’ pass and looked as if he would be credited with the opening goal as his delivery from the left was fumbled in at the near post by Claudio Bravo. Television replays, though, showed that Rakitic had got the decisive touch. Mina, who scored when the reverse fixture ended 1-1 in December, then took advantage to place Dani Parejo’s through pass inside Bravo’s far post as Sergi Roberto failed to track his run.

Monday April 18, 2016

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Vision and Hard work epitomize RHTY&SC, MS – President Granger From back page visionary leadership over the last quarter of a century. Stating his regard for the Rose Hall region as a frontier in the future development of Guyana, the Head of State said that he has always recognised the centrality of Rose Hall to the growth of the nation, noting that in the whole of CARICOM there are only two Caribbean states which touch each other, Guyana and Suriname. “And the cutting edge for Guyana is East Berbice, Corentyne. I have great hopes about East Berbice, Corentyne, Region 6; not only in terms of the economy, rice and sugar, but in terms of commerce and most particularly in terms of culture and sport.” Reminiscing on the days when sports in Guyana were exclusive where ordinary folk could not have entered much less represent, President Granger emphatically said it was completely divisive and couldn’t be the way a country can develop. “Fortunately over the last 50 or 60 years these walls of division have been broken down. And this is what I say, this is what I feel, this is what I believe is part of the work of Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, it is helping to break down walls which prevented people, because of their origin from participating in some sports.” Granger in further distinguishing the work of the club posited that he would like to see more clubs of this nature being formed around Guyana to guide and develop young people.

Campbell and Mahadeo are female and male cricketers; WI female T20 duo recognised “But we only have one Hilbert Foster and that’s the problem,” Granger said to loud applause and laughter. He pointed out that he regards the awards ceremony as a means of making Guyana more culturally inclusive “And I hope that following the example of the 18th of March, we will be able to replicate this model in all of the regions. So perhaps I must search the constitution to see if I have the power to make this young man a sports ambassador to all of the other regions.” While touching on the imminent celebratory activities that are being planned for Guyana’s 50th Anniversary celebrations in less than a month from now, the President said that it was a good time to take stock of where we were 50 years ago and where we want to be 50 years from now. “Fifty years from now, we want to see our young people being able to inter mingle, to engage each other and that is why I feel that this ceremony here is important. I really would like to see Rose Hall taking its sports ambassadors into Mabaruma and Bartica. I really would like to see in years to come right here in East Berbice Corentyne, a sports stadium.”

Attendees and awardees were encouraged by the President to embrace the vision of the region not only as a powerful economic engine for producing rice, sugar and fish but also as a cultural capital bringing international cricketers from all over the Caribbean to the Corentyne. “The home of so many famous international cricketers, up to now, up to Sunday the 17th you are still producing quality international cricketers.” Club President, Keith Foster in brief remarks thanked the friends of the club and sponsors for their partnership towards its success, while complimenting Campbell and Tremayne Smartt, a former RHTYSC player for their World Cup winning efforts with the West Indies Female team. Both were honoured by the club and a number of sponsors for their historic achievement. Mayor of Rose Hall Ramoo, a former club member and cricketer promised to lend support to his former club while respective sponsor’s representatives also offered congratulations to the awardees and the West Indies Female duo. More details on the awards ceremony in a subsequent publication.

From President to President, Head of State David Granger being presented with a miniature cricket bat bearing the signatures of the ICC T20 Female WC champs by Keith Foster.

Former Beast Blake puts down marker on track return

Yohan Blake

Some of the RHTY&SC awardees during yesterday’s 26th Annual Awards Ceremony at the St. Francis Training Centre, JC Chandisingh Access Road, Rose Hall Town, Berbice.

