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Kaieteur News
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
A monster in the making The age ranges and features of many persons appearing in our courts in recent times for various violations, some of them most gruesome, tell a story. One of the most frequent complaints today is that the nation’s youths seem to be in crisis, and generally exhibit disturbing behaviour and attitudes. Although they do in some way contribute to the perception of slipping standards in the country, they are often unjustly blamed entirely for the slide. Many persons who blame today’s youths, say those of past generations faced similar circumstances and pressures and handled them better, emerging as upstanding citizens. They tend to overlook the fact that the current generation faces problems unique to this era, which those of bygone ages did not have to wrestle with. In the first place, the familial structure is distinctly different from what it was in the past. Guyana’s gradual economic decline and shifting social trends have put overwhelming pressure on the traditional nuclear family, making it weaker and more vulnerable. Also, the negative conditioning influences of the communication and entertainment media are increasing exponentially. Parenting standards are duly being questioned but, admittedly, many parents are often distracted or tired out by problems related to their jobs or finances. Some seem to have entirely abdicated their role as parents; others have embraced extremely permissive approaches. With parents spending significantly less time with children, and with the general quality of parenting in steep decline, the amount of poorly supervised or unsupervised youths has increased dramatically. With too much slack time on their hands, many of these highly impressionable youths are vulnerable to unwholesome influences. It is simply unwise also to pretend that the impact of particular parenting practices can be separated out from other factors, from where families live and how they earn their living, to their values, relationships and experiences. In any event, there are all sorts of other experiences that children have – through friends and schools, for example – that will have a big impact beyond the realm of the family. Moreover, as they grow up, children gradually start to ‘make’ themselves; they become moral beings in their own right that make their own choices. It is also up to us – the grown-ups – to shape the context of our family lives. Left to their own devices from a very young age, it is not surprising that many turn to vice and violence. It is because of serious deficiencies in parenting that an unacceptable number of our youths appear to be lazy, undisciplined, unmannerly and unlearned. That is why they seem inclined to indulge almost nonchalantly in vices like alcohol and drug abuse, crime, violence and promiscuous sex. Guyana is in danger of being overrun by a culture of lawlessness, and wayward youths are likely to be significant contributors. With such serious consequences, the nation must squarely face the phenomenon of poor parenting. To turn this trend around, concerned Guyanese must agitate for effective development of the requisite skills in this regard. This requires a course of action with pro-active intervention by all stakeholders: government, non-governmental organizations, social workers, community groups and others. But we stress that this is not only the responsibility of policymakers or so-called parenting experts. To raise children, we have to see ourselves as adults first. It will be a long haul, but it is vital that we go back to sound parenting techniques in the interest of our youths. Just as people get the governments they deserve, parents get the children they deserve, and nations get the youths they deserve. The increasingly negative behaviour and attitudes of our youths, is a monster in the making; we must deal with it before it gets too big to handle.
Friday April 03, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Did Nascimento deliberately disrespect KN reporters? DEAR EDITOR, According to John Pilger in Hidden Agendas, “It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers…” And if I can add to that, journalists must also see themselves as being resolute and objective individuals who should demand respect and defend the title of their entity, regardless of who they come up against. On Wednesday, well known “communications specialist,” Kit Nascimento, attempted to disrespect Kaieteur News and its reporters who turned up for a press conference at the National Communications N e t w o r k , C h a n n e l 11 following an invitation. Five reporters from this entity arrived there before it got started as it was intimated that GPL, GuySuCo and NICIL officials would be present. At that time, last minute preparations were still being done for the televised programme. After taking our seats in the studio, Nascimento engaged a KN reporter, Leonard Gildarie in what started out as “teasing and idle banter”. The others, like me watched on, but things got a bit intense very quickly when Nascimento asked over and over about the number of reporters present from Kaieteur News. He did
not do the same for other media entities but merely asked if they were present. I have seen many things but never someone descending into the trenches the way Nascimento did when he said that the reason KN sends so many reporters to a press conference is because there isn’t one competent enough to ask a question. It is usually a norm that more than two reporters would attend a press conference depending on the nature of the topic and the persons hosting it. He even said that he would send a “warning” to KN on air and we are free to ask whatever questions we please when he was done. The repulsive and distasteful comment, prompted me to immediately ask my colleague, Gildarie to demand clarifications from Nascimento on his statements. In fact, which selfrespecting media house would have sat down and tolerated the sort of disrespect shown by Nascimento and not demand answers? He of course pussyfooted around the demands we made and we left the press conference before it got started for it was unanimously agreed that such levels of disrespect was not going to be tolerated.
When I had my first encounter with the “communications specialist,” I was told by a senior reporter in the media fraternity that he is passionate about journalism, well read, and trained in ethics and mode of conduct and certainly a refined man. Boy did this image quickly faded to nothingness at NCN. With the journalistic experience Nascimento should have acquired over the years, I surely expected better from him. It would not have surprised me had it been displayed by Winston Brassington, a few of our politicians in the People’s Progressive Party and even some from the opposition.
But from the granddaddy of journalism? Not at all! As a journalist, it was disheartening to hear such utterances from Nascimento. It was thoughtless, uncalled for, belittling and speaks volumes about the character of the individual. I can’t force Nascimento to respect Kaieteur News but is it too much to expect him to extend common courtesy? To be professional? Besides, they were the ones that invited the media houses. It would not be hard to deduce that Nascimento deliberately made his comments to evoke a particular response. Kaieteur News Journalist Kiana Wilburg
Roadblock at Cove and John did not violate police procedure DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Police Force is responding to an article published in the Kaieteur News today Thursday April 02, 2015 under the caption “Do the Officers respect the Commissioner of Police?” in the Freddie Kissoon column. The Police Force wishes to clarify that the Commissioner of Police had stated that police roadblocks
should be conducted in front of Police Stations and should be done by ranks in uniform that include name tags. He went on to say that in cases where a police roadblock has to be held away from a Police Station, then it must be done by uniformed ranks using a clearly marked police vehicle. The Guyana Police Force (Continued on page 31)
Friday April 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
PPP’S OPERATION SHOCK AND YAWN DEAR EDITOR, I don’t know if it’s deliberate, but the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic seems to be engaged in the strange electioneering strategy of going between complete provocative inanity as represented by Bharrat Jagdeo and Clement Rohee, and the mind numbing banality as represented by Elisabeth Harper and Donald Ramotar - Operation Shock and Yawn, if you will. And in an election that is going to be primarily decided by the vote, no
young person of any standing or independent professional achievement has directly endorsed or expressed even indirect support for the PPP - no young businessperson, academic, economist, doctor, lawyer, journalist, musician or writer. There is no one of distinction in the PYO, not even the qualified children of PPP leadership. This is remarkable for a political hegemony twentythree years in power, and one which claims some sort of intellectual superiority in the management of public
affairs. It’s embarrassing and I hope nomination day the PPP has a few surprises for us, although it would be a virtually impossible task for any professional to credibly represent the PPP on policy. An intellectually bankrupt Freedom House in government is as we have come to see a clear and present danger - however, it also doesn’t do the democratic process any good if we have an intellectually bankrupt and anachronistic PPP in political opposition. Ruel Johnson
Casting doubts over the integrity of the elections could only harm our image DEAR EDITOR, Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa recently held national elections. This is the first election in the history of that country where an opposition party managed to unseat the incumbent ruling party in what is broadly believed to be free and fair elections. President Goodluck Jonathan should be commended for so graciously accepting defeat at the polls. This speaks well for democracy in Africa where tribal and religious differences were exploited for political ends. In the case of Nigeria tension between Muslims and Christians and the murderous and destructive role played by
Boko Haram no doubt influenced voting behaviour and voter turnout. One philanthropist has set up a fund to reward those African leaders who practice democracy and show respect for the rule of law in an effort to encourage African leaders to play by the rules of democracy. Democracy is about respecting the will of the majority in certified free and fair elections and any departure from this time honoured tradition is fraught with dangers. This is why it is so important for all political parties to accept the verdict of the majority and to avoid that tendency to lull party supporters into a false sense
of victory even before the elections are held. The elections are only over when the last vote is counted and the results declared by the competent authority in our case the Guyana Elections Commission. Casting doubts over the integrity of the elections and the electoral processes when there is no credible basis for so doing is counterproductive and could only do harm to our image as a fledgling democracy. Hydar Ally
There will be darker days ahead if the PPP is re-elected DEAR EDITOR, The most frightening question to all Guyanese in this election is what will Guyana be like in 2020 if the PPP is re-elected to office? Many are of the opinion that there will be greater deterioration in the social, economic and political sectors of the country, a serious decline in the lives of the people, especially the poor and the working class, as well as a massive increase in crime and human and capital flight. Quantitatively or qualitatively, the trends are pointing toward darker days for Guyana or toward a dystopian failed state if the PPP is re-elected to office on May 11. Never mind the promises made by Ramotar and Jagdeo at their campaign rally in Kitty; no right-thinking Guyanese should ever believe them or take them taken seriously. They had promised the voters the moon and the stars in 2006 and again in 2011 but did not fulfill any of them. If the PPP wins the elections, there will be no national development plan, no reduction in crime and corruption, only the meager five percent increases in wages/salaries, more
vulgarity and abuse, more raping of the treasury, more nepotism and cronyism and no help for the poor and the working class. After a decade of extraordinary pain, suffering and loss of loved ones due to armed robberies and senseless murders, the people are fed-up and afraid. They want a change from this crime ridden and corrupt life style in Guyana. Unlike the population which have to pay for their own security, the PPP oligarchs are well protected 24 hours a day with large numbers of security personnel at the taxpayers’ expense. They had promised the voters the moon and the stars in 2006 and again in 2011 but did not fulfill any of them. If the PPP wins the elections, there will be no national development plan, no
reduction in crime and corruption, only the meager five percent increases in wages/salaries, more vulgarity and abuse, more raping of the treasury, more nepotism and cronyism and no help for the poor and the working class. After a decade of extraordinary pain, suffering and loss of loved ones due to armed robberies and senseless murders, the people are fed-up and afraid. They want a change from this crime ridden and corrupt life style in Guyana. Unlike the population which have to pay for their own security, the PPP oligarchs are well protected 24 hours a day with large numbers of security personnel at the taxpayers’ expense. These events have triggered a deep existential (Continued on page 31)
Friday April 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
US President Barack Obama is to arrive in Jamaica on April 8. The Gleaner - The Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller had announced that Obama would arrive on April 9. However Consular Officer for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Kingston, Joshua Polacheck, says the April 8 arrival date is not a change in schedule as it was planned long ago that the US President would arrive ahead of a full working day on April 9. “Think about the travel time from Washington, if he is going to work on the morning of the 9th he would have to leave Washington like 4 in the morning”, Polacheck explained. A check on the White House’s website show a release issued on March 18 which states that President Obama will visit Jamaica and Panama from April 8-11.
Barack Obama Meanwhile, Polacheck says officials are finalising President Obama’s schedule for his visit to Jamaica. He says among other things the US President will
be holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Portia Simpson as well as meeting with leaders from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Wednesday, the Ministry of National Security issued a statement saying the National Reserve of the Jamaica Defence Force has been called out to strengthen security Obama’s visit. National Security Minister, Peter Bunting said the calling out of the Reserves is among several security measures being pursued. Bunting also said the public should expect traffic diversions and road closures for the visit. Additionally, there will be air space restrictions to be communicated by the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority.
