Kaieteur News

al i c e p S

Online readership yesterday 78,241

April 15, 2012

$140

Email: kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Website:http://www.kaieteurnews.com

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Brassington misleads nation on Marriott deal Pg 11

Govt. is indeed guaranteeing private investors - Opposition Parties

President Ramotar arrives for the opening of the Summit of the Americas

See pgs 10 & 12

Pg 17

Meet the beautiful Tracy Lall

HIV on the Fish Pg13 Long-serving educator, decline Pg8 catch Samuel Archer, Pg down in Guyana 18 - says PANCAP 5.3% Toll charges by Berbice Bridge Company Inc.

Redirecting marine Pg 3 traffic to retractor span unconstitutional - Ramjattan is a 'Special Person’

Page 02

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 3

Toll charges by Berbice Bridge Company Inc. ...

What’s your story?

Do you know that you create the drama of your life at every moment? With every thought you create, every action you choose and decision you make, you are totally responsible for the drama and the ‘storyline’ you create of your own life. With this fact in hand, it proves that we are also responsible for changing that narrative, by transforming one thought at a time!

In life there are many characters and they are living out their ‘fantasy’ so to speak. Let’s look at a few to get an idea of this concept of the drama of life.

There are the hero’s – the Superman and Superwoman’s of our planet! They are constantly ‘rescuing’ someone and always in ‘action’! They like to jump in and give solutions to everyone else’s problems.

They are so busy relieving others that they don’t have time to look at their own lives. But that’s fine, because their joy comes from ‘fixing’ other people and their problems.

Then there are those who like to be rescued! The Cinderella’s of the world - the victims, the poor me.

These characters almost purposely put themselves in abysmal situations, only to be freed. It is not so much the freedom they seek, but they thrive on the attention that someone gives. They wait for ‘Prince Charming’ to scoot them away from the ‘wicked sisters’ and all the mundane stuff they have to deal with.

Then there are the firefighters – those who are always putting out the fires. There is a saying that when you have a hammer in your hand then everything in the world seems like a nail! In fact, firefighters almost always depend on hunting out the fires of the world – for that’s where they get their adrenaline rush. They can also travel to remote parts of the world to seek out and rescue the needy – whether it be street children or some endangered species.

The Romeo and Juliet’s are the romantics. They always seem to be somewhere else, with someone else, fictitious or real! They are so busy trying to find their beloved and that ‘balcony’, that they miss out on all the other lovely people wanting to befriend them. They fill every scene of their drama with passion - every flower, candle and piece of music plays on their heartstrings and carries them away to distant lands.

And you have to laugh at the exaggerators!

Everything that happens to them is a big screen drama!

Their house got burnt down – well almost, the candle burnt the tablecloth! They nearly lost their job, but then… they managed to convince their boss with their (continued on page 11)

Redirecting marine traffic to retractor span unconstitutional - Ramjattan Alliance For Change Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, has described as unconstitutional, moves by the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. to redirect marine traffic from crossing under the structure’s high span to the retractor span for a fee.

Ramjattan is convinced that the bridge management implemented this new order to increase revenue by extracting monies from boat operators, who would have otherwise utilized the Berbice River without a fee.

Several weeks ago, boat operators complained that the bridge management imposed an order that laden vessels, which cross under the high span free of cost, must desist from doing so. Instead, they must now cross whenever there is a retraction. And there is a fee attached.

Vessels with foreign registration are charged $55,000 for in-bound pass and another $55,000 for outbound. Locally registered vessels pay a fee of $28,000 for a one-way pass.

However, according to Ramjattan, who is also an Attorney-At-Law, a perusal of the new regulation revealed that there is no provision for management to redirect river traffic from under the high span to the retractor span for the purpose of collecting a

Khemraj Ramjattan toll.

He stated that to charge persons tax, fee or toll without proper authority under a law is unconstitutional and is a deprivation of property.

“Merely administrative reconfiguration without proper authority like what the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. is doing is wrong…They cannot use security as the reason for this reconfiguration…They have no lawful authority to do that,” he noted.

Ramjattan suggested that the motive behind this scheme is to accumulate more revenue for the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. including Government, who is also an investor in the bridge.

“My opinion is they want to earn more revenues in view of the management’s high cost

for running the bridge.”

Ramjattan noted, “Under the letter and spirit of both the Act and Regulation and Order made there is provision that small boats with certain displacements should pass free of charge under the high span.”

He emphasized that over the years small boats have been passing free of cost without hindrance from the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. authority.

The fee being paid by this new flow of traffic via the retractor span is being viewed as an indirect taxation by the Government. He pointed out that Government has investments in the bridge and the mere fact it would allow this move it therefore means Government is looking to increase their returns.

Ramjattan said that Government should not allow this. He dismissed as flimsy excuses of structure’s safety by the bridge’s management as the reason for this restriction.

“Not only is this an extra cost to boat operators it is also time consuming because the retractor span does not allow the free flow of traffic-- this is done according to a schedule,” he said.

This limitation was

highlighted by boat operators that transport sugar for the Guyana Sugar Corporation.

Vessels that transport bulk sugar for the Guyana Sugar Corporation from Rose Hall to the Demerara Sugar Terminal have been affected. The shipping operators have been experiencing numerous hiccups and delays.

Several factors such as tide, bridge retraction, rules and regulations governing transit time of 24 hours notice prior to transiting and heavy cancellation fees are some of the things that affect operators with this new system.

The shippers emphasized that the fee being charged is adding to their operational costs which would lead to them charging their customers more. This could affect the already financially challenged state-owned sugar company.

“The turn-around time in between shipments will be much longer and will obviously affect the estate grinding or storage capacity and this will no doubt have serious consequences for oceangoing vessels,” they said.

Page 4

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Editorial

Lessons from Dilma When Dilma Rousseff was elected the president of Brazil in October 2010, she did so as the protégé of her enormously popular predecessor President Luis Ignacio Lula. She had been his chief of staff and energy minister. Fears were expressed that she was just a stalking horse for Lula and in the interregnum, might prove to be just a puppet of the latter.

Now after a year in office, such talk has long dissipated.

With an approval rating of 77 percent, far above the 51 per cent Lula had earned after his first year, Dilma has surprised many.

How did she do it? Some may attribute her high ratings to the normal ‘honeymoon’ period accorded to new administrations. Others have pointed out that the economy continued its phenomenal performance built up during the Lula years.

There might be something to these rationales. In 2011, Brazil added 2.3 million formal jobs to the economy and reached all-time lows of unemployment of 5.2 percent in November. Brazil’s trade surplus reached $29.79 billion last year, a 32 percent increase from 2010. Brazil overtook the United Kingdom as the world’s sixth-largest economy in December.

This latter accomplishment has swollen the patriotic fervour of all Brazilians and has made them look at their head of state quite benignly.

But there is much more substance to Dilma’s rise in popular esteem. In addition to her stand on poverty and unemployment, she has demonstrated that she is quite willing to take a stand on the issue that is high on the agenda of most Brazilians: corruption. Interestingly, she was chosen as a candidate over several others who were not technocrats like her but elected politicians, because these individuals had all been embroiled in charges of corruption.

In her first year, she dismissed six of her 38 ministers fingered in influence-peddling allegations, embezzlement or abuse of power.

This tough and determined approach in addressing corruption and her no-nonsense manner has earned Rousseff the sobriquet, “the Iron Lady” in allusion to the indomitable Maggie Thatcher of Britain. In this vein she also signed two major transparency Bills into law: one to create a truth commission to investigate dictatorship-era abuses, and a landmark freedom of information law.

In foreign affairs, Dilma, who was a radical in her youth, has proven to be less reflexively ideological than the charismatic Lula. For instance while Lula seemed to enjoy tweaking the US’s nose, Dilma has been nuanced. She’s been more forthright in criticising human rights violations in general and specifically in the case of Iran – positive to the US, but simultaneously recognising Palestine.

After hosting President Obama in Brazil she reciprocated with a visit to Washington this month, where she forthrightly informed Obama that the US policy of low interest rates in TBills was causing an influx of speculative funds into her country. This was causing its currency to appreciate and giving it a trade disadvantage. She emphasised that Brazil wants foreign currency that is ‘productive’.

Dilma has also been a strong supporter of developing countries and has taken a firm stand to transform BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) into a world force and not just a convenient acronym. On the global stage, Rousseff continued to assert Brazil’s growing influence. She became the first woman to open the UN General Assembly, where she championed women’s rights.

Rousseff also made several strategic official trips, including a visit to China in April and a brief African tour in October. But Rousseff faces challenges in 2012, in part due to global financial worries. The growth rate shrunk from 7.5 percent in 2010, to 2.87 percent in 2011, and is expected to grow 3.3 percent this year. In trying to nip rising inflation she has cut $27.18 billion from this year’s budget - and vetoed wage increases for pensioners and public servants.

As a pragmatist she might have to lower her sights even on emblematic anti-poverty programmes, such as the “Brazil Without Misery” programme, launched in June, which aims to lift 16 million Brazilians out of extreme poverty.

A leader has to do what a leader has to do.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Mr. Sattaur, even with zero-rated items, “average Guyanese” are feeling the squeeze of the 16% VAT DEAR EDITOR, We are writing in response to a letter published in Stabroek News, April 5, 2012 and written by Mr. Sattaur, Commissioner General, Guyana Revenue Authority, whose main point was that a reduction in the VAT rate would not benefit “the average Guyanese” because “electricity, cooking gas, bread and flour along with 100 items commonly referred to as the basket of goods that are usually consumed by “the average Guyanese” are zero-rated.

We presume that by “the average Guyanese” Mr.

Sattaur means people like us, poor people.

We want to point out to Mr. Sattaur that even with the zero- rated items he mentioned, “average Guyanese” are feeling the squeeze of the 16% VAT. Those items are not the only basic things that poor people need.

There are other basic food items that poor people use which also attract VAT. For example , at the cheapest price, one pack of chowmein costs $167 +VAT which is $26.72 extra, one pack of macaroni costs $150 + VAT which is $24 extra, and one

85g packet of curry powder costs $92 + VAT which is $14.72 extra.

But we do not only need food. We need to iron our clothes and a cheap iron costs $1995 +16% VAT, which is $319 extra. We need to cook, and a small four-burner gas stove costs $36,000 + VAT which is $5760 extra. We need to store our vegetables and meats, and a small fridge, 5.3cubic ft in size, costs $59,999 + VAT which is $9,600 extra. We need a bed to sleep on, and a single bed costs $ 15,960 +VAT which is $2,554 extra and a double bed costs $38,640 + VAT which is $6,182

extra. We need light, and the energy saver bulb which we want to use to save money costs $365 +VAT which is $58 extra. The telephone bill also attracts VAT. Most of those extra costs look small, but only to those whose incomes are large.

Imagine a single mother on public assistance who gets $5900 since the 2012 budget needing a kerosene stove at the cost of $ 1512 + VAT which is$288 extra and three energy saver bulbs at the cost of $1,095 plus a total of $174 extra for VAT. Because of the 16% VAT Continued on page 5

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Jerome Khan’s arguments have four flaws

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to Mr. Jerome Khan’s missive (KN, April 11), “Attacking Justice Chang is a most shallow activity.” The letter should be noted for four failings.

One is the dismissal of the criticisms of the Greene ruling using the most simplistic of arguments.

Secondly, the allegations used by Mr. Khan against others can be graphically applied to him too.

Thirdly, there is the impression that only lawyers could understand the contents of legal decisions.

And fourthly, the hackneyed use of language without recognitions of the semantic complexities involved.

I will discuss each of these weaknesses beginning with the easiest one. But first; Mr. Khan’s defense of the CJ reminds one of the drama student and his teacher.

After terrible reviews of the teacher’s first play, it was the student who publicly came to his rescue at the risk of being accused of ingratiating himself. One hopes Mr. Khan is aware he can receive the same cynicism because as a lawyer he has to appear in front of the CJ. Some lawyers have the inclination to shut out the layman’s views on legal matters in the belief that laws could only be understood by trained lawyers.

Educated people are quite capable of understanding the faults of a legal decision based on their interpretation of the relevant legislation.

Secondly, Mr. Khan solves all the problems associated with

the critics of the CJ by just one line - they all want to get at Mr. Chang for reasons other than legal arguments.

None of the castigators have a legal point against the CJ in the eyes of Mr. Khan.

Thirdly, the very dismissal Mr. Khan uses against the CJ detractors can be used against Khan himself. He states that senior counsel, Dana Seetahal, from Trinidad is biased against the CJ because the CJ gave a devastating review of her textbook on criminal law.

How easy Mr. Khan solves polemics. Seetahal is given no credit for the legal content of her analysis of Chang’s decision on Greene.

But we now enter the realm of human perfection as adumbrated by Jerome Khan.

A senior Caribbean lawyer can be a biased against. So why can’t a Guyanese judge be biased in favour? Bias is bias no matter if it is for or against. Aren’t judges humans after all?

Fourthly, Mr. Khan would be wise to avoid definitive meaning of words. This is a slippery rope. He wrote that judicial decisions “can be the subject of critical, constructive comments” but unconstructive comments are dangerous.

It would never end if people argue who is more constructive and what is a constructive analysis. I can a s s u r e M r. K h a n t h a t Seethal would say her critique was mature and analytical and his letter was unconstructive. Good luck to Mr. Khan if he thinks such an argument could have an ending

Mr. Sattaur, even with...

From page 4 she would need to find an extra $62 more than the new increase in public assistance.

And that’s for the single mother in town. There are many in the country and in the interior as well.

As for the old age pension and its increase to $8100. All the arguments from government spokesmen that old age pension was never meant as more than a top-up or that when you’re counting old age pension you have to add the “social benefits” like health care and water won’t help pensioners when they go into the shop with their $8100 a month which is $270 a day.

The shop keeper wants cash which they don’t have.

Red Thread has proposed it before; for 3 months ask the Minister of Finance and the Parliamentarians who speak the loudest in favour of these

starvation increases to live on Public Assistance or the Old Age Pension, with benefits, and see if they survive.

Mr. Sattaur cannot say that a VAT rate reduction would not benefit us unless, of course, his argument is that poor people shouldn’t have basic things like an iron a stove, a bed or a fridge.

As poor women, we are very careful to shop around because for us, every dollar counts and we can’t afford to spend what we don’t have.

We may not know the technical arguments the big ones put forward regarding the benefits of VAT but what we do know is that we, the “average Guyanese”, are affected by VAT, contrary to what Mr Sattaur said, and we want a reduction.

Joy Nicola Marcus Joycelyn Bacchus Halima Khan Red Thread

Finally (in relation to the letter) I would like to briefly reject his contention that condemnations of the CJ’s decision on Greene undermine public confidence in the court system and in the rule of law.

Nothing could more vitiate the fulcrums on which justice stands, faith in the rule of law, and the citizenry’s confidence in the judiciary than biased judges, judges that happily participate in the Executive’s efforts to reduce the independence of the judiciary, and a government that disrespects the judicial system.

May I remind Mr. Khan that the former PM of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, once remarked that a problem with the CCJ is getting judges that are not politically biased. I also would like to inform Mr. Khan that the CCJ found the Attorney-General of Guyana in contempt of court for failing to carry out a CCJ ruling on cement importation. Don’t such things bring the rule of law into disrepute?

In closing, I want to state that based on legal points, I don’t agree with the CJ’s ruling to give the Attorney-General the authority to search the homes and offices of the six leading executives of the Guyana Cricket Board.

That was, in my layman’s opinion, a seriously flawed judgement. On legal grounds too, I disagree with the CJ’s injunction against the arbitration hearing in the bauxite industry dispute. I beg to disagree with Mr. Khan in his extensive praise of Mr. Chang and the Greene decision is just one of my reasons Frederick Kissoon

Page 5

Kaieteur M@ilbox Henry Greene’s case offers a teachable moment for all DEAR EDITOR, The decision by Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang to throw out the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) advice to charge Police Commissioner Henry Greene with rape understandably came as a shock to the society. According to the media’s report this charge was thrown out because the circumstantial evidence did not present a realistic prospect of a conviction.

The merit and demerit of the Chief Justice’s ruling will continue to be debated and it should be said that the ruling in itself does not prevent a charge being instituted or an appeal made. It is also wondered if the DPP prepared an iron clad case because an element in the judicial system, is not necessarily the perception of guilt or innocence, but also the ability to present one’s case.

Clearly, the case has taught us some lessons, one of which is the need to acknowledge that the abuse of women has reached epidemic proportions and it has to be urgently addressed.

Evidently it took grit and coverage for the lady to tell her story. Listening to her on Mark Benschop’s, guyanaobservernews.org online radio, you hear someone who is aggrieved and feels justice has been denied and where this exists it has to be corrected.

Initially the commissioner denied, then later said, “Let God be the judge,” and finally admitting consensual sex to the Jamaican investigating team. What the Commissioner fails to understand, the trust placed in him by citizens who are paying him to serve and protect them does not include

violating them.

While he thinks the act was consensual and the lady said it was rape, he fails to understand, given his power and influence and the lady’s admittance of fear, this environment does not lend itself to anything consensual.

For this is a clear case of unequal power and influence and different objectives.

In the court of public opinion the commissioner is guilty and this he cannot remove, irrespective of any court ruling. And having held such an esteemed office his return to this position will be a grave blow to the society and undermine the community’s trust and relationship with the police, which remain a crucial component in crime fighting.

While legally the current state is that the commissioner is not poised to be charged for rape, his conduct reflects an abuse of trust and a desecration of the office.

The perception that he has gotten off sends a signal to abusers and predators in our midst that they too are invincible and can escape having to account for their primitive behaviour. Too many men in society with leading roles and holding public office are culpable of misusing their power, derived

from their office, to prey on the vulnerable, setting bad examples for the society.

The reported allegations of abuse by former President Jagdeo, now Commissioner of Police Henry Greene, only serve to embolden other cowards. For this behaviour type, the notion of strength/ power is premised on abuse and domination.

Ever so often the news reports stories of battery, suicide, murder and abuse in various forms and this must too be brought to an end. To achieve this requires concerted effort from each and every one, and must be made meaningful through our institutions of State giving societal leadership.

It also includes public officials engaging in exemplary conduct and upholding the tenet of the Constitution which guarantees women’s rights and freedoms. Male leaders must set the tone for relations in the community and in the homes and if such does not come voluntarily then it behooves persons to demand accountability.

A dangerous precedent is set when violators are ignored because of familial relationship or feeling the need to be protective of their Continued on page 6

Page 6

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox This ‘biggest budget ever’ is but a financial illusion DEAR EDITOR, The year 1994 will live in Guyana’s history as one of high honor. It was the only year in 30 years (1981-2011) in which Guyana experienced fiscal prudence. The main political players in 1994 were Cheddi Jagan and Asgar Ally.

However, our post-Jagan Government has learnt little from Dr Jagan; thus this race to an unsustainable national debt position. I have listened to Carl Greenidge’s speech and it is a telling reminder of how much Guyana will miss Winston Murray.

Murray has always cautioned the Government on the consequences of running an unsustainable budget deficit and today his wisdom has proven prophetic. One can easily see three adverse consequences as a result of the bad management of the economy under Jagdeo.

DEFINITION: • Budget deficit - the amount by which a Government spends more than it earns.

These three adverse

consequences are: 1. The budget deficit measured as a percentage of GDP is rising. In 2009 the deficit was 3.4% of the GDP. At the end of 2011, 4.4% of GDP. In 2012, the Hon. Minister expects this deteriorating trend to continue with a deficit of 4.6% of GDP. Rising deficit has to be funded and thus the government will be forced to borrow more internationally to fund the growing gap. Any banker after reviewing our portfolio of debt will demand higher interest since the debt mountain is imminent. At the same time, the Bank of Guyana will be burdened with sterilizing larger amounts of excess liquidity.

The call of Moses Nagamotoo to “bring out the scissors” is the most financially prudent and sensible call I have heard so far. This call should not fall on deaf ears. Guyana does not have the human capacity to spend $75 billion on capital works in 2012. The PPP must remind themselves that much

of this $75 billion will be leaked from the economy into private pockets causing prices to rise. This is a challenge that will have catastrophic effects on the working class. I plead with the Government; “bring out the scissors!”

2. An unsustainable budget deficit will lead to a debt mountain. The chart below exposed that Guyana is already on the debt mountain. From the chart labeled “Total Borrowing”, it shows Guyana’s external and domestic debt TODAY is some US$1.75 billion. In the last 2 years alone, some US$0.38 billion was borrowed and if this trend continues, Guyana “Total Domestic and External Debt” will reach some US$2.1 billion by the end of 2013.

Does the number US$2.1 billion sound familiar? That is the debt Greenidge and the PNC gifted to Jagan in 1992.

Guyana would have gone full circle by 2013. Different Government, same outcome!

Continued on page 7

Sourced: Bank of Guyana, 2012 Budget

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Can these MPs really represent the people?

DEAR EDITOR, I was visiting a very nice hotel and restaurant in Guyana when I witnessed on several occasions something strange happening. I saw numerous members of parliament (MP) come to eat at the hotel. The meal of the day was duck curry, dhal and rice.

Then it occurred to me that these MP could afford to eat delicacies like, duck, while the poor Guyanese can’t even afford to put meat on their plate. How can these MPs truly represent their constituents when the MPs are living the affluent life?

Can the MPs relate to their constituencies who cannot afford to buy food for their children? Can the MPs feel compassion for those poor constituencies they represent?

This incident reminds me of the days of slavery, when the slaveholder lived the affluent life, eating the finest food, while the slave

struggled to get food to eat.

Is there some form of slavery happening in Guyana today?

What I saw sure looked similar to what I read about slavery in the past.

Today, the MPs are the slaveholders, while the poor and disadvantaged are the slaves. Just as the MPs are able to eat the duck paid for by the poor and disadvantaged taxes, the slaveholders were able to eat the finest food paid for by the free labor of the slave.

One day I decided to go down to see what happens during parliament. I was shocked with what I saw MP was doing. They were heckling each speaker regardless of party. They were cracking jokes about each presenter.

For example, when Moses Nagamootoo was presenting on the floor, one of the MP asked him loudly, “ Moses, do you want a half bottle of rum?” I was disgusted with the MP’s behavior. They

were acting like children.

They were playing and joking while people in Guyana are suffering, struggling to get food, and women are being physically and emotionally abused everyday. While the MP are cracking jokes and having in parliament, there is nothing funny about women in Guyana being killed by their lovers.

There is nothing funny about women who can’t feed their children. There is nothing funny about the high unemployment rate in Guyana. There is nothing funny about the fact that MP can afford to eat duck while the poor and disadvantaged can’t afford to buy food.

While the MPs were heckling and cracking jokes, children were going to school without anything to eat.

While the MPs were having a good time in the parliament at the expense of the poor taxpayer, the poor are suffering financially.

Anthony Pantlitz

Henry Greene’s case offers a...

From page 5 feelings.

For such attitudes do an injustice to ourselves, those we care about and the society as a whole.

To this end Greene’s case offers a teachable moment for all. As he is rightly called on to account for his conduct, so too must it be for others. We must move away from the culture where “Every now and then knock them down/ They’ll love you long and they’ll love you strong/Black up dey eye, bruise up de knee/ And Then they will love you eternally….” We must also eschew the objectification of women as proof of being macho, snuffing out their lives is a show of who is boss, unequal pay for equal work, denying

employment because of g e n d e r, seeing benevolence in targeting women for employment to underpay and overwork as done in the retail and security sectors, housework and childcare are women’s duties, harassment and exploitation in the workplace, or miniaturizing women’s voice in the public sphere. These acts demonstrate bigotry and cowardice coming from those who should actually provide protection and lead by example.

At the national level there is need to amplify and intensify education on what constitutes abuse and where support and recourse can be had, starting at nursery level unto university; in the workforce, mass media, religious organizations,

civic groups, political parties, trade unions, and every public space.

Our laws need to be more stringent; the DPP and police effectively trained to handle matters of such nature, including preparing and representing the complainant; make justice swift; have magistrates and judges advocating from the bench.

The laws mandating women representation be enforced, including allowing sanction to be b r o u ght by any public spirited citizen if such is not upheld; the Women and Gender Equality Commission play a more visible and active role; and support institutions given requisite assistance.

This list is by no mean exhausted but it ens u r e s action.

An epidemic can only be eliminated when all are involved and held accountable and the time to start is now.

Lincoln Lewis General Secretary, GTUC

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Page 7

Kaieteur M@ilbox

In time, Mr. Khan may agree with This ‘biggest budget ever’ is but... those who criticized this ruling DEAR EDITOR, A short while ago. a certain gentleman remarked that Guyana is both blessed and cursed because of its political history. He said that the curse relates to the fact that there was hardly anything which could be said or done without someone attaching a political twist to it.

I believe that there is so much truth in that statement , that many Pastors, Pandits and ‘Majies’ are often accused of preaching sermons with latent political intents. Some of us are so politically educated that we can attribute a sudden change is the weather to a political source.

My observations are here made, against the background that Mr. Jerome Khan has recently openly criticized three Attorneys –At-Law for the positions they took in the Justice Chang/Henry Greene/ DPP decision.

Previously, Mr. Khan had accused one of the Attorneys of having an axe to grind with Justice Chang, but the way things are unfolding it seems to me that Mr. Khan would have a cutlass, a pitch-fork, a pick-axe, and a Dutch-axe to grind with anyone who dares to criticize Justice Chang’s decision.

In his most recent and

emotionally charged letter he lashed out at the Stabroek News for inviting a junior Attorney in preference of a senior one for a comment on the matter. In that regard, I would respectfully direct his attention to Job 32:9 of the Holy Bible which reads as follows: “Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.”(KJV).

It is interesting to note that in this instance the word judgment in the Holy Bible is spelt without the letter e immediately after letter g. That apart another version of the Bible said: “Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand justice.”

Mr. Khan should readily and easily understand the wisdom in this scripture for he himself being a junior Attorney-at-Law, is saying that he understand Justice Chang’s decision much better that his senior colleagues in Messrs Backer and Seetahal.

I would simply advise Mr. Khan that as he grinds his implements he should do so with extreme caution. I have had a cursory look at the Judgment and I would confess that from a layman’s point of view, it cannot be

properly understood after reading it a couple of times. I would further suggest to Mr. Khan that his reading of the judgment two years from now will yield a variation in his understanding thereof. Who knows? He may then agree with those who criticized it.

No one can justifiably gainsay that the judgment will have a long lasting effect on the administration of justice in Guyana and since its acceptance or rejection has not yet been finally settled, we should now allow things to flow naturally. No one expected such a decision to be accepted with ease and comfort, but at the same time we need to be reminded of a statement cited some years ago, by Justice A.F.R. Bishop, now Professor Bishop who quoted from Dionysus of Halicarnassus and said: “Time is the best interpreter of every doubtful law.”

I would respectfully posit that the same can be said of every doubtful and problematic court decision like the one under focus at this time. Whether or not it takes a firm root in our judicial landscape, or it leads to what Professor Bishop calls an “administrative unworkability “of our justice system will be determined by time. Until then , it may be useful for scholars like Jerome Khan to leave the matter alone.

Certainly, It is rather unfortunate that many of us have not seen a problem and or a solution with the decision, but have instead have seen the CJ, the COP, the DPP , the Politicians, and the government and that is very, very sad, indeed.

Francis Carryl

From page 6 The consequence of a debt mountain is the Government has to spend more each year in “interest payments” to service these debts. The Chart below called “Total Debt Service Payments” holds good to this fact. Since 2009, Guyana interest payments to the Bankers who hold our domestic and external debts, increased from US$30 million to US$40 million per year.

Sourced: Bank of Guyana, 2012 Budget There is an opportunity cost involved here. That US$10 million per year (G$2 billion) which could have been better used on more productive activities. The business community needs a tax break to help create more new jobs and workers deserve a salary increase to motivate greater productivity.

This increase in debt service payments also represent quite sadly, a transfer of income and wealth from workers and the business community to bankers and other holders of Government debt.

3. The third adverse consequence of running this unsustainable budget deficit is waste and squander-mania in public spending. Since Jagdeo arrived, his macroeconomic strategy was designed to crowd out private investment with a mentality of collecting more taxes to increase state spending, might I add Presidential Pensions.

The public sector did not spend that $50 billion in a structured and efficient manner in 2011. Can anyone support capital expenditure of $75 billion in 2012?

The end result if this allowed are more custom made projects specifically designed for people like Fip Motilal that end in failure before they really got started and might I add, “at a great financial loss to the taxpayers”.

That is why the AFC continues to call for a reduction in the Corporation Tax rate now for the business community.

In conclusion, it has been proven that higher levels of debt can depress economic growth and this can be the answer why Guyana is not growing at 8% or 9%.

It has also been proven that increasing debt service payments depresses public investments in its people. Is this why the PPP is reluctant to put monies into providing a living wage for workers and a pension that will allow the pensioner to live a life of dignity?

Sai Baba said “A house must be built on solid foundations if it is to last. The same principle applies to man; otherwise he too will sink back into the soft ground and become swallowed up by the world of illusion.”

This biggest budget ever

is but a financial illusion and all MPs have no choice but to force a re-design of this budget by supporting the passage of a smaller budget with pertinent features like a smaller capital expenditure program, a G$10,000 per month pension for the senior citizens, a modest salary increase for all workers and most importantly a modest reduction in the corporation tax rate for the business community to give them that extra boost to invest more and thus create new jobs.

The PPP must do the right thing by consulting the pertinent stakeholders especially the trade unions before building the budget next time.

Sasenarine Singh

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Another stabbing sends man to hospital Iran, big powers agree: to keep talking ISTANBUL (Reuters) - At their first meeting after a year of sanctions and saberrattling over Iran’s nuclear programme, negotiators from Tehran and six world powers said “constructive” talks yesterday meant they would sit down again together next month.A deal to reconvene in Baghdad on May 23 had been billed in advance by diplomats as a mark of a positive resumption and both Western and Russian negotiators at the talks in Turkey spoke of a more engaged tone from Iran, whose chief negotiator said he wanted to talk next about lifting Western sanctions on Tehran.

