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Kaieteur News
Thursday April 07, 2016
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Will CJIA afford a good first impression? Walter Rodney’s How Europe Underdeveloped Africa is seminal reading. Today, it is still in demand by students and university lecturers alike. One economics lecturer set before his class the question, ‘Can development and underdevelopment be measured in quantitative terms?’ Simply put, it meant whether people can measure development and underdevelopment in the same way they count money or buildings or any material thing. Guyana is a developing country, given that the developed world considered calling an underdeveloped country an insult to the country and its peoples. It suggested that somehow, the people were backward. It goes without saying that backwardness connotes certain qualities that do not speak well for the person or country so described. Guyana is a developing country. No title of underdevelopment could explain the quality of people it graduated. Some of them went on to hold very high offices in the various developed countries. Many were offered chairs in foreign Universities and more than a few spearheaded scientific discoveries. In fact, by attracting the skills from the developing countries, the developed countries helped ‘underdevelop’ these countries. Rodney concluded that one could measure underdevelopment by the number of schools, hospitals and other social facilities that exist. The Cheddi Jagan International Airport is a very good measure of Guyana’s underdevelopment. For one, whenever two or more airplanes land, the immigration services are put under tremendous pressure. The number of immigration officers to deal with the 300 or 400 people that would disembark from two or three aircraft is fewer than a dozen. Those who have been caught up in this situation have complained. It might have been this situation that prompted the expansion of both the terminal building and the runway. The government had said that the airport terminal building had outgrown its capacity. We now head to what could be the biggest influx of people to descend on the airport at any given time. Unless the flights are staggered-and one cannot hope for that possibility since the various airlines have landing schedules at the other airports-then one can expect a crush at the immigration section of the airport. To its credit, the airport management has begun to make for an even better transportation arrangement at the airport. They have succeeded to remove the haggling of taxi drivers from the exit point. The management says that this is intended to protect the passenger who in the past was subjected to the pulls and shoves of clashing taxi drivers. Today, the system is such that if someone needs a taxi that person would be directed to the first taxi in the line. There are more advantages to this arrangement, least among them the identity of the driver who picked up the passenger in the event that something should happen. But the immigration arrangements still demand urgent attention. It is physically impossible to expand the immigration processing point. This could see people taking a long time to be processed. Needless to say, this could have an impact on the way people view Guyana in the first instance. As the saying goes, the first impression one gets is the lasting one. The promise of an influx is real. This can be supported by the bookings of all the rooms in the hotels; by the demand for lodging in the various bed and breakfast arrangements, and by the number of people who now report that they are about to see relatives they had not seen in decades. Minister Nicolette Henry has said that she has been holding meetings with the Ministry of Public Security about the situation. She said that from assurances, the situation would not be as horrendous as expected. There are other possible hiccups. For one, all the borders crossings would be busy. But this is a good thing. One could see the economic spin-offs.
Arguments in support of Joe Harmon DEAR EDITOR; Forbes Burnham in 1985 noted in his last interview with the Caribbean Press “In life and politics as in mathematics you have to accept the highest common factor.” Using that analogy; when we look at the structure of PNCR or APNU - it is an incontrovertible fact that aside from President David Granger; Minister Joseph Harmon is the most likely individual to lead PNCR or APNU Coalition. What is corrupt or unpardonable about 1. The appointment of Mr. Brian Tiwari as Business Development Advisor to Minister Harmon and 2. The determination by the Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary that the seizure of assets from Bai Shan Ling was uncalled for at that juncture? The current media pronouncements on the actions of Minister Harmonas unjustified and indefensible are absent of any evidence conveyed to the public. When one considers the position Mr. Harmon holds in the current Government, the statements made by many commentators are ridiculous, be it Chris Ram in Kaieteur News dated April 3, 2016: Harmon’s action warrants immediate investigation… President Granger must take action which shows zero-tolerance for reckless, unlawful and/or corrupt behavior; Or Anand Goolsarran who made
several verbal assaults on Harmon, first on March 31, 2016 in Kaieteur News, Goolsarran “expressed his shock to learn that Harmon, a man who spoke against the appalling backdoor deals made by the PPP, would appoint businessman Brian “BK” Tiwarie as Ministerial Advisor on Business Development. Goolsarran was even more shocked that three senior AFC Cabinet members – Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan and the Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin – have no knowledge of this appointment. Goolsarran further unleashed his wrath against Harmon with Goolsarran’s speculative pronouncement, to wit: “It is evident that the President needs to place a curb on the tendency of the Minister of the Presidency to act unilaterally and without obtaining his prior approval.” In Kaieteur News on April 4, 2016, Goolsarran continued his onslaught against the former lieutenant Colonel by stating that “This runaway train must be halted in its track before it is too late. Mr. Harmon is behaving just like the former HPS, (Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon) if not worse,” No one seriously believes that an appointment made by Dr. Luncheon as Cabinet Secretary would be rescinded by Presidents of that era. Also, a directive from the Cabinet
Secretary to desist from a particular action by a Government Agency is not unusual and falls within the duties of the Cabinet Secretary/Minister of State. The significant supervisory role of the Cabinet Secretary over the actions of Ministries, Government Agencies and State Controlled Corporations helps to ensure proper coordination and prevent pernicious acts to the functioning of the State, the image of Guyana and relationships with donor countries, particularly countries such as USA and China. Differences, if and when they occur should be resolved within the apparatus of the executive branch of government. On April 6, 2016 in Kaieteur News the article captioned “GRA Will Now Operate Without Political Interference” – Chairman (Rawle Lucas Nonexecutive chairman of GRA). This kind of fairy tale thinking, is consistent with the utopian pronouncements of Ram, Goolsarran and Lucas. Ironically, Mr. Rawle Lucas who waxes eloquently on interference is often times deemed to be interfering and usurping the executive management responsibilities of Ms. Ingrid Griffith, Commissioner General (ag) of GRA. Oh what a tangled web we weave when we utter to deceive. Rawle Lucas, who in March of 2016 was appointed (Continued on page 5)
Trade unionist warns about old habits continuing under APNU-AFC Gov’t DEAR EDITOR; The political growth of this nation and the holistic development of its people are reliant on rigid adherence to time-honoured principles, rules, laws, universal declarations, conventions and charters. Where there has been some progress in the nation post- 11th May 2015 such must continue and not be undermined by acts that are inimical to growth and progress. Ours is a republic built on a system of representative democracy. In keeping with the principle that governs this society where the Executive and Legislature are elected by the people to represent their affairs, both branches of government cannot govern ignoring the fundamental rights and freedoms of all. This means whether one votes for a party of not, whoever is given the privilege to govern cannot exclude the interests of those who did not cast a ballot for them, given that under the laws all are considered equal and guarantee equal protection of their rights and freedoms. Within recent days this nation has been inundated with acts by state and government officials giving rise to justifiable concerns that we are not witnessing a change in the way business is done on our behalf, but continuation of the unsavoury conduct that have characterised the Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar governments. There are reports of state and government officials acting as law unto themselves, with little or no regard for
tenets of good governance that ought to be guiding their conduct. We are witnessing situations of concern with regards to manner within which board members of state institutions are conducting the business of the organisation. A board charged with policy responsibility is managed different than that with executive responsibility. Policy responsibility means that board ought to be engaged in conceptualising and developing policies informed by the organisation’s mission, taking cognisance of internal and external factors. The day-to-day management of the workers and resources are not the responsibility of this type of board. Its duty is to ensure that the resources (human and others) are made available to realise the mission of the organisation. An executive board comprises of managers of the organisation who have day-to-day responsibility for managing the activities within the organisation. What we are seeing happening is that boards that are charged with policy responsibility are behaving as though they have executive responsibility. This is not new for such has been a practice that characterised the Jadgeo and Ramotar governments. This practice is wrong and must be brought to an end. The David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo government cannot on one hand tell the society that they will not continue the bad practices of the past,
yet at the same time embrace same through action being carried out by board members that are obviously in conflict with their roles, functions and responsibilities. This practice under new state boards and new political administration where board members are operating as law unto themselves and disregarding fundamental rights, laws and industrial relations practices must cease. There is no excuse for ignorance and arrogance when it comes to violating universal principles and transgressing workers’ rights. Board members and government officials, elected and appointed, must act in accordance with established tenets, be trained, and where there exist refusal to correct malconduct they be removed, since they are subject to the rules governing the organisation, internal and external. Decision-making must not be guided by these gut feelings, fear or egos. No state agency has a mission to violate laws and transgress rights and it is for this reason everyone in executing their duty is expected to operate within the confine of these tenets. In achieving the mission established tenets will have to be respected and failure to do so means admittance of abrogation of responsibility. This government and those who they have placed in positions to operate on the people’s behalf cannot condemn what occurred in the past yet at the same time mimicking what operated in the past. Lincoln Lewis
Thursday April 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Arguments in... Unstoppable random stops by the police From page 4 Executive Director for Economic Cooperation and Global Trade Investment within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, penned an article as a columnist in Stabroek News, where Mr. Lucas wrote in his Sunday column dated April 3, 2016 that “Politicians and other public officials need to stop monkeying around on these issues (a most disparaging remark by a public servant) and understand that the entire country is at risk of being marginalized by the international economic community for failure to uphold its own laws”. As offensive as those comments were to many hardworking politicians and public officials, Stabroek News apparently embraced the “monkeying around” label by referencing it in their article captioned “Much more needs to be done about corruption – Rawle Lucas” dated April 4, 2016. Also, in the Stabroek News Editorial on April 4, 2016, we are exposed to a barrage of insults against the Cabinet Secretary re: “Minister of State farcical appointment of Mr. Brian Tiwari as a Business Advisor to the government” and “The president him-self would have sought an immediate explanation from Minister Harmon on his return from China about the rationale for the appointment of Mr. Tiwari and then determine appropriate disciplining of the Minister. The editorial is loaded with unfounded allegations and appalling suggestions, including “It immediately raises the spectre that the appointment was a sinecure or providing a benefit solely to those involved.” and Minister Harmon actions raise serious questions about his judgement and he clearly needs to be reined in.” In my opinion the writer of this editorial needs to focus on facts and not conjectures. To move from the ridiculous to the absurd, we have Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI) issuing a statement in Stabroek News dated April 5, 2016 that preached: “It was noted that by any standard, the conduct of Harmon and by extension, the Government, constitutes corruption.” I conclude with a few questions for our informed commentators/columnists/editor: 1. What is the justification for rescinding Mr. Tiwari’s appointment? 2. Was Mr. Tiwari’s race a factor in rescinding his appointment? See the last paragraph of Ms. Ryhaan Shah Guyana Times Article dated
April 3, 2016. 3. Is there any one among our informed commentators or columnists awareof the Modus Operandi for appointing advisors to Ministers and to the President? 4. Is Mr. Tiwari not eminently qualified to provide business development advice, based on his mega success in building BK International Inc. into Guyana’s largest privately owned company, spanning several industries? 5. What are the names of all the advisors and the remuneration made to those advisors, working across the different Ministries? 6. How is Minister Harmon’s Business trip to China, a country that is one Guyana’s largest foreign investors a new form of corruption? 7. Is the decision of the Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary to ask GRA officers and representatives of the Special Organized Crime Unit to stand down - a new form of corruption? 8. Could the seizing of Assets of Bai Shan Lin have been done in a more tactful manner, considering our substantial fractional dependence on foreign investment from China and Chinese Companies and also considering the role of its Managing Director, Mr. Chu Hongbo, in the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana? 9. Who are the architects behind the leakage of the appointment letter of Mr. Tiwari as Advisor to the Minister of State? 10. Who are the advisors in the diaspora and exactly who are they advising? 11. Does it matter whether it was Mr. Harmon or Mr. Tiwari who initiated the process of the advisory role? 12. Does a Minister have the authority to appoint an advisor to his/her Ministry? The jumping on the bandwagon to destroy Harmon is misplaced, appears to have divisive intentions and seems to be a form of cognitive dissonance. Lucas Anthony Seneca: “We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.” Nigel Hinds
DEAR EDITOR, On Friday 01st April 2016 around 18:15 hrs, I was in a barber shop in Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara when I noticed Police constable Aaron Joseph who is stationed at the Cove and John Police Station in a 4X4 Police pick up stopping motorists at random which is quite contrary to what the Commissioner of Police and the Traffic Chief mentioned. Mr. Editor, from my vantage point in the the barber
shop that I was in, I counted no less than ten vehicles stopped by constable Joseph within a half hour time frame. Mr Editor, I did not observe any of the vehicles stopped by Constable Joseph to have dark tints, unlighted tail lights , unlighted number plate lights etc which makes me curious as the real reason(s) behind Mr Joseph’s traffic stops unless he was on a mission the purpose of which I will not mention for legal reasons. It is very difficult to understand what reasonable
suspicions constable Joseph could have advanced at 18:15 hrs in the evening when he stopped those motorists at random. I hope that Commander Chapman can intervene as no one is preventing Constable Joseph from doing his work but it must be done in a very fair and transparent manner. Constable Joseph is stationed at Cove and John Police Station and on his way to Enmore he has to pass a few villages to get to Enmore and I’m very certain that he did
not stop at any of those villages and made his traffic stops but he chooses Enmore. What I was also told Mr Editor is that this is not the first such outing of unwarranted random stops by Constable Joseph in Enmore instead it is a routine feature. Enmore Police Station is supposed to be having a station management committee but it is so unfortunate that they cannot represent their fellow countrymen. Randy Persaud