Dominica offers citizenship to Chinese investors ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has invited Chinese investors to apply for the Dominica Economic citizenship by investment programme. During a recent visit to China, Skerrit told officials that he hoped the programme, established in 1993, would attract investors. He said that interested people could immigrate to Dominica by either submitting an application directly to the government or by obtaining citizeniship with a minimum investment of US$200,000. According to a report in China Business News, Skerrit said the applicants would not be taxed on their property, and there were no
regulations on capital gains and no language requirements. When asked whether he was concerned about corrupt Chinese officials or businessmen illegally transferring their property to Dominica, he said applications for citizenship will be approved only after comprehensive investigation and that the program was not established for criminals from China or the United States. The Prime Minister also stated that foreign investment would create more job opportunities for the domestic population, boost the development of the tourism industry, and facilitate infrastructure construction and energy programmes.
T&T Law Association calls for repeal of proposed ‘no bail’ law for illegal firearm offenders PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Trinidad Express) – Stating it “amounts to a denial of a person’s constitutional rights”, the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) is calling for the repeal of the Bail (Amendment) bill, 2015, which was passed in the Senate on Tuesday. “The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago has advised the Honourable Attorney General that it does not agree with, nor support the Bail (Amendment) bill 2015 which was Wednesday tabled in Parliament,” a release signed by vicepresident Gerry Brooks stated. President-elect Reginald Armour is still to be sworn in. “This legislation purports to restrict the granting of bail
to an accused person by not permitting that person’s access to a court of law to hear an application for bail for as long a period as 120 days from the reading of the charge,” the release stated.The association cautioned the bill may facilitate keeping people in jail for much longer than the 120 days stipulated in the legislation. “The present system is overburdened and it may take as many as three years for the prosecution to be ready to proceed with trial. The 120 days has no relation to the time it takes the State to get expert reports and be ready. In this regard, all that will be achieved is the pre-trial detention of civilians in violation of the presumption of innocence and the protective constitutional
provisions,” the association warned. It suggested the bill was too draconian. “This amounts to a denial of a person’s constitutional rights. Given the constitutional guarantees of reasonable bail, coupled with the presumption of innocence and the right to be brought promptly before an appropriate judicial authority, even in the face of firearms and firearms-related offences, LATT considers the proposed amendment a disproportionate response,” the association said. It added: “It is the duty of the executive to ensure that the criminal justice system is modernised and outfitted to a reasonable standard to deal effectively and efficiently with the scourge of crime.
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Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
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SHOW RESPECT FOR ALL! Today is one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar. It is called Good Friday and marks the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion some two thousand years ago. Traditionally in Guyana this was also unquestionably the quietest day in the country, something that sprang from the fact that the British, who colonized our country, were mainly Christian in beliefs. Thus, they ensured that certain practices related to their religious persuasion were incorporated into the law and were part of the custom of the day. On Good Friday of yore everything shut down. The factories did not grind, workers did not work, shops did not open and the streets were mainly deserted, since persons did not venture out of their homes except to go to Church. This latter exercise was so solemn that the going and coming from church was a hushed exercise. On Good Friday, persons
stayed home and tried to pass the day away quietly. It was usually hard to avoid boredom. The radio – there was no television in those days – contributed to the solemnity of the day by mainly playing only religious songs. It was a day to remember and in many ways a day to endure. Those days of quietness and confinement are long gone. Today Good Friday is still solemn, but this does not stop persons from being on the streets. It will also not stop many shops from opening for the day so as to make a dollar. This raises an most important issue. Guyana is a land of many religions. Not all Guyanese observe Good Friday. For obvious reasons
it is not a holy day for Hindus and Muslims. So what should prevent a person who is not a Christian from having access to the markets, shops and stores? After all, should a person in a free society not have the right to choose? One of the reasons why despite Good Friday not being a holy day for nonChristians, stores and shops generally do not open, is out of respect for the religious feelings of Christians. And this is very much reciprocated, since on the religious holidays of non-Christians, there is also a lull in activity and most businesses are closed. Every person should respect the religious observances of others. And thus even if there is no law
against certain practices, citizens should by their own actions ensure that no disrespect is brought to any religious grouping. This brings me to the core issue. It is known that on some religious holidays there are certain watering holes which open. This should not be allowed. On religious
holidays, whether Christian, Muslim or Hindu, there should be a strict prohibition on the sale of alcohol. This does not happen in all cases but it should happen. This would help promote greater respect for all religions. One of the ways in which we can all contribute to this is for us to show respect not
just on this holy day for Christians, but for all the holy days of all the other religious groupings in Guyana.
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Kaieteur News
Friday April 03, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
I am not East Indian. I am Guyanese Facing its worst moment of crisis since the party was born in the fifties, the PPP is desperately utilizing in nasty forms, its only weapon of survival – race. Mr. Jagdeo has not only become the lead figure in the PPP election campaign, but also the PPP’s main proponent of a race campaign. The man that Donald Ramotar owes everything to, his benefactor, Bharrat Jagdeo, is infusing the election season with ideological racism. In doing so, Mr. Jagdeo believes he is being smart in the ways in which he uses his weapon. Mr. Jagdeo has the right to think he is smart, but he should possess the commonsense to know when his slip is showing. His first big racist brawl was when he announced in Berbice at Dr. Jagan’s 2015 death anniversary that he knows that APNU personnel at the last general election in 2011 were beating drums in the early hours of the morning, chanting to their supporters to remove “dem coolie people from power.” Jagdeo, so in love with himself, thought that he
would have got away with it, by resorting to the silly trick of saying that he was merely reporting what took place. GECOM let Jagdeo get away with political murder, by not insisting that he bring the evidence. No such incident occurred in Guyana during the last election. It was a naked pursuit of race-baiting by Mr. Jagdeo. But most of all, it is dangerously evil, because the method he is using can take billons of forms. Tomorrow Jagdeo could say that he was told that opposition elements in Georgetown were saying “chase dem coolie people out of Guyana.” Jagdeo just has to sit back and say, “ah hear this or ah hear dat.” The point is Mr. Jagdeo is campaigning on a race ticket and GECOM has to intervene. Next, Jagdeo sermonized that the opposition murdered Courtney Crum-Ewing to engender racial passion. Simply put, he was saying it was done to make AfricanGuyanese angry. Again, Mr. Jagdeo thinks he is being smart. He is not. All he is doing is whipping up racial feelings.
Once he tells his ethnic audience (it was a predominantly Indian affair at the Kitty rally) that the opposition is out to instill racial vexation in African Guyanese, then you are creating a racist backlash, because Indians will see African anger as being directed against them. Jagdeo’s third use of the naked symbol of race was his brutal twisting of the context of Moses Nagamootoo’s alleged statement that he is not Indian, but Guyanese. Jagdeo hammered away at what he, Jagdeo, termed an act of being ashamed of one’s own ethnicity. The vulgarization of Mr. Nagamootoo’s philosophical attitude by Jagdeo again has missed GECOM. The question is what more inciting racist statement does Jagdeo have to make before GECOM intervenes? And by intervention, I don’t mean sanction. GECOM does not have the legal power to discipline Mr. Jagdeo, but it could offer a moral condemnation. For a politician to say he/ she is not a Tamil but an Indian citizen or he/she is not
Venetian but Italian, simply means in philosophical terms that he/she sees land of birth and nationalist credential as having more important worth in the country that gave them life. It denotes that one is more moved to identity with the higher goal of patriotism than the narrow instinct of ethnicity. In their final training session, before they go into the battlefield, American soldiers are instructed to think as themselves as Americans first and foremost. If any country needs nationalism as a driving force over ethnicity it is Guyana. Guyanese have put race before country and it has destroyed every one of us. It
has extirpated the humanity in us. It has taken away the civilization that should inhere in us. It has left us as a soulless country. Mr. Nagamootoo then should have been commended for his distance from the negative value that has ruined Guyana. This columnist wants to be pellucid and use unambiguous grammar; he is saying to people who read his columns and see him in his social activism that I am first and foremost a Guyanese. I am not an East Indian. If I am seen as an East Indian, and if genetically I am East Indian, then in my psyche I feel as and want to
Frederick Kissoon be a Guyanese. I have little use for being a racially instinctive person. I want to see myself as a Guyanese. Mr. Jagdeo and other PPP leaders on the podium at the PPP’s Kitty rally are playing an evil game of race hysteria. It can only end in sadness and tragedy before and after May 11.
Dem boys seh...