Reuters - KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake declared himself “fit and ready to run” at this Rio de Janeiro Olympics after clocking a world-leading 9.95 seconds in his first 100 meter race of the season on Saturday. The 2011 world champion, dogged by three years of hamstring problems, set the mark less than an hour after American rival Justin Gatlin ran a wind aided 9.90 seconds at the Bahamas Invitational. Blake had a moderate start in the Jamaican capital before powering away from the field with compatriot Rasheed Dwyer second and Briton Zarnel Hughes third both in a time of 10.10. “It means a lot to be back in the sub-10 club,” Blake told Reuters after the race. “For two years I’ve been out of the sub-10 club, so I thank God, who has been working in my life. It feels good to be back.” Blake won two sprint silvers at the 2012 London Olympics behind training partner Usain Bolt but his career has been continually

interrupted by hamstring trouble since. The 26-year-old missed the 2013 world championships in Moscow and last year’s event in Beijing because of separate issues and said it had been a tough time. “It was difficult mentally to get back, knowing that I’m human because it played on my mind,” he said. Blake said he had ditched the nickname ‘the beast’ and was keen to make up for lost time, with the Brazil Games approaching in August. “All I want to do is replicate what I did or do better in the Olympics and we’re on target,” added the joint second fastest man of all time with 9.69 set in 2011. Blake’s manager Cubie Seegobin said his charge would have at least three runs before the Jamaican Olympic Trials at the end of June. “On my schedule, he is to run in Germany on Saturday May 14th, then RACERS Grand Prix June 11th, and Adidas Grand Prix in Boston on June 18th,” Seegobin told Reuters.

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De Kock’s 48-ball ton helps Daredevils prevail

Quinton de Kock struck 15 fours and three sixes in his 51-ball 108. (BCCI)

ESPNcricinfo – It was a run-fest of the highest quality. Virat Kohli, a machine going by his current form, delivered again. His 48-ball 79 powered Royal Challengers Bangalore to 191 for 5, and AB de Villiers and Shane Watson chipped in with 55 and 33. But their efforts were put to shade byQuinton de Kock, who made a bruising 51-ball 108, the first hundred in IPL 2016, to power Delhi Daredevils to a seven-wicket win at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. It was Daredevils’ first win over Royal Challengers since 2010. While De Kock starred in the lead role, Karun Nair, who hails from Bangalore, played the supporting role in 134-run third-wicket stand that came off 76 balls. Zaheer Khan, the Daredevils captain, was clear that the Kohli factor influenced his decision to bowl first. What he didn’t account for was a Chinnaswamy deck that looked biscuit brown and was ripe for a run-fest. On his part, Kohli showed he can be equally dangerous when setting targets. The groundwork was laid during the

course of his second-wicket stand of 107 with de Villiers before Daredevils hit back with a tremendous exhibition of late-overs bowling courtesy the returning Mohammed Shami and Chris Morris, who conceded only 27 off the last four overs. Daredevils were dealt an early blow when Shreyas Iyer was dismissed by Shane Watson and David Wiese, whose tag-team effort resulted in a stunning catch at longon. But the early loss had little effect on de Kock as he pierced a packed off-side field for three fours off the offspinner Parvez Rasool in the second over. De Kock was particularly punishing through the off side, a majority of his runs coming behind square. Once he was set, the other elements to his game surfaced. A nonchalant flick off Harshal Patel in the ninth over soared over deep square leg, and once he was into the 90s he used the pace to scoop the ball over short fine leg. The end result was a wagon wheel with spokes all around the wicket. De Kock’s sparkling form helped

Daredevils ride a trough when Sanju Samson struggled to play his shots, but his dismissal in the sixth over turned their fortunes. Nair and de Kock got stuck in against Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel and David Wiese, whose combined tally at one point was 78 conceded off seven overs. Their predictability put immense pressure on Watson to deliver with the ball as the equation came down to 56 off the last six overs. By then, Nair was in his element. Not a shot was played in desperation or anger, and his sparkling form took the pressure off a tiring de Kock, who brought up his century off his 48th ball. Once into the home stretch, there was a sense of inevitability to the game. After De Kock walked off to a round of applause from Watson, who had him caught behind, Duminy struck the winning runs, Chahal fielding his straight punch but giving away an overthrow with an underarm flick to try and catch Nair out of his crease. Chris Gayle’s dismissal in the first over to Zaheer silenced the crowd, but De Villiers and Kohli were

least affected by the early loss, and carried on from where they had left off in the opening game. Ten fours and a six came in the first six overs as Royal Challengers moved to 63 for 1. The spinners, Pawan Negi and Amit Mishra, fared only marginally better than the quicks in the face of the De Villiers-Kohli onslaught. It needed Carlos Brathwaite, the World T20 hero, to dismiss De Villiers in his first over to rejuvenate Daredevils. But within the bat of an eyelid, they were back under the cosh as Kohli and Watson took over. With 21 coming off the 16th over, bowled by Zaheer, Royal Challengers were 164 for 2 and looked well set for a second successive 200-plus score. But the wickets of Watson and Sarfaraz Khan in the space of three balls set them back and denied the flourish they were looking for. Scores: Delhi Daredevils 192 for 3 (De Kock 108, Nair 54*) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore191 for 5 (Kohli 79, De Villiers 55, Shami 2-34) by seven wickets.