DEAR EDITOR; It pains me greatly to have to write about employees not receiving their salaries on time and the consequences of such. A relative of mine is employed in Linden at a security firm that featured in
your columns recently. She’s been in their employ for over two years and the only time herself and other employees have been paid on time is in December. Every month, they are told that they will be paid in the
Linden Branch has really shown cruelty here. As for the guards, they dare not mention their late payment issue for fear of victimization. Concerned Relative
DEAR EDITOR; It boggles the mind that Politicians seriously think that they are above the Law. They strut their stuff and pump out their chests as if the world revolves around only them. They are so locked up in their egotism that they think they can manipulate the law of the land at their whim and fancy. Little do they care that many of us are contemptuous of them. How can they get it through their thick skulls that they are citizens like the rest of us. The faster they learn this the better they will be able to perform their jobs. It is time we hold them to higher standards. We must show them that we will no longer be their pawns. That the work they perform is on our behalf. That we demand from them transparency and accountability. That we are sick and tired of the status quo. That when they perform
grave infractions we will come at them like a ton of bricks. Mr. President, the ball is in your court. We look to you to sanction the intransigent who you selected to be in your Cabinet and in other senior positions. Minister Harmon has interfered in the execution of the law for reasons that make us ordinary citizens suspicious. Your silence in this matter rankles us and eats away at our insides. Step up to the plate Mr President and show that you can be a strong and decisive leader. Lead us out of the doldrums that has dogged us for the past five decades. Remember that actions speak louder than words. Ali Hussain
new month. Now my relative has a loan with the Republic Bank. It’s no fault of hers that her salary is paid late. She has a minor to take care of and the salary is already meagre. Do you know what Republic Bank did to that poor woman? She has to pay $9000 per month for a loan. And because they fed up with the late payment of the loan, they held on to a further $9000. Now my question is “what is the purpose of the late fee?” This woman earns about $40 000.00 per month. Subtract NIS from that along with what Republic Bank deducted this month and tell me how this woman and her school age child are going to survive from now until their next pay date which will most likely be sometime in May. These entities show absolutely no regard for poor people. And Republic Bank
Security firm and commercial bank under criticism in Linden
Citizen wants President to act against Harmon
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Kaieteur News
Thursday April 07, 2016
Changes to NGSA will not affect structure Only Guyana Times, Chronicle allowed in and format - Education Ministry - Learning Channel to air familiarising programme Set for April 27 and 28, 2016, the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) is expected to cater to approximately 14,500 candidates. But according to information disseminated by the Ministry of Education yesterday, while there will be some changes to this assessment, these will only be related to the question paper and answer sheets, and not the structure or format of the questions on the question paper. According to the Ministry too, the Guyana Learning Channel is expected to broadcast a special programme to further familiarise pupils with the layout. The Ministry also disclosed that specimen papers were prepared and distributed, prior to the commencement of the new term, to all Regions to familiarise pupils. In fact, it was revealed, that the timetable for the assessment this month end has already been dispatched to all schools and the Ministry is appealing to parents to take note of this. The Ministry’s disclosure followed a statement issued by former Minister of Education under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government, Ms. Priya Manickchand. Manickchand in her statement disclosed that “it has come to my attention that the Ministry of Education in Guyana intends to change the manner in which the National
NGSA 2016 timetable
Grade Six Assessment, or a part thereof, is going to be written and marked.” She considered that this change will begin and occur at the 2016 exams, which are scheduled to be written on the 27 and 28 April 2016, just three short weeks away. But according to her, “up to today’s date (Tuesday when the statement was issued) the Government has failed, refused and/or neglected to inform all the relevant students, parents and teachers about these changes that are to be made.” She, moreover, emphatically questioned, “What precisely are the changes? Are our young children going to learn about these changes when they enter the examination room? Can they be expected to do their best in these conditions?” According to the former Minister too, “This type of lazy, contemptuous governance is what the nation is coming to expect of this incompetent government. In this instance, however, this is
not acceptable, as it can severely, adversely affect the lives of our most valuable resource, our children.” She speculated too that the proposed changes are in fact the ones that the PPP/C government had begun to put in place and had publicly spoken of. But, according to her, these changes were never meant to be a secret, hidden from the children, their teachers and parents and sprung upon them as a surprise. “We call on the Government immediately to fully disclose what the changes will be, when they are intended to take effect and for immediate and public, widespread instructions and information as to how a student may best comply with these changes by publishing samples, infomercials etc, so that our children can be assessed for what they actually know and not for how quickly they can adjust to secretive, even if well intentioned, changes.” Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, at the
unveiling of the 2015 NGSA results disclosed that his Ministry is poised to build on the gains that have been made in the past. “Over the next two years we are going to ensure that the Ministry of Education sets the standard in Guyana,” he said. In fact it was the fervent hope of Dr. Roopnaraine even then that “other Ministries must look at the Ministry of Education and come and ask us what you are really doing? How did you manage to do what you are doing? That’s what we want,” said the optimistic Education Minister. According to him, he was geared to do a full assessment of the system and disclosed that there are going to be some changes. “What works we will continue to do, what needs fixing we will fix, what has not worked at all we will abandon,” said the Minister. He asserted then too that things will not be changed for “changing sake” but rather “what can be anticipated is the continuity of best practices.”
Camp St. prison
Camp Street prisoner Roy Jacobs has revealed that Kaieteur News and Stabroek News are not allowed inside the Georgetown Prisons. He made this disclosure on his return to the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into the March 3, 2016 incident, which resulted in the death of 17 prisoners. The men were burnt to death after a fire was started in ‘Capital A’ building of the Georgetown Prisons. Another prisoner died of a heart attack that took the total deaths to 18. Jacobs, who is currently serving an 81-year sentence for murder, told the Commission that this was a rule of the prison for as long as he can remember. He has been in jail for almost five years. The prisoner recalled that on one occasion a copy of the Kaieteur News was taken away from his “partner in crime.” “When we went to court my partner in crime get a Kaieteur and when we went to the reception, they took it away,” he claimed. Jacobs said that he later learnt that only the Guyana Times and Chronicle Newspapers are allowed in the prisons. He was at the time responding to questions posed by Attorney-at-law Christopher Ram. Ram, who is also President of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) later, commented on the prisoner ’s revelation about the newspapers,
calling it a violation of fundamental human rights. The lawyer asserted that while banning the newspaper is bad enough, to prohibit two of Guyana’s largest selling dailies and to allow the Guyana Chronicle and the Guyana Times into the prisons “defies logic.” The Attorney said that he hopes the Commission will take the issue into serious consideration. Ram had also inquired from the prisoner about rules concerning the everyday treatment and safety procedures for inmates in cases of emergencies such as fire. The prisoner revealed that he has not come across any such guidelines. He said too that there have been no fire drills at the prisons during his five years of incarceration. In terms of treatment of prisoners, Jacobs said, there is an issue with the manner in which the officers interface with the inmates. He said that prisoners often get problems with officers. “They (the officers) might get problem home and come and take it out at the prisons,” Jacobs opined. “They always hollering at you,” he added. He noted that even in cases of a serious health problem, officers would ignore prisoners concerns. Jacobs told the Commission that there is also a problem with the accommodation for inmates; a mattress is often shared by (continued on page 15)
No evidence to prove GFC got ... From page 3 Parris, former chairman of CLICO Holdings Barbados Ltd., which included services such as CLICO International Life Insurance Ltd. With 60 years of service under its belt, the company became one of the largest local conglomerates in the region, encompassing over 65 companies in 32 countries worldwide, with total assets exceeding US$100 billion. By the turn of the century, rumblings of fraud and money
laundering at CLICO were felt. By 2005, there was talk of naive and greedy managers. There was talk of failure of government, regulators and auditors; of incompetence and failures at every level and at the highest levels within the company; and finally, fear and talk of CLICO needing taxpayers' bailout. Understanding the situation from his bird's-eye view within the company, the Chairman decided to protect his interest and before the mess hit
the fan, CLICO was presumably being looted. By 2007 to 2008, there was no hiding the fact that CLICO was limping financially as well as its branches in other Caribbean territories, including Guyana. CLICO Guyana had approximately $6.9B invested in the Regional Insurance Company. With CLICO Guyana now insolvent for some years, policyholders are still hoping for an early conclusion to the liquidation.
Thursday April 07, 2016
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Brazil congressional report favours impeaching President Rousseff Reuters - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff moved closer to impeachment when a key member of a Congressional committee said yesterday there were grounds for the Senate to put her on trial for manipulating budget accounts in 2014 to boost her reelection prospects. Congressman Jovair Arantes told the 65-member lower house committee there were “minimal indications” that Rousseff had committed an impeachable crime, but that it was up to the Senate to judge the president. Arantes had been asked by the committee to review the case and report back. The committee will vote on his report on Monday and submit the result to the full house for a final vote, expected by the end of next week. If two-thirds of the chamber approve the motion, Rousseff will be sent for trial in the Senate. She denies any wrongdoing. The impeachment effort, a wide-ranging corruption
Anti-government demonstrators protest in front of the session of the impeachment committee against Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil, yesterday. REUTERS/Adriano Machado
scandal, and a deepening economic recession have led to Brazil’s worst political crisis since former President
Fernando Collor de Mello resigned to avoid impeachment in 1992. Rousseff, Brazil’s first woman president, could lose
power as soon as May if she does not gain more support in Congress. Arantes said the delay in treasury transfers to
state banks, which Rousseff’s opponents say allowed her to increase spending in the run-up to the
2014 election, “evidently” countered fiscal responsibility rules and could be grounds to impeach her. “The Brazilian people deserve an answer that can only be given by a trial of Rousseff in the Senate,” he said. Accusations leveled at Rousseff’s government regarding the massive corruption scandal around state-run oil company Petrobras were not considered in his report, but could be taken into account in a Senate trial, Arantes said. The president’s ouster is uncertain. Surveys by Brazilian media show her opponents have not secured twothirds of the votes in the lower house to take her impeachment to the Senate. O Globo newspaper reported on Tuesday the opposition was three votes short of a majority in the impeachment committee. In a boost for her chances of surviving impeachment, the centrist Progressive Party (PP) said on Wednesday it will remain in her governing coalition until the lower house votes.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday April 07, 2016
Thursday April 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Chronicle EditorIn-Chief suspended Guyana Chronicle EditorIn-Chief, Nigel Williams, was yesterday suspended for the apparent doctoring of a photograph with President David Granger in the National Park. The original photograph was photoshopped to take out two Afro-Guyanese children and replace them with pictures of two Amerindian children. Williams is suspended for one week on a decision taken by the Board of Directors of the company. A source indicated that a meeting was held on Tuesday with the Board of Directors and they all decided to suspend him. His suspension was confirmed yesterday by Chairman of the GNNL Board, Jean La Rose. La Rose refused to give any further deals about suspension, stating that “it is an internal matter”. The newspaper had published an apology stating that the intention was to show the President at two different
scenes socializing with Guyanese. Last year, the Board fired the newspaper’s General Manager Michael Gordon and Editor-in-Chief Mark Ramoutar with immediate effect, citing weak administration and poor circulation numbers.
The Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation to ascertain the real circumstances surrounding the shooting of one of its ranks. The rank, a Constable attached to the East Coast Demerara intelligence section turned up at the Georgetown Public Hospital yesterday with a gunshot wound to his left foot. He told his superiors that he had accidentally shot himself. This newspaper was told that the rank was in a vehicle at a Guyoil Service Station in the city when his service
revolver accidentally went off. The bullet entered and exited his leg. Kaieteur News was told by Commander Marlon Chapman that the rank was carrying a force weapon at the time. He did not give details of how the rank sustained his injury, except to say, “He must have had it in an awkward position.” Commander Chapman said that an investigation will be done. He said that “there are certain Standard Operating Procedures that need to be adhered to as far as a firearm is concerned.
Nigel Williams
Police intelligence rank shoots self
Political infiltration The Guyana Revenue Authority has announced that it will not be allowing political interference in its work. This announcement was made following an allegation that a high political operative had ordered the Guyana Revenue Authority not to seize vehicles owned by a major Chinese investor operating in Guyana. The vehicles have since been seized by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) which in responding to the controversy that erupted, indicated that it will not be allowing political interference in its work. Perhaps, what the Guyana Revenue Authority is calling political interference may simply be a case of advice from a political source. Or it could be a case of a lack of professionalism on the part of whoever received the so-called “orders” to say to the person giving those “orders” that you have no locus standi. In the 1950’s, and early 1960’s there is no way that any senior public servant would have even entertained an order from a Minister who was not the subject Minister of that public servant. The only way that could have happened was if there was a need for information to be provided or shared. Senior public servants, back in the day, would have been following instructions from any Minister who did not have ministerial responsibility for their department. All those protocols went out of the window with the Declaration of Sophia which made the party more powerful than the State. The GRA will have to defend its actions. The breach of an agreement with the government has remedies
Dem boys seh ...
Soulja Bai humble Li’l Joe Three weeks back de GRA decide that it gun seize some vehicle that BaiShan bring in through trickery. When de GRA go to move Li’l Joe step in. That was when he was big boy and people use to call he Joe Humbo. Soulja Bai show him who is de real big boy. He call name is now Joe Humble. Dem boys hear when GRA move in to BaiShan place to seize de vehicles, BaiShan call Joe Humble who according to he friend de Business King, sit down and watch de n u m b e r a n d d i n ’t e v e n answer de phone. Soon after, Soulja Bai call him; in fact, Soulja Bai is one of two people who could reach him by phone.