Nastimento is PPP no-teeth pit bull Jesus was a good man when he been on earth, according to de Holy Bible. He believe in forgiveness. He beg de Man above to forgive dem who nail he pun de cross. He forgive many others, but he wouldn’t have forgive Jagdeo. He might have slap Jagdeo fuh all de things he do and he never do anything good. Dem boys ask many people fuh name something that they can be proud of that Jagdeo do. Four years gone and dem can’t name one. Only yesterday dem gyal ask Webster, de solid waste woman, why she stay silent when Jagdeo abuse Varshnie, de same Jagdeo who put she to represent woman. Imagine she seh that is Jagdeo personal business and is just an allegation. When dem ask she bout Anil, she seh she is a Christian and is Holy Week and she believe that de li’l thing wha he did asking bout must forgive and forget wha Anil seh. Dem boys want fuh know if all dem abused women who go to she will just be making allegation. DE FATHER OF 29 De Creatah seh he is de father of de universe. Well dem got a man who rivaling he. This man got 29 pickney and if he didn’t get remand yesterday, he might have reach 99. He was sent to jail fuh shipping out cocaine in charcoal. Dem boys can’t stop laugh when dem hear wha de lawyer who representing this man, tell de magistrate. He seh he client buying charcoal from everybody along de East Bank, and he not responsible. De magistrate must be think about remanding de lawyer too fuh that nonsense. NUFF AIRLINE FUH GUYANA SOON Yesterday, Ashni seh that nuff airline waiting fuh de airport done to come to Guyana. When de reporter ask him to name some of these major airlines that would be coming, he decline fuh name dem. Then he seh he name dem before. That is when dem boys remember was he daady, he mooma, he sissy and he whole generation. Nobody ain’t got to dance around when new airline coming. Anybody should be proud to tell de nation every hour, “We have Jet Blue, Delta, American Airline, even Gerry Gouveia airline and Nastimento boat.” DE $90 MILLION ROBBERY Not even a school pickney would believe
that wha happen at de post office Thursday was a robbery. Not a shot fire, not a kick, a cuff, a slap or even a bite happen. Nobody ain’t see a gun, a knife, a stick or a baton. De driver and de police claim how de gunmen throw dem out, but none of dem ain’t got a bruise. Dem boys hope de police solve this one, because it deh right under dem nose. DE PRESIDENTIAL PROMISE Sundar Popo, a Trinidad singer, did sing a song that seh people should maintain dem promise. Another singer from Guyana seh never bruck a promise to children. Donald is a local singer and he does try a ting. He sing a song de other day wid de two top CSEC children, how he gun pay fuh dem scholarship at any university anywhere in de world. Now he got Lo-dar telling de kids that dem can go to China, Cuba or stay home. Then he got de Breakfast Man wid another excuse. ‘De opposition cut de budget.’ Dem boys seh that this is de worst thing you can do any child much less de top students of you country. But people shoulda know that Donald pick up Jagdeo birthright—cockishness, breaking promises, deceit, and lying. All of dem day of reckoning coming, whether dem believe in de Creatah or not. NASTIMENTO PICK UP FIRE RAGE Nastimento mouth like dem old ice cream bucket wha always hanging. Wid de PNC he use to hang upside down. Dem get kick out and he jump pun de Jagdeo bandwagon catching noodle soup. This was a man who serve this country in many positions, even pun he belly. At one time people use to look up to dis man. Since he gone and meddle wid de Kwame and de Brassington crowd, he begin to look like dem, smell like dem and now talking like dem. He getting pay, plus duty free concession, and prags from dem. He is de Pee Are Hoe (pronounced whore). Dem does use he like a pensioner pit bull wid no teeth in he mouth, to chair every press conference to cover up dem skullduggery. He is paid to limit reporters who go to press conference to ask hard questions. Two days ago dem reporters walk out because he try to insult dem. De next time he open he no-teeth mouth dem reporters gun push in dentures. Talk half and watch de pit bull that got nuff bark and can’t bite. (Continued on page 48)
Friday April 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Drug purchasing policy will not change - Ramsammy The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration has no intention to review its drug purchasing policy if reelected to office subsequent to the May 11 General and Regional Elections. This stance was affirmed yesterday by former Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, following a press conference at Freedom
House. Ramsammy, who currently sits in government as the Minister of Agriculture, was asked to comment on the many issues that have plagued the Ministry he once headed for several years in the past. The Minister said that there are a few things that can be done differently for the Ministry to be “more
successful.” However, he told Kaieteur News that the prequalification system for the supply of drugs is not one of those things. This is despite the fact that many investors as well as the opposition have been against the prequalification policy, as it believed that it was tailored to benefit only the New Guyana
Plastic city murder trial…
“I am innocent. I didn’t kill Buddy”- accused tells court Murder Accused Michael Powley told the court yesterday that he is innocent of the crime for which he is indicted. “I am innocent of this crime sir. I didn’t kill Buddy. I didn’t kill Buddy,” the accused told the court as he related the incidents which lead to the death of his neighbour Visnauth Narine called ‘Buddy.’ Powley, who is accused of fatally stabbing Narine on June 8, 2012, According to the indictment, Powley and Narine, who lived next door to each other at Plastic City, West Coast Demerara, were involved in a brawl which led to the latter being stabbed in the region of his chest. Following the confrontation, Narine was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, but Powley fled the scene. The victim purportedly died while receiving medical attention at the institution. Reports indicated that the incident stemmed from a disagreement between the two, over a cooking gas cylinder. The accused is currently on trial before Justice James Bovell-Drakes and a mixed 12member jury at the High Court in Georgetown. Powley was called upon to lead his defence yesterday after a nocase submission, which was presented by his attorney Basil Williams was overruled. Powley recounted that on the June 8, 2012, he was at his residence when he heard his neighbour (Narine) “cussing.” The man told the court that he peeped through a fence and saw his neighbour holding on to his wife‘s clothing. He said that his neighbour had bottles in his hand and had threatened to harm his wife. Powley related that he told Narine to leave his wife alone, but he in turn said “come yuh mother so and so. I gun chop you up today, is you me want.” The accused said that as he advanced towards the man in
MURDER ACCUSED: Michael Powley an attempt to rescue his wife, he (Powley) picked up a piece of wood. He recalled that “Buddy chuck meh wife down pun the
ground and attack me.” The accused said that it was raining and the place was muddy and so he slipped and fell. “Me fall down and he come towards me and we start fight. I look up and three of he friends dem de coming they say we gun chop he up and kill he today,” Powley said in conclusion of his testimony with regard to the killing, before the matter was adjourned . His case is set for next Wednesday for closing addresses to be made the attorneys involved in the case. On Tuesday, State Prosecutors Natasha Backer and Narissa Leander called their final witness to the stand before closing their case. Seven witnesses have testified in the matter that commenced on February 22 last.
Pharmaceutical Corporation (New GPC). Ansa McAl, which has its parent company in Trinidad and Tobago, and the government, had a fallout after it failed to qualify for the Ministry of Health’s prequalification process to supply pharmaceuticals. The Trinidadian conglomerate raised questions about its exclusion from the drug supply prequalification. Managing Director, Beverly Harper, had told the media that she had seen the criteria, and the company thought fully that it met those criteria. “We saw the criteria and we thought that we could have satisfied what was being asked for…We would have never applied if we didn’t think that we met the criteria.” Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon had said that the government chose New GPC as its supplier because of the fear of counterfeit drugs. But Harper said that the remark could not be in reference to Ansa McAl. None of Ansa McAl’s storage facilities were checked during the evaluation process. The company has maintained that it has the correct “cold
storage” needed for certain drugs. In July last year, Cabinet approved New GPC as the nation’s sole pre-qualified supplier of drugs to the Government. New GPC is owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop who happens to be the best friend of former President, Bharrat Jagdeo. That company has been supplying the bulk of the drugs to Government for the past 15 years, ever since it was acquired by Ramroop in 1999. When asked if the criteria used to pre-qualify a company were not biased in favour of New GPC, Cabinet Secretary, Roger Luncheon had said, “The criteria are biased in favour of safety.” Luncheon was asked if New GPC was benefiting because of the relationship that the owner shares with Jagdeo. In response, he pointed to the level of investment by New GPC. The pre-qualification criteria which was used to allow New GPC to be chosen, have been described by the Opposition as being “unreasonable” and tailormade to have that company secure the status. Under the revised criteria, bidders had to demonstrate a
gross annual turnover of US$5 million and net assets of US$2.5 million. Another criterion was that maximum score was to be awarded to applicants who would have paid $50M in corporate taxes, annually. Additionally, the company that has 50 or more employees, and warehousing capacity of 30,000 square feet in the city, will also gain an edge. Yesterday Ramsammy asked “What do you want us to do? Every time we want medicine do a big open tender?” He added, “WHO (World Health Organization) and the global people have said…we prequalify people then they tender and win and that is how the whole globe does it, so what makes us different?
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Kaieteur News
Friday April 03, 2015
PPP calls out Nagamootoo Gun found in car after Strathspey crash on ‘Guyanese’ statements
The crashed vehicle. Inset: the recovered firearm and magazine with rounds Police yesterday recovered an unlicensed .32 Taurus pistol with 11 rounds from a vehicle after the occupants were involved in a crash at Strathspey, East Coast Demerara. Two of the occupants, identified as Sonia Mohamed and Steve Shepherd of Linden, sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. A third occupant, identified as Kerwin Benjamin, sustained minor injuries and was taken into police custody. There are also reports that persons who assisted the injured, made off with a bag containing cash and also stole jewellery
belonging to some of the victims. Some of the jewellery was reportedly recovered in a taxi driver’s car. According to reports, the occupants were heading up the East Coast Demerara at around 04.45 hrs yesterday when the driver lost control in the vicinity of Strathspey. The vehicle struck a post before ramming into a fence. “During investigations…the police recovered an unlicensed .32 Taurus pistol with 11 rounds in the motor vehicle,” police said. “Two men and a woman, who were in the vehicle at the time of the accident, received injuries and have been admitted to hospital.”
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has called out the recently formed coalition, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC)’s Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo on pronouncements that he is, above all, Guyanese. During a press briefing held by the party at Freedom House yesterday, PPP/C Executive and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said since Nagamootoo “denies” being Indian, he should do the “decent thing” and return the award he received in 2008 from the Global Organisation of the People of Indian Origin (GOPIO). Recently at public forums, Nagamootoo stated that despite his race, he is above all else a Guyanese, a statement that has come in for criticism, mainly from the ruling party. As he co-hosted the press conference yesterday, Dr. Ramsammy pointed out that Nagamootoo would have been presented with the award which is generally given to “People of Indian Origin” recognised for their work among the Diaspora.
Stating that he is a proud Indo-Guyanese citizen, Ramsammy said that neither he, the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Elisabeth Harper, PPP/C Executive and Human Services Minister, Jennifer Webster, or any of the PPP’s members “disavow” their origins. He told reporters “We know who we are. We know we are good Guyanese citizens, but we know our origins and we don’t disavow them.” Ramsammy made it pellucid that the members of the PPP are “proud” of their ancestry. “I note that Mr. Nagamootoo now disavows his Indo-Guyanese origins and he is now just a Guyanese, and that’s his view, but he did accept an award as an Indo-Guyanese from the Global Organisation of the People of Indian Origin,” Ramsammy said. Asked by a Kaieteur News reporter why it is such a big issue for the PPP that Nagamootoo identified himself as a Guyanese, Ramsammy responded, “It is simple. We don’t have a problem with Nagamootoo identifying himself as a
Guyanese. I do too… all of us. We are all Guyanese, but Mr. Nagamootoo made it an issue that ‘I am not an IndoGuyanese,’ that he was born in Guyana.” To push his point, Ramsammy pointed to the speech Nagamootoo presented upon receipt of the award. “You can’t disavow our heritage,” the PPP Executive emphasised. Ramsammy added “One of Guyana’s great assets is our diversity and we should acknowledge that and we should promote it. It’s not me. Mr. Nagamootoo goes out there and says I am not an Indo-Guyanese, I am a Guyanese. It’s not me, I’m not making it an issue; he made it an issue.” The PPP Executive claimed that many are asking the question if it is wrong for citizens to acknowledge their origins and heritage. Ramsammy insisted that it is not. Guyana is known for its citizens voting along racial lines and local politicians are constantly accused of racebaiting constituents.