Washington made clear such a demand was premature, however. A senior U.S. official in Istanbul spoke of an “urgency ... for concrete progress” as the “window” for diplomacy was closing.

Over the past year, Israeli

and U.S. warnings of military strikes if Iran does not stop working on some aspects of nuclear technology have stoked fears of war - and raised oil prices - in an unsettled Middle East. A resumption of the kind of prolonged dialogue spoken of by both sides could help dampen anxieties.

“We expect that subsequent meetings will lead to concrete steps towards a comprehensive negotiated solution which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme,” said Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief who leads negotiations for the six powers.

The group comprises the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council Russia, the United States, China, France and Britain along with Germany. It is known as the P5+1.

Calling Saturday’s talks “constructive and useful”, Ashton said: “We want now to move to a sustained process of dialogue.”

The meeting in Baghdad, a rare friendly venue for Iranians in the Arab world, would be part of a “step-bystep” approach. Junior officials would meet again before May 23, she added.

Chief Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili, however, made clear that Iran had no intention of stopping its plants that enrich uranium to contain 20 percent of fissile material - much higher than the quality needed to generate electricity, but which Tehran says is for medical and other uses, not for warheads.

Nonetheless, however remote a final accord may be between the Islamic republic and its adversaries, a return to the negotiating table may calm nerves after 15 angry months.

Kamla claims newspaper article damaged her personal, national and international reputation PORT OF SPAIN - CMC Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar is demanding as a matter of “extreme urgency” a full and unequivocal retraction and apology from the Trinidad Express newspaper following the publication of an article last month she claimed damaged her character.

Prime Minister PersadBissessar through her lawyers says she intends to make a claim against the paper for “substantial damages” for libel as the “unfounded allegations” have hurt her personal, national and international reputation.

In a 12-page pre-action letter sent by her lawyers to the newspaper, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar claimed the front page article entitled “Neighbours Flee”, was libellous and damaging to her character.

The article, published on March 27, stated the Prime Minister’s neighbour, Leon Achilleous, had put up his house for sale because of noise disturbances and the construction of a chain-link fence at her private residence in south Trinidad.

But the Prime Minister, through her attorneys, is denying there was ever any

noise emanating from her private residence, and the construction of the chain-link fence was to protect and to prevent any possible harm to the Achilleous children.

The Express reported yesterday that the letter extensively spelled out the Prime Minister’s academic and political accomplishments and stated the publication of the article brought the Prime Minister’s “good name and reputation into odium and disrepute have sullied her personal and political reputation and have disparaged her in the eyes of the public”.

UNITED NATIONS/ BEIRUT (Reuters) - Russia and China joined the rest of the U.N. Security Council yesterday to authorise deployment of up to 30 unarmed observers to monitor Syria’s fragile ceasefire as activists reported more deaths in the country and renewed shelling of Homs.

The resolution by the 15nation Security Council is the first it has approved since the anti-government uprising in Syria began 13 months ago.

Moscow and Beijing twice vetoed council resolutions condemning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s assault on protesters opposed to his rule that has killed thousands of civilians.

A spokesman for U.N.Arab League mediator Kofi Annan had said on Friday that the first group of observers was on stand-by and ready to fly to Syria as soon as the council approved their deployment. Annan is planning for an observer force that will have up to 250 monitors.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement released after a meeting in Geneva said the Syrian government had the prime responsibility to stop the violence and withdraw its forces from urban areas in line with Annan’s peace plan.

“The Secretary-General reiterated that it is the government of Syria which

has the primary responsibility to stop the violence and withdraw its forces,” the statement said.

Opposition activists said at least six people were killed in Syria on Saturday and also reported the first shelling, in the city of Homs, by forces loyal to Assad, since the U.N.Arab League-brokered ceasefire took effect three days ago.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four people were killed during a funeral march in Aleppo, one by shelling in Homs and a sixth succumbed to wounds inflicted by torture in the central town of Rastan, straddling the DamascusAleppo road.

UN votes to send Syria monitors, killings continue

A 47-year-old man is now at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), nursing a stab wound to his chest.

The report is that the wound was inflicted by his friend.

Joseph Vangronigen, also known as Betsy, was stabbed around 07:00 hrs yesterday, while he was engaged in a conversation with two friends at “Four Corner” in Melanie Damishana North, East Coast Demerara.

One of his friends, Fitzroy Henry, who claimed to be an eyewitness, said that he, Betsy and another man were “gaffing” at the corner when another friend came and started to dance to the music that was playing at a house nearby.

Henry explained that while one of them

was dancing, they continued their conversation.

“When we de gaffing, none a we didn’t see anything but I hear like a loud stab and when I turn I see Betsy holding he chest and blood coming out,” Henry recalled.

Vangronigen was immediately rushed to the GPHC by a neighbour who also witnessed the episode while Henry and his other friend followed Jermaine and later found him hiding in Buxton. He was subsequently handed over to the police.

When Kaieteur News visited the hospital yesterday, the 47-year-old man was still undergoing surgery.

Friends and family members of the victim were told that doctors are battling to save his life.

HIV on the decline in Guyana The HIV prevalence among the general population in Guyana has been steadily decreasing since 2004 from 2.4 percent to 1.07 percent in 2011. Additionally, the proportion of all deaths attributable to AIDS has also steadily declined by 56 percent since 2002.

According to Guyana’s Global AIDS Progress Report 2010-2011, there is a body of evidence which suggests that the epidemic is stabilizing in the country. “There is a steady decline in the number of new reported cases of HIV infection among a significantly higher number of persons who are coming forward to be tested,” said Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, Minister of Health.

He added that compared to 2010 when there were 1,093 new reported cases of HIV infection, there has been a decrease to 972 new reported cases in 2011. A similar trend has been observed in the number of new reported AIDS cases, from 146 in 2010 to 62 in 2011. In 2010, 5.8 percent of babies born to HIV-positive mothers were infected with HIV. This declined to 1.9 percent in 2011.

HIV prevalence among pregnant women was 0.88 percent in 2010 and 1.08 percent in 2011. The number of tuberculosis (TB) patients testing positive for HIV also declined from 26 percent in 2010 to 23.4 percent in 2011 and prevalence among blood donors decreased from 0.2

- says PANCAP percent in 2010 to 0.1 percent in 2011.

The report adds that the sex ratio (male to female) for HIV cases has been fluctuating over the last four years. Surveillance data from the Ministry of Health shows that for the first time since 2000 when the sex ratio was 1.16 there was an observed change, to 0.91 in 2008, then to 1.05 in 2009. This situation was reversed in 2010 and 2011, dropping to 0.8 percent in both years.

There are also more persons in Guyana accessing treatment for HIV and AIDS. Then report indicates that there were 3,432 persons actively receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the end of 2011, compared to 3,059 in 2010.

“We continue to identify and place more persons on treatment. We have also expanded the number of fixed care treatment sites from 16 in 2010 to 18 in 2011 thereby providing increased national coverage,” Dr. Ramsaran said.

However, despite the many gains in the HIV and AIDS fight, Dr. Ramsaran said there was still the need to remain vigilant to aggressively tackle barriers to universal access in Guyana, such as stigma and discrimination, archaic laws, geography and attrition of highly qualified staff.

“It is imperative that we fully implement the principles, standards and guidelines for HIV prevention to ensure that we develop evidenceinformed strategies and activities to achieve prevention particularly among the most vulnerable – youth, sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), drug users and persons with disabilities. “ We will work assiduously in reducing the vulnerabilities for HIV as we comprehensively address the social determinants of health and tackle the difficult challenging issues of gender based violence,” the Minister added.

Dr. Ramsaran said that in the face of dwindling resources for the HIV response globally, the Ministry will continue to focus its efforts to ensure full integration of its programmes, since offering services in isolation expends much more resources.

“We will continue to mobilize resources to increase services to the populations at greater risk for HIV, to ensure that every Guyanese knows his or her HIV status, that no baby is born HIV positive and that persons living with HIV receive care of the highest standard,” he reiterated.

These measures must be adopted, he said, if Guyana is to preserve the gains made in the last 10 years and increase the country’s social progress.

(Allison Ali)

LIAT, UNION TO MEET ST JOHN’S, Antigua CMC – Officials from the regional airline, LIAT, and the Antigua and Barbuda Workers Union (ABWU) will meet on April 23 as they seek to settle a dispute over the company’s plan to sever more than two dozen employees.

L a b o u r M i n i s t e r D r.

Errol Cort met with both parties Friday and a joint statement issued afterwards indicated that the “meeting agreed to a request from the Minister

for a two week extension of the time-frame for a consultation between the company and select representatives of the company’s unions”.

It said that the consultation “is intended to provide an opportunity for additional dialogue between the unions and the company on the company’s business plans for 2012 and going forward”.

Last week, LIAT issued redundancy papers to 25 employees of its Cargo and

QUIKPAK department sparking threats of strike action from the union.

The airline said the move is to facilitate the outsourcing of that service to the Antiguabased Caribbean Airport Services (CAS).

The ABWU described the move as premature, insisting that it urged LIAT to develop a comprehensive management plan to better handle layoffs when the airline closed its city ticket offices last year.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

FOCUS ON APNU’S FOREIGN POLICY Given territorial claims by both Venezuela and Suriname to parts of our country it is absolutely necessary that safeguarding our sovereignty and territorial integrity remain central to our foreign policy.

APNU wishes to unequivocally restate that on the issue of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Government, the Alliance for Change and all Guyanese on the issue of our legitimate right to all 83,000 square miles of Guyana. On this issue there is ONE GUYANA. Despite the unjustified claims by both Venezuela and Suriname we believe that the continued development of mutually respectful and beneficial relations with our immediate neighbours is critical. Given all the concessions that the PPPC Government was constrained to make with respect to all of Suriname’s demands prior to the commencement of the ferry service between our two countries we trust that the Government will exhibit more diplomatic skills when negotiations on the Corentyne bridge agreement commences.

APNU recommends and history demands that our Guyana Defence Force once again attain a capacity that can enhance our diplomatic leverage and economic activities. Had the GDF that capacity in June 2000, it would have been able to repel the unlawful attack by Suriname’s gunboats on the CGX oil rig which was operating within our territorial waters. This incapacity of our GDF delayed our oil exploration in that area by seven long years.

This PPPC Government must, as a matter of high priority, deal frontally with the “back track” operation between Guyana and Suriname. By turning the “Nelson eye” to this operation the Government has in fact “erased” that part of our eastern border.

We wish to remind this Government that the unhindered flow of criminals, illegal immigrants, uncustomed goods, undeclared gold and illegal drugs and guns are as much a threat to our sovereignty and territorial integrity as are the unjust claims of Venezuela and Suriname.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT In our 2011 Manifesto we identified “encouraging diversification of Guyana’s trade and investment relations with the rest of the world so as to reduce its vulnerability to external economic shocks” as one of our major policy frameworks. We are therefore pleased that the promotion of trade and investment is also listed in the 2012 Budget as a priority of the Government’s Foreign Policy.

For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take the lead role in enhancing Guyana’s trade and investment the staff both at our overseas missions and at Takuba Lodge has to be of the highest caliber.

When the PPPC took office in 1992 the Ministry was staffed with highly qualified diplomats at our overseas missions and at the Ministry. Indeed, our foreign service was the envy of our CARICOM sister countries and further afield. Guyana led and the rest of CARICOM followed.

Lamentably, one of the first tasks of the new PPPC Government in 1992 was the wholesale removal of our High Commissioners, Ambassadors and other diplomatic staff at our foreign missions. The removal of these sixty-nine persons resulted in the near destruction of this critical Ministry.

The PPPC “coup de grace” of this near destruction was the appointment of Mr. Clement Rohee as its Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Given the global economic rearrangements that have seen the emergence of the “BRICS” countries,

APNU believes that it is absolutely imperative that our missions in Brazil and India be headed by our most accomplished and highly skilled diplomats who can take a lead role in enhancing trade and investment between our countries. We therefore call for the immediate removal of Ambassador Kellawan Lall and High Commissioner Ronald Gajraj.

These two missions are too critical to be used as rewards for disgraced PPPC party loyalists. We call on the government to consider the establishment of a mission in South Africa which mission can also be used to advance trade and investment with other African counties many of whom have fast growing economies.

THE UNITED NATIONS AND CARICOM We are happy that the Government has finally appointed a permanent Ambassador to the United Nations. We call on the Government to act now to actually implement many of the conventions and treaties that they have acceded to.

This government’s deliberate policy of “selling” the signing of Conventions, Protocols and Trade and Investment Agreements as actual implementation continues to result in a huge “implementation deficit”

which is of great concern to APNU. We note that the Heads of Government of CARICOM are scheduled to deliberate on a critical five-year strategy plan for CARICOM at the upcoming 33rd meeting of the Conference scheduled for July 2012 in St. Lucia. We urge that there be meaningful consultations between Government and Opposition on this plan prior to the July meeting.

RECOMMENDATIONS A P N U ’ s recommendations for our Foreign Relations Policy include: 1. The establishment of formal engagements between the Government and the Opposition on all matters relating to Guyana’s Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity.

2.

The immediate regularizing of the “back track” crossing between Guyana and Suriname.

3. The enhancement of the Guyana Defence Force.

4. The restoration of the principle of regular rotation of our overseas based diplomats.

5. The resuscitation of our Foreign Service Institute.

6.The investment in the training of a cadre of bright, young and patriotic Guyanese who will be second to none in the diplomatic arena thereby enabling the Ministry to be a major tool for the development of Guyana

Page 9

Dem boys seh

De whores and de thieves falling out Nuff of dem who wukking at de Georgetown Pubic Hospital gun end up as patients at de hospital. Dem getting concussion. When de hydroclave story buss out one seh one thing and another seh something else.

Mike de Con try fuh tek he self out of de story when he claim that he didn’t know nutten bout de hydroclave. Keith de Burrower seh that he only know bout de money that he ask for. Then Mike de Con release figures and Keith de Borrower tek off pun he. De Burrower ask de Con why he talk and de Con seh that he had to because he see jail.

Dem boys hear de cross talk. Dem hear one asking de other one if he name Mitta Sharma and de other one asking if de Burrower name Rambo. This time Leslie done mek he mischief and he gone because he know wha really happen and who get what.

But while dem quarrelling one man sit down in he corner at de Santa complex and he smiling because he remember de time when he try fuh get all de contract fuh bring in de AIDS drugs. Was good money and he didn’t want to tender. In fact, he tell Leslie that is only he should bring in de drugs because he got expense. He newspaper ain’t mekking money and de Waterfalls paper laughing.

Well he had to tender because de Burrower seh that everybody who want bring in AIDS drug got to tender. That cause bad friends. Even Jagdeo get vex because he share in de newspaper get small. At one stage he even try fuh thief out some paper fuh sell pun de side but de numbers suh small that if somebody did tek ten paper everybody woulda miss it. That is why he tek some job wid de climate change.

And he lef Brazzy in de sauce because nobody ain’t want give Brazzy wuk. Dem frighten he fingers. He show dem a trick wid de Marriott money and de money disappear. He show dem another money trick wid GPL and Uncle Donald got to put back billions. Dem want give Uncle Donald concussion too.

Talk half and try deh wid de other half.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kamla, Portia, Shakira plug education at Americas Summit

By Neil Marks in Cartagena, Colombia Women leaders of the Caribbean joined Colombian pop star, Shakira, at the Americas Summit in calling for more programmes in childhood education and teacher training as a way of fighting poverty and increasing wealth.

Shakira used her image as Latin America´s leading female pop icon to call on big businesses to get involved in education.

“In this room there are people with leadership, resources and intelligence.

Why not take advantage of all that to pool resources?

There is mounting evidence that education is the best social investment and that investment in those years prior to kindergarten is the best predictor of how you play that child into adulthood,” the singer said at a business summit.

Addressing 500 of the most powerful business

Jamaica´s Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller and Trinidad´s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Pop star Shakira makes her call for investment in early childhood education leaders in the Americas, she called for the building of education centres, funding programmes for children from

birth to age six years of age.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, agreed that the

emphasis on education should be at pre-school levels. “Many things are being done and much is being invested in primary and secondary, but start from much earlier, at the pre-school level. This is the challenge facing the region and in this challenge the private sector can do much through partnerships to help us succeed,” she said.

She also stated that

training of young people must also be on making entrepreneurs out of them.

“We are training young people to work and not have to be doers of work, that is, to develop their own projects and get them out later. We must empower them also to be good human beings,” the Prime Minister said.

For the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia SimpsonMiller, another key to

education development is the education of teachers.

“Education is expensive, yes, but look how expensive is ignorance. We must work towards a transformation of education, training children, but also teachers, giving more credit to young people to access education and meeting nutrition requirements for children with no limitations and trouble going to school. “

Govt. vows to continue bailout of GPL, GuySuCo - Attorney General

- Commercial Registry under creation to deal with mortgages Government on Friday vowed to continue plugging more money into the ailing state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), despite criticisms.

During his presentation in the N a t i o n a l A ssembly as the 2012 National Budget debate continued, Minister of Legal Affairs, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, said that the fallout from not doing so is unthinkable.

The budget has allocated $6B to GPL and $4B to GuySuCo. GPL has said that higher fuel prices had resulted in severe losses last year and that it is likely to incur hundreds of millions of dollars more this year.

The 2012 budget is a page taken from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic’s development agenda which dates back since 1993, he said.

“No budget in the world can offer solutions” to every issue, he said… “We have

Skeldon sugar factory

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall taken 19 years and we have made monumental progress.”

Drawing a comparison to the administration of the People’s National Congress, Nandlall painted a picture of destruction with Guyana’s finances in tatters at the time when the PPP took power.

Now, in 2012, the country continues along a path of growth, with 100,000 families benefiting from housing and

another 6,500 expected to receive lands this year.

Government cannot stand idly by and accept that 100,000 persons depend on the sugar industry nor 160,000 subscribers and families being unable to stand under a 20 per cent tariff hike.

The administration stands prepared to bail out both GuySuCo and GPL this year and next year and the following year if the need arises.

This assistance will be similar to that given to policyholders of CLICO after they were left in limbo following the belly-up of that

company.

It was also similar to assistance given to the bauxite industry for 20 years when especially the Region Ten area suffered after the plants there closed, the Minister said.

He lashed out at PNC for passing legislation to gag executives of state companies from speaking of operations and other transactions. This was the Act dubbed 2 of 82.

There are several projects now in the pipeline that are coming to fruition. These include a rehabilitated Magistrate’s Court at Leonora, West Coast

Demerara which is to be opened soon, and major works on the offices of the Director of Public Prosecution and Attorney General.

In addition to major improvements to the High Court libraries, a significant, long-awaited project to update the law books of Guyana to reflect changes up to 2010 is nearing completion with law reports also being placed online.

The Deeds Registry is also being given greater autonomy which will vest more authority in officers and reduce travelling and delays in processing transactions.

The National Gazette is also to be placed online shortly, he said.

This will also come when moves are underway to create a Commercial Registry, thus reducing the volume of work at the Deeds Registry.

According to Nandlall, this is imperative in light of the fact that there is a dramatic increase in the number of mortgages and a number of businesses opening which have created a headache for that government agency.

The Land Registry has already been placed under the Ministry of Legal Affairs, he said.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Brassington misleads nation on Marriott deal Govt. is indeed guaranteeing private investors - Opposition Parties

NICIL’s Head, Winston Brassington A senior government official may have been attempting to mislead Guyana over details of the Marriott Hotel deal, with opposition parties now vowing to raise even more questions in Parliament.

AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan Both the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), which make up the

What’s your story?

From page 3 confidence and powers of persuasion. They almost won the lottery, but missed by three digits!

The comedians or humorists are the most lighthearted. They laugh at everything – even death! For laughter is their means of survival. They mean no harm in their humour, for that is the way they deal with life’s challenges.

There are also many other characters: the complainers for whom nothing goes right, royalty without the blue blood, the perfectionists who are always fussing over small things, and the ‘garbage collectors’ who go around collecting useless information and gossip from one area and pass it onto another!

The point is, whatever story you end up telling yourself that becomes your reality. And after several repetitions of that narration, it feels as if the script cannot be changed. But that need not be the case.

The scripts we have chosen, on the whole, are a survival mechanism. It’s what we learnt as kids. If Dad spoke loudly to resolve a situation (and it worked!) then I learn to do the same. If mom went quiet to keep the peace in the house, then I also learn to do the same.

Changing the script is like changing a belief system.

Increase your self-worth and you will change your inner self-talk - the language and tone you use towards yourself. As you develop more self-respect and kindness towards yourself, you will begin to change your response and reaction to the world around you and in turn life will reward you for the positive energy you emit.

If you want to change roles on the drama stage, it is absolutely possible to do so - no one needs to stay in roles that don’t ‘fit’ them. If you are unhappy with the way your life is going, begin by creating a vision and an outline of what you would like to see more of in your life. Focus on that daily and nurture that vision. As you change, the world around you will begin to change.

It’s time… to look at the drama of your life and ask yourself, what story, or whose story, you are living. If it’s all happy and healthy, you need not worry. If it can use some improvement, then take a look at your selftalk. Make it more respectful and positive. Sit down and rewrite your new script; choose your lines carefully.

And remember, you are not simply the actor, but the director of your own life – you hold the pen of the future in your own hands.

APNU’s Carl Greenidge Opposition in the National Assembly, believe that despite statements by Winston Brassington, head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL), Government is in fact offering guarantees to a number of yet unknown private investors that could see them recovering their investments ahead of the government using taxpayers’ money, should the project fail.

The implications are that despite Guyana’s intention to invest US$27M into the project, its name would not be first on the list to be repaid.

The multi-million dollar project has come under fire especially as Guyana continues to struggle with problems to fill the many empty rooms that plague hotels across the country.

Over a week ago, Brassington, during an interview with Kaieteur News, said that there is no Government guarantee on the US$27M debt that is being facilitated by Republic Bank (Trinidad) for the Marriott Hotel project.

Government has entered into a syndicated loan arrangement where Republic Bank (Trinidad) is managing the process. The particular loan is one that is provided by a group of investors and which through an agreement will allow the investors who Continued on page 14

Page 11

President Ramotar says...

Finish curriculum on time to avoid burden of extra lessons “I have nothing against extra lessons. Parents should have the right to send their children to lessons if they feel that this would help their children to improve their grades. What I do not wish to see is for parents to have to send their children to extra lessons because teachers are not finishing their curriculum.”

This comment was made

by President Donald Ramotar, who stated that he has received complaints from some parents that their children were not able to complete the curriculum, thus they (the parents) were forced to send their children to extra lessons in order to catch up with the work.

Ramotar has issued a stern warning to teachers for them to ensure that they complete the curriculum and syllabus in a timely manner in their respective schools. This would mean that parents (and students) would not be burdened financially and otherwise to attend extra lessons.

He was addressing the third Biennial Conference of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), recently.

Mr Ramotar stated that the foundation for excelling must be laid in the classroom and not through extra lessons.

The Guyanese leader reminded the gathering that teachers are required to deliver the curriculum “and they should ensure that this is done and done in a timely manner; no child should be forced to go to extra lessons in order to cover work that was not done in school...extra lessons should be a voluntary thing and parents should not be made to feel that their child has no chance of passing an examination because the work was not adequately delivered in the school”.

Ramotar said that he has heard stories of teachers using the school system “to promote extra lessons”. He wants teachers who are fully

President Donald Ramotar committed to their schools and he does not want teachers who are there “simply for extra bucks that they can have due to extra lessons”.

He stated that an “overwhelming number of teachers are committed and dedicated...to their students and will therefore do all that is possible to ensure that the work programme for each subject is completed before the end of the school year”.

The President expressed his disgust, too, of cases in which children are asked to return to school during their school holidays to complete their School Based Assessment (SBAs).

“I was disturbed when I learned of teachers not completing their syllabuses...it is equally important especially for children writing the CXC exams that they have adequate time to revise for these examinations and should not be forced to spend their last few weeks before the exams trying to get their SBAs in because this will place a great deal of pressure on children and take away from

their examination preparation”.

Mr Ramotar urged all school administrations and the Ministry of Education, therefore, to put in place measures to ensure that students are not shortchanged. “I am not blaming teachers for this problem. I am advised that there are many cases where teachers have to make extraordinary personal sacrifices just to help their children.

“We need to recognise these efforts as well as provide the support needed for our schools to deliver better results”.

He also urged teachers to make the classroom a place of “compassion and love”.

While acknowledging the fact that some teachers do not have it easy today, the President cautioned the nation’s teachers to treat children with dignity “because the scars they experience in school are often carried with them into adulthood and bad experiences at school can be very traumatic for children”.

Teachers ought to be sensitive. “Sometimes the harsh reprimands can deeply hurt a child’s feelings and affect the child’s ability to enjoy school...The child who does not enjoy school is likely not to want to attend school, and we should therefore all try to make our schools a caring and protective environment ever mindful that we are dealing with young and impressionable minds”.

Ramotar said that he wants to expand Physical Education in the schools across the nation and that he expects teachers to be integral stakeholders in the consultation process to begin shortly.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Lift Cuba embargo - Colombia tells America - Pleads for help for Haiti

By Neil Marks in Cartagena President Barack Obama arrived to a warm welcome in Cartagena for the Americas Summit, but the absence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez did not shield the US from criticisms that its trade blockade continues to restrict growth in Cuba.

“It’s time to overcome the paralysis that carries ideological stubbornness and seek consensus…for the sake of the Cuban people,” said host president Juan Manuel Santos.

He was at the time declaring open the Sixth Summit of the Americas, which is being attended by 33 leaders from North, South, and Latin America and the Caribbean. President Donald Ramotar is leading Guyana’s delegation at the summit and he is expected to make an address today.

Santos called on countries of the Americas to overcome the paradigms of the past, build bridges and be creative to overcome the difficulties of the hemisphere, including the situation in Cuba. He said that Cuba’s isolation and embargo is anachronistic and ineffective.

“Isolation, however, indifference, looking the other way, have already demonstrated their inefficiency,” said Santos at the opening of the Sixth Summit of the Americas Cuba was not invited to the Americas Summit, and Santos said he hoped this sixth summit would be the last one from which Cuba will be absent.

“I hope this is the last

The opening ceremony for the Summit of the Americas. President Donald Ramotar is seated in front row, third from right. summit without Cuba. I hope we can move forward and effective bridge for it to be the last of the summits in Cuba is absent,” said the Colombian president.

On March 7, Santos traveled to Havana to inform his counterpart, Raul Castro, that he could not invite him to the summit having not reached consensus among the countries of the hemisphere about its participation in the summit.

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa is boycotting the summit because of Cuba’s exclusion. Meanwhile, he also made a plug for leaders in the Americas to do more for

poverty-stricken Haiti.

“We cannot reach another summit before we are able to contribute collectively to vigorously move Haiti to the path of growth and the eradication of extreme poverty,” he stated.

Santos argued that instead of promoting their own agendas, countries in the hemisphere should

embrace as their own the Haitian government itself, who knows better than anyone the urgent needs of its people.

“Watching what happened there in the last decade, we find that each country cooperates with Haiti in their own way and according to their own interests, with a cacophony

of good intentions but poor results,” the Colombian President said.

The two-day summit will see the leaders discussing poverty and inequality, citizen security, disasters, access to and use of technology, and regional physical integration in the Americas.

Obama’s attendance at the summit has

been overshadowed by reports that 12 of his secret service agents were sent home for misbehaviour, including drinking.

At least one of the agents is thought to have been involved with prostitutes.

Obama has criticized the media for focusing on that instead of so-called progress at the summit.

Some health workers attached to the Global Fund funded HIV/AIDs programme are questioning the credibility of some officials who are tasked with managing the

operations here in Guyana.

In fact, they are convinced that some level of skullduggery has been allowed to prevail over the years, and is set to continue

if measures are not taken to address the glaring situation.

The workers, who requested anonymity for fear of being victimised, said that not only are they being deprived of money that they signed for some two years ago but they were, from the inception, short-changed of a remuneration package which was presented, accepted and facilitated by the funding agency.

This newspaper was informed that it was in 2005 that Global Fund offered to render financial support to the local Ministry of Health to help address the challenges associated with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The funds were channelled through the Health Sector Development Unit (HSDU).

However, the workers attached to the National AIDS Programme Secretariat are of the belief that it could be more efficient if things were managed in a more transparent and honest manner.

The workers, who are

retained on a contractual basis, said that in 2010 they were asked to sign a document which they were told would allow them to be paid a two-month salary valued gratuity.

“We were told that the manager of the programme [name withheld] is requesting that we sign this document so that we could be paid a bonus of two months’ salary through the funding agency.

So we signed it but till this day we have got nothing.”

We need to know what has become of those invoices that we signed...We have been querying and all we are getting is ‘we don’t know about that’.”

The beginning of this year, according to the workers, has marked two years since they had signed the document. They claim they have not received a dime.

Based on the number of persons attached to the programme and the salary level they were assigned, the workers have been able to (Continued on page 55)

Health workers await payment of bonuses two years later

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Felix zeroes in on Rohee’s political interference in Police Force

By Gary Eleazar Former Commissioner in the Guyana Police Force, Winston Felix, DSM, turned politician in A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) camp has lashed out at Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee for politically interfering with the day to day administration of the Force.

Felix made the charges during his debut Budget Presentation in the House on Friday last, where he holds the portfolio of Shadow Home Affairs Minister.

The former head of the Guyana Police Force drew specific reference to two instances which featured prominently in the media in recent times.

Felix told the House that on November 28, 2011, he overheard a police radio transmission where ranks were being instructed “not to arrest” or touch a “known OP Miscreant” or they would face prosecution.