De reporters calling, no answer; he colleagues calling and de phone ringing out. But leh that scamp, Jagdeo call, he does answer. Dem boys seh that connection come straight from de Business King—BK. De other day Joe Humble tell people how everybody playing wid he political career. Dem boys want him to know that he political career was like a football. He self kick it too hard and lef a big hole in it. According to dem boys he got to decide if it can tek patching and things ain’t looking nice from this end. Another hole m i ght develop. In fact, dem boys hearing bout plenty holes and is he alone got to patch
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dem. No vulcanizing shop ain’t tekking on that wuk because GRA might move pun dem, too. Sherlock is another one. He wait fuh defend two whole weeks after de Waterfalls paper report how he get 54,000 acre of mining land in a three-year span. He tell de nation that de land wha he get had no gold and that you can’t even access it. That was he defence. This is wha de Clerk of de House tell de nation and he believe that Guyanese gun fall fuh dat crap. That is like telling de nation that a two-year-old give birth to a baby. Talk half and wait fuh hear Joe Humble excuse.
in tort. The non-payment of taxes is punishable by criminal prosecution. It is left to be seen whether the GRA will move to criminal charges. It cannot hope to hold the vehicles indefinitely. Seizure of vehicles, under the common law does not affect ownership. Neither the GRA nor the State has propriety rights over the vehicles. The GRA will at some stage of the other have to take some form of legal action to do so. It is left to be seen what action they will take and whether that action will be political or professional. The announcement by the Guyana Revenue Authority that it will not broker any political interference should be hailed. Transparency International (Guyana) should be jumping up and down congratulating the GRA. The management of the GRA should issue a directive to all of its staff members informing them that no political directions should be taken from any political operative in the government. That directive should detail the punishment should any member of staff be found acting on a political instruction. This will set a good example for other government agencies to follow. The GRA has now stated its policy in relation to political interference. It should now state its policy in relation to political appointees within the GRA since the “rumour mill” has it that someone who has never worked in the GRA before is likely to be the frontrunner for the position of the Commissioner General. It would be a national tragedy if the position of the
head of Guyana’s tax department is filled by a political appointee. It would destroy the credibility of the Guyana Revenue Authority and undermine its independence if this were to happen. In fact, placing a political appointee as the head of the Guyana Revenue Authority would be far worse than ordering the GRA not to seize some vehicles from some company. A political appointee would taint the entire GRA and make it lose the confidence of the people. The appointment of a political commissar would raise greater suspicion than the alleged photocopying of the tax file of a Minister of the government by someone within the Guyana Revenue Authority. The former Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority is still to name the person who was alleged to have done that, but it did cause some uneasiness within the Guyanese society. People were worried that this alleged copying of the tax
file of a senior Minister could be used as a form of political blackmail. Political interference can be prevented. But what about political infiltration, can it be rooted out? The Guyana Revenue Authority must ensure that its appointment of the future Commissioner General can withstand standards of international scrutiny. The GRA should therefore outsource to a professional company, the selection of the person to head the GRA. It should ask an international body to establish appropriate criteria and then it should ask another international organization to determine, through a competitive process, who should be selected for the job.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday April 07, 2016
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The Indian mind and the forensic audits Dr. David Hinds published a candid letter in KN (March 28) which also took the form of a plausible political evaluation of the findings of some of the discoveries of land sales by President Jagdeo during the PPP Government. I have known Hinds for more than forty years. We were very young men active in the Working People’s Alliance in the seventies. We share a very close social friendship and have an intimate political connection. I have read many commentaries in the newspapers over the past ten years and more about Dr. Hinds being overtly Afrocentric and a preacher of ethnic politics. These expressions have
come from people who either don’t know about his long praxis or have an agenda which comes naturally to them because of their upbringing in, and understanding of Guyana’s sociology of racial competition I have had to remind several Indian persons, one of whom was Donald Ramotar, when he was General Secretary of the PPP that people like David Hinds and Tacuma Ogunseye were dedicated activists against the Burnham regime and never for a moment did they entertain the thoughts of leaving Burnham Government untouched because he was a Black leader. The praxis of Hinds and others like Ogunseye led to the currents that generated the politics of change whose climax was the
PPP’s election victory in1992 It is against this brief background, that one must examine Hinds’s call for Guyanese not to deny themselves the opportunity to discuss, debate and polemicize on the race problematic in Guyana. He feels race as a Guyanese problem has to be confronted. He thinks that the reason for this lack of open discussion on race is because people are fearful of being accused of being racist. In other words, Hinds is saying that if you practise race politics and I accuse you of doing so, you will turn around and call me a racist and I would not want anyone to so label me. In his letter, Hinds does what others are afraid to do –
discuss race in the context of what the audit results show. In terms of land sale, it is now public knowledge that Mr. Jagdeo was incredibly incestuous in how his government sold off the natural resources of Guyana. Two points are then advanced by David. Because of the cabals with which Mr. Jagdeo surrounded himself, the beneficiaries of such humongous giveaways, are Indians. Secondly, other ethnic groups are bound to invoke resentment. But there is a third point that Hinds chose not to elaborate on but did mention – although the beneficiaries are Indians this does not translate to the poorer classes of Indians receiving these generosities Out of this polemic comes the question – given the potency of the ethnic factor throughout Guyanese history, should Indian people condemn the land giveaways? This is a question Hinds did not ask but it was
there in his letter for readers to see. It would seem to me that if one seriously wants to see a harmonious sociology in Guyana that will create a pleasant, purposeful future for the present generation of Guyanese, then the rapacious and reckless land sales of President Jagdeo need to be condemned by decent Indian minds An Indian cannot use political, party and race criteria in his/her attitude to the massive corruptibility that characterized the last five years of Mr. Jagdeo’s rule. And one fundamental reason is compellingly powerful. It goes like this; if an Indian can endorse what Mr. Jagdeo did then that Indian has to ask him/herself what is left in Guyana for their children? This is what I mean by compelling. You cannot use racial loyalty to support a leader or government that sells out cheaply the resources of your country.
Frederick Kissoon Ethnic fidelity and political allegiance have to be relegated in your scheme of things where the resources of one’s country are being wasted by corrupt government. The simple obligation of a citizen is to protect the resources of his/ her country so that his/her children and grandchildren can benefit from such resources. There can be no benefit if the country’s resources are sold out. An Indian Guyanese is entitled to embrace Mr. Jagdeo and PPP leaders if they accept the political and ethnic divisions of Guyana is a reality that would not go away. But the embrace of the PPP for whatever reason should not allow one to condone the selling out of Guyana. The brutal truth of Mr. Jagdeo regime is that the lands that are part of the natural resources of Guyana have now gone. They went in ways that were illegal. They should be reclaimed by the state.
Thursday April 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 11
PAHO Country Rep questions Guyana’s escalating suicide rate PAHO/WHO Country Representative Dr. William Adu-Krow, on Wednesday, questioned Guyana’s high suicide rate. On average the Caribbean and Latin America have a suicide rate of 6.1 per every 100,000 persons. Guyana’s is pegged at 44.2. Adu-Krow, who was speaking at a suicide prevention forum at Arthur Chung Convention Centre in Liliendaal, said globally the standardized suicide rate is 11.4 per every 100,000 persons. He queried why Guyana’s rate was higher. Guyana has the highest suicide rate in world. The country’s ranking comes even though there was an 8.5% drop in the country’s suicide rate between 2000 and 2012. This suggests that local efforts to combat suicide have simply not kept up with those of other countries. In January, there were over 15 cases of suicide and attempted suicide. In many instances, suicide cases are unreported. Even though, he said, Guyana was able to reduce its rate in 2000 by 8.5 % the figures are not being reflected
because the rates are already too high. However, he said PAHO lauds the Ministry’s effort to host a stakeholder’s suicide prevention forum to discuss the way forward in ending the scourge. Adu-Krow stated that suicide in Guyana is a pressing issue that should involve participation from all stakeholders. He noted that since Guyana has a National Mental Health Action Plan Strategy, the country needs to know how to implement those plans. “...We need to know who is doing what and where they are doing it and how they are doing it.” He also said there should be more research on the causes of suicide. Suicide, he said, is an issue that the PAHO feels strongly about since it affects everyone—the young and the elderly. He said that it is common knowledge that the most prevalent group of persons who commit suicide are between the ages of 20 and 30 years old. The highest incidences are among the elderly— persons between the ages of 50 and 69. The representative noted,
further, that once the Republic of China was the capital for suicide since they were unable to control the situation but they began to deal with the issue vigorously and removed themselves from the top. He said the same can be said for Guyana. At the forum stakeholders and ministry officials discussed suicide risk factors reduction, health promotion and prevention; reduced access to the means of suicide, health systems response to suicide, and surveillance and research. REDUCEATTEMPTS BY 20% Public Health Minister, George Norton, said that given the present state of the issue, it was crucial that a holistic approach, involving all stakeholders and partners of the ministry, be utilized to curb it. He vowed that the ministry will work vigorously to correct the issue. It will work to not only reduce the rate of suicide but also the rate of suicide attempts by 20%. He added that suicide was having a ripple effect in the indigenous
communities, where incidences of suicide are slowly rising. Recently, a 24-hour suicide hotline has been set up and counselors are available to talk with persons battling with thoughts of suicide and depression. Also, a National Suicide Prevention Plan is being implemented. Present data collected from research studies revealed that 1015% Guyanese suffer from a mental disorder, while some three to five per cent suffer from severe chronic mental disorder. At the assembly, it was highlighted that the problem was concentrated in Regions Two, Four, Five and Six, and in Baramita, an indigenous community in the North West District. Studies show that more than 80% of the people who commit suicide are Indo-Guyanese while the major risk factors are accessibility to lethal substances, irresponsible reporting by the media which causes copycat cases, and cultural and religious inference. Psychiatrist Jorge Balseiro— who gave an overview of the Mental Health
and Suicide Prevention Action Plan— also indicated that suicide is a multi-factorial problem which is consequently everybody’s business. President David Granger, who delivered the main address, said that suicide is not an act of madness or mental instability, but in reality successful suicide cases are rarely ever sudden or spontaneous. He said that it is usually premeditated, requiring careful calculation, “a cool head and steady nerves,” and in the end grabs newspapers headlines and sends a message to the public at large. Granger said that there were many proposals attempting to address the issue but the statistics still escalate. “Suicide might seem to a person as a permanent solution to a persistent problem but victims are unlikely to be suffering from simple concerns. Suicide simply feels like salvation at the end of a long struggle.” Therefore, he said strategies should provide a concerted, coordinated and collaborative approach, and in turn be supported by an action plan. “There must be investigation and research to
determine the causes of suicide before we try to prescribe solutions,” he said, but added that the inability to implement the necessary interventions is often a problem because of lack of resources and capacity. “... That is why collaborative efforts are needed,” he said, proposing that the success of suicide prevention requires an approach that a good life is possible in Guyana. “The time for bemoaning the problem has passed...talk will not end the deaths, action will and we need to take concerted actions,” he said. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds. Seventy-five per cent of global suicides occur in low and middle-income countries, with suicide rates high amongst vulnerable groups, and those experiencing discrimination— such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and prisoners.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday April 07, 2016
Thursday April 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Defendant tells court he did not rob ... denies knowing Land Court Judge other defendants Premnauth Samaroo, one of the five men accused of robbing Land Court Judge, Nicola Pierre and her husband at their home located in the gated community of Felicity, East Coast Demerara, has denied having any involvement in the robbery that occurred on July 9, last. Samaroo, 49, of Lot 6 Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown was called on yesterday to lead a defence as the trial continued before Magistrate Zamilla AllySeepaul in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. He chose to give an unsworn statement after seeking advice from his Attorney Adrian Thompson. Samaroo; Damien Millington, 22, of Lot 118 Caesar Street, Agricola; Nicholas Narine, 18, also of Caesar Street Agricola; Anthony David, 28, of 63 Hadfield Street, Stabroek and Warren Mc Kenzie, 22 of Lot 18 Brutus Street, Agricola are jointly facing three charges, two for the offence of robbery under-arms committed on Pierre and her husband, Mohamed Chand; and another for the offence of discharging a loaded firearm at security guard, Ron Peters. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges and are currently on remand. During his testimony he denied knowing his co-defendants. The defendant told the court that on the night of the robbery he was at a friend in
Land Court Judge, Nicola Pierre Festival City playing X-Box video games. He recalled that moments later he accompanied his friend to Agriculture Road. “Me and two other persons drive up (in a motorcar) to Agriculture Road and been and collect me friend right by he girl. He (the friend) does live right in Festival City. Samaroo recounted that two other individuals joined the car. He added that while on their way from the girl’s home the vehicle started to gave mechanical problems. He said that his friend drove the vehicle on the train line to Better Hope when the car broke down. The defendant stated, “We were pushing it (the car) to Georgetown. The driver end up telling we that he got family in Plaisance”.
According to Samaroo, they managed to get the car to the home of his friend’s relatives and parked the vehicle in front of the yard. However, he told the court that while he and the other persons were standing in front of the yard they heard, “boom boom”. “I don’t know if it was explosives going off”, Samaroo said. Samaroo testified that he and his companions were desperate to find some mode of transportation. He added that they walked out to Plaisance Public Road to catch a bus or taxi. “While standing there...we didn’t know something happen about the place…So a police guy run across the road with a big gun and stick up all five of us and took we to the Plaisance lockups.” The defendant stated that they spent the night in the lock-ups and were taken to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Eve Leary the following morning. While at CID, Samaroo recounted that he met the Head of Major Crimes Units Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mitchell Caesar. He said that ASP Caesar inquired from him the reason why he was brought into custody. Samaroo related that he told ASP Caesar the same story. The defendant stated that the ASP instructed that they be taken back to the
Mahaica cash crop farmer murder trial commences The High Court trial of murder accused, Dhupaul Singh commenced yesterday before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a mixed 12-member jury. Singh is accused of brutally murdering cash crop farmer, Balkissoon, called Balkay at Helena Number Two Village, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara on September 2, 2014. The accused, a 57 –yearold drug addict from the same village is said to have attacked the farmer during an argument. Initial reports
indicated that Singh who is nicknamed “Tailor Man” allegedly hurled insults at the farmer’s wife and attacked the man when he came to his wife’s defence. Some time after the argument, the accused is said to have armed himself with a cutlass and chopped Balkissoon almost severing is entire neck. He is being represented by Attorney -at law, Madan Kissoon. The case is being presented by State Prosecutors Siand Dhurjon
Mahaica Cash Crop farmer Balkissoon and Shawnette Austin. The State Prosecutors have since called two police witnesses to the stand.
Third jaguar shipped to city The last jaguar captured by Randy Carter and a group of young men from Capoey Mission several weeks ago, was transported to Georgetown on Tuesday by officers of the Environmental Protection Agency. Residents had been feeding it while they kept it. The first two jaguars were
caught by several young men of Mainstay/ Whyaka. The jaguars travelled from the Savannahs in search of water and food due to the prolonged extreme dry weather. Dogs and other domesticated animals are their preferred prey. A Tapakuma resident said
that her community has a remaining number of not more than ten dogs. The jaguars have devoured many of the dogs at Tapakuma, Mainstay/ Whyaka and at Lima Sands. Residents in Lima Sands are reportedly still seeing jaguars under their houses. (Yannason Duncan)
Plaisance lock-ups. He told the court that they were subsequently taken to the Beterverwagting Police Station where the police “did their forensic” and found nothing on him. Three ID parades It was at the Beterverwagting Police Station, the defendant said, that he was placed on three identification (ID) parades. On the third ID parade, he related that he was pointed out by “some guard man” Samaroo concluded, “That was it…I end up in prison for something me aint do. These four men (the other defendants) I don’t know them. He, however, requested to call witnesses to support his case. These witnesses, he told the court, were two of the men that were with him in the car. But he could not recall their names. His Attorney was instructed by the Magistrate to produce the names and addresses of the witnesses today so that summonses can be prepared and sent for them to attend court.