Friday April 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Friday April 03, 2015
Ramotar’s scholarship promise unfulfilled…
Nation’s top CSEC students should not be made to endure such deceit - APNU As one of the country’s top performers at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) still awaits an explanation as to why government has not honoured its promise of a scholarship, the political opposition has chalked the case up to be another clear incident of broken promises by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). Specifically, members of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) deem the case to be a dispiriting one to the ambitious youths who the very government is trying to persuade for their votes in the upcoming polls. APNU said that the nation’s students should not be subjected to endure such levels of deceit and stressed that “Guyana’s outstanding students deserve no less than the best.” Queen’s College student Elisa Hamilton earned 19 Grade One passes and a Grade Two pass at the CSEC examinations last year and
was subsequently promised a government scholarship which would allow her to attend a University of her choice. It is her desire to pursue studies in medicine at Yale University, but Hamilton was later served with some dispiriting news. Much to her dismay, she was served a notice from Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry Hydar Ally, informing her that she can apply to pursue studies in engineering, dentistry and human medicine in Guyana, China or Cuba. This is of course in stark contrast with what Minister of Education Priya Manickchand had said in May 2013 that “President Donald Ramotar informed that the two top performers at CSEC and the two top performers at CAPE would be beneficiaries of government scholarships to pursue studies at universities of their choice in any field.” Hamilton expressed much
President Donald Ramotar
Education Minister, Priya Manickchand
dissatisfaction with the manner in which the matter unfolded and had said that at least if there are changes, students should be informed. Kaieteur News then contacted the Public Services Minister who has responsibility for the award of scholarships and issues relating to the awardees. Asked to say what she plans to do in relation to the matter, Minister Jennifer Westford said, “Madam I don’t discuss matters on scholarships with the media over the phone.” She was asked if a “face to face” interview was possible, to which she gave an emphatic “No!” She then
asserted, “Issues on scholarships and the awardees are discussed between the Ministry and the student. We don’t discuss that with the media. But if the awardee wants to go to the media that’s their business,” after which she ended the call. Dr. Luncheon has given another promise to look into the matter in order to determine why government did not follow through on its commitment to the top CSEC student. The Cabinet Secretary had said that he is aware that the Ministries of Finance, Education and Public Service had indeed lived up to its 2014
Public Services Minister, Jennifer Westford
APNU’s Shadow Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge
obligations, but would want to believe that 2015 is a “different kettle of fish.” He explained that in the absence of an Appropriation Act, the Executive cannot exceed the one-twelfth of the expenditure of the annual budget, and with that limited resource available, some things would not be honoured. “I would want to assume that Hamilton has probably fallen into that category. My office is replete with such complaints with agencies that are not serviced and they write asking for subvention, but I would advise that it’s not within my authority and there isn’t an Appropriation Act,” said Dr. Luncheon. He had said that until the Eleventh Parliament is convened and a budget passed, those expenditures would not be met and so a
holding pattern would be in place. The Cabinet Secretary also said that he would follow up on the issue, because he is also aware of other instances where students on scholarships abroad are unable to receive their stipend because of the absence of an Appropriation Act and no sitting Parliament. In an invited comment, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand said that she may not be the best person to answer the newspaper’s questions, as her Ministry has no responsibility for the issuance of scholarships. Manickchand said the Education ministry’s role was to identify the top students according to predetermined criteria and this was done. She said that the candidates then had to go to the Public (Continued on page 28)
Friday April 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Nandlall recording may haunt PPP in elections - Ramsammy admits The fact that many senior women in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) usually stay silent on matters surrounding abuse and disrespect of women whenever it is perpetrated by any male PPP member was brought to the forefront yesterday. Questions in this regard were posed to the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Jennifer Webster, as she co-hosted a PPP press conference at Freedom House. Webster is the Minister with direct responsibility for women empowerment and development in Guyana. As Webster addressed issues surrounding abuse and disrespect for women, the actions of two of her colleagues were recalled— former President Bharrat Jagdeo and sitting Attorney General, Anil Nandlall. Webster was asked to explain her silence when the former First Lady, Varshnie Singh, went public in 2009 about the abuse she endured during her marriage to Jagdeo. Webster told the media that the former First Lady’s public lamentations about what she went through at the hands of her husband were mere allegations. “That is an allegation and I am not familiar with Jagdeo’s personal life as it relates to his relations with Miss Varshnie Singh. What I do know is what he said himself and I do not know if I can provide any clarification on that issue because I am not familiar,” said Webster. Webster was further questioned as to whether she made efforts to get more information; she responded in the affirmative. However, the Minister failed to provide
- Webster urges women to “forgive and forget”
Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
Human Services Minister, Jennifer Webster
details as to how she went about getting further information. In fact, she sidestepped the question when Kaieteur News asked her how she gathered information other than that which she heard from Jagdeo. With regards to Nandlall, Webster said that it is high time women “forgive and forget” the way a young female professional was regarded by Nandlall. The AG was heard making some damning comments during a conversation that was recorded and made public. Very disturbingly, the Attorney General, in the recording referred to a female
Kaieteur News reporter as a “lil thing” and advocated that his uncle, Kamal Mangal got an opportunity to “f**k de girl.” “The honourable Attorney General spoke on the matter; he has apologized for the utterances he has made. I also think that he is saddened by it because he expressed concern afterwards about referring to a woman as a ‘thing’ and said that he was cautioned by his mother and that really affected him. I think that in the eyes of all, he has sought forgiveness for what he has said in the public domain.” Asked if he got her forgiveness, Webster told the media, “This is holy week, and
Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo
Attorney General, Anil Nandlall
Former First Lady, Varshnie Singh
I am a devout Christian, and in life many of us do things, but God forgives and if you are a Christian you have to forgive and forget.” Webster was then asked if her pointing out the fact that God forgives means that she has forgiven Nandlall, she responded, “I did not say that, I said you have to forgive and forget.” Accompanying Webster at yesterday’s press conference was Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy who said that Nandlall’s utterance may very well come back to haunt the PPP at the upcoming elections.
Ramsammy spoke a lot about character yesterday and about the importance of having a good character as a politician. Ramsammy, whose signature appeared at the bottom of an authorization letter for the drug lord, Shaheed Roger Khan to be able to purchase sensitive spy and phone tapping equipment from a Florida shop, boasted about his character. The equipment was bought and it is believed that Khan used the same equipment to listen in on telephone conversations of the Police Commissioner at
the time Winston Felix. Ramsammy declared his hands are “clean” with regards to issues surrounding the convicted drug king pin. He added that he has “impeccable character.” However, the Minister could not have said the same about his comrade, Nandlall. He said that Nandlall’s language was very “flowery” and admitted that the things Nandlall was heard saying could come back to hurt the PPP. “But that is for people to judge; that is what I am saying. Our characters are there; we put it on the table to let people consider it.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday April 03, 2015
PPP trumpets its plans to increase pensions, salaries Merely days after talks about an increase in Old Age Pension and the salaries of public servants surfaced from the main Opposition camp, the ruling party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has joined the ‘bandwagon,’ stating that it will also deliver raises in that regard. During a press briefing yesterday, PPP Executive and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that by the time the 2015 fiscal budget is presented, pensioners would see an increase in the Old Age Pension from $12,500 to $15,000. The Executive said that based on his party’s record in Government, public servants can also expect an increase in their salaries. Ramsammy’s statements trail promises by the main opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) to increase Old Age Pension and the salaries of public servants, should they be elected to govern Guyana. The recently formed coalition’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Moses Nagamootoo on Sunday, last told thousands of Berbicians that should the coalition be
elected to office following the May 11 General and Regional Elections, within 100 days in office, APNU+AFC will institute a 10% increase across the board for public servants while the pensioners will start receiving $15,000 monthly. Nagamootoo’s statement was made at the party’s Whim, Corentyne Unity Rally where thousands poured in from near and far to show support for the coalition, which hopes to form the next unity government. Ramsammy at the press conference at Freedom House yesterday chastised the opposition for its proposed increases to public servant salaries and old age pensions. Focusing on alleged events which occurred over 20 years ago, the party executive claimed that during the People’s National Congress (PNC) era there was a “wage freeze” and certain conditions had to be met before senior citizens could have access to old age pensions. “On the matter of pension in Guyana, we have a record. We have removed the means test and we have increased the pension every year. By the time the 2015 Budget is
presented, the pensioners would see their pension increased to $15,000 per month, because that’s based on our record. That’s what we do,” Ramsammy boasted to reporters. Focusing on history, Ramsammy said that the 10% promised to public servants by the Opposition should be considered because “our history is that one political party has frozen wage and salary increases, has not given wage and salary increases, and by their management of their country, caused the deterioration of the value of what they earned”. The PPP Executive told media operatives that the party has a record for 22 years, each year, of increasing public servants’ salaries. “We have never denied public servants an increase, not a single year in government from 1992 to now, and between 1957 and 1964. So whether it’s the recent record or past record, we are consistent,” Ramsammy claimed. Annually, increases such as five percent have promoted protest and widespread condemnation in the government’s direction. In this regard, Ramsammy
said “People may not be satisfied with the amount of increase, but we have never frozen salaries and we have never not given a pay increase. We have always done so. That’s our record. So when we say we will continue to increase public servants’ salary and pensioners’ payments, we base this not on just what we plan to do, we base this on our record.” This comes in spite of the fact that Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh had said that the APNU+AFC coalition has exposed its level of political desperation with its resort to utter promises of random “goodies”. “This is nothing short of a blatant attempt to bribe voters and is a gross insult to the Guyanese people,” Dr Singh said describing the increases.
According to Minister Singh, what is worse is that the members of the APNU+AFC grouping have become notorious for inconsistency; offering a different set of “goodies” every time they speak. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo recently came in for stiff criticism after questioning wage increase pronouncements being made by the united opposition parties ahead of the upcoming 2015 General Elections. The former President, at Freedom House last Saturday, ridiculed statements made by Nagamootoo, who, with his APNU+AFC Coalition, is proposing wage increases for a public sector which the opposition insists has been badly beaten by the current Administration.
Jagdeo was of the opinion that Nagamootoo had no idea what he was talking about, since he knows nothing about policy and what a salary increase would mean for the country economically. When asked to comment on the proposal, the former president charged that Nagamootoo “wouldn’t know how much it is as a percentage of the country’s GDP or what fraction of the budget deficit it is.” After accusing the former PPP member of being a disgruntled, power-hungry politician who abandoned the party after failing to be elected as the Presidential candidate, Jagdeo said, “If you ask him (Nagamootoo) what (the increase) means, he wouldn’t know. He just plucks these numbers from his head. He is a rabble rouser.”
Nation’s top CSEC students... (From page 14) Service Ministry which would take the process forward. She said the thinking behind the scholarship was that these top students were good enough to study and do well anywhere, in any field, and return to serve Guyana in the area of expertise they would have acquired. The Minister said that the fields that students could study in were not limited, because Guyana is booming and will need expertise even in new and emerging sectors. Manickchand asserted that if this had changed and the subjects and/or places of study were now more narrowly defined then, “the fair thing to do would be to so inform the student population so it is unlikely that if indeed there is a change in policy that it could or would affect the batch that Elisa (Hamilton) belongs to.” She added too that she was very proud of the accomplishments of the young lady who should be celebrated. The Minister said she is however, guided by Dr.
Luncheon’s pronouncements on the matter that at this point there is no money to make the award, because of the onetwelfth expenditure rule in the absence of an Appropriation Bill. She noted however that this seemed to her to be a temporary matter that could be resolved. Minister Manickchand said the fact that this election is premature is as a direct result of the opposition’s greed for power and that the resultant disruptions on people’s lives should be laid squarely at the feet of a callous, power-hungry opposition. “They laughingly called for early elections without considering the effect it would have on the lives of our citizens,” she added. On the other hand, Opposition’s Chief Whip, Amna Ally expressed that Hamilton’s case simply shows that government is only good at breaking promises even to the youth they so often profess to have a vested interest in. She opined that it is discouraging that youths under the current
administration are given “half truths” about government’s plans for them, and urged that others should take note of the President’s treatment of the matter. Her colleague, APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge, said that he would even add that it is a crying shame that government has not honoured its obligations to the top performing student. He sought to remind that pre-1992, scholarships were awarded to top performers on a policy basis which allowed them to attend colleges of their choice,regardless of which country it was in. “But the PPP/C stopped that and it is disheartening what they have done to Miss Hamilton. While this principle must go across the board, one must note that our outstanding students deserve no less than the best. And the excuse of not having money is utter nonsense. How did they find money to fund the Marriott Hotel and the Hope Canal that can never finish? They transferred $20B for the sugar industry and tried to transfer $3B to the Central Planning and Housing Authority from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission. They find monies for their own self-serving purposes and fraudulent projects, but when it comes to supporting and investing in our youth, they suddenly find the convenient construct that they don’t have monies to take care of students abroad on scholarship programmes and those to receive. One can only draw the obvious conclusion that they have no respect for our youth,” Greenidge firmly stated.