This pronouncement was made in the presence of the visibly perturbed Information Liaison to the President, Kwame McCoy who was in parliament at the time.

Felix drew reference to the fact that during the course of the day as the nation’s general election was being undertaken, police were called in to quell a disturbance at a Lodge polling station.

McCoy was identified as the aggressor in the altercation but rather than being arrested he was escorted away by police ranks called to the scene much to the annoyance of onlookers, Felix said.

Felix also drew reference to the imbroglio surrounding an unaccounted $90M that caused Assistant Commissioner of Police

Page 13

Fish catch down 5.3% Agri Minister says marine production was voluntarily reduced

...instructed police not to touch ‘OP Miscreant’ or face prosecution

Part of Guyana’s small-fishing fleet.

Former Commissioner of Police now APNU Parliamentarian, Winston Felix

Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee

David Ramnarine, to make several blistering allegations.

According to Felix, the Minister of Home Affairs sought to again interfere in the day to day running of the administration of the Guyana Police Force on this matter when there is regulation already in place to address such matters.

Rohee, in his defence during his presentation, sought to justify his decisions to interfere in the running of the Guyana Police Force. His explanation did not find favour with the political opposition.

Felix, from his Parliamentary Seat, shouted “Policy!….that is for policy not day to day administration!” even as he charged that the Minister clearly did not understand the regulation that he was quoting to the House.

Felix also accused the administration of using “crime to fight crime.”

He was making reference to what he called the

administration’s sanctioned use of a “phantom killing squad” headed by Shaheed Roger Khan who has since been incarcerated in the US for drug trafficking.

Felix also drew reference to the fact that Khan had on more than one occasion been detained by ranks of the Guyana Police Force operating in tandem with ranks of the Guyana Defence Force and on both occasions the charges were mysteriously dropped.

The Former Police Commissioner was making reference to the fact that Khan and a few of his associates had been arrested while being in possession of several high powered weapons and a telecommunication triangulation capable laptop computer.

He imputed that the Administration had embraced Khan’s killing squad to deal with the mayhem that ensued following the February 23, 2002 jail-break.

“OP Miscreant” Kwame McCoy during the altercation with police ranks on Election Day

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy has admitted that the local fishing sector has seen a decline in production, but this, he said, is deliberate.

Speaking in the National Assembly last Wednesday, Dr Ramsammy acknowledged the disclosure made by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Ronald Bulkan, who had informed the House that fish production was down by 5.3 percent.

The Agriculture Minister who took over the portfolio following last November’s general elections told the National Assembly that it was a deliberate choice to reduce the harvesting of Guyana’s fishing stock.

This revelation was made in spite of claims that piracy and the lack of assistance to fisherfolk have been driving them out of business.

“Our export of marine fish has to be managed because we have to look at the stock and we have to control that,” the agriculture Minister said.

He advised that authorities in neighbouring Suriname have reduced that country’s marine fleet from 70 to 30 vessels.

“I know that Minister Robert Persaud had been working with the owners of trawlers and so on to reduce the number of boats, and we have chosen to do so voluntarily,” Ramsammy declared. The fisheries sector is of critical importance to Guyana’s economy and its consumption locally has

spiraled over the past decade.

It is estimated that per capita annual consumption reached 59.8 kilogrammes in 1998, which is more than four times the world average consumption of 14 kilogrammes per year. The sector also contributes significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product with export earnings reaching hundreds of millions of United States dollars annually over the past few years.

The industry employs about 4,800 people in harvesting and 5,800 in processing, while many more citizens benefit indirectly from fishing-related occupations, such as boat-building and boat maintenance activities.

The industrial fishery sector consists of 125 trawlers, five fish/shrimp processing plants, and many wharves and dry docking facilities.

The trawlers are 54 percent foreign owned, most of them mainly exploiting prawns with finfish as a bycatch. Locally owned trawlers mainly exploit a smaller shrimp called seabob, and finfish.

However, figures show that the number of trawlers has fallen by about 20 percent since the early 1980s,

reflecting in a decline in the prawn population, and the enforcement of a management decision not to increase the level of the trawling fleet.

In addition to the trawlers, fishing boats which fish at depths of between 120 metres, and at the edge of the continental shelf, target snapper and grouper. It was recognized that there was room for a limited expansion of this fishery in view of its potential sustainable yield, with production oriented toward export and the developing tourist markets.

Small scale or artisanal fishery is not only an important source of food in both rural and urban areas, but it is also increasingly significant as sources of employment, income and foreign exchange.

This type of fishery experienced rapid growth, both in numbers of participants and volume of landings, up to 1992, but since then production has leveled off.

This is probably due to a reduction in the volume of fish resources. There are about 4,500 small scale fishers. Of these, about 1,000 are boat owners.

Page 14

Kaieteur News

APNU calls for Henry Greene’s removal

A Partnership for National Unity Parliamentarian, Volda Lawrence, said that her party does not support any form of abuse towards women.

The Party is committed to reviewing the Sexual Offences Act with the aim of ensuring that there is no miscarriage of justice through any loopholes which the current act may contain.

Lawrence was at the time commenting on the 2012 budget debate in the National Assembly.

According Lawrence, there are 19 women representatives in the National Assembly. However, there are more than 200,000 women outside the House who do not subscribe to any form of abuse by any person in our society.

This view, Lawrence said, permeates every class, colour and age group and does not vindicate those who would use their status, office, or wealth to abuse women.

“One case in point is a call for the removal of the Commissioner of Police Henry Greene forthwith from office”.

Lawrence said the constant abuse of one’s office must stop. “Our women, boys and girls must be free from those who have hidden predatory instincts for sex and sexual favours”.

The Guyana Women’s Lawyers Association came in for high praise for having recently held an informative and interesting session on the topic of abuse.

Lawrence said that in today’s society women have broken the gender barriers which once existed within the labour market.

“We have shown that we can hold positions at every stratum, be it at an executive level, in the laboratory or in the factory.”

Notwithstanding these achievements, Lawrence said there is a growing concern that work is equal, but pay is not.

“This behaviour is more prevalent in the private sector and we must guard against it and stamp it out whenever and wherever it is found”.

Lawrence said that this doubtedly calls for more women to get involved in the Trade Union Movement.

Women must not see themselves merely as benchwarmers but must seek to run for higher office within these organizations.

She added that with women leadership positions in our Trade Unions, equal work with equal pay and the resurgence of sexual harassment in the work place will be more adequately addressed.

“The time has come for more radical steps to be made on domestic abuse…no more stamp it out no more black and blue…I call on this Government to take firm action against those in our midst who believe they can abuse others, go to jail and spend time on taxpayers’ money.”

Lawrence pointed out that every organization religious, social and educational have spoken out against violence but yet this reckless behaviour continues unabated in the society.

Daily, she said, the different newspapers continue to reports on murders, vicious attacks on women and men and other incident of abuse.

“The time has come now for us to address this issue in a comprehensive manner taking into account modern social work intervention techniques, including counseling by trained professionals.”

She added that it is believed that energies must now focus on repairing the young minds in the society through social programmes in the education system. She called for data to be gathered and analyzed to prepare a realistic approach for addressing this scourge.

From page 11 are part of the syndicated loan arrangement to get back their monies ahead of any other- in this case, ahead of Guyana which is plugging a massive US$27M into that project.

LOW OCCUPANCY According to Carl Greenidge, APNU’s Parliamentarian and former Finance Minister under the People’s National Congress (PNC), it may be a case of the NICIL’s head playing with

words.

“You can in some instances decide that you can give a formal guarantee.

You write a formal guarantee so that in the event that certain rate of profit is not achieved… you (Guyana) are going to make up the difference- that is a formal guarantee.”

In this case, where Government is clearly issuing “preference shares” or “preferred shares” “it seems to me that they (the

syndicated loan investors) have first claims on any income or any profits that are associated with the company and in any event of a collapse or it is wound up, they have first claims on the resources.”

According to the Parliamentarian, the extent of the risk that Government will bear will depend on the Management Agreement that is signed. “…And we have not seen that; and that is really at heart of the story. The wider question is why would a government in circumstances where you have excess capacity in terms of hotel room occupancy, why would it want to provide a de facto guarantee in those circumstances?”

The official stressed that incentives are more often than not provided to hotels and others to boost occupancy rates of rooms which in ordinary circumstances are below expectations. “…We have over capacity given the number of tourists we have…given the amount of visitors we have. I once again come back to a fear that the government is using an economic instrument like this… using the state’s resources, to give land to a business, to give a de facto

Sunday April 15, 2012

ImmigrationTALK

Why is DNA Testing Required?

By Attorney Gail S. Seeram, www.GailLaw.com In many cases, the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may ask a petitioner to submit a DNA test proving the parental or brother/sister relationship with the beneficiary. Some people are taken back by this request since they feel that the birth certificate is sufficient in proving the relationship.

The first reason why a DNA test may be requested is because the U.S. Department of State at one time had a fraud warning posted on Guyana birth certificates. The reason for the fraud warning was because it was believed that people could obtain a fraudulent birth certificate from the black market in Guyana.

Thereby, if the birth certificate presented displays any characteristics of fraud, then a DNA test will be required between the petitioner and beneficiary.

Next, a DNA test may be required when a parent is filing for a child and that child was born out-of-wedlock, meaning the parents were not married. In particular, when a father is filing for a child and the father never married the child’s mother, then a DNA

test may be required.

In these situations, the U.S. Immigration may request a DNA test to confirm this is the biological father filing the petition and not someone who claims to be the father.

In addition, evidence to prove that the father legitimize the child would also be required to prove the parent-child relationship (such as proof of financial support and proof father held child out to be his).

Lastly, a DNA test may be required in sibling relationships where brothers or sisters have only one similar parent (in other words, step-brother/step-sister relationships). In these cases, a DNA test is requested and the percentage of likelihood is examined in order to prove the relationship.

What is DNA? DNA is the carrier of the genetic material that determines who you are (genetically). Your genetic makeup (who you are genetically which controls things like eye color, hair colour, bone structure, organ size, etc.) is controlled by the pairing of the chromosomes contained from the female’s egg (23 chromosomes from her) and the chromosomes from the male’s sperm (23 from him).

Each of the 46 total chromosomes is made up of

guarantee to a business, monies…taxpayers’ monies to a business (and) is abusing economic policies.”

Alluding to perceptions that government may be attempting to compete with the Pegasus, Greenidge made it clear that taxpayers’ money was involved.

“If you are upset with (Robert) Badal (owner of The

The Parliamentarian also said that the recently released documents by Government on the Marriott deal are incomplete.

Last week, APNU through Greenidge, and during the 2012 National Budget debate, expressed more concerns over the project. The coalition will continue to raise questions and address the

Gail S. Seeram long threads of a very specific type of molecule called DNA, or deoxyrivonucleic acid.

Each molecule of DNA is made up of thousands of genes, which determine your “genetic makeup”.

The DNA test is not intrusive, as the lab simply takes a quick swipe or sample of the saliva in your mouth (there are no needles or blood involved).

There are many labs that work internationally and coordinate DNA testing between petitioners in the U.S. and beneficiaries living abroad. U.S. Immigration accepts DNA testing from labs accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks. A list of accredited labs can be obtained from the following website: http:// w w w. a a b b . o rg / S A / FA C I L I T I E S / P a g e s / RTestAccrFac.aspx

Brassington misleads nation on Marriott deal

“Yes, Government is offering a guarantee….We are putting up monies for other people but their money will have priority and that is obnoxious,” - Ramjattan Pegasus), because Badal has a hotel that you did not want him to have, the way to deal with that is not through this instrument.

These are taxpayers’ resources and in the end NICIL’s resources were never intended to be used in this way.”

OUR MONEY NICIL is the state’s agency for handling investments for Guyana. It is said to have billions of dollars in its purses with increasing pressure for that money to be handed over to the Government’s central account- the Consolidated Fund.

issue in the National Assembly, the official said.

AFC’s lead Parliamentarian, Khemraj Ramjattan, was very clear also that government is not a priority investor in the project which is to be built in Kingston, west of The Pegasus.

He said that the other private investors, from the information available, would get priority. “That was made very clear. And we knew that.”

What makes the deal more questionable is the fact that it is NICIL’s money (taxpayers’s dollars) that will be used for the equity, he

said.

According to Ramjattan, Government has already plugged US$6M into the project. This includes US$2M for the design which was done by a US-based Guyanese, Mike Ahmad, and another US$4M for preparatory works.

“Assuming that the property is built and it becomes bankrupt and is sold for only US$25M… what that means is that the syndicated people who put money into it will collect first.

If they put US$25M, they will get US$25M and we will get nothing.

“Government is offering a guarantee. We are putting up monies for other people but their money will have priority and that is obnoxious.”

The proposal is to build a 197-room hotel on an eightacre plot of land in Kingston. SCG Shanghai Construction Group International (Trinidad and Tobago) was awarded the contract. Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI), the company the government has formed to establish the hotel, has proposed equity of 22 per cent.

It is expected that the project could cost up to US$60M to build.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 15

Woman fished out of North Ruimveldt canal

Claudette Seymour, 64, was fished out of a canal that runs through Lamaha Springs, early yesterday

Claudette Seymour's body being removed from the canal morning. Her son, Mark McLeod, who made the discovery, said that Friday evening he took some meals

for his mother who occupied a shack on a reserve near the canal but he did not find the woman.

He returned yesterday morning to find her and again he did not see her. He said that he then saw her hat and a

packet of cigarette on what used to be the floor of a now dead aunt's home.

Further examination caused him to see a trail leading to the weed-infested canal and it was only then he saw the body floating.

He said that he recognized her from the clothes she was wearing the day before.

The woman, whom the neighbourhood knew as '10 cents' refused to live with her children or relatives. People said that she would he

walking the streets in the community in an intoxicated state and would return home at nights.

She lived with her son at one time but caused so much trouble that he was forced to let her go her way. She also lived with other relatives but always moved away “to have her own way.�

McLeod said that he raised an alarm.

Two young residents removed the body from the canal for transportation to the Lyken Funeral Home.

Page 16

Kaieteur News

Mangrove tours to feature during Caribbean tourism conference

D

elegates of the Caribbean T o u r i s m Organization Conference which opens in the city tomorrow would be touring the Mangrove Reserves from Golden Grove to Belfield on Tuesday. This is part of the delegation's study tour.

This is according to Chairperson of the Mangroves Action Committee, Annette ArjoonMartins, who said thanks to

Sunday April 15, 2012 A horse cart full of tourists

communities within Guyana's first mangrove forest reserve, nature lovers could now enjoy an exciting half-day tour facilitated by a team of trained guides from the communities.

About 40 minutes from G u y a n a ' s c a p i t a l c i t y, Georgetown, visitors are exposed to rich Guyanese heritage, a thriving mangrove forest managed by the local community, a wetland teeming with fish and coastal birdlife, and a towering sugar estate house.

The tour starts at the mangrove visitor centre located in the sprawling three-storey 160-year-old plantation house, which is 160 years old. This magnificent structure dominates five acres of land covered with tall stretching mango trees midst of an herbal garden.

The house reflects an early grandeur in its hewn greenheart beams, pine floors and antique cast iron pillars. Supporting the front gallery of the building are pillars made from bricks brought to Guyana as ballast for sailing ships in colonial days.

Displays telling the mangrove story in detail and a beautifully hand painted mural of the coastline depicting the rich birdlife of Guyana's coastal forests are part of the permanent exhibit.

She noted that visitors could sample the delightful products of the Mangrove Reserve producers, which comprise a group of vibrant women from the communities that are actively involved in agroproduction.

Some of the products are golden coloured mangrove honey, handmade beeswax candles, pepper sauce, green seasoning, tamarind balls, mango achar and fried breadfruit chips all attractively packaged. These homegrown village products are free of preservatives, full of natural flavor and 100 percent organic.

The tour from the breezy Vi s i t o r C e n t r e t o t h e mangrove reserve could be done either by vehicle or by horse drawn cart, which is becoming very popular.

Experienced cart men from Nabaclis village are providing this service. Apart from the open air and breezy ride it is amazing to see how the drivers communicate with their animals by sounds

rather than the reins.

The next stop is at Victoria Village, the first village bought by freed slaves following Emancipation in 1838. The original hut where slaves collected their weekly pay packages is now a busy village shop, and vendors outside offer fresh coconut water.

Visitors are then guided up the side dam passing near the Ashram where the beautiful temples offer a photo opportunity. Another attraction is the Dutch koker, which is invaluable in draining excess water off the rich agricultural lands in the back.

Arjoon-Martins said that upon arrival at the Golden Grove/ Belfield Mangrove Reserve – the first community to own and manage mangrove reserve in Guyana, visitors are guided along a trail where four species of mangroves – black, white, red and buttonwood are found within the first 100 footsteps.

The view is fascinating with hundreds of fully grown mangrove trees, many of them over 20 feet tall, making a dense forest on the swampy foreshore, and now serving as a barrier to the Atlantic tides in the area.

Along the trail in this area is an array of medicinal plants, used by Guyanese for generations such as “black sage” – a brew from the leaves helps to combat hypertension and diabetes, and the rigid stems of the plant make a toothbrush substitute.

There is also “sweet sage” used to treat colds, “belly ache bush” that combats gum disease, and a brew from the “tulsi” plant that works to relieve flatulence. The leaves of the “noni” plant are used to alleviate pain, and its fruit builds up the immune system. In front of a wide (continued on page 50)

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Meet Washington, DC- based beauty Tracy Lall. The 25-year-old, who grew up in Guyana, attended Queen's College and later Howard University in DC, where she completed her Bachelor's in Business Administration majoring in Finance. She is currently a second year graduate student at Strayer University where she plans to get a Masters.

Tracy enjoys cooking, shopping, dining out, and partying with friends. Her career aspirations are to one day be a Chief Financial Officer and also have her own business.

Page 17

Page 18

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Long-serving educator,

Samuel Archer, is a 'Special Person’

By Leon Suseran

T

he name 'Sammy' Archer resonates favourably on the ips of many educators across Guyana and especially in Berbice. Mr. Archer gave nearly 40 years of his life (37 o be precise) to the education sector as a concerned, dedicated and experienced headmaster.

During his tenure, he became a vibrant trade unionist and later President of the Guyana Teachers' Association [later Union] (GTA) and he served his office well. He was and still s very concerned about education and its state of affairs in Guyana even hough he sits quietly behind he scenes in his Cumberland, East Canje

home today. Mr. Archer still has very sober views and recommendations about the education system and words of advice for today's teachers.

In the past, many teachers and educators were featured in this column, however, Mr Samuel Orlton

Primary School and Berbice High from 1947- 1952.

In briefly reminiscing about his childhood, Mr. Archer stated that his life was one with many challenges.

“From the age of three, I suffered a tragedy, in that my left eye was stuck with a scissors”. One Sunday

“Home visits were very helpful... I have found that the contact with the home and parent eases the load on the teacher” Archer brings with him his unique stories and language of experience which he gained from his many years in the teaching and education system.

Born on December 1, 1934, at Smythfield, New Amsterdam, to parents Samuel and Mary, young Samuel attended All Saints'

At a Trade Union seminar in New Amsterdam. Archer is sitting at left

afternoon while preparing for Sunday School, he related that he was trying to bore a piece of thick flannel and tried the upward push with a scissors and “it went right in my eye and I had one operation and after that, a film started to grow over the eye and I had another surgery and later my left eye went

blind”.

He lost the sight of the eye at that very tender age and “that handicap posed quite a challenge, but up to now I am living with that challenge and overcoming it” He attended school without wearing spectacles, but at age 32, he began to wear them since it was telling on his sight.

Samuel entered the teaching system in June 1953; his first teaching stint was at Wakenaam, at St Paul's Anglican School.

He spent about a year there, after which he was transferred to St Patrick's Anglican School in East Canje in 1954. He then e n t e r e d t h e Te a c h e r s ' Training College (later CPCE) and was among the first batch (of 150 teachers)

Samuel Archer in the Emergency Teacher Training Scheme from September 1959 to 1960.

After ending college, he returned to St Patrick's and “got all my promotions there”.

During these years Mr. Archer married Ulah Hazel, in November 1966. The union bore four children.

In 1968, he was seconded to start the Overwinning Secondary School on the East Bank of Berbice.

He became the first headmaster of that school “and we started out with 25 students on that day in September and the school had to grow, and it grew to such an extent that, at one time, a part of the secondary was housed at St Patrick's in Canje”.

He returned a year later to St Patrick's as Deputy Headmaster until 1973 after which he was appointed as Headmaster of Manchester Secondary. In 1977, he was transferred back to St Patrick's as Headmaster and remained there until 1984 after which he was transferred to the newlybuilt Canje Secondary School as the first Headmaster until his retirement in 1990.

Being the headmaster for quite a number of schools he recounted a few experiences including his best times that were spent at St Patrick's.

“We used to take children

on tours to Georgetown and Corentyne, but also Music Festivals-- music was not taught at the school but we had choirs and took part in these festivals-- and in 1967 we won in our age group in Georgetown”.

“Manchester was quite an experience for me because of the children-- there was a dialect that I just couldn't understand when some of them spoke, it sounded foreign to me and most times I had to ask the Senior Mistress to explain what the children said.” “It was quite something”, he recalled fondly.

After his retirement, being the caring and concerned educator he was, he did not stop finding out about how his students were doing. “I had a tracing system and tried to find out as much as possible just what the children--who passed through my hands-- what they were doing.”

He recalled how he enjoyed giving extra lessons, “we used to give lessons at school but we never charged”. He saw lessons as a means of catching up with some things that time did not permit them to cover in the classroom during the normal 5- hour period “and we would have them stay back after school or on Saturdays and give them the lesson without charging a cent, (continued on page 47)

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 19

ONE GOOD SUGGESTION DESERVES ANOTHER It really does not matter where a good idea originates.

Once it is good for the country, it should be seriously considered and adopted.

A few days ago, this column observed that it was patently unfair for the government to be charging Linden $15 per kilowatt hour while the rest of the country has to pay $64. This constitutes geographic discrimination.

It is therefore fitting that the government is attempting to bring tariffs in the Linden area in line with what is charged to other consumers.

This is proposed to be done in a phased manner so as to reduce the impact on the pockets of Lindeners.

This column suggested a slight adjustment to the original plan. It urged that the government calculates the economic cost of supplying electricity in Linden and then reduce this cost through a subsidy that conforms to the national average.

It also suggested that instead of the subsidy being applied evenhandedly, it should be directed more at those whose monthly consumption of electricity was below a certain level.

This was more or less the same suggestion that was

offered by APNU not long after in the Budget debates.

The suggestion by APNU was welcomed by the Prime Minister.

So it really does not matter if the suggestion came from this column or if it came from APNU. It makes sense and it is good for Guyana, and the government should not feel in any way that they should reject the suggestion.

In fact what the government should be doing is listing all the useful suggestions that have been made by the combined opposition, so that when the time comes for the deliberations on the estimates, they could use these as negotiating chips with the opposition.

The opposition is going to want to show that it has the power to alter the government’s Budget. The government on the other hand will try hard to defend its spending priorities and may not be keen to slash chunks off of certain lines.

This is where the opposition’s useful proposals come in. The government can engage in horse-trading with the opposition parties. In return for accepting some, not all, of the opposition proposals, the government gets to pass

substantively its Budget.

So far the proposal made about applying the subsidy more intensely to small consumers of electricity is a good one. It should be adopted.

This will also help to ease the pressure on the small man and ensure that the large consumers of electricity, including those persons who can afford to leave their lights on all night, do not benefit as much from the subsidy as the consumer who, for example, consumes below 200KW. At the same time, GPL has to reduce losses and dismiss corrupt staff.

Another useful suggestion that came out of the Budget was made by Mr. Rupert Roopnaraine. He urged that a parliamentary committee be established to examine the state-owned sugar corporation. This is not a bad suggestion at all, but like most things suggested by APNU, it can be improved upon.

What Guyana needs is not politicians quarreling over sugar. We have had enough of that. What is needed is a complete review of the operations of the sugar corporation, including the construction of the Skeldon factory. What is needed a commission of inquiry into,

amongst other things, the penalties that were supposed to have been levied on the contractor after the first startup of the factory encountered problems and tons of cane were left to spoil. What is needed is a review to determine whether there has been a sociological change in relation to sugar and whether we have reached the stage where persons are no longer keen on cutting cane because they can find more viable employment elsewhere.

In short, what is needed is not a parliamentary committee but an independent, non-partisan team comprising sugar experts and international planners, to review the state of the industry. The worse thing we can do now is subject the industry to the

sort of political infighting that will arise if there is to be a review by a parliamentary committee.

It should be recalled that during the colonial era there were a number of commissions of inquiry which examined the workings of the sugar industry and the social conditions of workers.

If the British with so much to lose could have had these commissions of inquiry, then it is high time that we begin to do the same, utilising international experts. It ought to be clear by now that the turnaround plan for the sugar industry is not going to turn the industry around. It is clear that that plan miscomprehends the labour problem in the industry.

It now seems clear that there is an acute shortage of

labour in the industry and this situation does not seem likely to get better. Without a reliable labour force, there will have to be revolutionary changes in the way the sugar industry is organised, including a move towards full-scale mechanisation.

The idea of Mr. Roopnaraine is good, but it would be much better for an independent commission of inquiry to be appointed to examine the operations of the sugar industry and to make recommendations as to the way forward.

Page 20

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

This is the system commissioned at GPHC two weeks ago

President Donald Ramotar interacts with Brazilian customers at a supermarket in the Lethem commercial zone

Sunday Special HUGE DISCREPANCY IN PRICE OF GPHC’S HYDROCLAVE SYSTEM A quotation from the Canadian supplier has put the cost of the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Hydroclave Sterilization System and its waste collection truck at millions of dollars below the cost cited by hospital officials.

Keith Burrowes, Executive Director of the Government’s Health Sector Development Unit, said that the two pieces of equipment were bought with World Bank funding at a cost of US$1.2M. However, a quotation from Hydroclave Systems Corp, Canada, revealed that the total cost for the exact model Hydroclave H-150 System is US$762,865.

The quotation was supplied to this newspaper upon request. This would leave a price difference of approximately US$400,000 unaccounted for. Hospital officials could not immediately state the cost of the truck. According to the quotation provided by Hydroclave Canada, the cost for the equipment includes

charges for training.

NO GOV’T GUARANTEE ON PRIVATE FINANCING FOR MARRIOTT – BRASSINGTON There is no government guarantee on the US$27 million debt that is being facilitated by Republic Bank (Trinidad) for the Marriott Hotel Project, says Winston Brassington, who manages Government investments.

“The shareholders will have to stand behind some of the obligations in the event of certain contingencies, but there is no government guarantee – none whatsoever,” Brassington told Kaieteur News last week.

With investors not rushing to get into the project, industry insiders have suggested that the only reason Republic Bank (Trinidad) would want to get into the project is that the government has some special arrangement that guarantees the Bank, and the sub-parties it is pulling together, that it will get its money if the project folds. But Brassington insisted that this is not so, and suggested that Republic

Bank (Trinidad) sees the project as a feasible one.

Monday Edition HYDROCLAVE SYSTEM COST BEGS FOR SERIOUS QUERY Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Khan, has stated that the hospital spent $60M to house its newly installed Hydroclave Sterilization System. It also spent US$1.2 million to procure the hydroclave system and a waste collection truck.

However, a conservative estimate of construction works and possible related expenses put the project millions of dollars below the cost cited by the hospital’s Chief. Khan, who was unable to provide an immediate breakdown of how the $60M was spent, said that the money was used to construct the 50ft x 20ft shed for the equipment and a 20ft x 12ft storage room for waste.

That cost also includes airfare from Canada to Guyana for a consultant and training of staff to operate the equipment.

Nonetheless, the quotation from Hydroclave Canada for the exact model Hydroclave H-150 System stated that training and commissioning were included in the equipment cost.

During a tour of the facility recently, this publication was assured that the shed, air-conditioned waste holding room, electrical works, gantry to run steam pipe, and a hot water system cost $25M. The hospital did not have to put in a boiler, which would have inflated the cost even further. It was not until, this publication conducted an interview with Keith Burrowes, Head of government’s Health Sector Unit, that it was disclosed that the hospital spent $60M on the construction of the facility.

Tuesday Edition LETHEMAUTHORITY TO BE ESTABLISHED Government has announced plans to move ahead with the establishment of a Lethem Authority to help develop trade with that Region Nine area which borders Brazil. Last weekend, President Donald Ramotar met with the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and

stressed that entrepreneurs in the district are in an advantageous position to benefit. During a scheduled meeting with the stakeholders last week Saturday evening, President Ramotar said that Lethem is poised for rapid growth and development given its close proximity to Brazil. But with a keen eye on the development agenda, he said that regulation is an absolute prerequisite and that he plans to establish a Lethem Authority for this purpose.

The Authority will include representatives from Lethem, other parts of the Rupununi and Georgetown.

MAN IN HAMMER BEATING CASE TO SURRENDER ON CONDITION The man accused of beating his lover with a hammer has promised to turn himself over to police but only after his girlfriend, Eureka Garraway, is fit enough to be discharged from hospital.

In a brief telephone interview with Kaieteur News Monday, the man said that he would visit the police in the company of his attorney. He said that his reason for delaying his surrender is because he wants to ensure

$60M for this shed, foundation and storeroom

Smoke billows from the building

that the victim does not die.

He declined to comment on the allegations that he inflicted the injuries on Garraway. The accuser is well known for dressing up in outrageous outfits, including baby’s diapers, at cricket matches.

Eureka Garraway, 38, was found in a relative’s Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara residence, unconscious and bleeding profusely from head injuries two Wednesdays ago. She had reportedly been slashed as well as beaten with a hammer.