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Stolen boat lands Venezuelans in court Four Venezuelan nationals were yesterday brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer a charge of simple larceny, when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Rolex Williams, 17; Reon DeSantos,20; Tony Rampersaud,20 and Scarlet Gonzalez, 21, all residing in Venezuela, were accused of stealing a 175 hp Yamaha engine foot valued at $580,000—property of Daniel McKenzie. The incident occurred on March 31, at Eteringbang Landing, Cuyuni River. Williams, DeSantos and Rampersaud, all goldminers, pleaded guilty to the allegation after it was read to them. Gonzalez pleaded not guilty through the aid of a Spanish interpreter. After admitting to the offence, the Magistrate ordered the trio to pay a fine of $30,000 each. Failure to pay the sum will see them spending eight months in jail. The case against Gonzalez was subsequently dismissed after Rampersaud told the court that the woman had no knowledge that the item was stolen.
In mitigation, Rampersaud told the Magistrate that he stole the article because he was going through some “hard times”. He said that he came to Guyana, stole the article and went back over to his homeland. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones told the court that the complainant is a businessman. He said that McKenzie secured his engine and later discovered that it was missing. Jones stated that the police acting on information arrested Williams, DeSantos and Rampersaud. The prosecutor told the court that the men admitted to stealing the engine foot. According to Jones, they took police to a hotel room that was occupied by Gonzalez where the stolen item was recovered. He added that police took possession of the item and later arrested and charged the Venezuelans.
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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 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 INNOVATIVE MARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Professional Counselors. Contact Ms Oneika: 670-5759 ACCOMMODATION Planning to visit Guyana for 50th Independence Anniversary & need comfortable accommodation Call Star International Property Management: 6632044; 225-1695
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
Female domestic to work in Trinidad, must be educated and know to cook. Between 25-35 years.Call 1868-755-1990 1 General Domestic must know to cook & Iron, responsible sales clerk, honest & have a passion for fashion. Call: 668-4973 1 Experienced waitress to work at a bar @ Success on East Coast Demerara. Call: 613-2650 or 627-5607 One Driver: must be able to drive and ride motor cycle, ages 40-50. Call: 226-9337 6 Floor girls to work in a bar in Mahdia, affordable salary. Call: 601-1479 after 11am. Cashiers! Apply at Annabel Bistro, 36 La Grange W.B.D. Contact: 678-3400 Driver – posses a valid Guyanese drivers license & clean record of safe driving. Contact: 231-4999; 677-0480/ email:irbcguy@gmail.com Empty lands and house with lands to buy in La Parfaite Harmonie or anywhere on the West Coast. Call: 6421252 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500, Monday –Saturday between 8:15am-4:15pm Two skilled carpenters to work on interior ceiling $7,000 per day. Call: 652-6565; 231-4681 1 General domestic must know to prepare Indian & English dishes to work in BelAir. Call: 227-0373 from 8am4pm
VACANCY RA Soda: male & female workers, bond clerks, accountants, drivers, housekeeper, worker with mechanical idea. Call: 3302399/ 623-5920 1 Female cleaner apply @ Technical Service 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles.
WANTED One costmetologist with existing clientele. Tel: 6471773 One live in domestic must know to cook- 25-35yrs $80,000 monthly-Call: 6105043
Thursday April 07, 2016
Experienced Manager for guess house, off Linden Soesdyke Hughway. Call: 600-0036 WANTED Factory workers from age 18 and older with working experience. Call: 223-0090
Welder/ fabricator, Diesel Mechanic, Apprentice, labourer. Apply in person @Technical Services,18-23 Eccles Industrial Site.
One receptionist ages 25 yrs & older with working experience. Please Call for more info: 223-0090
One excavator operator. Call: 223-5273/4
Responsible hire car drivers. Call: 231-7200 Driver wanted to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-1717 Job work for 1 day. Please send a text message to 6589886 with your name. Experienced waitress, female bartenders, bouncers needed at Eden’s Bar & Lounge. Call for appointment 652-0074 Porters wanted to work @ Grocery Stall in Stabroek market, experienced is an asset. Call: 226-9800 One able bodied porter/clerk. Call: 231-2029; 616-5954
LAND FOR SALE 1 Empty land in Tuschen Phase 2, W.C.D -$1.2M, 1 empty land in Tuschen Phase 1 W.C.D -$3M- Call: 642-1252 Land in Diamond area. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536 20 Acres of land at Hararuni, close to Linden Highway @ giveaway price. Call: 6928216; 600-3486; 233-5539 Eccles -$6M, Herstelling New Scheme, Corner lot (100ftx50ft) $3M, La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.4M. Call: 6036224; 611-7223
One porter boy to work & clean vehicles in the interior. Call: 678-0505
Security guard & bar needed @ Millenium Mannor Hotel, bring in application to 43 Hadfield Street, near Camp St. Housekeeping staff, male security guards. Call: 2250198 or visit 233 South Road Lacytown.
Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494
One handyman. 30 and 45 years old. Contact 2235273/4
1 Male or female look after layer birds in the interior. Call: 678-0565
Smart choice Auto: 08&06 Premio, 08&06 Allion, 212, Runx, IST, Fielder. Call: 6523820; 665-4529
Landscape Maintenance Vacancy: Hardworking, pleasant, team player, 17-28 years. Contact: 219-0468/ 6212453 GLC Hiring: master carpenters, experienced mason, qualified plumber for a project in Corentyne Berbice. Call: 683-5629 1 Nail technician, 1 Spa attendant with knowledge of facials & body massage. Call: 696-7337 for details. Experienced seamstress, sewing machine operators and floor girls @ Roxie’s Fashion. Call: 227-8538; 6224386 Exist for 1 entertainment manager to work @ Club on Essequibo Coast, must have PR skills. Call: 226-9768 Experienced waitresses needed @ Millenium Mannor Hotel, bring in application to 43 Hadfield Street, near Camp St. Labourers wanted -$2,000 per day. Call: 225-2618 if interested.
Cybertron BeReady Driving School: $20,000 2 weeks @ Vreed-En-Hoop. Call: 2643057
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. ADORABLE PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 615-0146
Honda CRV (RD5), PNN stick gear -$1.9M negotiable, 2006 Hyundai Tucson, left hand drive, PMM -$4M. Call: 6911198
One 20 tons dump, one truck tray, one blocks machine, one ZF gearbox. Call: 6179230/269-1406 Brand new generator-15500 watts. Call: 628-3254
One Toyota Raum PPP series, in good condition-$900,000Call: 652-6293 1 3Y minibus -$350,000 negotiable. Call: 229-2419 1 Nissan Murano, PRR series, excellent condition. Call: 6280016; 667-2536
Fast food equipment: food warmer, ice cream machine, juice machine etc. Call: 6176088/ visit 15-16 Croal St. Fast Food furniture: tables, chairs, garbage box, Cummings engine, generator 40KVA. Call: 617-6088/ visit 15-16 Croal St.
Toyota Hilux 4X4 Diesel 2L Turbo Pickup, in excellent PS3 with games, XBOX 360 condition. Call: 648-0111; 645- with games. Call or whatsapp: 683-8386 0240
New Premio 2,995,000, BMW -$ 2,795,000,Audi A4-$ 3,795,000. Contact : 650-0402 1- 225 Yamaha Outboard Engine; Salt Walter series 6,000 running hour, reasonable price. Call: 662-6151 PROPERTY FOR SALE Flat house in Grove, (corner property) 1 Block from main road, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 Transported property @ Grove $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Business spot at Diamond Public Road. Call: 628-0016; 667-2536
1-80CC Yamaha (Chappy) $200,000 negotiable. 1-5L RZ minibus -$1.2M negotiable. Call: 642-7555; 220-6385 House Hold Items: everything must go- Fridge, walldivider, wares, dinette set, curtains, plus more items. Call: 688-5446
1 Newly built, concrete 2 storey building 50X30 @ C.I Scheme, W.C.D -$13.5M, 2 Flats concrete house @ Tuschen-$1M-$5.5M, $1M$11.5M. Call: 642-1252
Large two door fridge, ice maker -$200,000. Call: 6000036 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games & applications. Delivery also – Call: 6722566; 265-3231
Prime business place, 2 storey concrete structure, 300ft of land, located @ New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, W.C.D -$45M. Call: 642-1252
24ftX8ft & 250HP Yamaha Engine with turn system. Parika to Supernaam, excellent condition- $5.2M. Call: 683-8989
House 38X20; land 100X200 all fenced @ 635 Kuru Kururu-$5.5M. Call: 6941090; 661-6073
German Shepherd Puppies. Call: 682-5664
House & land fully furnished, 3 self contained rooms, 1 master bedroom, alarm systems, 9 cameras, 7 AC units. Call: 628-0016; 6672536 Property @ Lot 87 Albert Street- Call: 669- 8701
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj Building- Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615-0964; 689-5997
FOR SALE
Unregistered bluebird 2007 model: TV, reverse camera, dark interior, burgundy -$2.3M negotiable. Call: 655-3400
Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
One shop boy to work in shop in the interior. Call: 6780565
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call: 225-9032;647-2943;6045198 2 Golden retrievers 3 months, 1 pug, 5 months, 1 Rottweiler, 1 month. Call: 693-6444
Property between James & Hogg Streets, Albouyston. Call: 689-3697 or 656-6380 TO LET TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
One 2 bedroom apartment $40,000 monthly. Contact Petboy @ Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, between 10:00am-4:00pm
TO LET Apartments in Eccles, rooms in Albertown. Call: 225-3234 (Continued on page 22)
Thursday April 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Burnham versus Rodney; the controversy rages on DEAR EDITOR; There is a beautiful song the late Sam Cooke sang that goes: “The song has ended but the melody lingers on….” such is the saga of Walter Rodney whose life was put to an end in June of 1980, but the melody of his passing to this day lingers on and on just rolling along. I had intended to say no more on this Walter Rodney episode, I fell short. Reading in the Stabroek News March 23rd 2016 under the heading “Rodney suspected WPA was compromised” by Henry Jeffrey and the question that he (Jeffrey) said was put to him by late President Desmond Hoyte: “please tell me what was a bright man like Walter Rodney…. Was doing personally collecting a walkie talkie….. from dubious army personnel?” Does he not have lieutenants? This is the story that has been propagated as the way he met his death – that he “ordered” and collected an explosive device that exploded on him, a theory WPA activists/supporters have had to deal with ad nauseam. Henry Jeffrey made an interesting point: “please note that Hoyte did not claim that Rodney did not met his death
as a result of actions taken by the state. In fact what he said made that a distinct possibility” it seems to me that with the inexorable emerging and unfolding of things it is becoming clearer and easier for all to see beyond any COI that the death of Rodney was well orchestrated along with a dotish formulated theory to go with it, showing him to be the “bright boy” cutting off the very limb of a tree he was sitting on: this is what have been peddled since Friday 13th June, 1980 till now by his detractors. Now Henry Jeffrey is neither singular nor new in saying “Rodney suspected that WPA was compromised” but was spot-on in admitting that “he found himself in a catch – 22 situation – damned if you do, damned if you don’t. And the revolutionary leader that he was he did”. That for me is being straight-up. And I have to say again, Mr Burnham for his part knowing him to be the man he was, has got to be spinning in his grave in rejection and disapproval of the “two bits” defence his cohorts are showing casing on his behalf, he would have considered it mediocre and demeaning, for he was too egotistic
and haughty, too pridestruck to be seen like a coward, hence he would have gone for a more majestic, macho approach; even bold enough to say: “comrades the battle lines were drawn, our party came out victorious”. Such was the man. Remember, this was the man who said: “We are now in the Roman Amphitheatre the lion and the gladiator can’t both survive one has got to go - comrades the PNC is here to stay”. As said before the President should lead the way on reconciliation/harmony, we have entered a new age, and are supported to be on the road to national healing, starting over, a new dawn, as he said at his inauguration.It is the only way to moving onward and upward, quit running on quick sand what it is it is, no spin required. Editor, in putting together this letter a story I heard some years ago came rushing in at this exact point as I was writing and which I’m, about to tell, though it doesn’t seem to have a logical connection, yet stands as testimony to those who are often loud, loves to babble, know what has to be done but lack commitment. It has to do with a female
WPA activist and a WPA supporter: As it is was told, the supporter a machine/electronic technician was in all tears lamenting the death of Rodney while reprimanding the WPA for not seeking his assistance first before going elsewhere to “all kind o’ people”. Where upon the WPA activist with eyes focus on a printing machine on a shelf in his work shop queried of him: how long has it been since Walter gave that printing machine to you for repair? Taken aback the brother was silent for a moment as he reflected, tears vanished, he stood there tongue-tied. Then the sister said to him, “it’s about six months now”, and in a firm rebuking voice continued: “that is why he had to deal with “all kind o’ people like Gregory Smith” shop shut! Editor, one gets tired, fedup of the piffle and political hog-wash still being indulged in; it doesn’t worth the while, drains you sick, kindly permit me for good measure to restate an uplifting comment – by one SeelochanBeharry: -
a wonderful and fitting piece of encomium which addresses the question about Rodney not having lieutenants and connects with the above mentioned encountered between the technician and the WPA activist. “To all Guyanese Rodney was a special person who rarely comes along in one’s lifetime. We were indeed fortunate to have this great son of Guyana leading us with courage in the face of grave personal danger. He led by example, never asking anyone to do something that he personally would not do. He earned our respect and love, whether we were from the slums of Albouystown, Tiger Bay, Sugar Estates or Academia… He made us believe in ourselves and let us know we have something to contribute towards the common good”. It is more evident today that Walter Rodney was indeed the rainbow in the eyes of the ordinary working man the everyday people, and the “wind beneath their wings”. Frank Fyffe
It is cronyism and the hogging Removing the chaos that of power
now exists in Georgetown DEAR EDITOR; Over the last twenty two years the City Engineer’s Department in cahoots with the Central Housing & Planning Authority allowed our capital city Georgetown, to go to rack and ruin in terms of a complete disregard for the zoning ordi-
nances. There is not a single ward that remains strictly residential, industrial or commercial. They are all mixed up with mechanic shops, car washes, hotels and night clubs sitting smack in the middle of suburban residential
Controversy over the Haags Bosch award DEAR EDITOR; I wish to refer to a news item on Friday 10 April, 2016 edition of Prime News in which reference was made suggesting that preference for the award of the Operations of the Haags Bosch contract would be given to Ivor Alleyne / Cevons Waste Management and Ground Structure Engineering. Sir, as far as I am aware there are certain procedures to be followed before the announcement of the awards of contract are made by the National Procurement & Tender Administration Board and this ought not be done before
the evaluation process is completed. Besides being unethical to pre-empt the outcome of the bidding process suggests that one is either trying to influence and compromises the evaluation process or is privy to information that should not be available. In the public domain as yet and as such the said bidders should be disqualified since the evaluation process is still ongoing. I therefore call upon the relevant authorities to consider carefully the statement emanating from this newscast and its alarming implications. Concerned citizen
neighbourhoods, whilst persons are either squatting or living in industrial or commercial zones. This was done to facilitate graft, corruption and bribery. I hope the new Council would see the benefits to zoning and reverse the existing chaotic situation. Zoning benefits include protecting and enhancing property values, preserving existing structures, preventing the mixing of incompatible land uses (such as erotic dance clubs and schools), allowing potential nuisance uses to be located away from residential neighborhoods or other sensitive areas, protecting recreational areas and open spaces, conserving environmentally sensitive areas guaranteeing adequate light, air, and privacy to new homes, but most importantly zoning gives the community some control over its land uses, appearance, and quality of life in the future. There is a need to bring to an urgent halt, the drawing of plans by building inspectors and the approval of these plans by the City Engineer for commercial facilitates to be erected in residential districts. Amber Valentine
DEAR EDITOR; Please allow me the opportunity to add my support to the letter from Mr. Clinton Urling with regard to the APNU+AFC taking all the seats on city finance committee – in spite of the nomination of a Team Legacy member. It indeed sums up accurately one of the glaring deficiencies of our local government system that renders it a joke that is not even funny anymore. What one has to understand is that the Finance Committee is the ‘Gravy Train’ of the Council’. This Committee gets to be involved in the granting of amnesty on interest owed by defaulting ratepayers, to award contracts to suppliers of goods and services, to sign vouchers for contractors, and the list goes on and on. This committee will also ensure that a proper external forensic audit is not done. The newcomers need to understand that they will not be let into this ‘Old Boys Club’ like that, it is too worthwhile. They have to sit in the trenches and wait.