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Kaieteur News
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Limited access to schools stymieing special needs education By Desilon Daniels She sits on her bed, watching intently as her brother and sister prepare for school. It’s Monday morning and their uniforms are freshly washed, prepared for a week of hard work and equally hard play. However, for her, school is out of the question; her special needs keep her home with parents, her closest friends and confidantes in her life. Though Guyana has been making strides in educating children with special needs, Canadian Associate Professor, Dr. Mary Jane Harkins, believes that much more needs to be done. She said that physical accessibility to schools is the first hindrance that needed to
be addressed. Dr Harkins recently concluded a year’s worth of intensive training in the area of Special Education Needs (SEN). The training was a part of the Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project (GITEP) conducted in association with Harkins’s institution, the University of Mount Saint Vincent. During an interview, Dr Harkins explained that special education has become inclusive education and therefore includes all learners. During a presentation, it was also emphasised that children with special needs are not “retarded”. The presentation showed that ‘retarded’ should be completely struck from everyone’s vocabulary. Learners could be gifted
- Canadian Associate Professor children who need to advance in their learning, or a child whose grade is down but who must be included in the education system. Dr Harkins added that a main goal was making schools accessible to all students. She said that in her time here, she recognised that Guyana has made it a priority in its education system to making schools accessible and inclusive. However, she said, physical accessibility in public schools still remain an issue. According to Dr Harkins, Guyana is developing new schools with the aim of making them accessible. However, she said, not all students can go into a regular
Eighteen youths gain employment under C-Pets project
Beneficiaries of the C-Pets flanked by Assistant Commissioner of Police Marlon Chapman (left) and Deputy Commander D Division, Stephen Mansell. Given their efforts to alleviate unemployment among the youth in communities along their district, police officers of ‘D’ Division have found jobs for eighteen (18) young men living between Stewartville and Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, (WCD) under their social inclusion project, CPets. C- Pets, which was launched last year, is the brainchild of “D” Division Commander, Ian Amsterdam. The project is part of a strategic plan to encourage communities, faith-based organizations, police and residents to build closer relationships with each other, in an effort to reduce drugs and alcohol abuse among citizens, promote sports, culture, entertainment and youth empowerment. The initiative is also a collaborative effort between faith-based organisations, government agencies,
business organizations, as well as a number of Non Governmental Organizations, (NGOs) and stakeholders. Given this linkage with the business community, the ‘D’ Division Police, under this project, have afforded youths in the district, opportunities for employment. According to Deputy Commander of Police ‘D’ Division, Stephen Mansell, the programme caters for young persons, particularly men, between ages of 18-25 years. Mansell explained that men would be attached to companies as trainees and at the end of six months, they have the opportunity of becoming permanent employees, once vacancies exist.
He said that to date, twenty-six (26) persons have gained employment under the initiative geared at getting youths off the streets and empowering them. In this instance, the Deputy Commander explained that 18 youths have been employed by Kares Engineering, of Windsor Forest, WCD, where they will up to earn $40,000 monthly. Today, Mansell is scheduled to engage a further 75 youths from Stewartville, Uitvlugt, Zeeburg, De Willem and Meten Meer Zorg with the aim of providing jobs. Project C-Pets was launched on July 10, 2014, and has since been touted as one of the reasons for crime reduction in the region.
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school. “Some of them need a specialized setting; there are some of those who may have mobility issues and these are barriers to going to school,” Dr Harkins explained. She continued, “That’s what they’re looking at now when they build the new schools; that they’ll be accessible to all students, whether they have mobility issues or not.” In the Guyana context, Dr Harkins said it was important for SEN to be focused on, because of the untapped expertise and knowledge among those not in schools. She noted that many persons who have achieved great things in love had some form of a special need. “There are always those that are struggling in the schools because they may have a learning disability and may need to be taught differently. So, we need to reach all of those students because they may have special expertise,” Dr. Harkins emphasised. Dr Harkins said that teachers needed to be upgraded in the same way as physical facilities. The professor said that things are “constantly
Dr. Mary Jane Harkins changing in special education” and she opined that teachers needed to be prepared to meet the needs of all students. “There are students with different ranges, interests, needs and abilities, so we’re training teachers with the newest techniques possible with assistant technology and all of these strategies and pedagogies so that they’ll be able to reach the students that have all these special needs,” Dr Harkins said. Dr Harkins said that the intensive training occurred over a one-year period and was completed in eight cycles. “Each month we would come and do workshops; we would visit schools together and we would observe teacher trainees and coach
teacher trainees. We also would help to support them so that they can implement the things they are learning in the programme. “So it went for a year and we would have workshops every day, approximately two to three hours. It was very intensive, so they would have the opportunity to try a lot of new strategies and ideas. “In the time that I was away they would try implement it and then we would have discussions around that,” Dr Harkins explained. She explained that the school visits were across Guyana and mostly at the primary and nursery levels. She said that during the visits she recognized that the schools were well-run while the students were “the most polite children in the world”. The professor noted that the main issue was the scarcity of resources in the schools and said that this was tackled by the provision of technology and other resources without a great deal of expense. The year of training concluded last Friday with a closing ceremony. Dr Harkins had been the coach for less than a dozen lecturers from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and the University of Guyana (UG).
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Kaieteur News
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EDUCATIONAL Alpha is registering now for cosmetology, body massage, dressmaking, cake decoration, cakes & pastries & more - Call: 264-1052; 663-7930 Accounting is easy! Sign up now for CSEC P.O.A classes for a guaranteed excellent grade. Call: 654-1723 Phonics, Reading, Spelling Classes for children of all ages, limited space available – Tel: 675-4379 Pre-Easter Computer Classes; 9 Courses: Office 2013, windows 7/8, $30,000.00 MicroGraphics Technology Vreed-En-Hoop, Tel: 264-3057 Pre-Easter Computerized Accounting, 4 Courses: Ptree, QuickBooks, POS, Excel 2013, $30,000.00 @ MicroGraphics Vreed-En-Hoop, Tel: 264-3057 2 Weeks of FUN Learning, Kids Easter Computer Classes, $5,000 @ MicroGraphics Vreed-EnHoop: 264-3057
LAND FOR SALE Blankenburg, 3 lots 75X76 each, $15M, all 3 lots, Parika, Peter Street, lot size 38’X150' - $7.9M-Contact # 650-0402/ 260-4988 Houselot: Parcel No: 100, Block XV, Granville Housing Scheme, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara. Call: 227-1905 Parfaite Harmonie -$1.3M (80ftX45ft), $1.5M (80ftX50ft) –Tel: 675-7292 50 Acres titled farm land @ The Belle, Upper Dem, River Front - $100M negotiable, serious enquiries only! – Tel: 669-8152 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 6626045 Mahadeo Construction for all construction, carpentry, masonry, pluming, painting etc. Free estimates and plan Contact # 669-7376 Accounting & Taxation Services: tax returns, compliances, financial statements. Avinash Persaud Tax Consultancy, 163 Parika, EBE - Call: 260-4762. Exchange your empty HP & Canon printer ink cartridges for a full one & pay only $2,000 & $2,500 - Call:6507699 Your Dream Yard Today! Stunning designs, Assortment, colourful plant choices, Professional Landscapers Tel: 219-0468/ 648-1821
VACANCY Work from home: Earn $5,000 - $20,000 daily, 9am - 5pm, Monday to Saturday - Call: 233-6517/ 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com One live in maid, must be from country, know to cook Indian dishes – Tel: 662-1124; 6110200 SECURITY GUARDS, CANTER DRIVERS, SALESMEN, MARKETING ASSISTANT with Drivers Licence. Accommodation Available. Tel. 266 4427 Floor Supervisor, Bond Supervisor, Delivery Clerk, apply with written application & passport size picture @ Survival, 173 Sheriff St., Campbellville –Tel: 227-5286-9 Cashier @ Shell Service Station Providence E.B.D shift work – (6am-3pm & 3pm12pm) email:shellramsburg@gmail.com; submit to name above International Cruiselines, receptionists, cooks, waitresses, carpenters, cleaners, storekeepers, electricians, welders Contact Professional Recruitment Agency - 231-6296, 650-9880 Experienced Accounts Clerk, apply in person with hand written application @ Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek. Experienced hauler driver, porters, rip saw & plane operator @ Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D - Call Richard: 6097675; 674-1705; 233-2614
Staying in your own home…. We assist seniors with meal preparation, personal hygiene, grooming etc – Call: 609-1981
Male experienced driver, 20-40yrs old, preferably from Timehri/ Turkeyen area- Contact: 261-2280; 668-7104
REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS- CALL:6294946 OR 225-4822
Experienced Cleaner & bartenders – Call: 225-8572 between 7am-9am
Balloon decorating for birthdays, weddings, anniversary etc, make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 Mukesh Plastic Welding & Crack Wind Screen repairs: water tanks, bumper, side m i r r o r, d o o r l o c k & radiators etc. Call: 6822893; 692-9813 For the best deals on tents – Call Vicky Rocky: 276-0548; 276-0299. Enjoy our special prices for weddings
Toyota Prado, Price$4.7M Neg. Call: 643-2403 Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Bluebird, Spacio, Fielder, Carina 212, Sienta, IST – Call: 652-3820/665-4529 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma - Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 One Noah Van - $1.4M negotiable – Tel:641-2763; HL2 Hilux - $6.4M negotiable – 641-2763 First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Bluebird, Sienta, Runx, Axio, Verossa, Mark 2-Call : 609-8188; 638-3045 Toyota Avensis $2.550M negotiable – Tel:645-0078; 603-0078 Unregistered 2003 Toyota Spacio front & back camera, TV/ navi / CD player 52000 KM - $2.250M – Contact: 682-5117 1 Dyna Canter GPP - $2M, 1 Mitsubishi GNN - $1.5M, both vehicles are in excellent condition – Tel: 680-3863 Toyota Hilux Vigo GSS series – Tel:656-3561; 6976510 New Model Allion $3.300, 2004 Spacio $2.050, Registered Spacio $1.7M Call: 655-3400 Toyota Voxy to be registered in “B” series - $2.1M & ‘G’ series - $1.7M – Tel: 617-2891 Unregistered Posh, Toyota IST –Tel: 657-1796 Unregistered Corolla Fielder, 2003, body kit, fog, TV/ navigation, dark interior, rear spoiler, roof rack. Call: 617-5536 RAV 4, excellent condition, teacher driven, very reasonable price – Tel: 618-5592
We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655, 683-8734 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING AND ESTIMATES FOR ONLY $15,000- CALL:6949843/227-2766
VEHICLE FOR SALE
SERVICES GIVE YOUR RIDE THAT SHOWROOM FINISH! PAINT CORRECTION TO REMOVE SWIRLS, SCRATCHES, WATER SPOTS, WAX – TEL: 6107108 VEHICLE FOR SALE 2-20 Ton Dump Truck, American- Tel: 661-6161 Blow Out Sale!!! Unregistered Toyota IST $2,150,000- Bodykit, TV, Spoiler, Fogs, Alloy Wheels, Crystal Lights & Alarm – Call: 643-6565, 226-9931 1 Mini bus 2 RZ BPP series $1M negotiable –Tel: 615-3904
Unregistered 2008 Nissan XTrail fully loaded -$5,550,000 negotiable- Tel: 611-1833 Blow Out Sales @ Star Cars Auto Sale- Premio, Spacio, Bluebird, IST, Benz, Alteeza, free alarm- Tel: 679-3140 L-Touring with original skirts, excellent condition, 15" rims, DVD, Alarm Call: 6946609/233-2538 1 Toyota Dyna 2 1/2 tons truck, 16 feet flay bed tray, GKK 5500 in excellent condition - Telephone: 3335825;617-3233 Truck in excellent condition, 1 Ivaco E cargo 5 tons dump truck, GSS 1096 Year 2006 Telephone 333- 5825; 617-3233 Continued on page 31
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Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news
No journalist could be satisfied with attending press conferences to only hear what public officials have to say DEAR EDITOR, Please refer to an article which appeared in your Kaieteur News of April 2, 2015: “Kaieteur reporters walk out after being insulted at Brassington’s press conference”. Kaieteur News reporters must be congratulated for their action against the disrespectful action meted out to them by Mr. Kit Nascimento. Who does he think he is? I hope the Guyana Press Association and the Private Media Owners Association and all civic-minded