She is being treated at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. A niece said that Garraway sustained cuts to her head which required more than 100 stitches. The brutal attack also reportedly left her with two broken fingers.

Wednesday Edition SENIOR GRA OFFICIAL LOSES $$M IN BLAZE Millions of dollars in belongings went up in flames on Tuesday when a fire of an unknown origin destroyed a six-bedroom two-storey residence at L27 1021 Latchmansingh Street, Tucville, a little after 16:00hrs.

The property belonged to Simone Beckles, a senior (Continued on page 37)

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Ravi Dev Column

The budget is being debated – but it’s been more like nitpicking from the opposition benches.

Most disappointingly, they have actually called for focusing on the “Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme” (PRSP). This represents a failure of vision.

Rather than ‘reducing poverty’, why not talk about ‘creating wealth’?

And it’s not just splitting semantic hairs. “Reducing poverty’ is redolent with the zero-sum approach of redistributing ‘wealth’ from a fixed pie and can only lead to stagnation – the equivalence to economic death. We can achieve only that which we conceive.

Commendably the economy has grown 5.6% last year and is predicted to grow

This is the season of the madness. The electrocution, the road accidents and death, the drowning and the fires have all been headline news. There will be more of this in the coming days.

The reason is that some criminal-minded people are desperate in their pursuit of financial gain. They therefore have clouded judgments. One group will do itself serious harm when it fails to stop at a major intersection and collides with a large vehicle.

The police will find a firearm at the scene of the accident but then again, it

this year by 4.1%. But we are starting from such a low base (still just above Haiti in the western hemisphere) that even if the gains were not nibbled away by inflation, they really do not make a seismic improvement in our standard of living.

The problem for the Minister is that given the imposed neo-liberal economic model he operates within, there is very little room for him to generate quantum leaps in the growth rate.

In his model, the core tools available are monetary, fiscal and exchange rate instruments – but they can only be used to satisfy some arbitrary “macroeconomic fundamentals”.

The premises have all trenchantly critiqued from a host of angles. With the first

option, the central bank lower interest rates on its T-bills and also reduce the statutory reserve requirements in order to encourage banks to up their lending. Increased money in the hands of businesses and consumers would then supposedly spur spending and demand and ultimately, growth.

Hasn’t worked here. The fears of spurring inflation are reasonable – but only because the “easy” money would be going into consumption and not production. We have long pointed out that in an underdeveloped economy such as ours, inflation rates, even in the mid-teens range, would not be dangerous – once the more accessible credits are directed towards businesses that invest in productive sectors that

will be too much paperwork to declare it. **** A most remarkable incident is going to occur. A household would be experiencing some serious problems, not of their own making, when some

enterprising people would rush to their aid.

It would transpire that the home is a drug nest and one of the members would become disaffected with the proceeds.

When a family member takes up arms against another there is bound to be disaster. **** The police will be called in to arrest a car dealer for what someone says is a dishonest transaction. And the only reason for police action is because the car dealer is surrounded by bigger guns.

generate exports and foreign exchange. But this means, of course, that the government would have to craft and deploy an industrial policy extracted from the insights of, say, the National Development Strategy or the LCDS. Our businesses are just not investing – even where there are obvious opportunities. The Government has to throw off the yoke of the neo-liberal dogmas (and of opposition harping on ‘crony capitalism”) and become more involved in public-private ventures. The present players are simply too parochial and inbred. The forestry sector has actually declined by 5.3% when the world is dying for high-end wooden furniture. We offer a proposal we first put out a decade ago. If we do not have the wherewithal to execute a full-blown industrial policy, now is the time to seize the opportunity available in our forestry sector.

The immediate past administration has done a commendable job of highlighting Guyana as a “green” nation in the forefront of forestry conservation and we can piggyback on that initiative that is sure to continue to rise in global consciousness.

We should create an industrial cluster that specialises in the manufacturing of “green” furniture that would distinguish itself from the

mass-produced ‘fake wood” offerings that have flooded the markets everywhere.

Such a cluster would have manufacturers, timber suppliers, kilns, design and market-research companies, craftsmen, designers, exporters, shippers etc. all in one location, to benefit from the synergies of propinquity.

This is simply an example of one strategic opportunity in an industrial policy.This is the way Japan with MITI and South Korea etc. identified strategic opportunities and exploited them in the early days. After the ventures become established the government can decide as to the level or nature of its involvement.

In the exercise of its fiscal prerogative, the state can reduce taxes while increasing governmental spending – while, of course, always running the risk of increasing the fiscal deficit. The first exercise would place more money into the hands of consumers and businesses and theoretically increase spending in the economy.

This is what the opposition is pushing for – it’s populist but not optimum. Experience has shown that lump sum disbursements are more effective in fostering economic growth than the small increases in income consequent to tax cuts.

Ravi Dev

Over the last two decades, government spending on infrastructure and social services has been the major investment in the economy – and creating deficits – making it absolutely necessary for high growth to be kick-started via an industrial policy-driven model. The governmental spending in that vehicle will create a greater number of jobs and create a virtuous cycle in generating increased jobs, taxes and foreign exchange. Fiscal policy, therefore, must follow monetary policy, in being directed towards an industrial policy to be of any help.

Finally, the foreignexchange rate policy option did not offer the Minister any help in stimulating the economy. Our major products – rice, sugar and gold are all bullish and bauxite’s fall is demand, not price, driven. No stimulus opportunity here.

We commend, therefore, the urgent adoption of an industrial policy by our government. We need not just a stimulus, but a sustainable engine of growth.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Three violent deaths,

By Michael Jordan We like to think that execution-style killings only came into vogue a few years ago. We like to see the eighties and nineties as ‘the good old days’, when it was inconceivable for bulletriddled bodies to turn up anywhere. But let’s take a trip back to Sunday, December 27, 1998.

Sometime before daybreak, a series of explosions shattered the silence at West Watooka, Linden.

When dawn broke, it became clear to the community that the explosive sound had not been made by firecrackers.

Lying in front of a small house was the body of 30year-old Watooka resident Roger Bristol. He had been shot to the back of the head, shoulder and side.

At first glance, some policemen who went to the scene assumed that the victim was wearing a red cap.

On closer examination

they realized that the top of his skull was missing, and the ‘cap’ was actually the bloodied remains of his head.

Behind the house, police discovered the body of

Bristol’s pregnant reputed wife, Candace Wilson. She had been shot at close range behind the ear.

Police learnt that the couple was last seen alive at

the Library 2 disco in First Alley, Wismar, at around 03:00 hrs on Sunday, December 27.

They reportedly left for home by taxi.

Police believe that the killers were waiting in ambush near the house when the couple returned.

It is alleged that as he was driving away, the taxi driver who had dropped the couple off heard the gunshots.

From all reports, Bristol traveled frequently to Barbados and had only returned to Guyana three days before he was executed.

Some residents recalled that two strangers had visited the area and were enquiring about Bristol’s whereabouts.

Police investigations suggested that the killing of the couple was linked to another brutal murder, which had occurred in Linden some five days earlier.

Then, the nude body of 18-year-old Montouth King was found in the vicinity of Millie’s Hideout, an old nightclub just outside of Amelia’s Ward.

His head was shaven, his throat had been slit, and he had been shot in the head.

King’s killers had left his gold jewellery on the body. There were also indications that the youth was tortured.

According to reports, King, who sold watches, had left home on December 18 to watch a football game but never returned.

And investigators were certain that they knew the motive for the three murders.

In November, a popular Linden businessman alleged that persons made off with a large quantity of diamonds from his business premises.

It was alleged that shortly after, a group of men attacked the businessman at his home, stabbing him in the process.

The bandits allegedly also abducted the businessman’s wife, and he was forced to give them a large sum of cash in exchange for her release.

Detectives suspected that Bristol, his spouse and Montouth King were killed because someone believed that they had knowledge about the robberies at the businessman’s home.

According to another report, Bristol and the businessman had a falling out over money that the man allegedly owed Bristol.

Police had detained Bristol and some of his

associates in connection with the robberies, and one man was charged.

After the three murders, police also questioned the businessman and his wife and others, but were never able to implicate them in the case.

A Lindener who was suspected to have been one of the hitmen, was said to be on the run several years ago, in connection with a murder attempt in the interior.

But Lindeners have indicated that they are wary about stirring up this old case, since they believe that many of the other key players in the three murders are still very much around.

If you have further information on this case or any other, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street office or by telephone.

We can be reached on telephone numbers 2258465, 225-8491, or 2258458. You need not disclose your identity.

You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s mjdragon@hotmail.com.

SEEKING HELP TO LOCATE RELATIVES OF EIGHT CHILDREN KILLED BETWEEN 1969-1970 Michael Jordan is trying to contact relatives of eight children who were murdered between March 20, 1969 and June 1970, by Harrynauth Beharry, also known as Harry Rambarran, Charles Bissoon, Charles Pereira, Anant Persaud and Maka Anan.

Some of the victims are Basmattie, an eight-year-old schoolgirl from Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. David Bacchus, 15, of Tucville, 11-year-old Mohamed Fazil Nasir, of Number 78 Village, Corentyne, Mohamed Faizal, of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Jagdeo Jagroop, Mohamed Nizam Ali; Paulton of Hogg Island, Essequibo; Orlando Guthrie, of Grove Village, East Bank Demerara.

Please contact him via his email address mjdragon@hotmail.com., or on telephone numbers 22-58458, 22-58465, or 22-58491. HeI can also be contacted on 6452447.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 23

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

My funny friend and other funny stories about my country The prosecutor in the just concluded treason case, Mr. Vic Puran, has been a friend since our early twenties. We were student contemporaries at UG in the early seventies.

At UG, I was a WPA activist while Puran was the head of the youth arm (PYO) of the PPP on campus.

Mr. Puran defected to the PNC while still a student. He became personal assistant to Prime Minister Forbes Burnham while I became a close comrade of Walter Rodney.

Puran’s affair with the PNC Government did not last long. Prime Minister Burnham later became President and Puran was put in charge of the remigration desk at OP. He was arrested and held at Eve Leary on the order of President Burnham for alleged illegal transactions involving duty free cars (remember Nirmal Rekha in 2004?).

Mr. Puran was not charged and left Government service to take up a job at a spare parts store on Russell

Street owned by Mr. Rahaman, the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Movement, led by Llewellyn John. One can say then that Puran had moved from the PPP to the PNC to the PDM. In the nineties, Mr. Puran formed his own political party which included our mutual friend from UG student days, attorney Emily Dodson. All this time, Puran and I remained friends. I wished him well in his new political career.

Over the years, Puran moved into business. He exports fruits, has fish ponds and owns a large hotel on Pere Street. Recently he bought an entire square in Tiger Bay including the famous Foreman Shoe Shop operated by Michael Carrington of the Alliance for Change. Carrington moved out. He chose not to take my advice of taking Puran to court to get time to vacate. The AFC has top quality lawyers.

Puran gave an interview with demerarawaves.com in which he said the Tiger Bay investment is with him and 29

of his relatives. Wow! What a big family venture, perhaps one of the most unique in the world in terms of number of members. I think it is my right to say if I believe what Puran said.

It was while Puran was on his Tiger Bay site last week that I drove up and in front of his face asked him why he wanted to send the treason accused to their death. He smiled and asked me if I saw the evidence, I looked at him with expansive eyes of colossal contempt and drove off. Not for a moment did I believe that the treason accused were guilty.

Puran is about to hear from me again. He told the press that President Ramotar is a good man and citizens need to help him. Looks like Puran’s journey to find a political party in which to settle down is finally over. A letter is being sent off to Puran. This citizen here would like to help President Ramotar, so I am asking Puran to arrange a meeting with the President (or should that be De Donald) so

I can offer my service.

I hope to accede to the President’s requests of what he would like me to do. I in turn would insist that Mr. Ramotar immediately extend television signals to Linden; change the composition of the UG Council to reflect professionals at work; investigate corruption beginning with a comprehensive probe into the reign of Mr. Jagdeo; seek a detailed account of the personal resources of Minister Irfaan Ali; completely overhaul the Chronicle. I would be quite happy to serve as its editor without pay.

These are just few of my basket of “goods” I will present to De Donald.

There were other funny stories that made the news last week. Priya Manickchand asked the Speaker to let the record show that the House dissociates itself from remarks (innocent in this writer’s estimation) made by Moses Nagamootoo, that could be interpreted as his practice of child abuse. The Speaker rightfully rejected her request. But wasn’t it under her Ministry of Human Services that one of the most controversial state employees was put on the Rights of the Child Commission? And where was this lady when Varshnie Singh complained about Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo?

I end with a hilarious incident. I was in deep

Frederick Kissoon conversation with the assistant to Mayor Green at City Hall when Malcolm Harripaul, my good friend, and personal assistant to Opposition Leader, David Granger, rang to tell me that he was being denied entry into Parliament to listen to the budget debate because his shirt was deemed to be too red by security officials.

I didn’t know that there were sartorial colour criteria for entering Parliament.

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Ituni PTA pickets Education Ministry for secondary dept.

The fact that some students entering the secondary level in Region 10 are subjected to various forms of violence, coupled with reports that they are not properly supervised, have been reason enough to force members of the Parent/ Teacher Association (PTA) of the Ituni Primary School into picketing mode.

The PTA members were so riled-up with concern that they opted to journey to the city on Friday, last, to voice their concern to Minister of Education Priya Manickchand. Unfortunately for them, by the time they arrived in the city, the Minister had already left her Brickdam, Georgetown office to participate in the continuance of the 2012 Budget Debate at Parliament Buildings.

This, however, did not stop the members armed with placards from engaging in a peaceful picketing exercise on the lawns of the Ministry.

Among them was Pastor Eon McDonald, who revealed that one of his children was among the pupils who participated in the recent sitting of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

Some 25 students registered to participate in the examination. All of them will have to complete their secondary education miles away from their parents’ care and direct attention, a situation which the members of the PTA have described as nothing less than bothersome.

The Ituni PTA members outside of the Ministry of Education building on Friday

According to the pastor, “We have taken several complaints to the Education Department in Region Ten...The Ministry sent representatives to meet with us but they are saying that we are not qualified to have a secondary department.”

McDonald said that members of the PTA are continuously lobbying for Ituni students to benefit from a secondary school closer to home. However, the officials, according to him, are often quick to contend that there

are not enough teachers to facilitate such a move.

Treasurer of the PTA, Rena Smith, said that Education officials have insisted that no move to introduce a secondary facility would be possible until the district is able to produce at least 200 students over three consecutive years.

She recalled that in years past, the primary school was furnished with a Secondary Department (Primary Tops) which catered to pupils leaving the primary level.

However, this facility had been discontinued by the Ministry of Education, Smith said.

But according to the protesters, “We need a Secondary Department and there is already an area to facilitate this.They could use the downstairs of the current primary school and we would like a positive response on this. They are trying to tell us that we have to wait until they go to parliament and that they have to lobby for this.”

Presently, the nearest

secondary school to Ituni is located some 26 miles away at Kwakwani. Other schools are further away still, in Linden. And according to Smith there are reports that Ituni students are not treated very well at the distant school dormitories. She said that at least one student was the subject of a physical assault which left her with a slashed face, while another 15-yearold student became pregnant.

“The idea is to have our children close so that they can feel safe, and also so that we can

monitor them,” Smith said.

A recent meeting with education officials in the district ended with suggestions being made for the provision of transportation to bring children to and from the distant schools and another for two parents to be designated to work in the dorms of the secondary schools so that they could supervise them while away from home.

However, it is the concern of Pastor MacDonald that Ituni is being neglected since according to him “we understand that another school district which did not reach the criteria that they are giving to us, got a secondary department...So what happened to Ituni?”

He said that “for very long nobody has been coming to find out what is going on at our end so we are stepping out to highlight our problem.”

He added that the problems at Ituni extend to the water situation which he believes is capable of transmitting “all sorts of diseases.”

“It has been decades we have been getting brown water through the tap. We have got wrigglers in our water and that is what we have to consume...this is the poor service we are getting.”

In addition to attracting the attention of officers from the nearby Brickdam Police Station on Friday, the protesters were also acknowledged by persons within the Education Ministry.

In fact, President of the PTA, Ivor Crossman, was invited into the Ministry by an official to share the concerns of the association.

According to the protesters, they are prepared to continue such action if no acceptable action is taken to address their plight.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 25

My column

We are so blessed that we don’t know it Every day brings with it its own glory, its challenges and above all, an opportunity for everyone to do something to help the other man or woman. Sometimes we go about the road without even casting a glance around us, because we are caught up in our own world; obsessed with our own worries, or sometimes merely taking lingering glances at the good things that happened a few days ago.

The past few days made me realize how lucky and how rich I am. I do not need money to feel rich; all I need is a chance to see the new day and to breathe in the air.

If one gets the feeling that I am drifting into doddering old age, I hasten to say that I saw too many disasters in the past few days. There were eight fires in the first thirteen days of this month, each of them reducing people who were going about their lives with whatever problems they had to nothing but a quivering mass of sorrowful humanity.

It all started when I happened to be driving along the West Ruimveldt Front Road. Prime News, courtesy of Julia Johnson, had done a story about a man who had already lost his sight and whose daughter was heading

down the same road.

A man walked off the streets and said to me that he wanted to contribute to the efforts to save this girl’s sight.

Like me, he had a disabled relative—I have a mentally challenged grandson—and he wanted to do something to ease the burden of disability. He gave me some money to give to this family.

So there I was driving down the road when I saw them.

A few days ago, a group of visually impaired people pooled some money to help the child. During the presentation, Linden Stewart, whom Guyana knows as the Mighty Smoker, said something that sent chills through me. “We want to help avoid her becoming like us.”

He is comfortable in his blindness, but he did not want anyone to become blind like him.

There and then I began to look around and to give thanks that I still have a beautiful window to the world, that I can see colours and shapes and light and shadows. Later that day there was this blind man trying to cross Broad Street in the vicinity of Saffon Street. Cars refused to stop, so the man patiently stood at the pedestrian crossing, his ears cocked for a break in traffic.

I stopped and halted

every vehicle approaching the spot where the man wanted to cross. I then directed him along the route he wanted to go. Not one of the other motorists cussed me out for delaying them. I suppose that they were touched.

Then the fires struck. My friend, who is like a daughter to me, lost her home. When I called her a few days later she was still a wreck. She still is.

Then the other night at work I got a phone call from a crying woman. A house was on fire in La Parfaite Harmonie, and children were in the house. I need not say how I felt. I had covered many fires in which people including children died. At each scene I thought of my own children.

A reporter went and returned with the grim news that two of those children perished in the blaze. I edited the story and went to my own home, thankful that I had somewhere to rest my head while others had their lives disrupted, perhaps irrevocably. My eyes made me realize how blessed I was.

Then came Friday.

Another fire; this time in Kitty. I raced to the scene and got the grim details. I learnt of the people who occupied the home and I shared their pain. One woman, Anita

Maxius, when told that she will rebuild, said “Rebuild?

About 27 years of my life just gone down there. All the bills I had keeping gone.”

For her, a significant part of her life had been lost. As I watched, a woman ran up. Her home was in the same yard.

She almost collapsed with relief. Then reality set in; her neighbour had lost hers. Her tears flowed.

It was not until I returned to the office and was preparing the story that I realized that the victims were people I knew. In my days visiting Kurupung, the home owner, Nellie Charles, fed me.

I was an Information Officer then, responsible for Region Seven. That was almost forty years ago. But I should have realized from the moment I heard the name Maxius (pronounced Maxis). Imagine having to start over at this age.

But worse was to come.

Early yesterday morning I got a telephone call that a woman was found floating in a canal.

When I got to the scene, her son explained that he made the discovery. No child should ever have to go through that experience.

He spoke of looking for his mother Friday evening because he had brought meals for her. He returned yesterday morning and saw her hat and her cigarettes.

Then he saw a track leading to the water edge before seeing the slippers she wore.

Then her sister came. This woman was prepared to go into the canal to retrieve her sister’s body. I don’t believe that she could swim. There were other relatives there and some of the woman’s friends, too. It was painful. And to crown it all, the woman was someone I knew.

My friend and schoolmate Perry Foo collapsed and died of a heart attack a few days earlier. He is still to be buried.

These disasters help me understand how rich and how happy I should be, regardless of any discomfort I may

Adam Harris encounter. Indeed, I welcome and appreciate each passing day. And I welcome the opportunity to help people enjoy the very gifts I have.

My mother is still alive and well; I still have a home and when last I checked I was not suffering from any ailment.

And I have my sight—the window to the world.

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

We must listen to and fulfill the wishes of the people Excerpt from a presentation by AFC Member of Parliament Cathy Hughes to the National Assembly on April 13, 2012 Mr. Speaker, Honourable members of this noble house I thank you all for the warm welcome you have bestowed upon us new members of the house.

As I stand here today to make my presentation on the 2012 national budget, I reflect on of a sitting of this national assembly just a few weeks ago when a number of women picketed just across from where we are, and I am reminded that whatever we do in this assembly must reflect the wishes and needs of, those women, women in general and the masses of this country.

Our deliberations therefore and what we agree to in this assembly must not only be what we determine is best for the people of this country but must also consider what the people of this country are calling for.

Mr. Speaker, we will not deny that there have been some improvements in Guyana. To do so would make us appear as extreme oppositionists. This is not what I or we in the AFC are about. Rather, we see ourselves as the conscience of the nation and the voice of reason in this honourable house.

Therefore Mr. Speaker, where there are good ideas and plans in the budget, the AFC will support those because we do not believe that any one party has the monopoly on good

Cathy Hughes ideas. And where we feel this budget has failed we will raise our concerns expecting that as parties committed to Guyana and doing what is best for all her citizens we will find the maturity to compromise.

It cannot be disputed that the challenges facing our communities and social services have reached alarming proportions. Domestic violence and child abuse are now daily occurrences and regrettably many in our population are slowly becoming numb to this.

In the 2012 estimates, in the details of

subsidies and contributions to local organisations, we see a list of NGOs set to receive allocations. Several of these organizations provide undisputed support to public service agencies and their positive contributions go undisputed. Take Help and Shelter, whose name is mentioned in every discussion on support services for victims of domestic violence, and who receives only 10 million in this year’s budget, but the government’s propaganda machinery – the Government Information Agency – receives 111 plus million dollars. The question this forces us to ask is ….is the daily churning out of government propaganda a better use of scarce financial resources than an agency dealing head on, every day, with an unacceptable epidemic that eliminates one of this nation’s most precious resources…our women.

Or for example the meagre $200,000 dollars also listed in the estimates for the David Rose School – a school I am personally acquainted with as far back as the nineteen seventies when one of my sisters who is deaf attended the school. Little has improved over the years and originally a school for the deaf, today the David Rose School is a melting pot for children with various disabilities fighting for a chance to learn, but in an environment of grossly inadequate resources which guarantee they will never reach their true potential. Is this an acceptable allocation for one of few educational facilities dedicated to training and educating persons with disabilities within our communities?

In the estimates we also observe an increase in travel for conferences and official visits, “the globetrotters”, from over 263 million in 2010 to 270 million in 2011 and now we are being asked to approve 285 million in 2012. If that is not bad enough the estimates highlight a category “other transport, travel and postage” which moved from 564 million to over 941 million in a twelve-month period.

Mr. Speaker, the winds of change blew over this parliament a few short months ago and they must continue. I say again, this budget must reflect want the people of Guyana say they need. We represent them and I say

$200,000 for the David Rose School for children with disabilities and 285 million for overseas conferences and trips cannot be considered just. It must change. Behind every child with a disability is a mother fighting hard to understand and cope with the additional challenges. Is this the best we can do, is this the best support Guyana can offer these families.

Guyanese from all walks of life have said they need more financial support to survive, to grow their families…they have said in no uncertain terms that VAT must be reduced, and pensions increased to levels that persons who have served this country will have a little more than bread and water to live on. This is not a gift, but a right they have earned. For many of them, we have chased their children away as they search for better opportunities, and now they grow old alone in Guyana. We must do better by them.

But examine this more carefully and we see that most of these NGOs will receive in 2012 less than what one man will receive in pension and benefits in one month. Where is the level of care in this? One man getting about three million a month and an NGO that provides for hundreds gets less than one million for the whole year. It is time for the government to stop giving lip service to empowering women and families, and back up their big talks with real action.

Let me give an example so there is no doubt as to the AFC thinking – take two-thirds of the total allocations for former presidents and give it to NGOs taking care of our pensioners, abused women and children. This will not affect macro-economic programmes.

I have heard that some in the government don’t believe that the government has an obligation to give a pension. Let me make it clear – the AFC sees it not only as an obligation but as a moral and religious duty to take care of our elderly, our widows, our orphans and all those less fortunate in our society.

As I said before, it is not for us to determine what is best for the people, but we must listen to and fulfill the wishes of the people. We are servants of the people.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

GWI intensifies disconnection campaign on East Coast Demerara Following a significant decrease in revenue collection from several communities on the East Coast of Demerara, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has intensified its service disconnection activities.

According to the company, the disconnection zone commences at Ogle and concludes at Mahaica, with special emphasis on Annandale, Unity Mahaica, Helena Number one and two, Buxton, Plaisance, Montrose, Vryheid’s Lust and Oleander Gardens.

Director of Customer Service and Commercial Relations, Earle Aaron, said the company is alarmed by the decrease in revenue from customers on the East Coast.

“We’ve increased our disconnection exercises in over ten (10) communities on the East Coast as a result of the drop in revenue.

Customers must understand that for us to continue our operations and improve on

the current service it is imperative that they pay for the service which they receive.”

Aaron further revealed that there are a number of customers who have not paid for water in over three (3) years.

“Customers who simply refuse to pay for their service will be the main focus of our current intense disconnection campaign on the East Coast,” stated Aaron.

He further emphasised that “disconnection contractors have been instructed to disconnect immediately once the address corresponds with GWI’s disconnection list; no disconnection will be halted at the request of the customer; every effort should be made to pay before the disconnection team arrives.”

“It is imperative that customers understand the importance of paying for their service on time,” Aaron stressed, “it is not our

intention to disrupt any customer’s service but we must receive our revenue for the service provided.”

The Customer Service Director further noted that there have been queries from a number of East Coast customers regarding payment locations.

“Some customers have stated that the location of our Bachelor’s Adventure office is not convenient for them to make payments. However we wish to urge customers to utilise our many payment agencies which include Bill Express, Republic Bank, GBTI, Citizens Bank, Scotiabank and all Post Office locations.”

The GWI official also reminded all customers that while the campaign is being intensified on the East Coast of Demerara, defaulting customers countrywide will be disconnected, since the company continues to monitor all of its service areas for non-payment.

Page 27

Sustainable Tourism Dev. Conference…

Guyana proud to host in light of environmental challenges

By Jenelle Carter Guyana will be showcasing its three most unique tourism products as the 13th annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development gets underway today. With an aim of promoting and expanding on eco-tourism, adventure tourism and nature-based tourism, Minister of Tourism (ag) Irfaan Ali, asserted that this confab will be the ideal platform to showcase Guyana’s potential.

These prime products, Ali stressed, will be vigorously promoted and can be advanced, once marketed properly.

During the conference there will be more than 30 international and regional media entities which will all be highlighting Guyana and its products to the international arena.

According to Minister Ali,

G/town Chamber elects new executive

(From left) Newly-elected GCCI executives: Treasurer Colleen Patterson, President Clinton Urling, Junior Vice President Sean Ramrattan and Secretary Molly Hassan The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Friday elected a new executive whose members will focus on a number of issues that directly involve and serve their membership.

Newly-elected President of the GCCI, Clinton Urling, will work closely with fellow executives; Senior Vice President Lance Hinds, Junior Vice President Sean Ramrattan, Secretary Molly Hassan and Treasurer Colleen Patterson, to ensure that the intended goals are met.

During a media briefing at the Chamber’s Waterloo Street location on Friday, Urling acknowledged that the Chamber has experienced remarkable achievements in terms of growth and development during the past years.

The new executives, he emphasized, are aiming to surpass the feats of their predecessors.

Urling stated that while

much work is yet to be done and many challenges are ahead, the team will give of their best.

“I am pretty confident that we will achieve most of the goals and objectives that will be set. Some activities of the previous year are still in progress and these will continue. In two or three weeks we will come up with a work plan and that will be implemented before the end of this year,” He stressed that all decisions arrived at, or any public pronouncements of the chamber, should reflect what the membership stands for, and what they want, as the foundation of the Chamber is to serve its membership.

They also plan to address priority issues such as capacity-building during their tenure.

Outgoing President Komal Ramnauth expressed confidence that the new body will achieve its goals and pointed out that its members already have a strong

foundation with which they can work.

While the new executive plans to continue to work on the organisation’s five-year strategic plan and address priority issues, Ramnauth will remain as a volunteer.

He will oversee the construction of the new building for the GCCI, as well as offer any support in terms

of guidance, where this may be required.

He pledged continued support for the leadership of the organisation and added that he is proud that in his tenure much was achieved such as the reduction of corporate taxes, the raising of the threshold, establishment of a code of conduct and more.

crews from National Geographic and USA Today have already arrived and have begun tours,with an aim of getting firsthand experience of what Guyana has to offer.

“We see a direct link to food sustainability and suitable tourism in Guyana, and as you are aware, we are investing tremendously in expanding our ability to produce enough food to reach the requirements of not only Guyana but the Caribbean”.

Minister Ali further alluded to the fact that most of the food Guyana produces is organic and is therefore sustainable in its delivery.

“We are looking to use this conference to expand this market to bring greater opportunities to the agro processing industry and other agro-investors, through an exhibition which we will be hosting at the Convention Centre, in collaboration with the Guyana Marketing Corporation.”

In addition, the Minister opined that Guyana has strong products in the Art and Craft sector, and expressed that he hopes business opportunities and linkages can be made with the wider markets.