Maybe one day one of them may get lucky. But it does not end there, they will also be left out of other key committees such as the Personnel & Training Committee, which has supervised in the past that enormous acts of nepotism s that is the hiring of friends and family, and the City Works Committee that gives permission for the construction of structures (most of them in violation of the building codes) in the city another rewarding area. In Guyana the winners have a penchant to control everything, but it must realize that trying to control everything will lead to its own demise. Why are civil society, the media and social commentators so silent on this issue? Is this the type of control the voters were expecting? James Mc Onnell
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Relatives seek police help to capture Shieldstown man charged with injured handyman’s attacker $8M robbery of Rosignol goldsmith A prime suspect who was arrested shortly after the shooting of schoolboy, Bramdat Singh, called “Ronald”, 16, of Lot 5D Bush Lot Public Road has been charged with armed robbery . The man, Bharat Madray, 27, of Shieldstown, West Coast Berbice, was said to be the brain behind the act. He appeared on Wednesday before Magistrate Rhondell Weaver in the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s court on a charge of robbery under arms. He is accused of robbing Bramdat Singh, Snr, of a quantity of gold valued at $7.4M and $500,000 in cash. The incident occurred around 6:30 hrs on Saturday just as goldsmith, Bramdat Singh Snr, called “Rajesh”, 42, was in the process of setting up his stand at the Rosignol Market, West Bank Berbice. Madray who was an accessory to the robbery was captured when he tried to hide a bike which was used by the two other bandits. The young Singh who is expected to write his CSEC in a month was shot through his jaw. He was picked up by his father and rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital before
Shot: Bramdat Singh being transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. Singh was accompanied by his son, who was outside the stand as they were about to open up when the two bandits who were armed with handguns struck and demanded the bag with their jewelry. After the elder Singh resisted one of the bandits shot his son though the jaw. The man then let go of the bag. The bandits then made good their escape with the bag the gold which cost over $7.4M. The teen is a fifth form student at the Fraser Educational Institute at Fort Wellington.
Charged: Bharat Madray Madray was refused bail and remanded to jail until 21April.
Relatives of Toolsie Ram Singh, a handyman from Soesdyke/Linden Highway are seeking the assistance of law enforcement officers to investigate an incident which left him nursing several stab wounds to his chest. He was admitted to the Male Surgical Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC) but was released into the care of his relatives, yesterday afternoon. The 40-year-old man, also known as “Terry” was attacked and stabbed last Saturday night at his Swan Turn residence, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. He recalled that the attack occurred at around 2:00 hrs. The father of four said that his attackers stole $7,000 and a cellular phone before fleeing the scene. “I wake up and come outside in the yard to go to the toilet and a see a man by the tree. I ask is what you doing in meh yard and he say is you me looking for, and he stab me,” Singh claims. He also said that he recognised his attacker as a “Rastaman,” from the community. According to Singh, this is the same man he dealt with the night before. The injured man also told Kaieteur News that from all indications the robbers wanted him dead. During the attack he sustained seven stab wounds to his chest area alone. He underwent surgery
Injured: Toolsie Ram Singh called ‘Terry’
for his injuries at GPHC. “Me get stab in meh chest, bad, and me not sure what meh do de man fuh mek he wan kill me,” Singh said. His relatives are calling for law enforcement officers to take the matter seriously and to take steps to have the assailants brought to justice. The man’s brother-in -law, Ronald Edwards, said that he (Singh) was found lying in a pool of blood, a short distance from his house following the attack. “We had to rush him to the hospital. We carry him to Diamond Hospital first and then he get transferred to Georgetown Hospital.” According to Edwards, a report was made to the Kuru Kururu Police Outpost and
the Police Station at Timehri, but the police are yet to take a statement from his brotherin-law. “We running up and down and the police ain’t do nothing,” the man added. Edwards said that his brother-in-law is a single father, who takes care of his household on a very small budget; his mother would often assist with the children. “He does do lil labour wuk…I don’t think he trouble nobody because he doesn’t mek trouble with people, so meh aint know if was the few ducks in the yard dem de want thief.” Singh’s relatives want the police to carry out an investigation that would lead to the capture of the suspects.
Residents knock poor service at Suddie Hospital Residents on the Essequibo Coast, who in particular depend on the services of doctors and nurses and other designated medical practitioners employed at the Suddie Public Hospital, continue to complain of being wary and in stronger terms fed up by the poor services delivered to patients who visit that hospital. In the same vein, residents are appealing to the Minister in charge of Health, George Norton, to pay keener attention to the prolonged misdeeds and correct those problems. Residents are also calling for the disbanding of the current Management Board and for a new one to be established, as well as for professional doctors to be registered at the hospital since they are claiming that the many young interns (doctors) that are currently employed at the hospital do not take their profession seriously. One Perseverance
resident, who accompanied her young nephew on Tuesday to the Suddie Public Hospital after he had complained to his teacher about experiencing extreme chest pains, said that she was forced to verbally lash out on several staff at the hospital after she was told that the receptionist was not there and that the place was locked up. The young lady further explained that even the place where one has to uplift the “small card” was closed. Look, I just take my nephew Tuesday; the teacher call said he complaining of chest pain. I went and collect him. “Oh boy, when you get there all over lock up, you can’t do anything until the receptionist is open.” The Perseverance resident argued that her nephew’s case was one that should have been given priority since the child experienced difficulty breathing. When she finally got to see a doctor, her
nephew saw an intern. “She sat in a chair and couldn’t even get up. (She) calling my nephew.” What was even more worrying, the resident said, was that she reached the hospital before noon. The upset resident is awaiting an explanation from someone in authority. Additionally, the unprofessional behaviour attitude of the medical staff of that hospital was discussed at a Regional Democratic Council meeting (RDC). Members of the public are also concerned about an ECG machine which to date cannot be accounted for. The machine was discovered missing since last year. Members of the managerial department of the hospital remain reluctant to say whether the heart machine was stolen from the hospital or whether the instrument was maliciously misplaced. (Yannason Duncan)
Thursday April 07, 2016
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Panama Papers: Iceland PM steps down (BBC News) Iceland’s prime minister has stepped down - the first major casualty of the leaked Panama Papers that have shone a spotlight on offshore finance. The leaks, from Panamabased law firm Mossack Fonseca, showed Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson owned an offshore company with his wife but had not declared it when he entered parliament He is accused of concealing millions of dollars’ worth of family assets. Mr Gunnlaugsson says he sold his shares to his wife and denies any wrongdoing. He is one of dozens of high-profile global figures mentioned in the 11.5 million leaked financial and legal records, which were first published on Sunday. Pressure on Mr Gunnlaugsson to step down had been building since then, with thousands of people protesting outside the parliament building in the capital Reykjavik on Monday and opposition parties tabling a confidence motion. Earlier on Tuesday, the prime minister had asked President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson to dissolve parliament and call an early election. But Mr Grimsson said he first wanted to consult leaders of the Independence Party, which has been in the ruling coalition with Mr Gunnlaugsson’s Progressive Party since 2013. Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson, the chairman of the Independence Party, said the prime minister’s request had come as a “total surprise” and was not “the rational thing to do”. Ahead of the proposed confidence vote, Agriculture Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson told reporters that the prime minister was stepping down and that the Progressive Party planned to name him new leader and propose that he become prime minister. However, Mr Gunnlaugsson put out a statement hours later insisting that he had not in fact resigned and Mr Johannsson would take over the post “for an unspecified amount of time”. Confusion surrounding Mr Gunnlaugsson’s status continued into yesterday and further protests were due to be held later in the day. Katrín Jakobsdottir, head of the Left-Green Movement, told the Reuters news agency that opposition parties still wanted early elections. The documents leaked from Mossack Fonseca show that Mr Gunnlaugsson and his wife bought the company
ter and deputy leader of the Progressive Party.
Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson Wintris in 2007. He did not declare an interest in the company when entering parliament in 2009. He sold his 50% of Wintris to his wife, Anna Sigurlaug Palsdottir, for $1 (£0.70) eight months later. Mr Gunnlaugsson maintains no rules were broken and his wife did not benefit financially. The offshore company was used to invest millions of dollars of inherited money, according to a document signed by Mrs Palsdottir in 2015. Court records show that Wintris had significant investments in the bonds of three major Icelandic banks that collapsed during the financial crisis which began in 2008. Some of Icelanders’ anger is believed to stem from the perceived conflict of interest. The prime minister was involved in negotiations about the banks’ future and had characterised foreign creditors who wanted their money back as “vultures”, while Wintris itself was a creditor. Mr Gunnlaugsson had kept his wife’s interest in the outcome a secret.
In his statement, Mr Gunnlaugsson said he had no wish to stand in the way of further government work, such as reform of the financial system. Addressing the issue of his wife’s assets, the statement says the couple have “never sought to hide these assets from Icelandic tax authorities and these holdings in Wintris have been reported as an asset on the prime minister’s wife’s income tax returns since 2008 and taxes have been paid accordingly in Iceland. “No parliamentary rules on disclosure have been broken. Even the Guardian and other media covering the story have confirmed that they have not seen any evidence to suggest that the prime minister, his wife, or Wintris engaged in any actions involving tax avoidance, tax evasion, or any dishonest financial gain.” Mr Gunnlaugsson took to Facebook yesterday to complain about the recent pressure on his family as well as some of the reporting surrounding his wife. Misinformation and speculation had become so great in some me-
dia, he said, that one report even suggested his wife was hoping to travel into space. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition has named Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson as the new PM, with early elections to be held in the autumn. Mr Johannsson, 53, is agriculture and fisheries minis-
OTHER PANAMA PAPERS REACTION . Fifa president Gianni Infantino signed off on a TV rights contract with businessmen subsequently accused of bribery, leaked documents show . France returns Panama to a list of countries which fail to co-operate over tax evasion . Panama says it is considering retaliatory measures against France, but reiterates that is ready to co-operate with any investigations stemming from the leaks . Chile: the country head of the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, Gonzalo Delaveau, steps down after his name emerges in the documents . US President Barack Obama says tax avoidance is a global problem and governments should not make it easy for illegal funds to move around the world . Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif orders judicial
investigation into allegations of family links with offshore companies PANAMA PAPERS TAX HAVENS OF THE RICHAND POWERFUL EXPOSED . Eleven million documents held by the Panamabased law firm Mossack Fonseca have been passed to German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, which then shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. BBC Panorama is among 107 media organisations - including UK newspaper the Guardian - in 76 countries which have been analysing the documents. The BBC does not know the identity of the source . They show how the company has helped clients launder money, dodge sanctions and evade tax . Mossack Fonseca says it has operated beyond reproach for 40 years and never been accused or charged with criminal wrong-doing
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Corruption ‘in way of innovation’
Alan Emtage (second from left) in discussions with Scotiabank representative Majorie Wharton (left), creator and executive producer of Bank On Me Alison Saunders, and businessman Eddy Abed, chief judge. (Picture by Willcomm) Daily Nation - Barbadian innovator Alan Emtage Tuesday called for corruption to be stamped out, saying it was one of three major impediments to innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. “I am saying to you do
not accept that as a way of life, of doing business. Corruption is corrosive to a society. Once it takes hold it is almost impossible to get rid of it because it infects, not only our relationship with the Government and companies,
[but] it affects your relationship with one another,” he told a forum of budding entrepreneurs. “Fraud and lying and lack of merit becomes part of the culture. Do not accept it, do not participate in it, speak out when you see it.” Emtage, the chief technical officer
at Mediapolis, an operation based in New York, and the developer of the world’s first Internet search engine, noted that persistent rumours of corruption continued to hang over both the private and public sectors.