Guyanese publicly condemn this attack on specifically Kaieteur News and, in fact, all other media outfits that do not appear to be supporting the PPP/C government. It is a real pity that Mr. Nascimento felt obligated to unashamedly, stoop so low, to attack, Kaieteur News reporters, at a media event. But Mr. Nascimento’s action is part of a wider pattern of abuse practised by the PPP/C. Just the other day, a senior government official abused the editor and other reporters from the very
Kaieteur News at a press conference hosted by PPP/C General Secretary, Mr. Clement Rohee, at Freedom House and at the Office of the President. At his recent press conference, Former President BJ also restricted Kaieteur News reporters to two questions. The question is why would anyone, including the government or government agencies, invite the media to a conference and then prevent journalists and reporters from asking real
serious questions about the issue/s discussed? Perhaps, that conference was just a sham, a mere public relations exercise to deceive the public. No journalist could be satisfied with attending press conference to only hear what public officials have to say without asking question about their utterances. I would like to encourage the owner of that newspaper and all the staff to continue the good work of holding the government accountable for action to citizens. Aubrey James
There will be darker days ahead if... From page 4 sadness, a recognition that savagery is an increasing part of societal life, and worse, those who are in power are incapable of solving them. Instead, they continue to spew mindless psychobabble. Regrettably, when heinous crimes such as the political assassination of Courtney Crum Ewing are committed, one gets the sense that it will be another “cold murder case” because we know that the real murderers will not be caught. The Police have not made an intensive effort to solve it. Instead, they are buying time so that the late Crum Ewing murder like many other murders will become another cold case of unsolved murders. The truth is the top brass of police force is afraid of reprisals from those in authority. And worse, the leaders of the PPP have shown total disrespect for the dead with their vicious, slimy and hateful attacks against the late Courtney Crum Ewing who was laid to rest two weeks ago. Many, including supporters of the PPP, feel they are like a runaway train with their vicious attacks on the most vulnerable and hapless victim and the dead. Critical areas that are severely impacting the people were not addressed at their Kitty rally and many others such as corruption, the raping of the treasury, mismanagement of the country’s resources, health care and education are not given the attention they deserve in this campaign by the PPP. The PPP cabal is more interested in addressing and meeting their own needs and those of their rich friends and relatives. In Guyana, there is an urgent need for proper health care in areas of physical and mental health, but the current health care system is anti-
quated. The health care system lacks infrastructure, training and expertise at multiple levels, including the proper management of resources and personnel. The incompetent PPP regime has failed to design and develop a modern health care system, yet, they have allowed Surrendra Engineering to rob the taxpayers of over US$10 million in their ill-fated attempt to build the Specialty Hospital. If built, the Specialty Hospital would have only benefitted themselves and their rich friends and relatives. The only access the poor and the working class would have had to the Specialty Hospital is to mop the floors, empty the garbage, become security guards and porters. In terms of crime, there is not a single plan or strategy to get the crime rates down, and is nowhere close and will not be for a long time. In the meantime, Mr. Rohee continues to cite his own twisted statistics which often seem out of touch to fool the nation that the crime rate is going down. He is completely ignorant
of the fact that security is a qualitative issue and that robbery is not just about mayhem and murder, but about the long term psychological pain and suffering of the victims. It will take years of concerted effort and intense collaboration with ministries like a competent Ministry of Home Affairs, an effective and ingenious Ministry of Education, a sensible Ministry of Culture, and an intensely high-functioning and hands-on Ministry of Human Services to both solve crime and weed it out all-together. Solving crime is
a very complex problem which has not been understood by the PPP regime and it is not their primary focus which means that the solution to the problem seems dim. Unless there is a change of government on May 11, the twin evils of armed robberies and murders will continue to reap havoc on the nation. It is time for all to ponder what will happen to this and future generations if the PPP is re-elected to office? Asquith Rose, Chandra Deolall, Dr. Merle SpencerMarks.
(From page 30)
FOR RENT PROPERTY FOR SALE Parfaite Harmonie, West Minister, Onderneeming, Cornela Ida, Tushcen, etc Contact: Pacific Development Inc # 223-6035; 231-8480 Houses & land available for sale in Non- Pariel, Enmore, Providence & Diamond Contact: Pacific Development Inc # 223-6035; 231-8480 2 Storied concrete house, 3 bedrooms upstairs; Land 95X65, House 65X32 @ Vieira H/Scheme, Land of Canaan E.B.D – Tel: 6420867; 644-6479 Two storied concrete house, two bedrooms upstairs, two bedrooms downstairs $20Million @ Block “8” Mon Repos, E.C.D- Tel:625-1514 Property situated in East La penitence, Georgetown, 2 storied concrete buildings in need of repairs, price negotiable –Tel: 662-6173
Roadblock at Cove and... From page 4 states that the police roadblock held at Cove and John last Tuesday was not “improper” nor was it being conducted “in violation of police procedures” as stated in the article. The roadblock was being held on the Cove and John Public Road at the entrance to the Cove and John Police Station and the Police Divisional Headquarters by ranks in police uniform; there was therefore no need for any
marked police vehicle at that point. It should be noted also that at the entrance to the Cove and John Police Station Compound there is an illuminated sign clearly indicating the location of the station. The Guyana Police Force further states that the police roadblock was not withdrawn following the intervention of Mr. Freddie Kissoon and then later replaced as is implied in the article. The roadblock continued
in progress until it was assessed to be tactically appropriate to conclude the activity. The concern expressed by Mr. Freddie Kissoon to the effect that the ranks at the police roadblock at Cove and John, ECD, on Tuesday were not wearing name tags has been noted and that issue is now engaging the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Ivelaw Whittaker Public Relations and Press Officer
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Wash bay and snackette @ 15 Good Hope E.B.E – Call: 680-4990; 277-3033 Business spaces for rent @ West Shore Plaza Building, Ruimzeight, W.C.D, Public Road – Tel:269-1524; 6563561 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, , JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE - CALL: 675-0767, 627-5098 2 Bedrooms to rent located at D5 Wallers Delight W.C.D Tel: 674-4929; 662-0187 Concrete 3 bedrooms upper flat house fully grilled, parking available @ Agricultural road Mon Repos, E.C.D- Call:687-1050 1- 95X50 business place for rent located at Mon Repos Public Road E.C.D –Tel: 6276789; 656-0602 Semi furnished lower flat $50,000 per month @ Uitvlugt W.C.D – Tel:2773743; 626-0150
TO LET Three bedrooms upper flat in Diamond New Scheme Section “A” 3rd Avenue – Tel: 623-2795 Kitty one (1) fully grilled three (3) bedrooms downstairs Tel: 641-2939 Furnished 2 bedroom apartment with AC Available for long/short term rentalCall: 665-2548 Spacious semi furnished 2 bedrooms house at Parfaite Harmonie –Tel: 680-6137; 6283889 1 One bedroom apartment @ C/Ville, shop space – Call: 650-0716; 667-7863; 223-1051
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Friday April 03, 2015
Suicide Bombing Kills 16 At Anti- Al Shabaab kills at least 147 at Corruption Rally In Afghanistan Kenyan university; siege ends KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide bomber attacked an anti-corruption demonstration in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing 16 people and wounding up to 60, officials said. The explosion in the eastern city of Khost wounded a local member of parliament, Hamayun Hamayoon, according to Mubarez Mohammed Zadran, the provincial governor’s spokesman. The acting director of the provincial public health
department, Hedayat Hamidi, said local hospitals have received 60 wounded, “among them civilians and members of the security forces.” Khost is a volatile province along the border with Pakistan where the Taliban have an entrenched, long-term presence. In recent months, hundreds of thousands of people have arrived in the province fleeing a Pakistani army offensive against Taliban strongholds across the border. No claim of responsibility for the attack has yet been
made. Earlier on Thursday, the police chief of a restive district in the country’s south was killed by a roadside bomb. Hikmatullah Akmal was heading toward a Taliban attack on a checkpoint in Gereshk district when the bomb planted by insurgents struck his vehicle, according to Helmand provincial police chief Nabi Jan Malakhail. A major military operation is underway to drive Taliban insurgents from the poppyrich valley of the Helmand River. The insurgents, fighting to protect supply routes and a major source of funding from the opium produced in the province, have stepped up attacks on police checkpoints and other government targets.
(Reuters) - Gunmen from the Islamist militant group al Shabaab stormed a university in Kenya and killed at least 147 people on Thursday, in the worst attack on Kenyan soil since the U.S. embassy was bombed in 1998. The siege ended nearly 15 hours after the Somali group’s gunmen shot their way into the Garissa University College campus in a pre-dawn attack, sparing Muslim students and taking many Christians hostage. Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery said four gunmen strapped with explosives were behind the attack, the same number that killed 67 people during the 2013 bloodbath at a shopping mall in Nairobi. “The operation has ended successfully. Four terrorists have been killed,” Nkaissery told Kenyan media. Kenyan police chief Joseph Boinet said the attackers had “shot indiscriminately” when they entered the university compound. Police and soldiers surrounded the campus and exchanged gunfire with the attackers throughout the day but were repeatedly repelled. At least 79 people were injured and many airlifted to Nairobi, Kenya’s national disaster body said. Al Shabaab, who carried out the deadly attack on the
Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi in 2013, claimed responsibility for the raid on the campus in Garissa, a town 200 km (120 miles) from the Somali border. The group has links to al Qaeda and a record of raids on Kenyan soil in retaliation for Nairobi sending troops to fight it in its home state of Somalia Al Qaeda bombed the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania on the same day in 1998, killing 224 people and wounding thousands of people. The United States condemned the latest attack and offered Kenya help in fighting al Shabaab. One image provided by a local journalist showed a dozen blood-soaked bodies strewn across a single university classroom in Garissa. But some students managed to escape unaided. “We heard some gunshots and we were sleeping so it was around five and guys started jumping up and down running for their lives,” an unnamed student told Reuters TV. Authorities offered a 20 million shilling ($215,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of a man called Mohamed Mohamud, described as “most wanted” and linked to the attack. Police chief Boinet said Kenya had imposed a duskto-dawn curfew on four regions near the Somalia border. TOURISMAND RELIGION Al Shabaab, which seeks to impose its own harsh version of sharia law, has
separated Muslims from Christians in some of its previous raids in Kenya, notably late last year in attacks on a bus and at a quarry. Its repeated raids, together with attacks on churches by home-grown Islamist groups, have strained the cordial relations between Kenya’s Muslim and Christian communities. Having killed more than 200 people in Kenya over the past two years, Al Shabaab has also brought the tourism industry to its knees. Thursday’s attack undermined a renewed drive by President Uhuru Kenyatta to persuade foreigners the country is now safe to visit. On Wednesday, he had urged Kenyans abroad to help attract tourists back despite the wave of militant violence, criticizing a warning from Australia of a possible attack in Nairobi and an advisory from Britain urging its citizens to avoid most coastal resorts. Grace Kai, a student at the Garissa Teachers Training College near the university, said there had been warnings that an attack in the town could be imminent. “Some strangers had been spotted in Garissa town and were suspected to be terrorists,” she told Reuters. “Then on Monday our college principal told us ... that strangers had been spotted in our college... On Tuesday we were released to go home, and our college closed, but the campus remained in session, and now they have been attacked.”