Ali said discussions were held on the possibility of a Guyana Fashion Exhibition that will adequately promote the local fashion industry, thus encouraging profitable marketing opportunities.

The Minister reiterated the fact that “the conference is coming at a time in the world when we are faced with many challenges including global warming and environmental degradation, both of which have severe effects on the environment and the tourism sector. The

rising sea, for example, has the potential of taking away our beaches and corals that are prime tourism products for the Caribbean. It also has the potential of destroying the forest”.

With this in mind, Ali said critical issues such as financing and carbon financing will be addressed during the forum.

“Guyana as you know is promoting the Low Carbon Development Strategy and a substantial aspect of that strategy is focused on maintaining economic soundness, and for the Caribbean, the tourism sector is critical for economic growth and for the development of our economies, so we cannot take lightly with issues of climate change and the environment.”

Ali said that in light of such challenges, his Government is proud to be hosting the conference at a time when the world is debating the state of the environment and the sustainable development of economies around the world in terms of securing the environment.

The conference will be hosted from today (April 15) to Wednesday (April 18) and has an impressive line-up of speakers from across the region.

Close to 200 tourism specialists and media representatives are expected to participate in the Conference organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO). With the theme “Keeping the Right Balance: Sustaining Our Resources” it is a forum for discussion on how to design and implement sustainable tourism policies and programmes.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Interesting Creatures...

The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), sometimes known as the American Harpy Eagle, is a Neotropical species of eagle. It is the largest and most powerful raptor found in the Americas, and among the largest extant species of eagles in the world. It usually inhabits tropical lowland rainforests in the u p p e r (emergent) canopy layer.

Destruction of its natural habitat has seen it vanish from many parts of its former range, and it is almost extinct in Central America.

Its name refers to the harpies of Ancient Greek mythology. These were wind spirits that took the dead to Hades, and were said to have a body like an eagle and the face of a human.

The upper side of the Harpy Eagle is covered with slate black feathers, and the underside is mostly white, except for the feathered tarsi, which are striped black. There is a black band across the chest up to the neck. The head is pale grey, and is crowned with a double crest.

The plumage of male and female is identical.

The tarsus is up to 13 cm

(5.1 in) long.

Female Harpy Eagles typically weigh six to nine kg (13 to 20 lb). One exceptionally large captive female, “Jezebel”, weighed 12.3 kg (27 lb).

Being captive, this large female may not be representative of the weight possible in wild Harpy Eagles due to differences in the food availability. The male, in comparison, is much smaller and weighs only about four to 4.8 kg (8.8 to 11 lb). The wings are relatively short and stubby, the female wing length measuring 58.3–62.6 cm, and the male wing length 54.3–58 cm.

Harpy Eagles are 89–105 cm (2.92–3.44 ft) long and have a wingspan of 176 to 201 cm (5 ft 9 in to 6 ft 7 in). It is sometimes cited as the largest eagle, however the Philippine Eagle is somewhat longer on average and the Steller’s Sea Eagle is slightly heavier on average.

The wingspan of the Harpy Eagle is relatively small, an adaptation that increases maneuverability in forested habitats and is shared by other raptors in similar habitats.

Sunday April 15, 2012

The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) The wingspan of the Harpy Eagle is surpassed by several large eagles that live in more open habitats, such as those in theHaliaeetus and Aquila genera. The extinct Haast’s Eagle was significantly larger than all extant eagles, including the Harpy.

Rare throughout its range, the Harpy Eagle is found from Mexico, through Central America and into South America to Argentina. In Central America the species is almost extinct, subsequent to the loss of much of the rainforest there. In rainforests they live from the canopy to the emergent. Within the rainforest they hunt in the canopy or sometimes on the ground, and perch on emergent trees looking for prey.

The Harpy Eagle is an a c t i v e l y hunting carnivore and is an apex predator, meaning that adults are at the top of a food chain and have no natural predators. Its main prey are treedwelling mammals such as sloths, monkeys, coatis, porcupines, kinkajous, anteaters and opossums.

Additional prey items r e p o r t e d include reptiles such as iguanas and snakes. On occasion, larger prey such as capybaras and young deer are taken and they are usually taken to a stump or low branch and partially eaten, since they are too heavy to be carried whole to the nest. The Harpy may take domestic livestock but this is extremely rare. They control p o p u l a t i o n of mesopredators such as capuchin monkeys which prey extensively on bird’s eggs and which (if not naturally controlled) may cause local extinctions of sensitive species.

The Harpy’s talons are extremely powerful and assist with suppressing prey.

The Harpy Eagle can exert a pressure of 42 kgf/cm² (4.1 MPa or 530 lbf/in2 or 400 N/cm2) with its talons. It can also lift more than threequarters of its body weight.

That allows the bird to snatch a live sloth from tree branches, as well as other huge prey items: There are accounts of Harpies capturing and flying off w i t h h o w l e r monkeys and sloths weighing up to 6.5 to 7.7 kg (14 to 17 lb).

Harpy Eagles lay two white eggs in a large stick nest high in a tree, and raise one chick every two–three years. After the first chick hatches, the second egg is ignored and fails to hatch.

The chick fledges in six months but the parents continue to feed it for another six to 10 months. It can be aggressive toward humans who disturb its nesting sites or appear to be a threat to its young.

The harpy often builds its nest in the crown of the kapok tree, one of the tallest trees in South America.

Harpy Eagle

In many South American cultures it is considered bad luck to cut down the kapok tree, which may help safeguard the habitat of this stately eagle.

The Harpy Eagle is threatened primarily by habitat loss provoked by the expansion of logging, cattle ranching, agriculture and prospecting; secondarily by being hunted as an actual threat to livestock and/or a supposed one to human life, due to its great size.

Such threats apply throughout its range, in large parts of which the bird has become a transient sight only: in Brazil, it was all but totally wiped out from the Atlantic rainforest and is only found in numbers in the most remote parts of the Amazon Basin; a

Brazilian journalistic account of the mid-1990s already complained that at the time it was only found in numbers, in Brazilian territory, on the northern side of the Equator.

Globally, the Harpy Eagle is considered Near Threatened by IUCN and threatened with extinction

by CITES .

The Peregrine Fund until recently considered it a “conservation-dependent species”, meaning it depends on a dedicated effort for captive breeding and release to the wild as well as habitat protection in order to prevent it from reaching endangered status but now has accepted the Near Threatened status.

(Source: Wikipedia – The Free Online Encyclopedia)

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

By Alexander Frye, Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs This past February marked the 50th anniversary of Washington’s embargo against Cuba. The birthday, which went uncelebrated here and in the Caribbean, was a grim reminder of the persistence of one of Washington’s most egregious foreign policy blunders.

Enacted less than a year after President Kennedy’s illfated attempt to unseat Fidel Castro’s fledgling communist government at the Bay of Pigs, the embargo was designed with the express purpose of ousting Castro and his fellow revolutionaries from power.

Renewed on a yearly basis under the aegis of the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, the policy was last extended in September 2011

by President Obama, who stated, “I hereby determine that the continuation for 1 year of [the embargo] with respect to Cuba is in the national interest of the United States.”

But is it?

In the 1960s, when the embargo was young and the United States was in the throes of the Cold War, that

US President Barack Obama Washington would seek to ostracize the newly installed communist government in Havana is understandable.

Fidel Castro had, after all, just toppled the US-backed Batista regime, and subsequently nationalized all American holdings on the island. And in October 1962, a scant eight months after President Kennedy’s embargo went into full effect, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. US-Cuban relations remained rocky throughout the Cold War, and in 1996, ties were further marred by an incident in which the Cubans shot down two privately flown Cessna planes which had crossed into their airspace, killing the four Cuban Americans on

board.

The Cuba of the 1960s, however, is not the Cuba of today. Since his assumption of the presidency in 2006, Raúl Castro has done away with many of the restrictions on the purchase of cell phones, microwaves, and other longsought items previously prohibited under his brother’s rule. He has overhauled the system of compensation in all state-run companies to better reward the most productive employees, and has fired numerous government officials said to have been standing in the way of further economic reform. Raúl Castro’s tenure has seen the privatization of portions of the economy so as to create and bolster a new “non-state” sector, as well as the release of the last of the political dissidents jailed in the 2003 Black Spring crackdown.

In 2010, Fidel Castro himself stated in an interview with Atlantic correspondent Jeffrey Goldberg that “the Cuban model doesn’t even work for us anymore.” After its publication, the aging exdictator claimed his comment was misinterpreted, but such a statement cannot be readily misunderstood, and the past few years have been telling.

Cuba is less ideologically motivated today than at any

point in recent history, and the Castro brothers have repeatedly stated their desire to achieve reconciliation with the United States.

Yet Washington, for its part, continues its irrational and imprudent support of a policy which over the past five decades has proven itself an unequivocal failure. The Castros are still in power, and Cuba is still militantly socialist — though no more so than China or Vietnam, with which the United States maintains relatively healthy diplomatic and economic ties.

Havana’s record on human rights remains lackluster — but so, too, does Beijing’s and a score of other US trading partners’. And Cubans still do not enjoy fully free elections — but neither do the Saudis or Russians, and the US has no compunction about dealing with them.

Washington routinely associates with nations more oppressive and less democratic than its Caribbean neighbour, and yet with Cuba, it balks. Such a towering inconsistency, in light of the productive relationships the US pursues with other questionably democratic societies and the wholly unproductive nature of its Cuba policy, cannot stand.

Page 29

And were it not for Florida’s position as a swing state and the influence of the many proembargo Cuban Americans who live there, it would not.

Wa s h i n g t o n ’s stubbornness has cost the United States billions of dollars in lost sales, and has,

by Havana’s own estimate, cost the Cubans upwards of $975 billion since the embargo’s inception. Though such a figure may be inflated, there can be no doubt that the US, whose economic size and close proximity make it a natural Cuban trading partner, is at least partly responsible for the island’s dearth of badly needed medical supplies and crushing shortage of building materials.

Unfortunately for the United States, to combat shortfalls, Cuba has increasingly turned to countries like Venezuela, Russia, and China, which have all condemned the US embargo — along with the entirety of the UN General Assembly, save Israel — and which have all been eager to peddle their goods and influence in the Caribbean.

The United States, in both prestige and trading opportunities, is patently missing out.

President Obama has

Fidel Castro taken a step in the right direction by easing restrictions on travel to the island for Cuban Americans and certain student and religious groups. But if the US would truly like to see an open Cuba, then it must go further. Considering the massive concessions it is prepared to make to such absolute pariahs as Iran and North Korea, it is long past time for Washington to end its 50-year tantrum. The Cold War is over; five decades of senseless stalemate is enough.

The Council on Hemispheric Affairs, founded in 1975, is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, taxexempt research and information organization.

24 technicians graduate from MACORP training programme Twenty-four Machinery Corporation of Guyana Ltd (MACORP) technicians graduated Friday from a machinery and equipment training programme which will boost the entity’s qualified personnel while adding to country’s mechanic labour force.

The graduation ceremony was held at MACORP, Providence, East Bank Demerara. The course which spanned a period of 15 months saw the trainees being certified as technicians, while some were also given trophies for exceptional performances during the training.

Best graduating trainee was Roger Singh followed by Ronald Hilliman and Aziem Ali. According to Singh, his desire to enter the mechanic field started six years ago when he saw a newspaper advertisement which motivated him to follow his passion.

“The first for me was to attend GTI (Government Technical Institute) where I got a technician diploma in mechanical engineering and then I applied the following

MACORP officials pose with the certified technicians year for the training programme,” Singh noted.

Underscoring that he has a background in heavy duty machinery, Singh said that his father owns trucks that he would normally maintain in every mechanical aspect.

“The course was easier

for me, but I learnt a lot in the field of Caterpillar machinery, and I would apply myself to further develop in the mechanical engineering field.

The road does not end here, for we need to continue to work hard and develop ourselves and become the

best we can become.”

General Manager of MACORP, Jorge Medina, said technology is unfolding with greater complexities of demand and dedication for technicians, and as such, MACORP has launched training programmes to

further develop the field in Guyana.

“This group is special, because it started with 24 trainees and everyone graduated. That shows that we selected the right people,” Medina reflected.

He told the graduating

bunch that the journey has just started and it will be a continuous one filled with development which will benefit the nation as a whole.

“Every step will be one with a challenge since this is a part of the modern life, we (Continued on page 52)

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

UN rights chief disturbed by The EPA: Dawning of a new era in Suriname amnesty legislation international trade for Barbados GENEVA, Switzerland — The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said on Friday that she was “disturbed” by the recent decision by Suriname to pass an amendment to an existing law that grants immunity for human rights violations committed during the 12-year period in which the country was, for the most part, under military rule.

“The high commissioner believes this amendment to the law will deny most families of victims their rights to justice, truth and reparation,” said Pillay’s spokesperson, Rupert Colville, at a press conference in Geneva.

The new law extends the brief period covered by an earlier amnesty law to include any offences that took place between 1 April 1980 and 19 August 1992 “in the context of the defense of the State,” preventing any future investigations on gross human rights violations committed between those dates.

According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), one case which involves the

UN Human Rights envoy, Navi Pillay

Suriname President Desi Bouterse

former and current President Desi Bouterse may be affected, and could potentially be halted altogether.

Bouterse, along with 24 other people, is accused of taking part in the arrest of 15 prominent opposition leaders, including journalists, lawyers, and a trade union leader, in December 1982, and their subsequent summary execution.

“The high commissioner sincerely hopes that steps are taken to reverse this legislation as soon as possible, since it clearly conflicts with Suriname’s

international obligations and very much runs against the positive trend in many other Latin American countries of prosecuting and, in many cases convicting, individuals responsible for serious crimes that took place during military dictatorships,” Colville said.

According to international law, amnesties are not permissible if they prevent the prosecution of individuals who may be criminally responsible for international crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and gross violations of human rights.

China is the new frontier for Caribbean weddings

NEW YORK, USA — MarryCaribbean.com, the premier website for information on weddings and honeymoons in the Caribbean, has announced the launch of a public relations campaign in China with a focus on the new generation of affluent Chinese tourists.

The program will target wealthy Chinese couples through a network of outbound travel opinion leaders and other platforms.

“As a company we are going from strength to strength and we have proven our business model can flourish in even the toughest economic climates,” said Jacqueline Johnson, CEO of MarryCaribbean.com. “We felt this was the right time to take our expansion strategy to the next level and believe the market in China is ideal for us – their economy is strong and it is strategically located for future expansion.”

According to the UN World Tourism Organization secretary general Taleb Rifai, China will become the world’s largest inbound and outbound tourist travel market within five to seven years.

The China Tourism Academy reports that in 2010, 54 million Chinese traveled abroad spending approximately US$55 billion, a 60 percent increase since 2005. There were 70

million Chinese outbound tourists in 2011, up 22 percent year on year, and outbound tourist expenditure reached US$69 billion, up 25 percent year on year.

The Academy predicted that the number of Chinese Outbound Tourists in 2012 could reach US$78.4 million, an increase of 12 percent, and that outbound tourism expenditure will be US$80 billion, up 16 percent year on year.

It is with these projections in mind that the primary customer targets of the MarryCaribbean.com campaign are the urban, affluent Chinese couples living in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing along with the richest second tier cities of Huangzhou, Ningbo, Chengdu and Chongqing.

The social media marketing and PR campaign promotes the Marry Caribbean website and its advertisers as the leading wedding and honeymoon website customized for prospective Chinese visitors seeking information on Caribbean destinations for weddings and honeymoons. The campaign will use a network of influential Chinese travel bloggers, who will publish posts, articles, pictures and links to the Marry Caribbean website to increase the awareness among affluent Chinese travelers.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — Barbadians are again being encouraged to take full advantage of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

This plea has come from consultant in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Errol Humphrey, as he addressed a workshop on the topic: The Roadmap to EPA Implementation in the Manufacturing Sector, organised recently by the Private Sector Trade Team.

Humphrey said that the primary objectives of the EPA were to provide an enabling environment for sustainable development; enhance the competitiveness and supply capacity of CARIFORUM private sector enterprises; increase the capacity of CARIFORUM countries to establish an effective and transparent regulatory framework for businesses; promote CARIFORUM regional integration; and strengthen commercial and economic relations between CARIFORUM and European Union member states.

Explaining that Barbados was party to a number of trade agreements, of which the EPA was the latest and most comprehensive, the consultant, however, warned those present that the EPA was “not a panacea for Barbados’ development ills, or indeed, for the particular challenges facing companies.

“Equally, it is not a pool of money or some financing mechanism to replace your banking or financing arrangements... [Rather], it is a trade and investment agreement between 15 CARIFORUM countries and the 27 EU members,” he stressed.

Regarding the benefits of the EPA, Humphrey pointed out that it would help facilitate economic restructuring and growth, as well as institutional strengthening by helping Barbados and other CARIFORUM countries to move towards more valueadded economic activity.

According to him, it would also allow for the development of greater capacity among companies, so they would compete internationally in the

Errol Humphrey export of services, creative products and selected manufactured items.

Humphrey noted that with the exception of rum, exports from the region to Europe had not done well.

Six CARICOM countries, including Barbados, joined other African and Pacific developing countries and nine European nations in signing the first Lomé Convention in Togo, approximately 30 years ago.

At that time, small developing states, such as Barbados, were given preferential treatment to export their goods to European nations over the more developed countries.

However, following the signing of the Cotonou agreement in 2000, ACP and EU states decided it was time to overhaul their trading systems to make them more efficient. Hence, the birth of what is known as the EPA. It was introduced as a way for EU member states to continue to allow ACP countries preferential access to their markets, while still remaining compliant with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

Against this climate, a new era in international trade emerged, with CARIFORUM states formally signing the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union on October 15, 2008, in Barbados. It was a game changer, designed not only to replace the Lomé (1975) and Cotonou arrangements, but to act as a catalyst for trade between CARICOM states and Europe.

Therefore, Humphrey said that the agreement not only involved compliance with WTO regulations and the introduction of reciprocity into the CARIFORUM-EU relationship, but moreover, it offered additional European Commission development support for the region; and improved access to wider EU market for regional services.

In addition to these, he mentioned that the agreement provided for duty and quota

free access to the EU market for all products from Barbados, with the exception, of course, of things like nuclear material, in which, he noted, CARICOM did not trade.

“There were short transitional periods for some commodity items, and those transitional periods have all passed,” he told those gathered.

The official further explained that duty free access for goods was dependent on being able to satisfy the rules of origin criteria.

“The rules of origin establish criteria, as you know, through which it can be determined whether products qualify for preferential market access. They detail the extent of the processing that should be done in the exporting country, to ensure that the product qualifies for preferential market access.

Now products originating in Barbados must, therefore, be either wholly obtained in Barbados, [for example] something that is grown or reared in Barbados; sufficiently processed, or substantially transformed,” he stated.

Along with the rules of origin, he said the EPA also gave manufacturers the flexibility to source raw materials from neighbouring or developing countries, namely, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua and Venezuela, among others.

Such materials could also be sourced from African or European member states, he added.

However, in order for Barbados to ship its products to the EU, it needs to meet sanitary and phytosanitary (food, safety and health) regulations. Humphrey disclosed that this issue was now being treated “as a priority in Barbados” and was one of the areas in which the EU had promised to provide the region with development support and technical assistance.

Concerning claims by some business persons that they did not know much about the EPA, Humphrey maintained that information was readily available from many sources, namely, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Implementation Unit, business support organisations, the EU’s consulate in Barbados, as well the respective websites.

He has, therefore encouraged persons to avail themselves of the many booklets produced by the Implementation Unit.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 33

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 35

China and Caribbean countries: Getting the relationship right

By Sir Ronald Sanders China’s presence in the Caribbean is becoming a matter of increasing debate if not concern, as more Chinese businesses open in Caribbean towns and villages crowding out locals, and Chinesefunded projects import a majority of Chinese workers at a time of high unemployment in Caribbean countries. Five million Chinese work abroad today; reports say this could rise to 100 million by 2020.

The latest debate was triggered by an article in the New York Times of Saturday, April 7, entitled: China Buys Inroads in the Caribbean, Catching US Notice. The article focused on US-China relations in the context of the Caribbean.

Among the persons interviewed, my response to a specific question about whether China will emerge as a political force in the region, was: “They are buying loyalty and taking up the vacuum left by the United States, Canada and other countries, particularly in infrastructure improvements. If China continues to invest in the way it is doing in the Caribbean, the US is almost making itself irrelevant to the region. You don’t leave your flank exposed.”

Subsequently, the editor of an internet news portal, Caribarena.com, put four written questions to me and I provided four written

answers.

They are reproduced below: “Q. 1. Do you believe China’s increasing presence in the Caribbean feeds into the general uneasiness the US feels about China?

A.1. The US has long regarded the Caribbean as its ‘third border’. It has also jealously guarded against the presence of any major foreign power in the Caribbean because of security concerns.

However, China does not fall into the same category as, for instance, the Soviet Union did during the period of the Cold War. China has shown no military interest in the Caribbean. It has not shown any interest in a military base of any kind in the region, and, in this regard, its presence in the Caribbean poses no military threat to the US. Q.2. In your analysis, does China really pose a threat to the US’ “doorstep” as is being implied?

A.2. At the moment, it does not, for the reasons stated above. However, if China were to expand its interests in the region to the point where it would seek a military presence and particularly a military base, the US would regard that as a threat. For the time being, China is limiting its military activity to Asia and SouthEast Asia which it regards as its theatre of interest.

Q.3. Does the notion of the Chinese “planting a flag” in the Caribbean, as suggested in the (New York

Times) story, suggest that they are looking to somehow replace the US as the influential power in the region?

A.3. I do not believe that China’s interest in the Caribbean is to replace the US as the influential power in the region. China does have an interest in influencing political decision-making on international issues that concern China. Therefore, it would expect the countries to which it is giving support to: (a) not recognise Taiwan as a State; (b) support China on its attitude to Tibet at the United Nations; (c) not support resolutions or any other forms of condemnation of China’s human rights record; and (d) support positions in the international community that the Chinese government adopts such as not supporting Japan (which it considers a rival) for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

China’s other interests in the region are economic: it wants access to minerals, oil, gas and forestry in such countries as Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

China also has trillions of dollars that it has to recirculate in the global economy so that it gets a continuous return in the future. Hence, it is making loans and investments in projects throughout the region which will give it political influence with the borrowing Caribbean governments as well as help

to give it a return on investment.

China also has to find millions of jobs a year for its people; it cannot create all those jobs in China alone.

Therefore, it insists that Chinese nationals be employed on its projects (loan or grant) in the Caribbean and elsewhere. Inevitably, some of the workers are left behind, and worryingly, the Chinese are providing them with very low cost loans that allow them to buy-out or unfairly compete with locally owned companies, particularly in the retail trade which is becoming increasingly dominated by Chinese goods.

Q.4. Is there anything immediate that countries of the region should do to somehow safeguard themselves?

A.4. No individual country in the Caribbean can negotiate effectively with China. China is economically powerful and Caribbean countries are weak economically and militarily.

These individual countries need China, more than China needs them. Therefore, China will always dictate the terms of trade, aid and investment and will be able to extract from individual governments support internationally for China’s positions even when these positions cut against the grain of Caribbean values and traditions on matters such as human and political rights, trade unions and the right to self-determination (Taiwan and Tibet). China will

also always be able to insist on a large number of Chinese workers on its projects even when individual Caribbean governments and the private sector are repaying loans for such projects.

The best way that Caribbean countries can deal with China is to do so collectively in the same way that they have collectively negotiated with the European Union on an Economic Partnership Agreement and are now doing with Canada.

There should be a ChinaCaribbean Economic Agreement on aid, trade and investment that is long-term and sets out mutually-agreed rules, including rules governing employment, industrial relations laws, and rights of entry and establishment by individuals and companies.

China’s presence in the Caribbean should not be viewed through the prism of the US or any country’s other than the nations of the Caribbean. China is providing assistance to Caribbean nations for infrastructural and other projects that the United States and Canada have ceased to provide, but the region still needs. The international financial institutions are also unhelpful.

A solid co-operative

Sir Ronald Sanders relationship with China is extremely important for all Caribbean countries, but in any relationship between unequals, the weaker party suffers. The Caribbean collectively is weak enough, but at least in unity it would not be as lame as its individual countries and it could bargain for a more beneficial relationship than now exists. China might also respect them more for acting together.

(The writer is a Consultant and former Caribbean diplomat) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Page 36

Kaieteur News

Global stocks, euro sag as China GDP spooks investors (Reuters) - U.S. stocks closed out its worst week this year and the euro fell on Friday after disappointing Chinese growth data stoked worries about the strength of the global economy and a rise in Spain’s borrowing costs revived fears about the debtplagued euro zone.

A sharp re-emergence of fears over contagion from the euro zone debt crisis took a steep toll on bank shares in both Europe and the United States, as well as dragging down the euro against the dollar for the first time in three days.

The yield on Spain’s 10year government bonds came close to testing 2012 highs, and the cost to insure against a Spanish default jumped to a record high.

“Everyone is looking for global growth, but the slowing in China and the rising yields in Europe are creating questions about how strong we might expect it to be,” said Brad Sorensen, director of market and sector analysis at Charles Schwab in Denver. “That’s leading to a correction here, with financials especially taking a hit.”

Reduced optimism about global growth spurred hedge funds and other investors to shift cash into safe-haven U.S. and German government debt ahead of the weekend, analysts and traders said.

China, the world’s second-largest economy, reported first-quarter growth of 8.1 percent, the weakest in almost three years and below market expectations for an 8.3 percent rate. Market talk on Thursday that growth could come in at 9 percent had spurred a rally in riskier assets.

“The Chinese GDP number was weaker than

expected, and everyone had used it as an excuse to rally yesterday,” said Peter Boockvar, equity strategist at Miller Tabak & Co in New York.

Most commodities fell on Friday on concerns about slowing demand, but oil prices in London closed higher on a late flurry of buying, while equity markets fell on the fears about Europe.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended down 136.99 points, or 1.05 percent, at 12,849.59. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index closed down 17.30 points, or 1.25 percent, at 1,370.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index finished down 44.22 points, or 1.45 percent, at 3,011.33. The S&P fell almost 2 percent on the week, its biggest weekly drop so far this year, while the Nasdaq declined 2.2 percent on the week for its first backto-back weeks of losses since November. The Dow was fell 1.4 percent on the week, shaving its year-to-date gain to 5.4 percent.

“We are seeing some really serious stuff in the European credit markets,” said James Dailey, portfolio manager at the TEAM Asset Strategy Fund in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

“The concern is now on global recession. The data out of China and our consumer sentiment data point to a recession, which the market has been in denial about for a while.”

U.S. data on Friday showed a modest decline in consumer sentiment in early April.

Banks were the biggest losers. The S&P financial sector index fell 2.52 percent despite earnings from JPMorgan Chase & Co and Wells Fargo & Co that beat Wall Street’s expectations.

JPMorgan shares slid 3.6 percent to $43.21, and Wells Fargo shares fell 3.5 percent to $32.84.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares closed down 16.46 points, or 1.6 percent, at 1,027.73. The index was down 2.3 percent for the week for a fourth consecutive weekly loss.

Italy’s UniCredit was the biggest decliner in the FTSEurofirst 300, down 6 percent, followed by French lender Societe Generale, which lost 5.8 percent.

“It is hard for the market to rally when the European bank sector keeps being under huge pressure. It tells us that the problems have not been solved; they have only been postponed,” said Lex van Dam, hedge fund manager at Hampstead Capital, which manages $500 million of assets.

The MSCI world stock index shed 1.1 percent at 322.92 after touching its lowest level in more than two months. It lost 1.6 percent on the week.

Spain’s government bond yields rose and the cost of insuring its debt hit an all-time high as its banks borrowed a record amount from the European Central Bank. That underscored fears about the finances of the euro zone’s fourth-biggest economy.

Spain tests market appetite for its debt next week.

The yield on 10-year Spanish sovereign debt flirted with 6 percent, a 4-1/2-month high. The cost to insure against a Spanish default jumped to 500 basis points for the first time, according to data firm Markit.

That means it costs $504,000 annually to buy $10 million of protection against a Spanish default using a five-year credit

default swap (CDS) contract.

EURO FALLS; BONDS RISE The euro was down 0.8 percent against the dollar at $1.3073, knocking it into a 0.2 percent deficit against the greenback for the week. Still, the common currency was not expected to break out of the lower end of the $1.30$1.35 range it has traded in since January.

The dollar gained versus other major currencies. The dollar index rose 0.8 percent to 79.900, eking out a 0.1 percent gain on the week.

May Brent crude futures in London expired up 12 cents or 0.10 percent at $121.83 a barrel, erasing earlier losses.

But the Brent complex posted its fourth straight weekly decline, matching a similar losing streak in late September.

U.S. oil settled down 81 cents or 0.78 percent, to $102.83 per barrel, falling 0.4 percent on the week on worries about weakening global energy demand.

In other commodity trading, spot gold fell 1.2 percent to $1,654.86 an ounce with losses capped on expectations for further monetary easing from Beijing after the weaker first-quarter growth data.

Copper prices fell 3 percent to the lowest level since mid-January over worries about demand from China, the world’s top metals consumer.

In the bond market, benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury notes last traded up 18/32 in price with the yield at 1.99 percent, down 6 basis points from Thursday.

German Bund futures were up 56 basis points at 140.36, retracing the losses from the prior two days.

Sunday April 15, 2012

CARICOM meets with IDB to review cooperation programme A team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat met here with a mission from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) on Thursday to explore priority areas of cooperation and funding for regional development and to initiate dialogue toward shaping a strategy for future interventions in the Caribbean region.

CARICOM Secretariat deputy secretary-general, Lolita Applewhaite, who led the team, underscored the pivotal role that this international development partner plays in assisting the integration process and strengthening the economies of the Caribbean. She pointed to recent introspective actions that the Community had taken, which had resulted in clear directions for the region; more focused priorities and the review of the CARICOM Secretariat.