Jamaica and Mexico to deepen relations KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Relations between Jamaica and Mexico will be further strengthened at the 8th Meeting of the Mexico-Jamaica Binational Commission in Mexico City in May 2016. Mexico’s Ambassador to Jamaica, Martha Cecilia Jabber, told JIS News that a comprehensive cooperation programme for 2016-2017 will be signed at the meeting. “There are different projects that will be considered in the two-year programme,” she said. She informed that sport is one of the areas under consideration. “We would be very happy to have any kind of agreement in the field of sport. For Mexico, it would be a very positive development to have an agreement with Jamaica, to share best experiences. We all know that sport in Jamaica is at an excellent level and we would like to have an exchange in that area,” she noted. Ambassador Jabber further disclosed that the programme will include part-
nerships between the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Mona campus focusing on research and development, the social sciences, bio technology and gender studies. Additionally, she informed that plans are underway to start a Spanish Language training programme in Jamaica. “We are working at different levels to see how we can bring to Jamaica, a regular and standard programme for Spanish training. We will be working with UNAM because they have a lot of experience, they have officers in different countries where they have Spanish learning programmes,” Ambassador Jabber pointed out. Modalities of the training programme are expected to be finalised at the session in May. This year, Jamaica and Mexico commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in March 1965.
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Kaieteur News
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‘Citizens should register their White House declines to support foreign-based companies in T&T’ encryption legislation: SOURCES Trinidad Express - Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute Deryck Murray has called on the Government to establish legislation to ensure any company that a Trini-dad and Tobago citizen owns in any part of the world must also be registered locally. Murray made the statement Tuesday as Transparency Inter-national called for immediate action by world leaders to stop secret companies in light of the Panama Papers investigation, which unmasked numerous public officials using secret companies to hide their wealth. “Transparency International calls on the international community to act immediately to adopt transparency laws to outlaw secret companies. The Panama Papers, a massive leak of financial documents, reveal the offshore holdings of 140 politicians and public officials, including 12 current and former world leaders, who used more than 214,000 offshore entities to hide the ownership of assets,” a release from
Transpa-rency International stated. Transparency International chairman José Ugaz called for an end to this. “The Panama Papers investigation unmasks the dark side of the global financial system where banks, lawyers and financial professionals enable secret companies to hide illicit corrupt money. This must stop. World leaders must come together and ban the secret companies that fuel grand corruption and allow the corrupt to benefit from ill-gotten wealth,” he said. Murray said a Trinidad and Tobago national has already being fingered in the investigation. However, he said “whether the ‘Panama Papers’ specifically name Trinidad and Tobago nationals or not, Government must legislate that citizens’ ownership of companies in any part of the world must also be registered locally, and such information must be openly accessible”. “Transparency International is calling for a renewed push for G20 countries to agree that public beneficial ownership registers should
be the global standard, and sanctions applied to jurisdictions that do not conform to this standard. This would include not just the G20, but also the numerous countries, big and small, where the creation of secret companies is big business,” the release stated. Transparency International wants public registers of all companies’ beneficial owners to make it harder for the corrupt to hide their illicit wealth in secret companies and trusts that use nominees to register ownership. The G20 have supported measures to increase beneficial ownership transparency, but have done little to implement them. Transparency International has named the state of Delaware in the United States of America (USA), “home to thousands of anonymous shell companies thanks to its strict corporate secrecy rules, as part of its Unmask the Corrupt campaign (unmask thecorrupt.org) specifically because its corporate registration rules help people hide the true owners of companies”, the release stated.
(Reuters) - The White House is declining to offer public support for long-awaited legislation that would give federal judges clearer authority to order technology companies like Apple to help law enforcement crack encrypted data, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The Obama administration’s refusal to either endorse or oppose legislation from Senators Richard Burr and Dianne Feinstein, the Republican chair and top Democrat respectively of the Senate Intelligence Committee, stems in part from ongoing divisions among various federal agencies over encryption, the sources said. Those divisions persist despite statements from President Barack Obama last month indicating that he supported efforts by the Department of Justice to ensure encrypted devices could be legally unlocked. He did not comment about the case brought to compel Apple to break into an iPhone used by one of the shooters in the December massacre in San Bernardino, California. The DOJ dropped its legal action against Apple last week, saying it had found a way to hack into the phone. The case has prompted new calls for a legislative solution to the encryption debate. Burr is expected to introduce his legislation as soon as this week after vowing to do so for several months. Though the White House has reviewed the text and offered feedback, it is expected to provide minimal public input, if any, the sources said.
The non-committal stance reflects a political calculus that any encryption bill would be controversial and is unlikely to go far in a gridlocked Congress during an election year, sources said. A White House National Security Council spokesman did not immediately comment but referred to White House press secretary Josh Earnest’s statements on encryption legislation. Last month Earnest said the administration is “skeptical” of lawmakers’ ability to resolve the encryption debate given their difficulty in tackling “simple things.” Burr’s proposal does not spell out how companies should provide access to data or the circumstances under which they could be ordered to help, according to sources familiar with the text. It also does not create specific penalties for noncompliance. The White House last year backed away from pursuing legislation that would require U.S. technology firms to provide a “back door” to access encrypted data. But the desire for encryption legislation among some intelligence and law enforcement officials gained new life after the Islamist militants attacks in San Bernardino and Paris late last year. Obama, speaking at the South by Southwest entertainment festival in Austin, Texas, last month, warned against “fetishizing our phones” and said that doing nothing to address law enforcement’s encryption challenges “can’t be the right answer.” Obama, however, also cautioned against Congress taking any action that would be “sloppy and rushed.”
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Destructive Black Sharks maul Hardliners Fyrish Black Sharks were at their destructive best as they left a path of destruction in mauling Ithaca Hardliners to win the final of the Anamayah first division basketball competition for teams in Berbice. The shellacking was a 80-20 points rout. Played last Sunday on the Fyrish Basketball Court, Corentyne, Berbice, the Black Sharks who were hunting in familiar territory made the environment as hostile and unfriendly as possible for their opponents as they attacked early. By the end of the first quarter Black Sharks had shredded the limp Hardliners of Ithaca, West Berbice apart as they took the break at 166. By the start of the second quarter it was evident that there was no resistance as the merciless Black Sharks piled on the pressure. They scored 23 points to the visitors’ 2 .The half time score was 39-8.
When one thought the half time rest would have done something good for the visitors, it brought even more destruction with the Black Sharks sinking 27 points to their 6, to end that segment at 66-14. By the start of the fourth quarter the Black Sharks had completely demolished the Hardliners and they could not have been happier than to hear the final whistle for the unbelievable 80-20 score line. Leading the bounty hunting for Fyrish Black Sharks was the consistent Linden Joseph who poured in 22 points. He was matched by Joel Fraser who sunk 22. They were supported by Tafawa Dey with 14 baskets, while Phillip Edwards had six. At the end of the competition $50,000 and the beautiful Anamayah Memorial trophy was presented to the Black Sharks team. The
The triumphant Black Sharks team of Berbice. Hardliners received $30,000 and the runner up trophy. The most valuable player of the tournament was Linden Jo-
Thursday April 07, 2016 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) Don't give your heart too readily. Expect to have problems with the ones you love. Sit back. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Your self confidence will attract members of the opposite sex Restrictions may be difficult for you to live with, but try to do things by the book. You may cause a fuss if you come on too strongly in public. GEMINI (MAY22-JUNE 21) You may find your mate somewhat perturbed. Balance is required if you want stability. You're in the mood to spend money. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) You will be able to dazzle others with your obvious charm and your outgoing nature. You can make money through your creative efforts. Do your own thing.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Make arrangements to spend quality time together. Your personal partner may be less than willing to accommodate you today. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Don't settle for less than the best. Groups and organizations that indulge in social events to raise money will be conducive to meeting new and exciting lovers. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Your partner may not understand your mood swings but if you are willing to communicate, a lot of grief can be avoided. Stay mellow. Limitation could set in if you've been spending too much. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) Children may cause limitations. Uncertainties about your home may cause tension. You may want to take a look at your direction in life.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Opportunities to make advancements through good business sense are apparent. You must consider yourself for a change. You can expect changes at your work place.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Romance and social activity will be a promising combination. You need time to think things through. Don't hold back.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 SEPT. 23) Stay out of other people's affairs. Someone you live with may cause drastic alterations in your usual routine. Try to be reasonable.
PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Sports, physical fitness programs, exercise in general will make you feel better and show some pretty quick results. Someone you live with may cause drastic alterations in your usual routine.
seph and he received a trophy. The tournament was organized by sports enthusiast Vibert Garnett.
FIFA ethics body opens formal... From page 32 tax return, agreed to forfeit $495,000. He was released on a $1.5 million bond and said: “I know that what I was doing was wrong.” Trujillo, who lives in Florida, is among 42 individuals and entities charged as part of a U.S. investigation into more than $200 million in bribes and kickbacks sought by soccer officials for marketing and broadcast rights to tournaments and matches. On Tuesday new FIFA president Gianni Infantino denied any wrongdoing after the Panama Papers revealed that, when he was working for UEFA 10 years ago, he signed off on a TV rights deal with a South American company controlled by two Argentines who were later indicted in the United States.
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Swiss police raid UEFA headquarters Referees Council will not officiate without to examine contract NYON, SWITZERLAND (Reuters) Swiss police raided the headquarters of the European soccer body UEFA in Nyon on Wednesday to gather information about a contract signed by Gianni Infantino, now head of the global soccer body FIFA, that was reported in the Panama Papers. The Swiss attorneygeneral’s (OAG) office said the search was part of “ongoing criminal proceedings” and had been launched because of “suspicion of criminal mismanagement and ... misappropriation.” “The OAG’s criminal proceedings are in connection with the acquisition of television rights and are at present directed against persons unknown, meaning that for the time being, no specific individual is being targeted by these proceedings,” it added. Media reports on Tuesday said UEFA sold broadcast rights for 2006-09 Champions League matches to Argentine businessmen Hugo
and Mariano Jinkis, owners of Cross Trading. These reports alleged that the pair resold the rights to Ecuadorean broadcaster Teleamazonas for three times as much, though UEFA said it had no knowledge of such a deal. UEFA has confirmed that Infantino, who was working for UEFA at the time, was one of two of its officials who signed the contract. UEFA has denied any wrongdoing by itself or Infantino. “UEFA can confirm that today we received a visit from the office of the Swiss Federal Police acting under a warrant and requesting sight of the contracts between UEFA and Cross Trading/ Teleamazonas,” UEFA said in a statement. “Naturally, UEFA is providing the Federal Police with all relevant documents in our possession and will cooperate fully.” Hugo and Mariano Jinkis are among several dozen football officials who were last year indicted in the United States as part of a huge cor-
Floodlight Legends overcome Floodlight XI by six runs Floodlight Legends defeated Floodlight XI by six runs in a 20-over softball match played recently at the Demerara Cricket Club ground. Batting first, Floodlight XI posted 198-9 with Kash Latchman scoring 44, Wayne Jones 38 not out and Anil Beharry 33. Sydney Jackman Jr and Jailall Deodass picked up two wickets each. Floodlight Legend responded with 204-4. Ramo Malone slammed ten fours and five sixes in a robust 92, while Lloyd Rooplall got 38 and Greg De Franca 35. Ramchand Ragbeer had 2-23 while Riaz Hussein and Petember Maharaj had one each. Malone was named man-of-the-match.
GABF apology
FIFA President Gianni Infantino REUTERS/JOHN VIZCAINO
ruption scandal which has swept the game and thrown FIFA into turmoil. Infantino was elected as FIFA president in February to try and lead the federation into a new, scandal-free era. The document was part of the 11 million that were leaked from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca in what have become known as the Panama Papers. In a separate statement, UEFA said the rights were sold to Teleamazonas after an “open, competitive, tender process” conducted by TEAM, its exclusive agent.” “We can also add that the offer made by Teleamazonas was very much the “going rate” for this category of rights in comparable markets in Latin and Central America,” UEFA said in a statement to Reuters. UEFA said there had been a tender, competing offers and it would have been “unusual” if it had not accepted the Teleamazonas offer which
it said was the best one. UEFA added that Cross Trading had the exclusive mandate to buy sports TV rights in Europe on behalf of Teleamazonas and said that, at the time, there was no reason to believe there was anything suspicious about it. Referring to the alleged resale by Cross Trading, UEFA said it has “no knowledge of any bilateral or private financial arrangements between Cross Trading and Teleamazonas. Neither UEFA nor TEAM have ever seen any contract or agreement between Cross Trading and Teleamazonas. It added that anything suspicious about any agreement between the two companies should be investigated by the appropriate authorities. “There is, we repeat, absolutely nothing in this story which could in any possible way serve to undermine the integrity of either UEFA or Gianni Infantino,” UEFA said.
The Guyana Basketball Officials Council (GBOC) is maintaining it needs an apology from the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President, Nigel Hinds if is to proceed with the National Basketball Championships, which ended in controversy on March 19 when Linden’s Retrieve Raiders had walked off the court with 9:18 left on the game clock in the fourth quarter, down 51-54 against Colts. GBOC in a letter last week stated that it needed an apology from GABF President, Hinds. After the furore, distinguished academic and former FIBA international licensed referee, Jay Mandle had issued a letter after meeting with stakeholders last Thursday at Marriot, where he stated that the abandoned National Basketball Championships Game should be rescheduled since that is the only way to determine “the better team and the rightful champion”. In addition, the GABF, Linden Amateur Basketball Association and Georgetown sub-association met on Saturday at an Extra-Ordinary Meeting and agreed that the game will be replayed in its entirety. Below is the full text of GBOC letter: The finding by Mr J. Mandle, the former FIBA certified referee, pertaining to the halting of the Clubs Championship Finals Road to Mecca III on the March 19, 2016 between the Retrieve Raiders and Colts were correct. The Guyana Basketball Officials Council (GBOC)
would accept that the Referees erred by not declaring the winner. It must be known to Mr. Mandle that the GABF President intervened and said to the Referees that he is the Commissioner of the game and has the right to overrule the referees’ decision; the Referees immediately voiced their opinion that the President had no right to intervene since the Referees were in charge of the game. At that moment it was clear that a breakdown in communication arose, which led to an exchange of words. There was no police protection for the Referees during the games, which was agreed to by the GABF. Therefore, the Referees were left to the mercy of the fans, who invaded the playing area to vent their anger. The GABF seems bent on having the game replayed, but no one seems to care about the Referees, who had to put up with the disrespectful words from the fans and players, which the GABF is aware of. Based on the reckless statements made by the GABF and some players and I quote “unwarranted call by the Referee” and profanities hurled at the Referees by the players after the game; GBOC would not take part in any replay of the Road to Mecca III if there is no apology from the GABF and the comments made by players not addressed. Yours Sincerely, Dexter Douglas GBOC President
Thursday April 07, 2016
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Is Cameron a law onto himself? Asks Sean Devers Many people in the West Indies and especially Guyana talk a lot with little or no action. The culture of many Guyanese is to not ‘rock the boat’ and go with the flow despite how oppressed they are. Self preservation is more important to many than standing up for principles. They fear victimization and take whatever those who oppress them ‘dish out’ like meek little lambs if the oppressor holds a powerful or influential status. Many make a lot of noise about the things that affect them in private but never say a word publicly. The sociological and psychological make-up of many Guyanese is not too hard to understand. In the days of slavery and indentured labour in the 1830s, British Guiana was the last port of disembarkation for Ships from Africa and India because of its geographical location. Only the most submissive made it here since the rebellious ones were thrown overboard. So most of us are descendents of obedient slaves and indentured servants and our nature is not to rebel against injustice once we feel it could be detrimental to us or those close to us. That is why politicians (from both sides) break promises to make our lives better knowing all we will do is lament about it and soon forget about the problem by giving us a bigger problem. What does this have to do with Guyana or West Indies cricket? Everything! A few days ago I realized how people just think of what they will lose if they stand up for what is right without thinking of the better good. I was at the DCC ground recently and there was plenty talk about how disrespectful the WICB President was to players, Journalists and CARICOM and how they supported Darren Sammy for speaking up for his team like a true leader. Among those complaining were many influential people in the local cricketing fraternity. But when I approached them about doing a story about Sammy’s comments they all declined. They agreed that Cameron is behaving like a Dictator, is arrogant and disrespects people but can’t say that publicly because “we gotta eat and we would be victimized” adding “but you (me) could do the story cause you know how we feel but mek sure you don’t put we name in the papers”.