Friday April 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
Fears of sickout after CAL talks collapse Trinidad Express - Talks between Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA) have broken down and it’s possible there may be sick-out action by pilots over the long Easter weekend. TTALPA industrial relations consultant Gerard Pinard told the Express in a telephone interview that pilots are considered essential and are precluded from taking any industrial action. “There certainly would not be any TTALPAsanctioned action, but that does not mean that indi-vidual pilots are not getting irritated and aggravated with this situ-ation with CAL,” said Pinard. Sources told the Express some pilots were totally fed up with the situation and calling in sick may not be ruled out. There was a meeting between TTALPA and CAL on Tuesday which was disastrous as there was no outcome reached and TTALPA issued a statement to its members, informing them the talks have broken down. In the memo, dated March 31, 2015, TTALPA noted the breakdown of negotiations between CAL and TTALPA, for the period 2010 to 2013, has been referred to the Industrial Court by the Ministry of Labour as an unresolved trade dispute. It explained in an effort to reduce the areas of disagreement between CAL and TTALPA, both parties
agreed to informal conciliation proceedings under the auspices of the Labour Ministry. “Our efforts at negotiating our collective agreement during these informal conciliation meetings at the Ministry of Labour have regrettably broken down,” stated TTALPA. It informed it requested that CAL provide clarification on information a foreigncontracted B737 aircraft, and crew, with a work permit issued on March 6, was allowed to fly on a CAL route on February 22, in possible contravention of local laws. TTALPA also requested the names and copies of the contracts of new hires on the ATR fleet, which services the air-bridge between Trinidad and Tobago. “We also made it clear to CAL that it was wholly unacceptable for the company to be engaging pilots on terms and conditions that were not negotiated on their behalf by TTALPA, as the recognised majority union for pilots,” stated the association. “By going behind our backs and employing ‘scab labour’, we submitted that they were engaging in ‘unionbusting’ tactics,” it added. Pinard confirmed the contents of the memo and said CAL’s position at the meeting was not serious and certainly not in good faith. He said the matter is before the Industrial Court and parties have a deadline of April 17 by which to make any submissions.
Gerard Pinard He said CAL has been enga-ging contract pilots and first officers, in an attempt to deal with heavy flight schedules. Pinard said TTALPA strongly objects to this as CAL is not supposed to be going out there and independently negotiating with pilots. He said TTALPA is negotiating for the period 2010 to 2013, and some 163 CAL pilots have been operating on 2010 fixed salaries. He said last week, there was a meeting with Minister of Trade Vasant Bharath, who was manda-ted by the Prime Minister to deal specifically with outstanding variable incentive pay (VIP), which amounts to some $35 million and remains outstanding and unpaid to the pilots over the past few years. The minister, he said, requested a few days, after which he will get back to them. Pinard said Bharath also indica-ted he cannot get involved in their salary issues. Efforts to contact CAL chairman Philip Marshall yesterday proved futile.
Popularity of presidents of Brazil, Chile fall amid scandals SAO PAULO — Associated Press - The oncepopular presidents of Brazil and Chile have both seen their approval ratings plunge
amid corruption scandals that have battered their center-left governments, according to polls released Wednesday. Only 12 percent of
Caribbean Union of Teachers warn of escalation of teachers action The Gleaner - The Caribbean Union of Teachers has warned that it is prepared to escalate the action taken by Barbadian teachers who say they will not submit final School Based Assessment (SBA) marks for students. The union says this could include taking protest regionwide. The Barbados government has already warned teachers that they could face disciplinary action
if they maintain their position. The government has accused the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union and the Barbados Union of Teachers of being unreasonable. The teachers are demanding adequate compensation for conducting the SBA programme being administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).
Brazilians polled thought President Dilma Rousseff’s government was doing an “excellent” or “good” job, while 64 percent qualified it as “bad” or “terrible,” according to a survey by the respected polling institute Ibope. Ibope interviewed 2,002 people between March 21 and 25. The poll had a margin of error of 2 percentage points. Rousseff’s popularity has been buffeted by a sprawling corruption case involving Petrobras, Brazil’s state oil company, and a slumping economy. In Chile, President Michelle Bachelet’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest level as a bank loan scandal involving her son dents her popularity.
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Bakewell Slingerz and... (From page 39) of reach of the advancing keeper. Riddim Squad really had no chance getting past Slingerz’s rock solid defence led by Colin Nelson and including King Solomon Austin and Joshua Brown. Dwayne Lawrence and Abrams came in as substitutes replacing Vurlon Mills and Wade respectively and the two would team up to score the game’s fourth goal. Lawrence attacking his defenders sent a ‘through-ball’ that was beautifully taken by Abrams who found himself 1v1 with the gaolie; the veteran forward called on his experience to guide the ball safely into the
back of the net. It was the team’s most impressive performance as compared to their foes Alpha United who scraped past Pele. Omallo Williams was Pele’s star of the night, breaking down Alpha’s defence at will but the diminutive forward lacked the adequate finishing touches. Alpha and Golden Jaguars defender Jamaal Smith had his work cut out for him for the entire night. However, the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship bound team played flatfooted and had Pele finished all the chances they created, the results would have certainly been dif-
ferent. Richardson capitalised on the lack of focus in Pele’s defence to break down the middle employing daft footwork coupled with a sudden burst of speed while perfectly controlling the ball that eluded Pele’s Richard ‘Loddo’ Reynolds who advanced with a view of cutting Richardson off. But even as experienced as Reynolds is he could not have kept Richardson from scoring the lone and winning goal in the 30th minute. The winner of this y e a r ’s t o u r n a m e n t w i l l pocket $2M, second place $1m while third and fourth gets $750,000 and $500,000 respectively.
Friday April 03th 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This is one of those days in which you may ask for five minutes to complete a certain task and an hour later finally finish whatever you set out to do. Keep in mind that this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Things may come to you more easily than usual today, Libra. This is a sign that you're on the right path and doing things correctly. Life shouldn't have to be full of stress and heartache.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Don't be afraid of the fire today, Taurus. Instead, embrace it and incorporate more of it into your life. Certain people may intimidate you at first, but that doesn't mean you should run away from the scene.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Check your messages often, Scorpio. Someone is trying to contact you and you may keep missing each other by minutes. It's important to connect with this person to take care of some matters.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Tackle things that require high energy today, Gemini. This is your day to make short work of chores, errands, or any sort of physical activity. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Even though you feel most comfortable when things are organized and meticulous, Cancer, you're going to need to be flexible. Allow room for surprise and adventure. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Finding balance in your world will be no sweat once you get into the groove, Leo. Waking up is likely to be the most difficult part of the day, but once you conquer that incredible feat, you should be fine. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may feel like the smallest issue is suddenly a life or death situation, Virgo. Depending on your mood, you may think you're on the brink of complete disaster, but the next minute be soaring high in the clouds.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You will get much farther than you think today, even with minimal effort, Sagittarius. There are plenty of avenues to take now, so even if one is jammed, there's always another that you can reach easily. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Don't get too caught up in the emotional side of life today, Capricorn. Keep things light and keep them moving. A rolling stone gathers no moss. Unfortunately, you may have quite a bit of that green stuff growing on you now. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Try not to be overwhelmed by the frenzied activity around you, Aquarius. Unexpected variables are popping up everywhere, and your first reaction may be to flip out. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It's time to bring more fire into your life, Pisces. Consider calling up an old flame or friend from the past who stirs the passion within you.
Friday April 03, 2015
Junior players targeted at... (From page 40) RHTYSC would not tolerate indiscipline, lack of respect for Management or players who are not willing to develop themselves by listening to the advice of senior players. Foster told the players that the likes of Assad Fudadin, Royston and
Esuan Crandon, Shemaine Campbelle and Erva Giddings have all achieved success by dedicating themselves to the game. Coach Delbert Hicks expressed confidence that the two-week camp would be a success and that each of the players would not only represent the club
with distinction but would go on to play for Berbice, G u y a n a a n d the West Indies. Hicks, who still plays first division cricket with the club’s Gizmos and Gadgets team stated that he is impressed with the attitude and commitment shown by the players so far.
Trophy Stall & Slingerz... (From page 41) 1200M for a combined purse of $750,000 and trophy. There is an event for West Indies and Guyana bred threeyear-old animals including colts and fillies also for a total prize of $940,000 and trophy over 1500M. The event for Guyana Bred three-year-old ‘I’
class and lower horses will see a total prize package of $560,000 and trophy over 1200M on offer. The event for animals classified J2 and lower over 1200M has combined purse of $375,000 and trophy. A number of added attractions and giveaways including free kites will be given away on race day.
Free programmes will be made available to patrons and fans while Banks DIH Limited will be having on the spot promotions. The events will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. Nazrudeen “Jumbo Jet” Mohammed Junior is the coordinator. Race time is 12:30hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
Friday April 03, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Restore bat-ball balance in ODIs, says ESPNcricinfo’s panel Restoring the balance between bat and ball, including regulating bat thickness, easing fielding restrictions and reverting to one white ball per innings, was the way ahead for the one-day game, according to a panel of ESPNcricinfo’s experts. The experts - Michael Holding, Ian Chappell, Rahul Dravid and Martin Crowe - felt these would encourage imaginative captaincy and more aggressive cricket. They were participating in Lunch With Legends, an ESPNcricinfo discussion on the future of the ODI game, in Sydney after the second World Cup semifinal. The most important issue, they felt, was for the ICC to regulate the depth of the bat, and not just keep it to the existing size but pull it back. As the regulations stand, a bat’s width cannot exceed 10.8cm, but there is no bar on the thickness of the bat. The width of the bat for the purpose of the regulations is the width of the edge or the side face, and not the thickness of the middle of the bat. ”I don’t know if the ICC is afraid of the people who manufacture the bat to say exactly what has to go into a bat,” Holding said. “They have limited the width of the bat, but they have never limited the depth. There used to be a sweet spot on the bat years ago. Actually one company - I don’t want to name it - used to have a spot on the back of the bat, which was pretty much parallel to the one on the front of the bat. Now that would have to cover the entire bat because there is no
sweet spot, there is a sweet bat. ”Once you get a piece of bat on the ball, it disappears. You can see it on the television. There are a lot of slowmotion replays where you see a batsman hitting the ball, you can see the bat actually twisting in their hands. Obviously not hitting the ball well, and the ball disappears nonetheless. That is one aspect that has to be looked into. If the ICC do nothing else, they have to look at that. ”When people used to hit sixes at the MCG, you used to think they were Superman or Samson. Now a No. 11 can hit a six at the MCG because of the bats they are using. You have to look at that.” Chappell said the unfair domination of batsmen was only one of the problems that the thick bats have brought to the game. “Sooner or later, a bowler or an umpire is going to getting seriously hurt,” Chappell said. “Because the ball is getting back so quickly they have got no time to react. They have got a similar problem in baseball, another game that I follow. It has got to a point where last season they were offering pitchers padded caps. Because guys were getting hit in the head more regularly. Because the ball was getting back to the other end so quickly. Even if we don’t believe that the balance is out of whack because of the depth of the bat - and if they don’t believe that they are out of whack - there is this danger aspect and they have got to seriously look into that.” Crowe brought up the issue of the safety of the crowds.