She highlighted plans for complete review of all CARICOM institutions, noting that the process had started with the Secretariat and that a review of the security-related institutions such as the Implementing Agencies for Crime and Security (IMPACS), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) and the Regional Security System (RSS) was ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of June.

The deputy secretarygeneral also expressed her hope that at the end of the meeting, both partners would not only identify priority areas for cooperation and funding but would agree on a mechanism to “move forward” on future IDB supported interventions in the region.

IDB representative Joel Branski reaffirmed that the bank’s priorities for support to CARICOM included assisting the integration process, strengthening CARICOM and building the region’s capacity for disaster

CARICOM Deputy SG, Amb. Lolita Applewhaite risk management.

IDB lead economics specialist Desmond Thomas also gave a comprehensive presentation of the possible sources of funding at the bank, but warned that many of those sources were competitive and would prove rather challenging to access.

At the end of what was considered a frank exchange of views, both partners agreed on preparing a framework which include a definition of current challenges faced by the region and the identification of priority programs and interventions areas that the IDB could support within the context of those challenges in the short to medium term.

They also earmarked immediate priority areas for urgent attention which include air and maritime transportation; information and communication technology for development and building CARICOM’s capacity to support Haiti.

Other future intervention projects would focus on crime and security; renewable energy, cultural industries and agriculture. Crosscutting issues such as communication, youth and gender development as well as capacity building would be addressed within all agreed interventions.

Established in 1959, the IDB considers itself the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 37

From page 20 manager of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), whose 16-year-old son, Shaquille Munroe, was the only occupant at the time.

The young man was asleep in his bedroom, but was awakened by stifling smoke and intense heat from flames that quickly engulfed the building after he narrowly escaped. Firefighters, with the use of water from a tiny gutter nearby, were able to contain the blaze to the solitary building, although another house to its west was slightly damaged.

“has brought to mind some fairly ominous implications.”

TWO YOUTHS DROWN IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS Two youths drowned in separate incidents Tuesday as the post-Easter period took a decidedly unhappy turn from the happy weekend festivities. Stephon Brusche, 14, of Sparendaam New Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD) drowned Tuesday afternoon while reportedly playing in the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) drainage canal aback of Plaisance, ECD. And a hangout at the seawall turned out to be the last for 11-year-old Shemar Success of West Ruimveldt who dived into the water for a swim and was not seen again by his companions.

Thursday Edition GPHC DISTANCES SELF FROM HYDROCLAVE PURCHASE The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has distanced itself from the purchasing of the US$1.5 million ($300M) waste processing system and waste disposal truck. GPHC in a statement said that it did not handle the purchase. Instead, this was done by an arm of the Ministry of Health – the Health Sector Development Unit, which is headed by Keith Burrowes.

The World Bank had made a grant of US$1.2M ($240M) available for the project. GPHC disclosed that Johs. Gram-Hanssen A/S’s, a Danish company involved in procurement, was awarded the contract for the truck and complete hydroclave system.

The bid by the company was US$949,579, which left an unexplained sum of US$250,421 from the total which Keith Burrowes had disclosed last week to Kaieteur News.

The tenders for the project were sent directly to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.

They were evaluated and, in this particular case, the award of the project was approved

by Cabinet and the World Bank, GPHC said. Contrary to

what Keith Burrowes had stated, GPHC insisted Wednesday that the Invitation for Bids was advertised locally.

Burrowes had told this newspaper that the project was not advertised locally since the equipment is not available locally. Rather, it was advertised internationally, including in the highly-rated UK magazine, The Economist.

Burrowes, who has overall responsibility for the project, said that the World Bank had provided US$1M to purchase the system, but US$200,000 more was added to that amount by the time tenders began coming in for the project.

TWO CHILDREN PERISH IN LAPARFAITE FIRE A West Bank Demerara community was Wednesday night plunged into grief after two children were burnt to death during a raging fire at a La Parfaite Harmonie home.

Three children managed to escape the quickly spreading flames by breaking windows and jumping to safety on nearby steps.

Dead are Andrea James, 10, and her cousin Alonzo Douglas, six of Lot 689 Middle Dam, La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank

Demerara. Alive are Delon Douglas, 8; Brian Douglas, 10, and Andre, 6. According to reports, the five children were home alone when the fire started in the upper flat of the three-bedroom structure.

Friday Edition MILITARYTIES TO LOCAL TELECOMS INVESTORS PRESENT OMINOUS IMPLICATIONS – DR. ROOPNARAINE The fact that the two Chinese companies that are heavily investing in Guyana’s telecommunications industry both share links with the Chinese military namely the Peoples Liberation Army, is a very ominous revelation.

This is according to A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Parliamentarian Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, who was at the time responding to reports that the Datang Telecom Technology & Industry Group, which has bought 20 per cent of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and Huawei Technologies Ltd which is installing the Government’s LTE state-ofthe-art telecommunication network, both have links to the Peoples Liberation Army.

Moments before the

APNU frontbencher delivered his presentation to the 2012 Budget debates, he told this publication that in light of the revelation, the coalition of parties will be placing the issue under greater scrutiny.

Datang and Huawei had raised eyebrows in October, 2011 when a US Pentagon report fingered both companies as being linked to the Chinese Military as well as a Chinese Government ‘Espionage’ Ministry.

According to a 2011 Washington Times publication, “A U.S. intelligence report for the first time links China’s largest telecommunications company (Huawei Technologies Ltd.) to Beijing’s KGB-like intelligence service and says the company recently received nearly a quarterbillion dollars from the Chinese government.”

At the time of the report the Huawei Technologies Ltd was attempting to break into the US market and had been blocked on three previous occasions. The revelation that the two Chinese companies are linked to the PLA, coupled with the fact that there has been a deafening silence on Guyana’s own Intelligence Agency, Dr Roopnaraine said,

GUYANATO FINALLY CASH-IN ON NORWAY FUNDS More than three years after signing a Memorandum of Understanding for support in the form of some US$250M with the Kingdom of Norway, the Guyana Government is now on the threshold of accessing and spending the delivered tranches of this money.

Now that Guyana has satisfied the rigid criteria – the money deposited by the Kingdom of Norway, some US$70M, of which US$30M has been deposited into the Guyana Redd Plus Investment Fund (GRIF) – the country now has an access that once proved elusive.

Minister Robert Persaud on Thursday, during his 2012 Budget debate presentation, announced that Guyana is on the threshold of spending on projects from this account.

Persaud said that his colleague Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh, was on the cusp of inking an agreement for expenditure from that GRIF Fund.

This publication has been reliably informed that the two projects that have been approved related to a Institutional strengthening project (OCC, GFC, PMO), a Micro and Small Enterprise and building an alternative livelihood project. “We are on the threshold,” said Persaud even as he announced that other projects are destined for the GRIF Steering Committee for approval.

The MOU was signed on November 18, 2009 but Guyana was never able to access the money to spend.

This angered former President Bharrat Jagdeo and on several occasions he had choice words for the World Bank. Jagdeo was even labeled the “cuss down” President after he had verbally attacked the World Bank for refusing approval to access monies placed in the account. In July last year, Jagdeo said that it has been a “nightmare” to unlock the funds from the World Bank.

Saturday Edition PM ADDRESSES PERCEIVED ‘CORRUPT DEALS’ IN BUDGET DEBATE Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who refuted the notion of ‘corrupt deals’ while defending this year’s budget, said that his Government is urging citizens to forsake anyone who would seek to dampen spirits with claims, whether of discrimination or marginalization, on the one hand, or of being taken for

granted, on the other hand.

“Permit me to refer to the article published in the Easter Sunday - April 8, 2012 - edition of the Kaieteur News, “Robert Badal spends US$8 million to upgrade Pegasus – sees Marriott as a ‘sour grapes project.”

“Sour grapes or not, Pegasus is being taken to a higher level…If tourism is to develop, as we are all hoping and working for and as laid out in paragraphs 4.37 to 4.40 of the Minister’s speech, it would need not one, but two or three additional internationally-known brandname hotels – we just need to check out the number of such international brand-name hotels in neighbouring Paramaribo” Prime Minister Hinds added that in order for us to attract international business investors and tourists who stay only at internationally renowned five-star hotel chains, Guyana must proceed along this course.

“We must build if we will have them come, and our local hotels like Pegasus, Grand Coastal and Sleep-In are encouraged to rise to the challenge”.

The Prime Minister said that either way, claims of corruption and the like, dampen enthusiasm and participation and lead to a self-fulfilling lack of individual success whilst others ‘get on’.

“The Government believes that every one of us must make efforts, must strive, must contribute and must find great satisfaction – indeed, we must find a purpose in life and as we grow individually and altogether as a nation we feel good, and progress even faster with everyone prospering”.

Prime Minister Hinds said that there was a huge cry about corruption in a number of large projects that Guyana needs, and on which the Government had embarked.

“Many were loud and let their imagination run wild, being sure of corruption in their questioning of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the road, the CJIA upgrade and the Marriott. Quite quickly questions were asked and quite readily they were answered, and now there has been deafening silence”.

The Prime Minister said that some persons should, at least, be saying, “We were mistaken in thinking that there was corruption in those agreements.”

He said that with initial suspicions over many large projects now put to rest, “let us all pull together in bringing about their rapid, efficient and effective execution of theAFHP, new CJIA and Marriott Hotel”.

Page 38

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

The Chinese leap into the Caribbean

By Jean H Charles The last time the American contribution to the Caribbean topped $3 billion was during the Reagan administration some thirty years ago. The US aid in the region today is less than $1 billion. By contrast, the Chinese financial and social contribution to the Caribbean is today more than $6 billion. A recent article in the New York Times revealed that the United States is finally discussing at the

highest level such Chinese leap just some miles away from Florida.

The United States will demonstrate its true leadership if it takes care of business at home and in its backyard. It will otherwise with time become irrelevant.

This is an arrogant statement.

I have some five years ago in an essay on the Caribbean vote published by Caribbean Net News made the same observation that has now become an official policy

concern.

I have seen how the Chinese have transformed the landscape of tiny Dominica with a giant stadium that may rival its namesake in the Bronx, New York. The workers who came from China to build that stadium now have children who speak and behave like Dominican teenagers. The Bahamas has just inaugurated its own stadium, the forum for big name entertainment celebrities that will transform the tourist sector of the country from a tired cruiseship industry to a multifaceted destination, giving a jolt to the local economy.

The Chinese largesse is all over the Caribbean. Haiti has been flirting with Taiwan and the Chinese involvement is not as pronounced there as

it is in the rest of the Caribbean islands.

With almost one billion Chinese aspiring to and ascending into middle class status, targeting 10% of the population as potential tourist clients will bring in at least 100 million new customers to any and all the Caribbean countries.

The American connection to the islands has always been an elusive one. It is represented mainly in the form of the medical schools that never extended to the status of the Ivy League institutions.

They are above all fringe commercial industries of higher learning with dubious outcome for the host country, with very few scholarships for the homegrown students, and no university hospital attached to these universities

that could create a booming medical tourism industry for the host island.

And, they represent potential targets for international conflicts that can lead to invasion. Grenada was invaded under the cloud of protecting the American students.

The main concern of America concerning the Caribbean has been the reining in of the drug transshipment business as well as the containment of the illegal immigration, mainly from Haiti, Guyana, and the Dominican Republic. The issue of the criminal returnees that create havoc concerning peace and security in the region is still unresolved. The brain drain of graduates from the medical field to Canada and to the United States is depleting the human resources necessary to build vibrant nations.

The Caribbean is a natural paradise that could rival the Mediterranean coastal nations with proper funding and technological direction from the United States. It is not an American policy even through proxy islands in the region such as Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

The American financial contribution to the Caribbean, with Haiti taking the lion’s share ($712 million), has the outcome seen in Haiti. No major impact that affects the fate of the entire population, in particular those who are the most destitute. It seems any non-profit organization with a technical assistant with a link to Georgetown University can receive a grant from USAID as long as a USAID logo is well printed on the car, the desk and the chairs of that institution.

By contrast, the contribution of the Chinese or, for that matter, the contribution of Cuba and Venezuela, has been more

discrete and more effective in changing the landscape of desolation in the country. The backbone of the health care provision in Haiti rests on the Cuban medical brigade. But for the Cuban doctors, Haiti would have seen more than the 7,000 deaths due to the outbreak of cholera brought into the country by the UN soldiers.

Venezuela, pretending it owes a debt to Haiti that goes back to its independence, is showering the country with electrical plants that provide most of the major cities with sufficient energy that will spur the Haitian economic recovery.

The Chinese domination and influence in the Caribbean islands is arriving slowly but surely as the paper tiger has been transformed within a generation into a giant superpower with the gold reserve piled so high that it can buy most world resources.

President Barack Obama in his second term, or Mitt Romney, the likely Republican nominee, will have to turn their attention to the Caribbean with a policy that goes beyond containing drug transshipment and illegal immigration.

Good governance, assistance for the delivery of state services and technology transfer for regional infrastructure, these are the way the American government could beat the Chinese in their leap forward the Caribbean.

Growth in the Caribbean is predicted to be one of the lowest in the world. The Caribbean is too close to the United States for that stagnation not to be a major concern for a neighbour which is still so far the most influential country in the world.

(Caribbean News Now)

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 39

Page 40

Kaieteur News

What Causes Hot Flashes, Anyway?

(HealthDay News) — Millions of middle-aged women experience it: that sudden onset of intense heat, sweating and flushing known as a hot flash.

Though it’s long been believed that the drop in hormone levels that accompanies menopause contributes to hot flashes, experts say relatively little is known about what actually causes them, or what’s occurring when women have one.

“About 70 percent of women experience hot flashes, but their underlying physiology isn’t well understood,” said Rebecca Thurston, an assistant professor of psychiatry, psychology and epidemiology at University of Pittsburgh.

A new study

by Thurston and her colleagues attempts to get at the underlying physiology.

Researchers had 21 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women aged 40 to 60 who reported having daily hot flashes wear a heart monitor over a 24-hour period. Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause when the ovaries produce less estrogen but a woman still gets her period.

The heart monitor showed that during a hot flash, heartrate variability — a measure of beat-to-beat changes in heart rate — decreased significantly, a sign that the parasympathetic nervous system isn’t working as well as it normally does.

The parasympathetic nervous system is one aspect of the autonomic nervous

system, which regulates unconscious bodily functions such as heart and respiration rates. While the sympathetic nervous system governs the fight-orflight response, the parasympathetic nervous system is involved with “rest and restore,” or regulating the body at rest, Thurston explained.

Other research has found an association between cardiovascular disease and decreased parasympathetic nervous system control of the heart. While researchers say it’s too soon to conclude that hot flashes have a connection to heart disease, it’s worth continuing to study them, Thurston said.

“There were transient decreases during the hot flash, but the good news is it does come back up,” Thurston said.

The research is in the April issue of Menopause.

For something that’s so common, experts say it’s surprising how little is understood about hot flashes. What’s known is that they can vary in severity, frequency and duration.

Some women may get just a few hot flashes; others suffer

from multiple hot flashes a day for years.

Hot flashes are also one of the most common complaints sending women to see their doctors, experts said. Hot flashes can impair quality of life, sleep and lead to feelings of depression, according to background information in the study. Still other studies have hinted that hot flashes are associated with ill health effects, including low bone density and heart disease.

Specifically, studies have found that women who experience hot flashes are more likely to have signs of early atherosclerosis (sometimes called hardening of the arteries), such as calcified plaques in the aorta of the heart, Thurston said.

But women don’t have to simply suffer with them, said Dr. Margery Gass, executive director of the North American Menopause Society.

The most effective treatment for hot flashes is hormone therapy, typically estrogen and progestin, Gass said. However, because hormone therapy carries some risks — including boosting the risk of certain cancers, including endometrial cancer — women should only turn to hormones if they’re really bothered by hot flashes, and then they should stay on hormones only as long as they need to, Gass said.

Another treatment option: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs — a class of drugs commonly used to treat depression or anxiety.

But the medications don’t work as well as the hormones for most women, Thurston said.

Lifestyle changes can also help, Gass said. As people age, their “thermoneutral zone” — the temperature at which they feel not too hot and not too cold — shrinks.

A very minor increase in core body temperature can trigger hot flashes in some women. So, avoid becoming overheated, Gass said.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Herbal Remedy Ingredient Tied to Cancer, Kidney Failure (HealthDay News) — A toxic component of a plant used in certain types of herbal remedies can cause kidney failure and upper urinary tract cancer, researchers warn.

Aristolochic acid is found in Aristolochia herbal remedies, which have been used for centuries and still are used in many countries.

This study of 151 patients with upper urinary tract cancer in Taiwan concluded that aristolochic acid is a primary contributor to the incidence of this cancer in Taiwan, where the incidence is the highest reported anywhere in the world and where Aristolochia herbal remedies are widely used.

The researchers found that 83 percent of the patients had evidence in their kidneys of DNA changes that are related to the plant toxin and associated with the development of cancer.

“We believe our latest research highlights the importance of a longoverlooked disease that affects many individuals in Taiwan, and, by extension, in

China and other countries worldwide, where Aristolochia herbal remedies traditionally have been used for medicinal purposes,” Dr. Arthur Grollman, a professor of pharmacological sciences at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, in New York, said in a university news release.

In previous research, Grollman and his colleagues linked the ingestion of Aristolochia clematitis

(commonly known as birthwort) to widespread kidney disease in the Balkans.

The findings of the studies show that public health officials need to take action to stop kidney damage and upper urinary tract cancer related to aristolochic acid, Grollman said.

The study was published online April 9 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Menthol smokers have more strokes: study (Reuters) - Among smokers, people who prefer mentholated cigarettes tend to have more strokes than non-menthol smokers - and this seems to be especially true for women and nonAfrican Americans, according to a North American study.

The author of the study said that while no cigarettes are good for the health, the findings - published in the Archives of Internal Medicine - suggest people should especially stay away from mentholated varieties.

“They’re all bad, but having said that, from a harmreduction perspective this study does lend to the view of avoiding - at a minimum mentholated types,” said Nicholas Vozoris, a clinical associate at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

For the study, Vozoris used information taken from U.S. health and lifestyle surveys that included 5,028 adult smokers. The surveys were conducted from 2001 through 2008.

Overall, about 26 percent of those participants said they usually smoked mentholated cigarettes, and the rest smoked nonmentholated ones.

Some experts say menthol makes it easier to start

smoking and harder to quit because its taste masks the harshness of tobacco.

Of menthol smokers, 3.4 percent said on the surveys they’d had a stroke. That compared to 2.7 percent of the non-menthol smokers.

After taking into account smokers’ age, race, gender and number of cigarettes smoked, Vozoris found mentholated cigarette smokers had more than double the risk of stroke compared to those who opted for non-mentholated

cigarettes. The difference was especially clear in women and people who reported a race other than African American on their surveys. Among those study participants, strokes were over three times more common in menthol smokers.

Vozoris told Reuters Health that the study couldn’t prove that the mentholated cigarettes themselves caused the extra stroke risk, rather than some unmeasured difference between menthol and non-menthol smokers.

Sunday April 15, 2012

8 Simple Home Remedies For Dry Scalp When oil is not produced in sufficient amounts by oil glands known as sebaceous glands, it results in dry scalp.

Many factors are responsible for dry scalp such as dry weather, chemicals, harsh shampoos, diet plans, certain medications etc.

Other factors like hair dying, hair perm, deficiency of nutrients, consumption of too much caffeine, winter season, stress levels, medical conditions can also lead to dry scalp.

Your scalp can also become dry due to skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis.

Dry scalp can lead to irritation, dandruff, pain and itching. If you want to treat your condition successfully then go through the home remedies for dry scalp given below.

SIMPLEAND EASY HOME REMEDIES FOR DRY SCALP Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in one glass of water. Apply the mixture on your scalp after shampooing your hair and leave it for few minutes and then wash it off.

Massage Oil: This is the perfect home remedy for dry scalp. You can gain a number of benefits from a scalp massage. A scalp massage increases your blood circulation and leads to production of oil in sufficient amounts which is essential for nourishment of your hair. A good scalp massage will help stimulate the sebaceous glands. You can also use vitamin B oil for massaging your hair as it helps increase the production of melanin which in turn helps moisturize your scalp.

You can also use coconut oil, jojoba oil, or avocado oil on your hair before shampooing. These natural oils are very effective in treating dry scalp. You can wrap a hot towel around your head so that the oils can reach your hair and skin.

Use A Natural Shampoo: To treat your dry scalp, the first and foremost thing you need to do is to stop using harsh shampoo that contains chemical additives. Instead, you can use a natural shampoo which consists of ingredients that help nourish your hair. If possible, avoid blow drying as it causes dry hair and scalp.

Aloe Vera Juice: Aloe vera juice is very beneficial for you as it moisturizes your scalp. Apply aloe vera juice on your scalp and leave it for few minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water.

Tea Tree Oil And Eucalyptus Oil: Mix twenty drops of tea tree oil and five drops of eucalyptus oil in your shampoo which you use regularly. This home remedy will certainly help treat your dry scalp.

Milk And Honey: Mix one-fourth cup of honey and three tablespoons of extra virgin oil in half a cup of milk. Apply the mixture on your dry scalp and leave it for few hours. Use a mild shampoo to wash this mixture.

Yogurt: Mix one egg with one cup of yogurt. After shampooing, apply the mixture on your dry scalp and leave it for few minutes before washing it off.

Change Your Diet: You should increase the intake of foods such as broccoli, strawberry, flax seeds, and dried oregano as these foods are very effective in treating dry scalp. Also, you need to stop the intake of alcohol, acidic foods and caffeine as they can further aggravate the condition.

SOLUTION FOR LAST WEEK’S SEARCH & FIND

Kaieteur News

Page 41

Page 42

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Born Loser

DRUNKEN FOOLS Two men are drinking in a bar at the top of the Empire State Building. One turns to the other and says: “You know last week I discovered that if you jump from the top of this building- by the time you fall to the 10th floor, the winds around the building are so intense that they carry you around the building and back into the window.” The bartender just shakes his head in disapproval while wiping the bar.

The 2nd Man says: “What are you a nut? There is no way in heck that could happen.”

1st Man: “No, it’s true let me prove it to you.” So he gets up from the bar, jumps over the balcony, and careens to the street below. When he passes the 10th floor, the high wind whips him around the building and back into the 10th floor window and he takes the elevator back up to the bar.

The 2nd Man tells him: “You know I saw that with my own eyes, but that must have been a one time fluke.”

1st Man: “No, I’ll prove it again” and again he jumps and hurtles toward the street where the 10th floor wind gently carries him around the building and into the window. Once upstairs he urges his fellow drinker to try it.

2nd Man: “Well what the heck, it works, I’ll try it.”

So he jumps over the balcony, plunges downward, passes the 11th, 10th, 9th, 8th floors and hits the sidewalk with a ‘splat.’

Back upstairs the Bartender turns to the other drinker: “You know, Superman, you’re a real jerk when you’re drunk.”

TOO DRUNK A man walks into the front door of a bar. He is obviously drunk, and staggers up to the bar, seats himself on a stool and, with a belch, asks the bartender for a drink. The bartender politely informs the man that it appears that he has already had plenty to drink, he could not be served additional liquor at this bar, and could a cab be called for him?

The drunk is briefly surprised, then softly scoffs, grumbles, climbs down off the bar stool and staggers out the front door. A few minutes later, the same drunk stumbles in the SIDE door of the bar. He wobbles up to the bar and hollers for a drink. The bartender comes over and, still politely - but more firmly, refuses service to the man due to his inebriation, and again offers to call a cab. The drunk looks at the bartender for a moment angrily, curses, and shows himself out the side door, all the while grumbling and shaking his head.

A few minutes later, the same drunk bursts in through the back door of the bar. He plops himself up on a bar stool, gathers his wits and belligerently orders a drink.

The bartender comes over and emphatically reminds the man that he is clearly drunk, will be served no drinks, and either a cab or the police will be called immediately.

The surprised drunk looks at the bartender, and in hopeless anguish, cries “Man! How many bars do you work at?”

DRUNK IRISHMAN An Irishman had been drinking at a pub all night.

The bartender finally said that the bar was closing. So the Irishman stood up to leave and fell flat on his face. He tried to stand one more time; same result. He figured he’ll crawl outside and get some fresh air and maybe that will sober him up.

Once outside he stood up and fell flat on his face. So he decided to crawl the 4 blocks to his home. When he arrived at the door he stood up and again fell flat on his face. He crawled through the door and into his bedroom.

When he reached his bed he tried one more time to stand up. This time he managed to pull himself upright, but he quickly fell right into bed and was sound asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

He was awakened the next morning to his wife standing over him, shouting, “So, you’ve been out drinking again!!”

“What makes you say that?” he asked, putting on an innocent look.

“The pub called — you left your wheelchair there again.”

Garfield

Non Sequitur

Peanuts

Shoe

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 43

Page 44

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 45

Page 46

Country profile: The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg - a small country landlocked by Belgium, France and Germany - is a prominent financial centre.

With roots stretching back to the 10th century, Luxembourg’s history is closely intertwined with that of its more powerful neighbours, especially Germany.

Many of its inhabitants are trilingual in French, German and Luxembourgish a dialect of German.

OVERVIEW Despite declaring its neutrality, Luxembourg was occupied by Germany during both World Wars. Attempts to escape German influence initially led to an economic union with Belgium in 1921.

After renewed occupation in World War II, Luxembourg abandoned its neutrality and became a front-rank enthusiast for international co-operation.

Luxembourg became a founder member of a customs union with Belgium and the Netherlands in 1948, and of the European Economic Community, a forerunner of the European Union, in 1957.

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

LUXEMBOURG

Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker Around one-third of Luxembourg’s population are foreigners.

Luxembourg’s prosperity was formerly based on steel manufacturing. With the decline of that industry, Luxembourg diversified and is now best known for its status as Europe’s most powerful investment management centre.

But the country’s strict laws on banking secrecy produced a system that was open to exploitation for the purposes of tax evasion and fraud.

Concern over Luxembourg’s reputation as a tax haven - especially in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis - prompted the G20

group of countries to add it to a “grey list” of nations with questionable banking arrangements in April 2009.

Luxembourg responded by taking steps to improve the transparency of its financial arrangements. By July 2009 it had signed agreements on the exchange of tax information with a dozen countries, and was commended by the OECD for its prompt efforts to implement the internationally agreed standard.

Constitutional reform Luxembourg’s politics are characterised by stability and long-serving administrations.

This tranquillity was interrupted in 2008, when Grand Duke Henri said his conscience would not allow him to sign into law a bill approving euthanasia.

The crisis was resolved by a constitutional reform which removed the need for laws to be approved by the monarch, reducing the post to a largely ceremonial role.

FACTS Full name: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Population: 516,000 (UN, 2011)

Capital: Luxembourg Area: 2,586 sq km (999 sq miles) Major languages: French, German, Luxembourgish Major religion: Christianity Life expectancy: 78 years (men), 83 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 Euro = 100 cents Main exports: Steel products, chemicals, rubber products GNI per capita: US $77,160 (World Bank, 2010) Internet domain: .lu International dialling code: +352 LEADERS Head of state: Grand Duke Henri Prime minister: JeanClaude Juncker Prime Minister Juncker Prime Minister Juncker Jean-Claude Juncker, of the conservative Christian Social Party, has been prime minister since 1995 when his predecessor, Jacques Santer, became president of the European Commission.

He carries on as premier

in coalition with the Socialist Workers Party following general elections in June 2004.

For the five years before that his party had formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party.

Jean-Claude Juncker was born in 1954 and is a lawyer by training.

MEDIA Luxembourg exerts immense media clout and has a long tradition of operating radio and TV services for pan-European audiences, including those in France, Germany and the UK. Media group RTL is behind much of this activity.

Its outlets have been a part of the broadcasting landscape in France and Germany for decades.

Generations of British listeners grew up with Radio Luxembourg, which beamed pop music programmes into the UK. “The Great 208” is no more, but RTL is still a key player in media markets across Europe.

Luxembourg’s media empire extends to the skies. It is home to Europe’s largest satellite operator, Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES), which operates the Astra fleet.

RTL and other privatelyowned radios and TVs cater for domestic audiences. The constitution guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. Print media are privately owned and reflect diverse viewpoints.

By June 2010, there were 424,500 internet users (Internetworldstats).

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 47

Long-serving educator, Samuel Archer,

From page 18 unlike what is happening today...”

Mr. Archer noted how the focus back then in education was purely on making a wellrounded child and the curriculum did not only focus on Mathematics and English, “and had to participate in everything and we tried to develop the whole child, in games, plays, music and singing and we have found that those children who did the total programme, have been better adults today”.

He visited parents at home a lot and it became an integral part of his life as a teacher. “Home visits were very helpful...as long as there was a contact with the school and the home, whether it be a home visit or attending PTA Meetings or just the parent just coming in to see the children, I have found that the contact with the home and parent, eases the load on the teacher”.

The job of the teacher becomes ten times lighter and easier once the child knows the teacher has a strong and solid contact with his or her parents and the home, “half of the work is finished...attention is paid and we get along very well and results are even better where that is concerned”.

It is widely accepted that there is currently a dearth of male figures in the teaching profession. Mr Archer is fully aware of this problem and apprised of the consequences it poses to the children. The “low pay” he agrees is the reason for males not being too attracted to join teaching since they are going to avenues with more pay.

“The male is that father figure and the children often look up more to the male than the female and when you don't have many males around, one of the things that often will happen is a breakdown of discipline”.

Mr. Archer was a staunch and active member of the G u y a n a Te a c h e r s ' Association (GTA). He held several positions including Second Regional VicePresident for Berbice in 1978, a position he held for several years. He later became Junior VP and First VP and in 1989, he aspired to higher office, during which he became the President of the union.