Dave Cameron
Dr. Keith Mitchell
Darren Sammy
Dwayne Bravo
The Coaches has their charges to think of, the parents wants their children to be picked for Guyana, the Cricket officials have their jobs to protect and WICB has the euphoria of winning three world titles in one year to give them some breathing space. What a sad situation it is when people are too afraid or corrupt to speak out on what is right. This is a problem in all aspects of life in Guyana as most Guyanese have not yet been fully emancipated from mental slavery. Cameron is seemingly obsessed with tweeting. He retweeted a derogatory comment against Chris Gayle, he tweeted that he hoped Sammy remembered the last time his critics paid his bills and was most disrespectful to the Region’s most senior and respected cricket writer Mr Tony Cozier; suggesting the media icon was blind. On Sunday night after the West Indies World Cup win, I sent Cameron a congratulatory message and asked a couple of questions. I knew that he received it in India because he replied “Hi Sean, good morning” and up to now I have
not heard from him. Cameron comes over as a very arrogant and disrespectful individual who loves his self importance without understanding he is far less important to West Indies cricket than the players. While I don’t support the idea of Caricom dissolving the WICB which is the only body recognized by ICC to control cricket in the West Indies, I believe Caribbean Governments could force the WICB to hold ‘proper’ elections and change the executives by withholding their venues and concessions. If there are no venues then there will be no cricket and the fans will rise up against the Board. The fans are a stakeholder
in West Indies cricket and want the board, in Dave Martins words ‘to take a rest’. Payment issues, the treatment of players, the non selection of their senior players for the 50-over World Cup, lack of accountability, the shabby treatment of their longest servant Shiv Chanderpaul, the disrespect by the President to the players in his foolish Tweets, the last minute arrival of uniforms for the T20 World Cup only due the efforts of Manager Rawle Lewis and the lack of communication with the team when its President was in the same place as they were making facebook posts with cricketing legends, are just a few of the problems affecting West Indies cricket.
The success of our three teams will camouflage the short comings of the WICB but we should not be fooled into thinking its business as usual.Clive Lloyd said that the success of the T20 team was mainly due to the players’ exposure to the various T20 leagues, especially the IPL which is played in India where the world T20 was held. Four recent decisions by WICB seem counter-productive to the development of West Indies cricket. The disbanding of the Three-Day under-19 tournament suggest that the focus is on the shorter formats, which is good since T20s are very popular among this generation. But the decision also indicated that Test cricket in
no longer a priority to the West Indies who have been involved at the Test level since 1928. The non selection of players who did not participate in Regional Super50 could result in a depleted team facing Australia and South Africa in the Tri-Nation 50-over series. The setting of the India series in the middle of the CPL T20 when the WICB had told CPL that the ‘window period’ could reduce the strength of the West Indies team, since most of the Region’s top players have signed lucrative contracts with CPL. Mandating that all PCL games be played only at International venues means that the rural fans who tend to offer more support to their teams, will be robbed of the opportunity of seeing FirstClass cricket at places like Albion, where lights (better than the ones at Sabina Park in Jamaica) have been installed. Youngsters not able to travel from Berbice and Essequibo will never see the Region’s leading players in action. Former Essequibo batsman Elroy Stephney mentioned similar sentiments in a letter in yesterday’s Kaieteur News. Sammy, Bravo and Gayle are the latest to voice their disapproval of the manner in which the WICB is being run like an ‘old boys club’ but as former Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan who is a member of Red Steel Franchise, said this is nothing new. “Because of the popularity of the social media the fans have more access to what is going on behind the scenes,” Sarwan pointed out. Enough is enough but if we don’t voice our collective disapproval and force the removal of Cameron from the WICB Presidency he will continue to be a law onto himself. It’s a pity that there are no more Sammys, Bravos and Sarwans to fearlessly stand up to the Board. But I don’t expect those who ‘suck up’ because of financial or other gains to cut off the hand that feed them. This makes solving the problem that much harder.
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Dwayne Bravo calls West Indies Griffith urges female Cricket Board ‘most unprofessional’ world champions to International Business Times - West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo has launched a scathing attack on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) calling them “most unprofessional”. He called the president Dave Cameron “immature”, “smallminded” and “arrogant”, and someone who believes he is at war with his own players. Bravo spoke about the board during a Skype interview with CNC3, a television network based out of Trinidad and Tobago. Bravo has had a chequered history with the WICB, as he was the captain when the West Indies pulledout in the middle of a One Day International (ODI) series against India in 2014 over player-payment issues and
has not featured in the ODI side since then. He has also been removed as captain of the regional Trinidad and Tobago team in the domestic tournament. Darren Sammy had criticised the West Indies Cricket Board following their win over England in the finals of the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2016. Bravo felt the criticism was justified as they had no support from the board throughout the tournament. “No I am not surprised (by Sammy’s comments), we have had enough as players. Too much times people come down on the players, they questioned our commitment, they questioned whether we were really committed to West
Indies cricket or is it just the money. A lot of people don’t understand the things we go through as players dealing with our board. It’s the most unprofessional board to me, Sammy spoke from his heart. There is nothing wrong with Sammy’s speech and I support Darren Sammy 100%”, Bravo said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. “The board refused to listen to what we have to say. It reached a point where we can’t take it no more and that itself encouraged us to go out there and win despite the challenges we have. Even our own board did not think we were going to win the tournament, we are yet to hear from the president, yet to hear from the CEO, yet to hear from the
director of cricket. I mean how can you represent the region, and the people who are supposed to be your bosses and in charge of you don’t even wish you well, don’t even support you.” “So I was not surprised at Sammy’s speech because he spoke from his heart. And it’s something that the Caribbean people need to understand, we’re not happy with the way how our cricket is being run.” Bravo has been an integral part of the T20 side that won both the ICC T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016. He will now take part in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2016 where he will play for the Gujarat Lions alongside Suresh Raina and Brendon McCullum.
build from experience Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Rayon Griffith, urged female world champions, Tremayne Smartt and Shamaine Campbelle to build on their historic experience in the Women’s World T20 which finished with an emphatic victory for the Caribbean ladies last Sunday. Griffith along with GCB Assistant Administrator, Melinda BishundyalChaitram, welcomed the two ladies home yesterday at the Ogle International Airport. He stated that the GCB is proud that there were Guyanese representing the West Indies in the Tournament and have
their names written in history as the first female West Indies team to achieve this glorious title. He said this exposure could only assist them to enhance their cricket; noting that they need continue with the discipline they showed in the World Cup and strive to be the best. The Chairman of Selectors posited that the GCB plans to honour the ladies in recognition of their efforts. The Board hopes that this accomplishment by the regional women would motivate young girls to pursue a career in this sport which is becoming more accommodating for females.
“Xercise” hosts off-field Abby Wambach: American admits taking cocaine and smoking marijuana programme for athletes BBC Sport - World Cup winner and two-time Olympic champion Abby Wambach has admitted taking cocaine and smoking marijuana. American Wambach, the world’s all-time leading international goalscorer, was arrested on Saturday for drinkdriving. Court documents connected to the 35-year-old’s arrest said that “the defendant tried cocaine at age 25”. Mini USA, one of Wambach’s sponsors, said it was withdrawing adverts for the car featuring the former footballer, who retired in December. In a statement, it said: “This behaviour is against the values we promote as an
Abby Wambach was a World Cup winner in 2015. (Getty Images) organisation and the safety of everyone on the road is a priority here at Mini.”
Wambach, who scored 184 goals in 255 games and helped USA to 2015 World
Cup glory, was arraigned on Tuesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Portland. She was not present, but her lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf. Court documents said Wambach has no prior arrest record. In court documents, officers wrote that she first used marijuana at age 24 and her last use was at 25. A Portland police spokesman said it is standard procedure for officers to ask defendants about prior drug use.
“Xercise,” a sports development organisation designed to develop sports persons off field yesterday hosted a successful programme at the at Ministry of Edcation, Department of Youth Culture and Sports Boardroom on Main Street with students from several schools in Georgetown attending. Director of the programme former national cricketer Royston Alkins explained that “Xercise” is a sport development initiative that caters for athletes’ development off the field. He stated that it helps to get them to speak better in
front of camera, and what to say and what not to say. President of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), Roger Harper, who was in attendance said such events will help to develop rounded sportspersons and they will be better prepared to represent their country if an opportunity arises. Sessions were held at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), St. Roses High and Queens College. The significance of the programme was in observation of United Nations’ (UN) Day of Sports for the Development of Peace.
FIFA ethics body opens formal proceedings against Trujillo Reuters - FIFA’s ethics watchdog has opened formal proceedings against Colombia’s Miguel Trujillo after he pleaded guilty last month in U.S. federal court to four counts, including conspiracy to commit money-laun-
dering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. “Having examined all of the relevant evidence and based on Miguel Trujillo’s guilty plea before the federal court in New York, the investigatory chamber has opened formal proceedings against Mr Trujillo,” the investigatory body of FIFA’s ethics committee said in a statement on Wednesday. “As a licensed FIFA match agent, he was bound by the FIFA Code of Ethics.” It will investigate payments from Trujillo to several soccer officials, the investigatory chamber said. Last month Trujillo, who also admitted to filing a false (Continued on page 25)
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Gayle: WICB,WIPA Ben Stokes: New Zealand radio duo air phone call from England player’s mum needs shake up
Chris Gayle
BBC Sport - Two New Zealand radio presenters have been suspended after broadcasting a phone call from Ben Stokes’ mum when she believed she was off air. Deborah Stokes rang up to complain about criticism of her son’s showing in England’s World Twenty20 final defeat. The two Radio Hauraki hosts had been discussing the last over of the final, when Stokes was hit for four sixes. After being told she was off air she said she was “totally brassed off” about the hosts’ “personal attack”. England all-rounder Stokes was hit for consecutive sixes by Carlos Braithwaite from the first
four balls of the final over as West Indies became the first team to be crowned World T20 champions twice. Stokes’ mother Deborah, who lives in New Zealand where Ben was born and lived until he was 12, was put straight through to presenters Jeremy Wells and Matt Heath after calling in. Having been assured she was off air, and unaware she was speaking with one of the hosts, she went on to say: “I don’t know whether they realise he was actually born and bred in New Zealand and has family all over the country. “And for those who listen to your station, for them to sit and listen to their cousin and
Ben Stokes
their grandson being bagged like that it is absolutely unconscionable. I’m his mother and I’m totally brassed off.” A spokesperson for New
Zealand Media and Entertainment condemned the actions of the hosts and said Wells and Heath had been reprimanded.
BCB/New York Business Group two-day Under 19 Cricket Competition WICRICNEWS - Gayle has endorsed Darren Sammy’s criticism of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). The star batsman said in an Instagram post this morning that he is backing his captain 100 per cent and that a shakeup is needed at both the WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA). According to Gayle, who indicated that this might be the end of the road for him and West Indies cricket, WIPA had done a poor job of representing the players. He said: “Thank God for the prize money because the match fee is a joke what WIPA agreed to… so I’m donating my match fees to charity!” Gayle’s full comment read: Big up double #WT20#Champion captain @darrensammy88 - I support and backed him a 100% with his speech, well said about WICB, WIPA needs to be shaken up as well! The struggle is real. Sammy retired from Test cricket but I haven’t. However, I’m not eligible for selection for Test and ODI, think we played our last game for West Indies 2016-Hopefully 2017 the W.I fans can see us again. Thank god for the prize money because the match fee is a joke what WIPA agreed to…so I’m donating my match fees to Charity! #PayMe #Champion Weeks before the start of the ICC World Twenty20,
uncertainty loomed over whether the now victorious West Indies T20 team would even participate in the championship, after the players raised concerns about remuneration. Acting as spokesman of the 15-member squad, Sammy said in a letter to the WICB in February that the financials on offer were not acceptable. He pointed out that 14 squad members are not part of WIPA and “hence have not given authorisation to WIPA to negotiate on our behalf.” After defeating England in spectacular fashion on Sunday to win the trophy, Sammy was openly critical of the WICB, citing a lack of support. (loopjamaica.com)
Fifties from Stanislaus, Frank lead Young Warriors to first innings points over Sisters Contrasting half centuries from Trevon Stanislaus and Jamaal Frank led Young Warriors Cricket Club to first innings points over Sisters CC in a rain interrupted first round match of the New York Business Group Two Innings Under19 Cricket Competition organised by the Berbice Cricket Board. Sisters won the toss and batted first scoring 148 all out 27 overs. The only partnerships of worth were the third wicket of 30 between Julian Bennett and N. Amarally and C. Byass and Amarally 37 for the fifth wicket. Extras
Jamaal Frank left and Trevon Stanislaus. topscored with 37, Amarally made 29, and Byass 26. Bowling for the visitors, Kris Bahadur took 3 for 30 off 7
overs, Jamal Frank 2 for 6 off 2 and Shazim Gafoor 2 for 4. In reply, Berbice under17 opener Alex Algoo went
cheaply for 3 after putting on 22 for the first wicket with Bahadur. Trevon Stanislaus joined Bahadur and added 26 for the third wicket. YWCC found themselves in deep trouble at 101 for 6 wickets before Frank joined Stanislaus and added a blistering partnership of 150 for the seventh wicket. Frank slammed a robust 83 with 8 fours and 6 sixes. Stanislaus who held the innings together, was the ninth wicket out for 84 with 14 fours. Wilson took 6 for 40 off 9 overs and D. Lewis 2 for 40 off 6.