Apart from leading to an unfair domination by batsmen, thicker bats also present a safety challenge, for the crowds and on-field officials © AFP An unattended kid was hit by a David Warner six in Perth, but it was a surprise none of the other 460 sixes hurt anyone in the stands. Dravid, though, worried about the safety of the lesserappreciated net bowlers. “One of the people who I really worry for is net bowlers,” he said. “I have worked in the IPL. We have young kids who bowl in the nets. All university kids, college kids. All 17, 18-, 19-year-olds bowling in the nets, and you have the likes of Shane Watson and Chris Gayle batting in the nets and practising T20 batting. I am amazed no one has seriously got hurt.”
Two of the big talking points of this World Cup have been the field restrictions that allow only four fielders outside the circle in nonPowerplay overs and the two new balls. Both have resulted in higher scores. Chappell wanted most of the restrictions removed thus allowing the captains to captain the sides and not the regulations. There was also an agreement that bowlers be allowed to more than 10 overs with a restriction on a certain number of overs to be bowled by five bowlers so that teams don’t stack their teams up with eight batsmen and just three bowlers. ”As far as restrictions are
concerned, I like as few as possible,” Chappell said. “I’d like to something as simple as a regulation that stops a cluttering of the boundaries at any stage of the innings. The rest of it I’d like to leave it to the imagination of the captains. You might say they are all going to go defensive, but I don’t think they will. You are going to have captains like Michael Clarke and Brendon McCullum who will attack. What I think would happen is that the negative ones will be shown up because they would probably lose more often. Ones with more imagination would win more often. What you generally find in sport is that if some team is winning a lot, people tend to follow their example. That’s the first thing with field restrictions. ”As far as the overs are concerned I’d like something as simple as: ‘Five bowlers have got to bowl 25 overs and the rest of them the captain makes up however he wants.’ If he has got someone bowling well, he can bowl 14, 15, whatever he can fit in. The reason I say that is, you would hope if you have got better bowlers he will attack. Whereas if he has got lesser bowlers and he is having to bowl them for 10 overs then he is more likely to be defending. It will encourage more imaginative captaincy if you allow the better bowlers to bowl more overs. It’s also a captain’s gut feel, who is bowling well today. ”If I was a current captain, I’d say to the ICC, ‘If you want to captain this bloody team, you come and captain
it. Allow me to captain. Don’t try to captain with your bloody regulations.” Dravid and Holding agreed that the new fielding restrictions did part of their job successfully by forcing the captains to pick five specialist bowlers and eliminate the part-timer, but they worried about the consequent domination of the bat. “I can understand what Rahul is saying, that now teams have to pick better bowlers, better bowlers now get more opportunities,” Holding said, “but at the same time, a lot of teams, especially the Associate teams, are not going to be able to find those five good bowlers to be competitive.” The panel could see why two balls were being used but agreed that it took reverse swing out of the game, and that on flat pitches they only helped the batsmen. “It [this World Cup] has clearly shown that on flat good wickets and especially in the subcontinent the two new balls and fielding restrictions are not working because the scores are just going out of hand,” Dravid said. ”The white ball behaves a little bit differently to the red ball,” Holding said. “If the manufacturers can get the white ball to behave similarly to the red ball, you would have to look at two new balls as well. If you had two red balls, because years ago, if you had two red balls, bowlers would have dominated. With two white balls the bowlers have no chance of dominating because the balls don’t do enough.” (ESPNcricinfo)
Rio mayor says Olympic Park on schedule despite firm’s finances Reuters - Work on the Deodoro Olympic Park in Brazil is on schedule and will not be affected by layoffs at the company building it, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes said yesterday. The mayor told journalists the 2016 Olympic host city had put up money for the venue while engineering firm Queiroz Galvão SA waits for a loan from staterun lender Caixa Econômica Federal. Queiroz Galvão is one of 29 companies being investigated in a price-fixing and kickback scandal at staterun oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA that is stalling infrastructure projects and slowing Brazil’s economy. Yesterday, local media reported that Queiroz Galvão,
which leads the consortium building the Olympic Park, had fired 70 workers and put more than 1,000 on alert because of difficulty obtaining the loan. The company declined to comment on the press reports but a spokesman said work at Deodoro was on schedule. The 800 million reais ($256 million) park has been a major headache for organizers of next year’s Olympics. During a visit to Rio de Janeiro in February, the Olympic Organizing Committee flagged delays in building a cross-country course for equestrian sports. Deodoro will also host basketball, mountain biking and rugby competitions.
A view of construction works of the X-Park at Deodoro Sports Complex for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro April 2, 2015. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
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Kaieteur News
Friday April 03, 2015
Panama tops Costa Rica in friendly Panama City, Panama – Costa Rica’s 13-game unbeaten streak came to an end as host Panama posted a 2-1 victory in an international friendly on Tuesday night at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez. Blas Perez and Luis Tejada gave the host a 2-0 lead within the opening 25 minutes, before Alvaro Saborio struck for the visitor midway through the second half. It was the Panamanians 10th straight game against CONCACAF opposition. Over that stretch, they have amassed a 6-2-2 record with the only losses coming in away encounters against the United States (2-0) and Mexico (1-0). Panama went ahead 1-0 lead in the 18th minute through a fairly straightforward play. Armando Cooper delivered a cross into the box from close proximity to the right-goal line for Alberto Quintero, who headed the ball to Perez. The FC Dallas forward took a slight touch with his right foot and then used his left to deposit the ball into the back of the net from 10yards out. The lead was doubled eight minutes later following a quick-fire sequence that saw Panama reel off three shots. An initial effort from outside
Eduardo Herrera (pictured) strikes for the goal that gave Mexico a 1-0 win over Paraguay. (Photo: Mexsport) Action in the Panama and Costa Rica friendly in Panama City. (Photo courtesy of Federación Panameña de Fútbol) the box by Anibal Godoy crashed off the crossbar. After Cooper’s attempted follow-up was saved by goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado, the rebound fell for Tejada to slot home from the edge of the sixyard box. Costa Rica edged back into the game in the 67th minute, when Saborio converted a penalty kick after Harold Cummings fouled Marco Ureña in the box. The
setback was the Ticos’ first since falling 2-1 to Japan in a friendly on June 2, 2014, just prior to their historic run to the World Cup quarterfinals. Herrera strike propels Mexico to win over Paraguay An early goal by newcomer Eduardo Herrera was all Mexico needed on Wednesday night to defeat Paraguay 1-0 in an international friendly before 38,114 fans at Arrowhead Stadium. The vic-
In-form Jamaica shows signs of progress Montego Bay, Jamaica – Jamaica head coach Winfried Schafer was pleased with his team’s performances in victories over Venezuela (2-1) and Cuba (3-0) over the past week. With preparations in full gear for this year’s Copa America and CONCACAF Gold Cup, there are numerous positive signs that the Reggae Boyz are ready to take the next step forward. In addition to extending its winning streak to five straight games, the Caribbean champion continues to bolster the roster with quality talent. Debutant Giles Barnes, 26, netted an equalizer on Friday against the Venezuelans, while first-time starter Romeo Parkes found the back of the net Monday in the first minute against Cuba. Schafer has yet to settle on a squad for either of this summer’s competitions and remains on the lookout for more players. “Everyone knows we have to look at many players as we will need many players for the Copa America and the Gold Cup,” said the German. “This is a test to see who will make the teams and who needs to work
tory was Mexico’s sixth in seven outings as it prepares to compete later this year in the Copa America and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Herrera struck spectacularly in just the third minute. Juan Carlos Medina lofted a leftsided free kick to the edge of the six-yard box, giving the Pumas forward time Herrera to slip behind the Paraguayan defense and hit the back of the net with a high, outstretched right foot. The 26-year-old had a second goal disallowed just minutes
later, when he gained possession of a quickly taken free kick by Paraguay deep inside its own end and slotted the ball home from 16-yards out. Referee Walter Lopez called it back, appearing to rule that Herrera did not give the required 10 yards of space. Mexico head coach Miguel Herrera retained only defender Diego Reyes to a side that defeated Ecuador three days earlier. Goalkeeper Meliton Hernandez and midfielder Jesus Dueñas went the entire way in their inter-
national debuts. The game was marked by physical play with 43 fouls called and cautions being issued to eight players, including five to Paraguayans. Richard Ortiz had the South Americans’ best chance just before the break, but his header off a corner kick hit off the crossbar. Mexico returns to action on April 15 against the United States in San Antonio, Texas. And El Salvador battled to a 0-0 stalemate with Guatemala. (CONCACAF)
GYO, Everest register victories Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) and Everest Cricket Club recorded victories when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Brainstreet Under15 tournament continued yesterday with two matches. Batting first at GYO, the host managed 173-9 in 50 overs. Navendra Persaud stroked 41
(5x4) while Chandra Mohan made 33. Sachin Ramroop bagged 6-30 and Ghansam Premchand 2-17. Everest was skittled for 54 in 25.3 overs in reply. Premchand made 16; Anil Singh and Movendra Dindyal snared two wickets each. At the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC)
ground, Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) went down to Diplomats by nine wickets. GCC were bowled out for 37 in 17.4 overs, taking first knock. Thameshwar Permaul made 10; off spinner Jonathan St. Hill bagged 3-8. Diplomats then raced to 38-1 in three overs to complete a comprehensive victory.
Lydia Ko equals LPGA Tour under-par record in California
Action from the international friendly between host Jamaica (yellow jersey) and Cuba on March 30, 2015, in Montego Bay. harder.” Even Cuba head coach Walter Benitez was impressed by what he saw from the Jamaicans at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, admitting that they were a handful, especially on set pieces. ”Jamaica is the strongest team in the Caribbean,” Benitez commented. “We were very surprised in the first few minutes and it was hard
to recover after that.” Though Jamaica does not have any friendlies officially scheduled prior to its Copa America opener on June 13 against Uruguay, Schafer confirmed that efforts are being made to add games. He wants the momentum to build and hopes to develop further the side’s spirit, which the 65-year-old says is “very good right now.”
World number one Lydia Ko equalled the LPGA Tour record with her 29th consecutive under-par round in the ANA Inspiration in California. The 17-year-old carded a one-under-par 71 in the opening round of the first women’s major of the season to equal Swede Annika Sorenstam’s record. Ko, who has won six LPGA Tour titles but is yet to claim her first major crown, described the landmark as “pretty cool”. She is the youngest ever number one. “I really wasn’t hitting my driver well, and here the rough can get pretty thick,” she said. “When you’re in that position, a record was the last thing I was thinking about.” (BBCsport)
Lydia Ko