He organised and attended several seminars and conferences as well as courses both locally and regionally (Caribbean).

During his tenure as p r e s i d e n t o f G TA , a Memorandum of Agreement

was signed with the Ministry of Education that the union should be involved in any matters involving teachers and should have a say.

Several other agreements and policies were put in place under his leadership of the GTA, many of which are still enforced and in existence for teachers today. Mr Archer was also a Village Councillor f o r t h e S h e e t Anchor/Cumberland Neighbourhoods Democratic Council (NDC) and became Chairman in 1977.

He attended a threemonth trade union course in Germany in 1966 where he gained a lot of experience and knowledge to build his career in trade unionism. He and several other veteran trade unionists from Guyana, were taken around and given lecturers on worker participation and management “and we took quite a lot of courses on that”.

After retiring in 1990, he joined the New Amsterdam Mayor & Town Council as a Public Relations Officer, a position he held for four years.

Looking back at his years of service, Mr. Archer is quite pleased and satisfied, especially “when children can meet you and see you, both locally and overseas---it makes you feel that you have done something and it is kind

of rewarding...the reward might not be monetary, but there is satisfaction that you have done something in life and turned around the life of some child and made it better”.

These words penned to him by one of his former students, Caribbean singer Edgar Rose, are etched in his memory and provide a source of encouragement and upliftment: “I express my profound gratitude to the Almighty God for preserving me and granting me this opportunity to thank you my teacher, Mr.

Samuel Archer. I thank you for being an excellent role model in my life; your firmness, discipline, knowledge and most of all love, have made me the person I am today.

It seems as though it was just yesterday I recall while attending school we were given the opportunity to view a film. Having viewed the film I couldn't comprehend the story.

However, after experiencing life's ups and downs, I've realized that this film should be dedicated to you. To Sir With Love.”

Page 48

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 49

Page 50

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Bartica tots parade in Easter pageant

E

llen's Day care, Pre and Nursery School of 62- Third Avenue, Bartica, recently held its annual Easter Hat Show and Junior Easter Pageant. The venue was the Leanna's Kiddies Park in Fifth Avenue, Bartica.

The judges were Dwight Beaton, Ti f f a n i e S a m p s o n a n d P h e b e Melbourne.

The activities were geared towards the promoting of socialization between parents and children and also to develop high esteem.

Apart from displaying of hats, students, parents and teachers also showcased costumes of various

categories including salt bag outfit, pajama suit, paper dress and plastic coat, children and parents displaying characters, sister/ sister matching outfit, hat display by parents and children, mother and daughter matching outfit two to four and four to six years.

Teachers also played their part and displayed African & Indian outfits Teacher Ellen, the owner and Headteacher expressed her gratitude to old students of the school and to the entire business community of Bartica for sponsoring the tots for the pageant.

According to the Headteacher, the yearly event is the highlight of the school's calendar.

Some of the action at the Bartica Easter hat show

Mangrove tours to feature during ...

From page 16 wetland area populated with scarlet ibis, snowy egrets and pelicans is a benab, perfect for visitors to relax and picnic. This has become a hot spot for bird watching.

A unique part of the wetland is a shallow pond teeming with fish (tilapia, hassar, patwa, and sunfish), ideal for recreational fishing and if the timing is right visitors could see local fishermen beating the water to chase fish into their nets.

In the middle of the wetland is a small island of lush black mangrove where several hives are located as the nectar from the black mangrove blossoms produces a delectable goldencoloured honey. This has become the flagship product of the mangrove reserve.

On the return to the centre, a stop at Ingrid's roadside stand for some local snacks and Guyana's legendary fresh cane juice is a must.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Kareena Kapoor has apparently charged a record amount for her latest endorsement deal with a beverage brand.

If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. That seems to be Bebo's recent mantra. The actress has just signed on a whopping deal with a lemonade brand, giving archrival Katrina Kaif (who endorses a mango drink) a run for her money.

We learnt that Bebo, who was the face of another popular cola company, lost no time after her current contract expired and grabbed another endorsement deal from a rival brand for apparently a whopping Rs 5 crore.

Queen of endorsements Says a source, “Kareena now has 16 brands in her kitty including the latest one, easily making her the most soughtafter face in the ad space amongst the actresses. 2011 was the year of big money for Kareena, thanks to her backto-back hits.”

Ever since she signed onto to Madhur Bhandarkar's Heroine, the

actress's fat pay cheques have been grabbing headlines. She was apparently paid almost Rs 8 crore for the film, the highest for any actress in the Indian film space ever.

Clearly that has reflected on her choice of brands and the money she is charging for them as well. Adds the source, “Though Bebo has a lot of film commitments, she makes sure she gives enough time to her brands and hence charges as much.”

Kareena was also spotted shooting for her very first commercial with the brand a few days ago at Brabourne studio in Mumbai. Adds the source, “Both Katrina and Asin who endorse soft drinks have had ads that have gained a lot of popularity.

So Kareena and her team were insistent that the commercial must be catchy and entertaining.” All Kareena had to say is — “I am not allowed to talk money!”

Rate card per endorsement (approx) Katrina Kaif: Rs 4-4.5 crore Priyanka Chopra: Rs 3-3.5 crore

Deepika Padukone: Rs 2-3 crore Madhuri Dixit: Rs 1-2 crore Vidya Balan: Rs 1-1.5 crore Anushka Sharma: Rs 80 lakh

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan was detained at New York airport for two hours Thursday as he arrived to visit Yale University, where he was honoured as a Chubb Fellow.

Khan, who was detained by the

immigration authorities, was allowed to go only after his hosts intervened and took up the issue with the Department of Homeland Security in Washington, according to sources.

As part of the Yale Chubb Fellowship, Khan later attended a reception and dinner at Timothy Dwight College at New Haven Connecticut with over 120 Yale students including members of the South Asian Society at Yale, before taking a return flight Thursday night.

Before addressing the students at Yale University after joining the roster of Yale University's Chubb Fellows, one of the Ivy League institution's highest honours, for promoting human ideals through art, Khan recalled he was "detained" at the airport "as always happens".

Due to Khan's detention at the airport, the Yale event in New Haven started an hour late.

In August 2009 also, Khan was stopped at the Newark Airport and was released after two hours at the

intervention of the Indian consulate in New York.

"I was really hassled at the American Airport because of my name being Khan...It was absolutely uncalled for...I felt angry and humiliated," said Shah Rukh, who was then heading towards Chicago to participate in an Independence Day celebration event.

"It is a Muslim name and I think the name is common on their checklist," he had then said.

The Chubb Fellowship is devoted to encouraging and aiding Yale students interested in the operations of government and in public service. Each year three or four distinguished men and women have been appointed as visiting Chubb Fellows.

Former Chubb Fellows include presidents George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter; authors Octavio Paz, Carlos Fuentes, and Toni Morrison; filmmaker Sofia Coppola; architect Frank Gehry; choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov; and journalist Walter Cronkite.

Actress wishes late maverick artist could paint her in the nude after seeing Titanic again Looks like Bengali actress Paoli Dam is mighty impressed by that infamous scene in James Cameron's Titanic where Leonardo DiCaprio paints Kate Winslet in the buff. In fact, she even wishes the late maverick artist M F Husain were around to actually do the job.

Apparently, the actress, who's making her Hindi debut under the aegis of Vivek Agnihotiri in a Vikram Bhatt scripted film, expressed her wish list after seeing the film in 3D over the weekend.

“Paoli wished Husain saab were around, so she could have requested him to paint her like Leo sketches Kate,

wearing only a heart-shaped precious stone and nothing else,” revealed our source.

Paoli bagged her Hindi debut after rave reviews of her performance in Chatrak impressed Bhatt and Agnihotri. Our source says, “The conviction with which she did the explicit scenes with frontal nudity also impressed Vikram and Vivek to cast her in the film.”

Interestingly, Paoli has hired fitness instructor Prashant Sawant, who helped Shah Rukh Khan build his six-pack abs for the Darde-E-Disco number in Om Shanti Om. “Paoli felt that she had recently added a couple of kilos after the shooting, and she wants to shed them at the earliest.”

Page 51

Page 52

From the Diaspora...

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Finally some competition from Suriname Airways

By Ralph Seeram The voice was very excited at the other end of the phone. “Check Caribbean Airlines; they have a US$350 fare to Guyana from Miami”.

“There must be some mistake” I replied”. “They (Caribbean Airlines) are never so cheap. Are you sure it is a one-way fare or round trip?

Sounds like on- way fare. It is about half of what I pay to fly to Guyana.”

“Go check it out for yourself,” my sister Patsy replied. I went immediately to the Iphone.

The call came because my relatives are in the midst of making arrangements to travel to Guyana for the wedding of my nephew in June. His fiancée and he have decided to travel to Guyana

to get married and hold their reception there.

It’s something quite a few of the young folks in the Diaspora are doing. If promoted locally this trend could be a very lucrative foreign exchange earner for Guyana.

I have in previous articles criticized Caribbean Airlines for their service to Guyanese.

It is the worst airline I have traveled on when it comes to service. I mentioned the terrible food they were serving, dinner comprised of a three-ounce sandwich and another ounce of cookies to make up a grand total of four ounces of food after being in their care for nearly eight hours.

This is the airline that showed no respect for Guyanese, humiliating them when they are in transit in

Trinidad, and I am talking from personal experiences.

When I wrote my previous article calling for a boycott of Caribbean Airlines, there were literally hundreds of responses from Guyanese relating their terrible experiences with this airline.

On one of my trips to Guyana last year, the airline knew before we departed Miami that we will not get our connecting flights from Piarco to arrive in Guyana around 9.30pm. They choose to keep it a secret from the passengers; they made us wait for over five hours in Trinidad without offering us a glass of water, before landing in Guyana around 1.30am.

There were parents traveling with small kids; there were also some church workers on a missionary trip to Guyana to do some volunteer work. The sad part for those missionaries was that they traveled from middle America, which meant that they were traveling another five hours before us. They were in no position to call their relatives in the United States or their friends in Guyana to let them know where they were or when they will arrive in Guyana.

For four hours there was no word from the airline on the status, and to make matters worse, at that hour of the night, there was only one shop available selling food, and the food was cold refrigerated roti.

So it was with the past horrible experiences with Caribbean Airlines in mind that I welcomed the news that Suriname Airways was flying from Miami to Guyana.”Yes,” I said to myself, “finally some

competition.”

A week before I checked the fares for Caribbean Airlines and compared it with Suriname Airlines, Suriname Air was not only cheaper but to my surprise was flying direct from Miami to Guyana, a four- hour flight arriving in Guyana at 8.30 pm. This was great, this was very exciting, a straight flight to Guyana without the hassle in Trinidad; just the kind of competition Caribbean Airlines needed.

For the added satisfaction, Suriname Airways has been around a very long time so it was no “fly by night” airline. That was very reassuring, even though the flights were only twice a week.

After the phone call I went to verify the fares and it was no joke. Caribbean Airlines was offering a roundtrip fare from Miami to Guyana for the unheard fare of USD$349 for the month of June. Nothing like good old fashion competition, I said to myself.

Now it was time to do the

math. I live in Orlando, an almost four-hour drive to Miami Airport, Caribbean Airlines also flies from Orlando, but no cheap fare.

The fare from Orlando to Guyana (an eight hour trip) was over USD$600. So back to the Maths. If two and more of us are traveling it would worth traveling to Miami because the savings would be over US$500.

Now since I was traveling alone, I have to figure a roundtrip driving of eight hours; I will spend around US$100 in gas, toll around US$30, plus parking another US$35 or so.

Big decision here, should I go to save a USD$100 or so?

Should I go with Suriname Airways, pay a little more and get the satisfaction of traveling with another airline to Guyana? Or should I just pay Caribbean Airlines little over USD$600 from Orlando?

Now Orlando airport is just a 45-minute drive from my home and there are no expenses involved.

The prospect of driving eight hours alone did not

appeal to my immediate family; the consensus was for me to go from Orlando with Caribbean Airlines. Good Lord, I said to myself, I am stuck with this airline again.

To be fair, a friend of mine recently traveled to Trinidad on Caribbean Airlines and told me the food and service have greatly improved.

I hope so for their sake, this is their last chance with me, if I am not happy on my next trip for which I have already booked, inconvenience or not I will fly with Suriname Airways the next time.

The USD$349 fare made it affordable for my relatives to travel in June; it has induced my parents who are in their eighties to also travel to Guyana, not that I think it’s a good idea for them. But I must warn Caribbean Airlines, my mother is a no nonsense person. If your service is not “up to scratch” you will get an earful from her. Prepare.

Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com.

24 technicians graduate from...

(From page 29) cannot sit back and rest since others will surpass us, and these trainees have chosen one of the most beautiful careers since mechanics are essential for the modern world,” Medina explained.

Service Manager Andres Reyes said competitors are ever present and technicians must be prepared in all aspects if MACORP is to be a leader. He said safety is of

utmost importance when carrying out various duties, while exceptional customer service is essential, thus technicians should strive to always find solutions to customers’ problems while giving optimum service.

“Communication with the customer is of utmost importance, and the customer should be advised on what was done along with various recommendations.

Technicians should always be prepared not only on the job but in life,” Reyes noted.

Training officer Hugh Griffith told the gathering that 15 months ago 24 ambitious knowledge-seeking men were trained as heavy duty technicians who were chosen from across the national spectrum.

Griffith noted that the journey promised to change their lives and align them closer to their destiny.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 53

Mangrove planting 2012 exercise Caribbean Temptation’s owner and neighbours at war kicks off with 12,000 plants - Neighbours said the music affects heart-patient and school children - Owner claims that his neighbours are just “envious”

Wellington women producers under mangrove reserve billboard Number 64 Villagers in front of mangroves at entrance to Number 63 Beach

Residents of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, are frustrated over the alleged inconsiderate actions of the owner of the popular sports bar, Caribbean Temptation, located at West Coast Demerara.

Neighbours of the sports bar said that the tension with them and the owner, Frederick Rupnarain, is running high and there are fears that it may escalate further.

The neighbours are contending that school children cannot concentrate on their school work and that workers are regularly affected and tormented by what they describe as “purposeful and unnecessary noise.”

Bibi Zelene Khan, a next door neighbour, claimed that some time in 2009, the matter of noise nuisance between the neighbours and the owner of Caribbean Temptation was in court.

She explained that Rupnarain was given an order

that he should not play loud music at his sports bar but instead at a park where no one will be affected. Rupnarain was also threatened that his licence would be revolved if he disobeyed the order.

She stressed that everything was back to the original situation after a few months. Khan claimed that she cannot talk in her home because the noise is loud and it “vibrates” the zinc.

A heart-patient, Kaimrage Aziz, said that last Easter Monday she had to take tablets every two hours just to relax a bit.

She said that the noise normally starts at 14:00hrs and finishes the following morning. Another neighbour who is scared of being victimized said that whenever they tried to talk to the owner, he would “spite” them and play the music louder.

Kaieteur News was told that everyone in the vicinity has to stop their music at

10:00hrs but the sports bar owner is exceptional- “all because he is friends with the police at Leonora Station,” a neighbour claimed.

Rupnarain, when contacted for a comment said that his neighbours are envious and that he has been encountering this problem with six particular persons for the past 10 years.

He claimed that his neighbours want him to close the bar but he is unable to do so because that is where his daily income comes from.

“They went to the Commander and he sent to call me and we had to settle matters.” Rupnarain stressed.

He admitted that he went to court regarding the same situation but he claimed that the court “matter” was connected to one particular incident. “It was when I had a duck curry show.” The Caribbean Temptation owner said that on that occasion he had “a pass” to play music.

Guyanese killed execution-style in Venezuela

The Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP) which has its primary objective as a low cost sea defence has commenced its planting for 2012 by starting with Wellington Park Village in East Berbice where over 54,000 plants were planted.

The mangrove seedlings were provided by community contractors consisting mainly of women who were trained in mangrove nursery protocols to ensure healthy seedlings for which they were paid $100 per plant.

Additionally, planters were contracted from the communities for the challenging task of planting the seedlings in the sling mud which made it possible for each planter to only plant 70 seedlings per day during a four-hour period permitted by the tide.

They received $2500 each for this task.

As the Wellington Park community has sought declaration of its community forest as a mangrove reserve their women have organised themselves into a mangrove reserve producers group.

They engage in agro

processing mainly of pepper sauce and achar which are branded under the mangrove reserve products label.

One beekeeper was trained from Wellington Park and has been provided with six hives as well as all the necessary beekeeping equipment and uniform. His hives are located in the intact mangrove forests and he has since captured three additional swarms and expanded on his own to nine hives.

Meanwhile, in pursuit of reforestation of another

section of the Corentyne Coast, the women of # 64 Village who are strategically located next to the popular Number 63 Beach have organised themselves into a producer group as well.

The GMRP project is funded by a partnership between the Government of Guyana and the European Union to the tune of 4,165,000 Euros (approximately $ 1.1 Billion) and is currently being implemented through the National Agriculture Research & Extension Institute (NAREI).

A Guyanese body work repairs man was found dead with a single gunshot wound to his head on Thursday, in Venezuela.

The body was reportedly discovered lying on a Venezuela road when the man’s relatives traveled over to neighbouring Venezuela to identify his remains.

Baney Beete, who was believed to be murdered and his body doused with gasoline, was reportedly shot and killed on Thursday last.

His older sister auntie

Dato, of Richmond Village, Essequibo Coast, said her brother left Guyana for Venezuela, almost twenty years ago. She added that she had not seen her brother for a number of years. However, only six months ago her other siblings rekindled contact with him and he relayed to them he had intentions of visiting his family.

She said at the time her brother left Guyana, there was an influx of Essequibians venturing into the neighbouring country, in an

effort to seek employment.

Auntie Dato added that a family friend notified her other sibling about the incident and efforts were made to travel to Venezuela to transport Beete’s remains to Guyana for burial.

She said that the initial plan had to be aborted since the body was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition. The family had not reported the incident since they did not know who was responsible for killing their brother.

Church initiates literacy educators programme At a time when the standard of literacy is a matter of national concern, the Education Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has collaborated with the Ministry of Education to make a difference.

A group of over 70 persons has been mobilised to be trained as literacy educators from tomorrow.

The effort is geared toward community development.

The 30-hour certificate programme will be conducted in the evenings over a twoweek period. The opening ceremony of this certificate training programme, which begins at 16:15 hours at the National Centre for Education Resource Development, Battery Road, Kingston will

be addressed by Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam. Upon completion of the training, each literacy educator will return to his community to conduct free literacy education classes.

This is one of the many initiatives of the Adventist church that seeks to contribute to humanity in a relevant way.

Another stabbing sends man to hospital A 47-year-old man is now at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), nursing a stab wound to his chest. The report is that the wound was inflicted by his friend.

Joseph Vangronigen, also known as Betsy, was stabbed around 07:00 hrs yesterday, while he was engaged in a conversation with two friends at “Four Corner” in Melanie

Damishana North, East Coast Demerara.

One of his friends, Fitzroy Henry, who claimed to be an eyewitness, said that he, Betsy and another man were “gaffing” at the corner when another friend came and started to dance to the music that was playing at a house nearby.

Henry explained that while one of them was

dancing, they continued their conversation.

“When we de gaffing, none a we didn’t see anything but I hear like a loud stab and when I turn I see Betsy holding he chest and blood coming out,” Henry recalled.

Vangronigen was immediately rushed to the GPHC by a neighbour who also witnessed the episode

while Henry and his other friend followed Jermaine and later found him hiding in Buxton.

He was subsequently handed over to the police.

When Kaieteur News

visited the hospital yesterday, the 47-year-old man was still undergoing surgery.

Friends and family members of the victim were told that doctors are battling to save his life.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

Page 54

Kaieteur News

SERVICES Permanent &Visitors Visa Applications Professional Immigration Consultant Room E-4 Maraj Building 225-6496/662-6045.

WANTED Technical series Inc Industrial Site Eccles, 1 accounts clerk, Tool room clerk, 1 Industrial electrician, apply in person. Call: 6144358 East Coast Guyoil wanted day & night pump attendants, washman, manager, office assistants & sales girls. Call: 684-2838, 671-3983 One male or female to work in Interior; 1 Shop Assistant.

Call: 663-4476 1 handy boy to work, living accommodation and meals free. Call: 228-5655, 628-1756 Cashier, sales staff, Grocery & clothing apply with written application to Nirva Supermarket.

Pooran Sanchar General Constructing Services, 4 able bodied labourers, 1 driver. Contact us on: 2653586, 665-3550, 617-8369 Porters & sales girls apply with written application at Lot 1 E Dennis& Milton Street Campbellville One live in domestic.

Contact:658-9495 / 627-2550 Female workers needed 3 subject or sound secondary education. Age 18-28yrs.

Call: 225-7307 Taxi drivers. Call: 225-3234 Maid/Helper cosmetologist.

Tel: 227-4799, 223-5451.

Cleaners Handy boys & kitchen assistants apply Hack’s Halaal Restaurant, 5 Commerce ST, 9-11am.

Excavator Operator, Mechanics (Caterpillar, Perkins & model M Trucks) Jetmen, Marrack, sailors.

Call: 223-5273-4 P.S.G.C.S workers in farm at Yarrakabra. Apply at Lot 122, Covent Garden Island E.B.D. Call:265-3586 One skilled lathe operator attractive rates. Call:613-3091 One live in maid. Call:2235324 1 general domestic to work in Georgetown Mon-Sat. Call:614-7267 Drivers with lorry license apply @ Wieting & Richter Ltd Experience sales represented, apply Wieting & Richter Ltd Experience taxi drivers, dispatchers and bus drivers.

Call: 265-7076, 616-5419

WANTED Drivers for car/van/canter, 3 years experience. Call: 2250188, 225-6070 Live in/live out babysitter/ clerk/domestic. Call: 2250188, 225-6070 One live in or out maid & experienced sales girls. Call: 264-3356, 253-3149, 668-3985 Mason, painter, security guard, maid. Call: 225-3234 Girls to work in bar as waitress. Age 18 to 25. Call: 256-4096 E & N Beck 3 Princess & Ketley Sts, Charlestown, Machinist/Crankshaft, Machine operator. Apply in person.

ONLINE SHOPPING NO COMMISSION, WEEKLY S H I P M E N T S , AFFORDABLE RATES, FREE PRIVATE MAILBOX T E L # 2 3 1 - 5 7 8 9 FREIGHTLINKEXPRESS@ GMAIL.COM WE FILL OUT PASSPORT & VISA FORMS:USA, UK & CANADA TEL#231-5789 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer. Omar:231-0655,6838734 We refill HP cartridges for $1,800. Call:650-7699

Manager’s Assistant general duties including Custom and Bond, Security Guards, accommodation available. Call: 676-6700 1 lumber yard labourer. Call: 2263736 Scrap metal. Call: 616-0617, 663-3285 Waitresses @ Diamond Gate Liquor Restaurant and Bar, Lot 18 Belmont Mahaica.

Call: 228-5013, 622-5599 Cashier apply to Shell Service Station Ramsburg Providence East Coast Demerara One live in domestic must be honest & reliable between ages, 25-45. Call: 223-0742

Get your US Non-Immigrant Visa application process.

Contact:643-0855 Beding engine and pump rebuilt impel for all types of mining pump excavator bucket repairs. Call: 642-5915

One matured women to babysit two young children in Diamond New Scheme.

Call: 679-3451, 668-2319 Sales representative to work in electronics store. Apply 68 Robb Street, Nut Centre Domestic to live-in- Mon to Sat, no cooking. Call: 639-7700

Steel building all size all types of flooring pontoon for miners. Call: 642-5915, 6543488 DATING SERVICE Immediate link-Singles 1880yrs. Confidential: Tel:2238237,648-6098. (No -text) 8:30am-5:00pm Mon-Sun (Both phones same hours).

TO RENT One Bobcat Skid Loader for rent. Please contact: 610-3575

Learn Spanish. Call: 6731232 Register now for full time & adults CXC classes. Call: 6835742, 227-7627 Computer classes for 2012 common entrance student 5 courses $25,000, Micrographics Technology, Parika/Vreed-En-Hoop). Call: 264-3057 Special Diploma Package for CSEC Micrographics Technology, Vreed-En-Hoop/ Grove/Parika Highway. Call: 264-3057

For all general construction, carpentry, masonry, painting etc, affordable cost. Call: 6487013, 231-0821 Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & Stoves.

Ultra Cool: 225-9032, 647-2943

Domestic to come & go, no cooking. Call: 639-7700 One experienced hire car driver. Contact Mrs.Z.Khan, at 11 Thomas Street Kitty.

Call: 226-7948, 686-6648 Porters, salesgirls, must have a sound secondary education. Apply Bissan’s Trading, 94 King Street GTown. Call: 227-3206 1 Tutor to teach Form 1, apply Bissan’s Trading, 94 King Street. Call: 227-7306 Two washbay attendants 1825 work previous experience would be an asset. Contact: 227-5169

EDUCATIONAL Princeton College Forms 15 CXC Adults Lesson for students. S.A.T.-Phonics etc. Call: 690-5008/611-3793

Custom brokerage. Call: 6613043 Looking for a Job? Office, domestic & need assistance.

Contact: Angela:694-0096 6 weeks Dressmaking course. Morning & evening.

Call Sharmela: 225-2598, 6410784

LIBRARY Closing down sales, text, university, novels & others from-$100 up. Call: 223-8237

SALON Make up courses, artist trained & certified in Trinidad: 660-5257,647-1773 Cosmetology courses. Tel: 225-6026, 682-2604 Quality yourself in Cosmetology or nails, make up, Register, Limited spaces.

Call Abby: 216-1950, 6197603, 666-5241

FOR SALE 1 German shepherd, 1 Rottweiler & vehicle gear box. Call: 647-4040, 696-5151, 220-2070 1 Bobcat Perkins engine (very large) bucket, Ton capacity. Call: 610-1531, 2207099, 275-0028 Quantity of Granite tiles 16x16 half price. Call: 2207099, 610-1531, 275-0028 Clean garden earth and builders’ waste, also Bobcat Rental Excavating clearing and Leveling. Call: 616-0617, 663-3285 Engines parts 620, DAFT, spring, front, axle, tray dump, Chassis engine Block. Call: 642-5915, 654-3488 Curtis Brand Home Entertainment centre, 5.1 CH Speaker system with sub woofer center & satellite speakers. Call: 687-4519 10x10ft projector, resolution 640x240 DPI, 120 volts, 50/60 HZ Play DVD’s, games, satellite box. Call: 687-4519, $110,000 American dog food 44lbs6,000, 33lbs-5,000, 4lbs-800.

Call: 628-9119 Generator diesel, silent 27KVA 400 Gallon tank key start like new $1.8Milliom.

Call: 621-4000, 690-6000 Generac 15000 KVA or 15KVA 110-220 key start gas, $850,000 each. Call: 621-4000, 690-6000 Onan 25KVA or 37KVA gas or propane 110/220/360/400 volts $650,000. Call: 621-4000, 690-6000 Bread tapes. Call: 231-8819 Short term fluffy puppies vaccinated & dewormed $12,000. Call: 220-4247

Sunday April 15, 2012

FOR SALE Dell computers complete with LCD from $49,000, Dell.

Future Tech. Call:231-2206, 644-6760 Roofing shingles $5,995 per bundle. Call: Mr.Skepmire: 227-5195 Games for PS2-$900, PSP$900, PS3-$2600, Xbox 360$2600, Xbox 1-$2000, WII$1600.Call: 672-2566, 2653231

FOR SALE 1 Daf 45 flat bed, 26 Ft tray.

Call:609-7803 1 complete audio system, alphansonic 2400W, Rockfordfosgate 2000W, 1 Pioneer Inbox 5000W, Clarion/crossover. Call: 6570529 Used: QSC Amps MX2000 & MX3000, Roland sampler SP-404, Rcf speaker: 12" & 18", celestion speaker: 15".

Contact: 644-3390

PS2-PS3-PSP-WII- Games, consoles, controls. Call: 6666661

Titan parts, engine DIFF etc.

Call:648-2075

1 overhauled & repainted Ford 5000 tractor with Boughton Winch. Call:6619318

Household articles beds, fridge, freezer, TV, Washer, gym equipment & lots more.

Call: 233-5251, 662-2595

Spares for washer, microwaves, fridges, stovetimers, gear boxes, pumps etc. Contact:225-9032, 6472943

Assorted brands, ladies, gents & kids clothing, footwear, Victoria Secret – wholesale. Call: 233-5251, 662-2595

Toyota Starlet 2 E Turbo engine with gearbox and ECU: Call: 624-7155.

New blackberry Torch (9800) Black/White/Red available, $90,000.

Accessories included. Call: 680-1722

NARS lipgloss, eyeshadow & Clinique lipgloss. Tel: 6698374.

One CG 125 HOADB Series CG 1549. Price $140,000 negotiable. Call: 697-0296 New Dell laptops, Mp3/Mp4, car music transmitter, card reader. Call: 642-6664 One 2002 Tundra, low mileage and one welder 4 cylinder with Perkins engine 400amps. Call: 685-8962, 6115114 Official Movie Cinema Projector for home or business, 3D/HDMI/Blu ray.

Call: 233-6631, 233-6517, 6221957 2 American 8ft Slate pool tables, business complete setup, 3 freezers, 22 Cubic ft.

Call: 233-6631, 233-6517,6221957 Sony video camera & music set. Call: 266-1969, 682-8380 Going cheap UK used truck engines Perkins 1006 series.

Call: 661-3043 Company laptop $85,000.

Call: 675-1168 HP Laptops-500 GB, HRD 4 G Rom 15 inch, window7 $150,000. Torch blackberry16 GB Memory card $6000.