DOMINANT ROSBERG

extends win streak in China SHANGHAI (Reuters) Nico Rosberg claimed a dominant win in an actionpacked Formula One Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his championship lead over Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, who battled up to seventh with some feisty driving after starting last. Rosberg crossed the line a mammoth 37.7 seconds ahead of German compatriot Sebastian Vettel, who recovered after colliding with his Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen at the first corner, to claim his third win from three races this season. The German now leads Hamilton by 36 points in the

standings and is firmly in control of the championship with 18 rounds of a record 21race season remaining. He certainly has history on his side with the winner of the first three races of the season having gone on to win the title each time. “Well, it’s too early to make any summaries,” Rosberg told reporters. “It’s three races now and they’ve gone really well for me but it’s the longest season in F1 history with 21 races. “Of course I’m happy with the way it’s gone and I’m feeling good and the car’s there but I don’t want to say more than that.” Sunday’s win was the

Nadal sees off Monfils to end fouryear Monaco wait (Reuters) Rafa Nadal ended his four-year wait for a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title by defeating Gael Monfils 7-5 5-7 6-0 on Sunday in his 100th career final. Nadal won eight consecutive titles before losing the 2013final to Novak Djokovic and, after struggling for fitness in recent years, he demonstrated his return to form by overwhelming the home favourite in the third set to win his 28th Masters title. “Monte Carlo has been one of the most special places in my career,” Nadal told the crowd on receiving the trophy. “It was a pleasure to play back here again and in a final. Monfils, seeded 13th and looking to become the tournament’s first French winner since Cedric Pioline, started strongly, exchanging consecutive break points with Nadal,

17th of Rosberg’s career and extended his streak of race victories to six, dating back to last November’s Mexican Grand Prix. Only three other drivers have ever put together a run of six or more wins in a row. Vettel managed nine with Red Bull in 2013 and Michael Schumacher seven with Ferrari in 2004. The other was Italian Alberto Ascari in the 1950s. ANGRY VETTEL Daniil Kvyat finished third to score Red Bull their first podium finish since September’s Singapore Grand Prix but the Russian had to defend himself after the race when an angry Vettel blamed

Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Germany (centre), Red Bull Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat of Russia (right) and Ferrari Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany after the Chinese Grand Prix. (REUTERS/ALY SONG) him for the collision between the Ferraris. Hamilton, who had started from dead last after failing to

Rafael Nadal

before losing the first set 7-5. Monfils broke Nadal to take an early 2-1 lead in the second,but the Spaniard broke back to level at 4-4 before Monfils wrestled back the initiative to take the set. Nadal dominated the final set, however, breaking Monfils, who appeared drained by his earlier exertions, three times towin his first Masters title since 2014 and his 48th clay crown.

set a time in Saturday’s qualifying session due to an engine problem, finished seventh, running into further trouble at the start when he lost his front wing in a firstcorner collision. The Briton used some good-old fashioned racing nous to work his way up to third at one stage. But his challenge faded later in the race as he attempted to battle through with a damaged car that he likened to a “fourposter bed”. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth. The Australian rocketed off the line from second on the grid and shot past Rosberg into an early lead. But an early puncture and subsequent safety car cost him any chance of a podium place. “As soon as I got on the straight, basically I could feel the car start to wobble and

then I looked in the mirror and the tyre went,” Ricciardo said. “With the safety car, that put us even further back so that was like a double whammy which felt like getting punched in the stomach by a heavyweight.” Raikkonen, who came off worse in the first-corner collision with Vettel, was sixth ahead of Felipe Massa of Williams. Max Verstappen was eighth ahead of Toro Rosso team mate Carlos Sainz while Valtteri Bottas rounded out the top 10 for Williams. The early safety car led to a chopping and changing of the order with some drivers choosing to pit even as others stayed out. That put a mix of tyre strategies into play, producing a close battle for position behind the leader with plenty of exciting racing through the field.