Tim Duncan becomes 3rd player in NBA history to win 1,000 games It wasn’t easy but thanks to a jumper from Kawhi Leonard in the closing seconds of the game, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Utah Jazz 88-86 on Tuesday. The win is notable for playoff positioning, mainly impacting the Jazz who hold a slim lead over the Rockets for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. The Spurs meanwhile are locked in as the No. 2 seed in the West. However, the win was a historic one for the Spurs as it marked the 1,000th career victory for Tim Duncan, the third player in NBA player to accomplish such a feat. The only other players to win
1,000 or more games are Robert Parish (1014) and Kareem AbdulJabbar (1074). Duncan is the first player to win 1,000 games with one team though. To put that in perspective, Michael Jordan played a total of 930 games with the Chicago Bulls . Duncan and Gregg Popovich also now have considerable distance from Karl Malone and Jerry Sloan as the winningest coach/player duos. Most wins by player-coach duo i n N B A h i s t o r y : 1,000- Tim Duncan / Gregg Popovich 775 - Karl Malone / Jerry Sloan 768 - John Stockton/Jerry Sloan - Jordan Howenstine (@AirlessJordan) April 6, 2016
Tim Duncan (USATSI) Via Pounding the Rock’s Quixem Ramirez, Duncan now amazingly has more wins than five NBA franchises: the Hornets, Timberwolves, Pelicans and Grizzlies. Duncan has played in the NBA since 1997 so he has spent a considerable amount of time in the
league. But this stat shows how successful Duncan has been throughout his career. A career that includes such accolades as five NBA championships, three Finals MVP awards and two MVP awards. And now 1,000 career wins and counting.
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Nanthan says comments “unfortunate” (WICB) ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC - The vice president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Emmanuel Nanthan, on Tuesday launched a major broadside against Darren Sammy, 48 hours after he led West Indies into the history books by becoming the first team to capture the T20 World Cup twice. Nanton has blasted as “irrelevant, demeaning, insulting and unfortunate” comments made by Sammy, minutes after West Indies pulled off a stunning four wicket victory over England to seal the title. Sammy courted controversy when he hit out at the WICB for its lack of support and praised Prime Minister of Grenada Dr. Keith Mitchell and CARICOM for messages of support which inspired his team. “So to try to make it look like the board was inefficient in any way is rather unfortunate,” declared Nanton in a radio interview in Dominica. “To spoil what was a tremendous achievements for the Caribbean
Emmanuel Nanthan civilization with comments that are totally irrelevant and demeaning and insulting to the Caribbean people. I believe was rather unfortunate”. Sammy’s comments were also made against the backdrop of the players’ contracts dispute with the WICB prior to the start of the tournament back in February, which threatened the side’s participation. Sammy acted as the players’ representative during the brief impasse and while he assured the Caribbean then that West Indies would commit to playing the tournament, he
also hinted that the issues were far from settled. The WICB vice president also took issue with the players for complaining about a reduction in their fee structure for the World Cup while not disclosing increases in fees for the regional competition. “So the players complained that for the world Cup their fees went down maybe by 20 thousand or there about. But they did not say that the week before they got the world cup contract all of them signed contracts for the regional competition where their fees
Shimron Hetmyer slams 189 to lead Young Warriors to massive win over Satro CC
Shimron Hetmyer
A magnificent innings of 189 (17 sixes and 15 fours) by the first ever winning West Indies under19 World Cup tournament captain Shimron Hetmyer led the Young Warriors Cricket Club of Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice to a massive 167 runs victory over Satro Cricket Club of Leguan, Essequibo Islands in a feature match played last Sunday. The visitors won the toss, batted first and piled up 321 for 7 off their allotted 30 overs. Hetmyer got support from his brother Seon, a former national youth player with 41; another former national youth all rounder Linden Austin made 28 and Wahied Edwards 17. Guyana senior one day selectee Ricardo Adams took 3 wickets bowling for the host. Satro Cricket Club in reply had a poor start and never recovered fully, finishing on 154 all out in 29 overs. Zaman Mustapha topscored with 39; he got support from Kevin Gordon 35 and Mark 24. Pacer Jermin Henry took 3 wickets. Trevon Stanislaus and Karamchand Ramnarine took 2 wickets a piece. On a rainy Saturday, YWCC lost to the host by 8 runs. The host won the toss, batted first and made 112 for 4 off their reduced 14 overs with Nash scoring a robust 47. YWCC started well but lost their way to end up on the losing end. Shimron Hetmyer scored 33 and Ameer Khan 22. Nash took 4 wickets and got support from Kevin Gordon with 3 wickets. The organizers thanked the YWCC for visiting the Island. Shimron Hetmyer who was well received by cricket fans thanked the host for their hospitality.
went up by 80,000, 140,000, 145,000, and 75,000. They did not say that,” said Nanthan. “But they are saying that they had a loss of 20,000 each on the World Cup. The World Cup is every other y e a r. O u r r e g i o n a l competition is every year. So really and truly they were making noise for losing 20,000 on one side but gaining 150,000 or 280,000 in some instances on the other hand and never ever said that to anybody”. On Sunday, Sammy also praised newly installed manager Rawl Lewis, who he said went to extraordinary lengths to solve a uniform problem during the pretournament camp in Dubai. But Nanthan has d i s m i s s e d S a m m y ’s comments on this issue as misleading, blaming the impasse for the delay in printing numbers on the uniforms. “The date was coming, the players had not consented to go to play so the company delivered the uniforms without the numbers of them because we were not sure which players
we going to play,” he said. “So when the logistic officer left the Caribbean for Dubai he had a ticket in his hands to go to pick up the uniforms in Calcutta, put the numbers on them and carry them himself to the team well in advance of the world cup”. Earlier, the WICB in a release had described Sammy’s comments as ‘inappropriate’ and promised an investigation with a view to taking necessary action. There is widespread
euphoria across the Caribbean as a result of the sensational exploits of the West Indies men’s and women’s team in winning their respective T20 World Cup titles. Nanthan’s comments are likely to fuel more tension between the champion West Indies side which has garnered massive support in the region and an embattled Dave Cameron led WICB which is coming under mounting public pressure to step-down.
GCA first division semis on this weekend
T
he semi finals of the Georgetown Cricket Association first division two-day tournament will commence on Saturday. GNIC SC will travel to Guyana Defence Force (Cyril Garnath, Ryan Banwarie and Randolph Rose-umpires) and Georgetown CC will journey to Demerara CC (Javed Persaud, Shannon Crawford and Reginald Grant). Matches start at 09:30 hrs. In the Noble House Sea Foods second division two-day starting at 11:00hrs on Saturday, UG will entertain St. Stanislaus (Joseph Jeffery and Linden Matthews), MYO will host Ace Warriors (Peter Montfort and Heuvel Cunha) and Transport SC will play Diplomats at Bourda (Moses Ramnarine and Ashook Brijcoomar).
Corona Beer Beach Soccer League....
Full points for Cool Runnings, Silver Bullets & Royal Youths R o y a l Yo u t h s h a v e maintained their stranglehold and unbeaten run in the Corona Beer sponsored Guyana Beach Football Association, Beach Soccer League when they registered their 11th win in twelve matches on Sunday last at the Bayrock Beach Soccer Park, Bayrock, Linden. Royal Youths did not need to break a sweat for their 13th round match as their opponent, Attention Family did not keep the date as the winner moved to 33 points from 12 matches inclusive of one draw and no loss. Cool Runnings squeezed past Hi Stars 4-3 on account of a brace of goals each from Rodwyn Fraser and Andell Mendonza. Netting for Hi Stars were Michael Spencer who scored twice and Michael Peters with the other. The evening’s final match saw Silver Bullets zooming past Kuru Kururu
Rodwyn Fraser (right) and Hussain Cumberbatch - Cool Runnings FC. Warriors 6-2. On target for the bullets were Gishawn Freeman who blasted the nets on three occasions while supporting were Romell Matthews, Robin Adams and Dennis Claude.
Warriors got their goals from the consistent Cordell Johnson and Ryan Scott. Penultimate round action is set for Saturday at eth same venue kicking off at 18:30hrs.
Thursday April 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 35
Sarwan backs Sammy, Slams WICB Former West Indies captain Ramnaresh Sarwan has supported T20 skipper Darren Sammy and rebuked the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for the manner in which they continue to handle the region’s top professional cricketers. Speaking to the media yesterday at his Fitness 53 Gym at Providence, Sarwan who played 87 Tests scoring 5,842 runs at an average of 40.01 was in full support of Sammy who blasted the West Indies Cricket Board following the Regional team victory against England in the ICC World T20 final on Sunday at Eden Gardens. West Indies also won the female title for the first time after beating three-time winners Australia by eight wickets. Sammy at the post-match interview slammed the WICB for their shabby treatment of players and spoke about the struggles they went through prior to global showpiece. Sarwan pointed out that these are ongoing issues, but were never clearly highlighted. “I think over the years the West Indies Board tend to do a lot of stuff and get away with it, and during the period that I have been playing we have strike a lot in trying to highlight those areas and nothing seems to be changing,” Sarwan said. Sarwan stated that the issue is not about the money
Ramnaresh Sarwan addressing the media but has a lot to do with the treatment of the players. “I have experienced it; we have been in numerous times where we negotiated and I guarantee you, it is not about the money, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Sammy all have big contracts with teams in the Indian Premier League, but I think it is an issue of principle as well, because you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you under sell your players and I think that is what has been happening and the WICB keep doing it over and over… and to try to paint this picture that the players are ‘money hung’ and I strongly believe that this is
Vergenoegen, South Side record victories Vergenoegen and South Side recorded victories when the East Bank Essequibo C C / B i g Ya r d 5 0 - o v e r tournament commenced recently. At Tuschen, Ve rg e n o e g e n d e f e a t e d Tuschen A by 12 runs. Batting first Vergenoegen scored 149 all out in 27 overs. Lennox Andrews struck 97. Tuschen A were bowled out for 137 in 28 overs in reply. Rabindra Dookie got 44. At Zeelugt, South Side beat Tuschen Sports club by four wickets. Tuschen SC managed 113 all out in 25.3 overs taking first strike with R. Ramdeen scoring 44. South Side responded with 134-6 in 36.4 overs. D. Whyte made 23. Parika Salem A and B
Lennox Andrews teams gained walk overs from Zeelugt and Hyde Park respectively.
not the case”, he pointed out. “Even when we had strikes before, it was something they were trying to paint as well; they are just going to cover-up their way of managing West Indies Cricket and they (WICB) don’t want to accept that they have faults and due to the fact they feel they are untouchable…they are being very vindictive towards players, I can go through a whole list of players who they done that to most recently Dwayne and Pollard”, Sarwan went on.
“Like I have said many times before, it’s not that we’re lacking of talent, it’s a situation where we don’t have the right people managing our cricket and how long we don’t get that right I don’t think our cricket will be able to rise again. The first people to get blame are the players because that is the product you see on the field, but no one knows what is happening behind the scenes”. Sarwan feels the best players should be given an opportunity to represent the region and a compromise should be met. “If you are going to play in a tournament when there is peak time like during the IPL and if the board do not want to pay the players the amount of money they are suppose to be earning, and they get an opportunity to play abroad why not take it. It’s not like if they are fighting for places in the team, Gayle, Sammy, Pollard and Bravo are established players so they have got to come to a compromise and not just tell players they are ineligible,” he posited. The former West Indies captain lauded Coach Phillip Simmons. “He has West Indies cricket at heart, but was given torrid time but once he gets the support he can help to transfer West
Indies cricket.” He said that the WICB must be able to communicate better with the players because they will never know what is happening especially with those players who have travelled around the world. Sarwan took the opportunity to congratulate Leon Johnson who led Guyana to back to back titles in the WICB professional four-day league, but stated that Guyana’s cricket are facing a number challenges. “With so much going on in West Indies cricket, we are
facing a number of challenges with our cricket here and we need to sort that out as well. Based on all the information I received, the parties want to have elections but for some reason we are not and the WICB is supporting the present board without having a proper election. Sarwan urged the Government of Guyana to find a solution to the problems and work towards it. “Cricket is just stagnant lack of sponsors and something needs to be done about it,” he concluded.
GAPF Calendar of Events for remainder of 2016 Following the successful hosting of the Novice Championships on Sunday February 28 last at the Rosignol Primary School and sponsored by Fitness Express, the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) has released a calendar of events for the remainder of the year. All the events are slated to take place in the City. On Sunday June 5 , the annual Intermediate / Claude Charles Memorial Championships will take th
place. On Saturday July 9 , a Bench Press competition will take the form of a fundraising activity for the federation. The Sammy Barker Raw Classic competition is set for Sunday September 4 and this event will also feature a Schools Raw PushPull competition. The curtains will come down on activities with the federation’s marquee event, the Senior National Championships on Sunday November 27 , 2016. th
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Dwayne Bravo calls West Indies Cricket Board ‘most unprofessional’
Corona Beer Beach Soccer League....
Full points for Cool Runnings, Silver Bullets & Royal Youths
Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle break into a jig, England v West Indies, World T20, final, Kolkata, April 3, 2016 ©Getty Images
Griffith urges female world champions to build from experience
Rayon Griffith (2nd left) with Tremayne Smartt (left) and Shamaine Campbelle (2nd right) along with Melinda Bishundyal-Chaitram after the players arrived home yesterday.
Nanthan says comments “unfortunate” Swiss police raid UEFA headquarters to examine contract Referees Council will not officiate without GABF apology Sarwan backs Sammy, Slams WICB
Is Cameron a law onto himself?
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