Call: 667-3772, 648-1602 RX7 2002 Model, price negotiable. Call: 223-5273-4 Press 15 Tons, Grinders, vices, quantity of Outboard engines Yamaha Johnson Genroude etc. call: 220-7099, 610-1531, 275-0028 Lathe, transformers 1 5 0 0 Wa t t s - 1 9 0 Wa t t s , compressor, large metal BanSaw other metal cutting saw.

Call: 610-1531, 220-7099

Proactive sets $25,000, with skin test. Call: 233-6631, 2336517, 622-1957 Club seating brand-new 10 full leather (metal security detectors) forsale $10,000 each. Call: 233-6631, 2336517, 622-1957 Commercial stove, 2 commercial deep fryer with thermostat. Call: 233-6631, 233-6517, 622-1957 Stationary supplies $200,000 for only $100,000, Toyota Allion $2.8M, (New) never registered. Call: 233-6631, 233-6517, 622-1957 Nissan Titan 4Million D6 Bulldozer $1.5Million as is.

Call: 233-6631, 233-6517, 6221957 Pit-bull pup, top breeds $100K, $150K. Call:233-6631, 233-6517, 622-1957 Nikon 5100, DSL Camera $300,000 price. Negotiable.

Call: 233-6631, 233-6517, 6221957 Complete club music 10 set up 51 Million as is. Call: 2336631, 233-6517, 622-1957 Bluray player $30,000, Pioneer, food warmers, glass & aluminum, cheap $100,000. Call: 233-6631, 2336517, 622-1957 One brandnew playstation 3 $100,000. Call: 233-6631, 2336517, 622-1957 Gold detector water proof, headset & battery charger.

Call: 216-0160, 609-7625 One 330 Bedford engine excellent condition. Call: 6874490 (Continued on page 56)

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

The Abigail Column We love each other, but we fight all the time Confused Dear Abigail, I’ve never done this before so here it goes.

I’ve been dating my current boyfriend for about 8 months, and we do love each other very much. However, I believe we both want very different things from our relationship, and we fight on a regular basis. We fight about everything from spending time with friends to how we feel we are being treated and so forth.

We have a lot of trouble identifying with each other and being considerate of each other’s needs. Should I move on and accept that we are incompatible, or should we try a new approach?

Dear Confused, You’re not the only one struggling to sort through whether it makes sense to stay in a relationship. Have you talked with your boyfriend about the situation? It’d be helpful to know whether you’re on the same page about whether you want to keep the relationship going, whether you see that there are problems, and whether you’re both willing to try to make changes in your behaviour to work things out.

Take turns listening to each other describe what’s important to you in a relationship and a partner and what you value about the

relationship you have. Rather than focusing on your own feelings, take time to probe and understand what the other person thinks and feels.

If you practice this skill when the topic’s upbeat, it may help you be more empathetic and considerate when the going gets tough.

If you can figure out what you both want from your relationship, it may be time to move on to talking about how you want your relationship to change.

Be specific about what you want, and be willing to compromise.

Stick to one topic at a time — it’s not fair or realistic to bombard your partner with a whole laundry list of complaints.

Sunday April 15, 2012 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): You'll have a great time working in groups today -whether they are social groups or work groups. Of course, the line between these two groups in your life is staring to blur a little bit as you get friendlier with coworkers, but this doesn't have to complicate things. ****************** TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Laughter will be contagious today -- and you will be the main carrier! You'll be spreading joy and a positive attitude wherever you go, and even the grumpiest people will simply love being around you. ******************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You might not consider yourself an intellectual, but someone else does. They admire your thoughtful nature and will make moves today to pick your brain a bit about a problem they are trying to solve. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You can try to teach someone who's rigid to be more flexible, but do not get too disheartened if that stubborn friend, family member or coworker shows little if any sign of ever loosening up! ******************** LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Talking is good. Talking clears up relationship issues, helps you find a different approach for a continuing problem, and it can be good fun. ********************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): Get involved in a new project today -- it's time to put the thinking aside and start in

on the doing! Contact one of your more entrepreneurial friends and let them know that you want to get involved with their schemes. ********************** LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): You certainly don't like to be preached at, so you should be able to understand that no one else does, either.

Use your empathy, today. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): An unexpected bill could have arrived, and its bad news could cause an unexpected outburst! It's time to review your money situation. ********************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): You must work extra hard to make all of your communications crystal-clear today. There can be no mistakes. ********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Phone tag isn't very much fun, is it? If you have been playing it far too long with far too many people, then today you need to call a time out. *********************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): If you are single, someone you just met is becoming more and more interesting to you. But are they worth your energy? Take time to explore this question today. ********************** PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): Being focused on achieving a goal is important in life, but is your current goal really attainable? Reassess your current hopes for the future and make sure than none of them are too unrealistic.

Page 55

Health workers await...

(From page 12) deduce that the unpaid monies are in excess of several millions.

Although some parts of the programme required that some of the more experienced health workers be retained, some of them are convinced that certain managers of the programme have ensured that not only they be deprived of a salary increase but also that their former status be depreciated.

“The way we are seeing it is that we can’t get an increase and we are on a level just as everybody else even though we have more years of experience and service than many others in our field.”

The workers also said

that they were privy to information that they were being afforded just about half of the remuneration package which is being financed by the funding agency. As such, they say that they are being paid relatively lower than comparable positions in the public health sector and have not been engaged in any discussions to address an increase.

According to the workers, they had on numerous occasions attempted to raise their concerns with senior officials attached to the programme but are yet to secure such an engagement.

In addition, the workers lamented the fact that they are

not being adequately represented, a state of affairs, which has caused them to turn to the media.

Despite their concerns associated with the management of the programme, the workers said that they have remained committed to working in the area of HIV/AIDS since it is recognised as one of the most crucial in the health sector that requires close and continuous attention.

“This programme is helping the people who are infected with HIV, also their families are being supported, and that is why we are still here even though we think some people are not appreciative of what we do...”

NTN CHANNEL 18/ CABLE 69 05:00h - Sign on with the Mahamrtunjaya Mantra 05:00h - Mediation 05:15h - Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc Presents 05:30h - Queenstown Masjid Presents Quran This Morning 06:00h - R. Gossai General Store Presents Krishna Bhajans 06:15h - Jettoo’s Lumber Yard Presents Krishna Bhajans 06:30h - Muneshwar Limited Presents Krishna Bhajans 06:45h - Double Standard Taxi Presents Krishna Bhajans 07:00h - Ramroop’s Furniture Store Presents Religious Teachings 07:30h - The Family of The Late Leila & David Persaud Presents Krishna Bhajans 07:45h - Sankar Auto Works Presents Krishna Bhajans 08:05h - Sa Re Ga Ma Live with Joel & Natasha 09:30h - Headline News 10:00h - 2012 Budget Debate Summary - Hon. Dr. Vindhiya Persaud - MP 10:30h - Teaching of Islam 11:00h - Dharmic Milan 11:30h - Guyana’s Entertainers

Platform 12:00h - Hinduism in a changing world presented by Pt. Ravi 12:30h - LETS TALK WITH LAKSHMEE 13:00h - IPL 5 - KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS v KINGS X1 PUNJAB 16:00h - IPL 5 - ROYAL C. BANGALORE v RAJASTHANI ROYALS 19:00h - Geet Gaata Chal Live with Joel 20:00h - Ganesh Parts Presents - JAI DURGA MAA

- Serial 20:15h - Birthday Greetings / Death Announcement & In Memoriam 20:30h - Indian Soap - Ram Milayee Jodi 21:00h - Indian Soap - Yahaan Mein 21:30h - Indian Soap - Choti Bahu 22:00h - Indian Soap - Punar Vivaah 22:30h - DVD MOVIE:ATLANTIS 24:00h - Sign Off with the GAYATRI MANTRA

Page 56

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Nico Rosberg takes...

TO LET Short term apartments Eccles. Call:679-7139

(From page 54)

Short term apartments. Call: 667-1549 Lodge apartments (Vlissingen/ Durban): unfurnished $40,000-60,000 p/m, furnished( for visitors) $500-1000 US p/m. Call: 2180436, 629-1093 Three (3) office spaces with kitchen C/Ville. Call: 6500716, 223-1051 Building-16000 sqft , yard50000 sqft, can be used for Bond, factory etc. Contact:2257643, 225-7493 Lot 10 Area “G” Ogle. Tel: 683-6666, 650-6450 Property for Rent Sheriff for viewing. Call:697-6893, strictly between 4:30pm to 7:30pm Clean and Spacious rooms in the centre of the city $4000/day. Call: 227-4311, 227-8360 Apartment for rent fully grilled, spacious 2 bedroom, in section A Diamond parking available. Call: 2162363, 683-4700 Unfurnished newly built apartment W.C.D. Call:6986496 South -$100,000, Lamaha Garden-$90,000, Prashad Nagar-US900, Regent Street-US1200. Diana: 2272256, 626-9382 Business place New Road.

Call: 682-3011, 254-0694 1-3 bedrooms furnished 2 Flat houses; Nandy Park, fully grilled enclosed Garage. Price $120,000.

Tel: 670-9302, MMC Security Service.

1 (28x60ft) first floor building for rent located in Diamond. Call: 266-0422/347-299-5570 One 2-bedroom concrete flat house, located in a gated community, Hibiscus Place, W.C.D.Call 276-3926 /6834502 Fully furnished 3 bedroom top flat US$950, unfurnished top flats, 3 bedroom $100,000, 2 bedrooms $65,000, 609 2302/645 2580/233 5711 Ground floor business, $85,000 & US$1,500, two flat residence/business US$1,200, 2 bedroom apt $45,000, 609 2302/645 2580/ 233 5711

MASSAGE American style massage services. Call: 609-4036

VEHICLES FOR SALE 99 Honda Civic Leather interior. Call:648-2075 Just arrived: Allion and Premio, tel: 624-2000, 6221610 Unregistered Tundra, Tacoma and interstate batteries. Call: 265-2103, 6459860 Unregistered Premio, Allion, with TV & rims. Call: 6098188, 602-6307 UNREGISTERED ALLION, PREMIO, SPACIO, RUNX, ALEX, 2 TON CANTER, AVENSIS, VEROSSA, 212.

CALL:677-7666/ 610-7666 Hilux 4x4 solid Def pick up, Diesel, long base, excellent condition. Call: 623-0243 3 Ton enclosed canter, unregistered.Tel: 617-2891 3 Ton 4 wheel drive canter, unregistered. Tel: 617-2891 1-2RZ Mini bus, reregistered. Call: 617-2891 Unregistered Black Spacio, Silver Premio; reverse camera, Cerisor. Call: 6970294, 220-9514 Toyota Diesel Prado Excellent Condition Diplomat Vehicle. Call:6246702 One EP 71 Starlet Auto, 1 Pajero JR, 1 AE 91 Sprinter.

Call: 644-5069, 697-1453 1 RZ Mini bus BGG Series $800,000. Call:627-3343 1 Toyota pickup V6 SR5 4WD. Call: 642-4779 1 Bedford 500, 1 Mazda Titan, 1 Nissan Atlas, 1 Nissan Diesel. Contact Keith:642-6234 1 RZ Minibus E.F.1 BKK Series in good condition, 1.1M neg. Call:265-3694 1 500 Bedford Truck long Tray, 1 Leyland DAF 620 Truck. Call: 642-5915, 6543488 Unregistered Cedia Lancer, Allion, Spacio, Buses, IST, Wagon, AT 192. Cheapest.

Call: 616-7635 Unregistered Mitsubishi enclosed canter. Call: 6229123, 679-8056 Driven Auto: unregistered, Toyota BB, Passo & Sienta.

Fully loaded and lowest price.

Call: 643-6565, 226-9931 Mercedes Benz A-140 fully powered, sound system PMM Series $2.8 neg. Call: 621-4000, 690-6000

PROPERTY FOR SALE Fully furnished home in Diamond ‘A’ neg. Call:6194682, 687-2806 East Bank-$12M, East Bank (Public Road) 15M-45M, Kingston-16M, Bel Air-45M. Diana: 227-2256, 626-9382 Lot 9 Johns St. Port Mourant Berbice house with 12 rooms, on 16 Acres Land. Call: 3371500 Two story wooden and concrete building located at 14 ‘A’ Kersaint Park, L.B.I., E.C.D land measuring 75ft, by 75ft, kitchen cupboards, window grills, 6 bedroom, alarm, system,concrete fence and drains, large storage bond adjoining property price 21 Million (negotiable). Call: 6432403, 227-2712 1 Two storey house Ave ‘A’ Diamond HS, Asking price $20M. Call: 643-5161, 2160968 Hotel for sale on the Essequibo Coast Fully Furnished. Contact: 7715388, 680-1198 McDoom $23m, Industry $80m, Blankenburg $20m, P/ Nagar $36m, Carmichael Street $50m, Campbellville G$52m, Agricola G$21m, BB Eccles G$27m, CC Eccles G$23m, 609 2302/645 2580/ 233 5711

LAND FOR SALE Land V/Hoop 2 acre school, housing, factory etc. Call: 658-0115 Soesdyke Public Rd 437’ X 104’ US$300,000, Land of Canaan Wharf 140’ X 50’ on 11.88 acres US$2.5m, Grove H/S 86’ X 50’ $4.5m. 609 2302/ 645 2580/233 5711 Forshaw Street Q/Town 240’ X 62’ WAS US$560,000 NOW US$525,000,Eping Ave B.A.P 150’ X 100" US$500,000, Carmichael Street 100" X 62" US$500,000,609 2302/645 2580/ 233 5711 Ogle Seawall Rd 140’ X 100’ $45m, Sophia Seawall Road 130" X 86’ US$550, 000, Ogle Railway Corner 200’ X 78’ US$750,000, Yarrowkabra 50 acre & house $15m. 609 2302/ 645 2580/233 5711 32 acre for sale, Lot 5 Content E.C.D, $256,000.00(USD) Call: 813-319-4219 or r.pooran@tampabay.com

CAKE & PASTRIES 1-lb character cakes $5,000, pastries at whole sale prices.

Call: 223-9497 Baking courses West Coast Demerara, Saturdays’. Call: 276-4018, 693-6335

CAR RENTAL Progressive auto rental, cars from $3,500 per day.

Call: 643-5122, 656-0087, www.progressiveautorental.com Al’s Car & Pick up Rental.

Call:698-7807 Premio, 110 Corolla. Call: 679-7139 VEHICLES FOR SALE Losing millions make offer luxury cars BMW sports 635CSI, Lexus LS400, BMW 740 IL. Call: 646-8326, 6121486 AT 212- $1.350, AT192$850,000, AE 100 $700,000, Lancer-$1.1M, Camry-$1.2M. Call: Shawn-231-2200, 6187483 Mercedes Benz 190E fully skirted, customized interior work need repairs $650,000.

Call: 621-4000,690-6000 Cherokee Lorado, 4 doors AC Windows, power locks PHH series $1.950.000.Call: 6214000, 690-6000 Mercedes Benz 5-300, fully powered, armored, DVD system $3.5 million. Call: 6214000, 690-6000

TOUR Suriname vacation shopping seeing 26th April1May, trip. Contact Matthew:639-2663, 6655171,644-0185, 227-8290

BBC - Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg took his first pole position as he beat Lewis Hamilton in Chinese Grand Prix qualifying.

The German was a blistering half a second faster than Hamilton, who will start seventh following a grid penalty.

The big surprise was world champion Sebastian Vettel failing to make it into the top 10 shoot-out. He starts 11th, with team-mate Mark Webber sixth.

It is Mercedes’ first pole since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix with Juan Manuel Fangio.

The team pulled out of F1 at the end of that season following a second consecutive world title for the legendary Argentine, not returning as a constructor until 2010 when they bought the Brawn team.

Michael Schumacher 0.57 secs slower than

Bayrock Blazers...

From back page batsmen much to the delight of the crowd. The task of overhauling the target was always going to be tough and with not much known of Bayrock, many felt that Farm were in the driver’s seat.

Bayrock went about the task with a high degree of confidence as their opening pair of Leon Moseley and Dillon Williams set a good platform by taking the attack to the Farm bowlers. Both batsmen favoured the sweep shot to the low ground bowling that was being served up and it brought them success.

One of the delightful shots played by Moseley in his top score of 29 was a reverse sweep for six. Bayrock Blazers romped to victory in 9.1 overs with Kevin Sullivan 23* and Shawn Adams 21* guiding them home.

Rising Stars Super Sixers batted first against Mahaica Raiders and could only manage 73-7 off their 10 overs with the top score of 24* off

VACANCY

LEARN TO DRIVE

Have an interest in customer service? Then be apart of Q! Call:220-0401, 225-6466 House keeper at Land of Canaan E.B.D, shift system.

Call:266-5243

Soman & sons Driving School.

First Federation Building Call: 225-4858, 644-5166, 622-2872, 615-0964

General workers Georgetown location. Call: 225-6337 Experience storekeepers/ senior Bond clerks, with knowledge in Hardware items experienced Heavy Duty Drivers. Call: 226-0635, 226-4071-5 1 refrigerator & washing machine technician/ Trainee.

Call: 683-8734, 231-0655

Rosberg - completes an allMercedes front row following Hamilton’s demotion for a gearbox change. Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn said: “It is a fantastic achievement but we’ve obviously got in the back of our minds that we have to put a race together t o m o r r o w. I t w a s a n exceptional lap by Nico.”

Rosberg said: “It’s a very special feeling. I got a perfect lap. “In the race we have been not as good as in qualifying.

It’s not something you can improve quickly, but we are doing our best. I don’t know how it’s going to go, but I’m going to work hard tonight and make the most of it.”

Hamilton, a team-mate of Rosberg in the junior categories, said: “Congratulations to him.

We grew up racing together and we both dreamed of racing in F1.”

Prudential Learning “Training to Pass” automatic also stick/ manual. Call: 642-4827. We’ re #1 FOR RENT OR SALE Double butcher stall at LaPenitence Market rent or sell for Sunday. Contact: 6659498 HEALTH HIV/AIDS you can still have a second chance. Call: 6396054

the bat of Ravin Dusraj, Andy Ramnarine and Jerome Ramnauth scored 10 each.

In response, Mahaica Raiders hit off the required runs for the loss of 5-wickets, Jagdesh Persaud was at the wicket on 20 along with Davindra Persaud, 3. Rohit Dutchin contributed 15 and opener Marvin Bobb 11.

In the female matches, Capoey Rising Stars did not get the chance to rise against their seasoned opponents, Trophy Stall Angels who crushed them by 96 runs, bowling them out for a meager 34 in response to their total of 130-3 off 10 overs.

Their Captain, June Ogle smashed an unbeaten 56 with Kavita Yadram hitting 33.

When Capoey Rising Stars took to the crease they found the going very tough against some stifling bowling with Tanisha Isahack almost unplayable as she ended with 4-4 after being on the verge of a hat-trick. Alicia Allen backed up well with 2-3.

Corett Alves was the only batter to touch double figures with 15; Valarie De Young made 9 with five of their batters falling for a duck.

In the other game, 4R Lioness took care of business against Capoey Regal Warriors by 37 runs in the first match of the day.

Capoey Regal Warriors could only manage 75-3 off their 10 overs chasing 4R Lioness’ score of 112-1.

Sittonette Alli 41* and Hazel De Younge 11* were the best batters for the losers while Captain and player of the match Tracy Glasgow led from the front for 4R Lioness with 49* while Gangadhai Singh made 34*.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 57

“This is Australia’s worst bowling attack to the Caribbean in my cricketing lifetime!”

Colin E. H. Croft Having first seen Australia play, as a 12 year old, in 1965, after jumping fences from Regent Street to Georgetown Football Club ground, then to Georgetown Cricket Club’s Bourda Oval, my first ever Test visage, I think Australia’s present bowling attack is, quite possibly, its worst ever brought to our shores!

It is no secret that many of us, with no money at all for such luxuries, could only see international cricket that way then, by “pope-ping” -

dodging gatemen, police, and jumping fences, or from premium seats in trees on North Road and Regent Street, at Bourda’s northern and southern ends!

Travel then, from UnityLancaster, which also produced Shiv Chanderaul, 20 miles east of Georgetown, was not reliable. I was always late, the line of people always long, waiting to get a branch, even as I arrived around 3:00am on mornings of that Test!

By Test No. 3’s completion at month’s end in Dominica, make your own

assessments of present day Australian bowling, but they will have to come good to be even close to some that have gone before.

Peter Siddle bowled intelligently but lucklessly, while Ben Hilfenhuis and Ryan Harris swung the ball well. Nathan Lyons could only be thusly described by Australian press, as he does nothing with the ball except bowl, while Shane Watson fully enhanced his standing as an outstanding all-rounder.

Luckily, the selectors have not changed West Indies batting squad for Test

West Ruimveldt and Wortmanville to clash in Mayor’s Cup Final Saturday - Bourda and West Ruimveldt Estate to battle in 3rd place playoff West Ruimveldt and Worthmanville will collide Saturday in the Mayor’s Cup Final at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground after earning their spots from last Friday’s Semifinal games against Bourda and West Ruimveldt Estate respectively.

The West Ruimveldt boys received an easy victory in the first match of the night under the flood lights when they netted two goals against Bourda.

The Bourda boys who were overpowered by West Ruimveldt saw Daniel Favourite netting the first goal 26 minutes after the referee signaled the commencement of the game. Favourite’s simple goal was scored when Bourda goalkeeper plunged forward to stop an advancing ball and missed. This opportunity was not thrown away when Favourite lightly edged the ball towards the left side of the goal to score.

Bourda saw Keon Solomon and Keshawn Lovell trying endlessly to equalize the score but all goal scoring opportunities created were halted by the West Ruimveldt goalkeeper, who defended territory tenaciously. West Ruimveldt player Paul Giles added the final goal to account in 75th minute.

Wortmanville trounced West Ruimveldt Estate 4-0 in the feature game with Delroy Williams’ hat-trick in the 22nd, 33rd and 48th minutes and Germaine ‘Panky’ Junior’s goal in 69th minute.

The fierce battle between the top teams saw Wortmanville controlling the game from the start to the finish, displaying great ball control and techniques.

West Ruimveldt goal scores, Paul Giles and Daniel Favourite.

Wortmanville netters, Delroy Williams and Germaine ‘Panky’ Junior.

West Ruimveldt and Wortmanville will battle for the top prizes of $500,000 and $250,000 while Bourda and West Ruimveldt Estate will play for $150,000 and $100,000.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) walks away with Keishars’ Gift Shop voucher worth US$100 along with a trip to Kaieteur Falls, compliments of Roraima Airways.

The player to score the most goals will be rewarded US $100 compliments of Hector Stout Jr. To date, several players are closely grouped to cart off the prize for the most goals scored; the group includes Anthony Sancho (4), Michael Henry (3), Hubert Pedro (3) Pernell Shultz (3) and newly

added Delroy Williams (3).

Both Sancho and Henry’s chances of grabbing the most goals scored prize are in the shadows since their teams are no longer in the competition.

Sponsors of the four prizes in order 1st to 4th are Banks DIH Ltd, Digicel, M Beepat & Sons and the Guyana Beverage Company.

Several other corporate entities have also contributed to the success of the tournament including MACORP, John Fernandes Ltd, Nazar Mohamed of Mohamed’s Enterprise, Lombard Street, CIDI, General Equipment Guyana Ltd, New Thriving Restaurant, Sterling Products and Courtney Benn Construction Company.

No. 2. There is no need to!

1965 Australia comprised Australian batting legends Bob Cowper, Bob Simpson, Bill Lawry, Norman O’Neill and Brian Booth. Their bowling was fearsome Graeme Mc Kenzie, Neil Hawke, Laurie Mayne, Simpson, O’Neill, David Sincock and Peter Philpott.

Australia 1965’s bowlers had to be good, in Tests at Sabina Park, Queen’s Park Oval (2 games), Bourda and Kensington Oval, as West Indies batting line-up then was the stuff to drool for. It included West Indies cricketing legends too, who helped West Indies win that truly magnificent series 2-1.

Conrad Hunte, Brian Davis, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Seymour Nurse, Garfield Sobers and Joe Solomon were West Indies batsmen then, backed up excellently by wicket-keeper Jackie Hendricks, fast bowlers Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith, and off-spinner Lance Gibbs.

What a team!

Playing on batting paradises that were Bourda, Kensington and Sabina then, Hawke had 24 wickets from 218.4 overs, the herculean Mc Kenzie 17 wickets from 256 overs, and leg-spinner Philpott 18 wickets from 243.3 overs. Mayne and O’Neill also helped out with 18 wickets between them.

1972-73 Australians biggest ‘noise’ was Dennis Lillee, after his devastating exploits against England that year, but, due to back problems, he returned home.

It was one of Australia’s least known bowlers that came good then, even as their batsmen battered West Indies to win 2-0.

Max Walker got maximum reward, 26 wickets from 271 overs, but it was Jeff Hammond, understudy to Lillee, who really excelled, working hard on unresponsive pitches to get 15 wickets from 171.5 overs.

Terry Jenner, another legspinner, also bowled well for 13 wickets, while Dough Walters, 7 wickets, and yet another leg-spinner, Kerry O’Keeffe, 6 wickets, augmented Australia’s bowling well too.

Australia 1972-73’s batting was unbelievably strong.

Ian and Greg Chappell, nearly 900 runs between them, Doug Walters, nearly 500 runs, Keith Stackpole, Ian Redpath and wicket-keeper Rodney Marsh all averaged over 42 in the series, totally outplayed West Indies to win well, 2-0.

1972-73 West Indies was

even more spin-oriented than present West Indies, Gibbs excelling for 26 wickets, while two left arm spinners, Elequemedo Willett, 7 wickets, and Inshan Ali, 10 wickets assisted. Fast bowlers Keith Boyce and Vanburn Holder had only 13 wickets in five tough Tests!

1977-78 Australians were weakened by political shenanigans of Kerry Packer/ World Series Cricket. Yet, to this day, the fastest piece of fast bowling ever seen at any cricket ground in the Caribbean, probably the entire world, was produced on that tour.

Jeffrey Robert Thompson bowled so fast at Kensington Oval that afternoon that, for the only time in my cricketing life, I refused to be nightwatchman when captain Lloyd asked. If Gordon Greenidge, Alvin Kallicharran and Viv Richards could not cope, who the hell was I to pretend to!

Wayne Clark backed up Thommo with 15 wickets, the same amount that off-spinner Bruce Yardley and leg-spinner Jim Higgs got, while Trevor Laughlin and the aged Simpson had 13 between them in a series that contained two West Indies teams, riots, boycotts and confusion everywhere. West Indies won 3-1.

Australia 1983-84’s bowling was probably as poor as that on this tour, but West Indies batting was so devastating back then, that the always determined Australians must have been much demoralized. Greenidge, Haynes, Richie Richardson, Richards, Jeff Dujon and Lloyd were at the top of their game!

West Indies scored eight centuries in five Tests, to win 3-0. Those massacred were Rodney Hogg (9 wickets, 41.00 avg.), Geoff Lawson (12 wickets, 53.16 avg.), Tom Hogan (8 wickets, 60. 37 avg.), Terry Alderman (4 wickets, 92.00 avg.). Carl Rackemann and John Maguire also had 12 wickets together.

1991 Australia had two bowlers, Craig Mc Dermott, 24 wickets at a miserly 23.50 runs per wicket, and Big Merv Hughes, 19 wickets at 31.00, aided by 13 wickets between mark Waugh and Alan Border, while their batsmen, Waugh, Mark Taylor, Border, David Boon and Dean Jones held their own well.

West Indies bowlers Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Patrick Patterson and Malcolm Marshall, worked hard to help West Indies win this series 2-1, but also had

Colin E. H. Croft considerable help from batsmen Richardson, Haynes, Greenidge, Augustine Logie and Dujon.

Australia 1994-95 changed West Indies cricket so dramatically and drastically that our cricket is still not fully recovered from that nightmarish series which lost us world champion status; 2-1.

Despite the considerable efforts of Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Winston and Kenny Benjamin and Carl Hooper, and numerous dropped catches, including present West Indies selector Courtney Browne’s diabolical error, allowing Steve Waugh to make 200, Australia’s batsmen prevailed.

Fast bowlers Glen Mc Grath, 17 wickets at 21.70, and Paul Reiffel, 15 wickets at 17.53, and leg-spinner Shane Warne 15 wickets at 27.06 runs per wicket, accounted for most West Indies wickets, with help from left-arm pacer Brendan Julian, 9 wickets at 26.22.

Australia 1999-20 ended 2-2, thanks to batsmen Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Justin Langer and Michael Slayter for Australia, and Brian Lara, Sherwin Campbell and Jimmy Adams for West Indies.

Mc Grath, 30 wickets, Stuart Mc Gill, who replaced the injured Warne, 12 wickets, and Jason Gillespie, 11 wickets, had the bulk of West Indies wickets; Ambrose, 19 and Walsh, 26, the best for West Indies.

Australia 2003’s bowling was controlled, very well, by fast bowlers Gillespie, 17 wickets at 20.66, Brett Lee, 17 wickets at 28.82, Andy Bichel, 11 wickets at 31.45 and leg spinner Mc Gill, best, 20 wickets at 33.95, while West Indies batting centered on Chris Gayle, Lara, Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Australia 2011/12 could probably win this short threeTest series, but, judging from Test No. 1, West Indies will prove tough to be beaten, even as both teams try to rebuild each team’s legacy.

Enjoy!

Page 58

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

GT&T 10/10 Nationwide softball cricket tourney...

Alpha, Milerock to commence CFU Club Championship action this week Albion Ground set to host four more Alpha and Milerock Football Clubs of Georgetown and Linden respectively will commence action this week in the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship from Tuesday April 17 at the National Stadium, Providence.

Both teams have participated in the event before, with Alpha in their third edition. Alpha, the number one club in the country, has made the huge undertaking of footing the bill for hosting the matches at a $6M price tag.

Alpha are down to face InterMoengotape of Suriname in the feature game at 6:00pm at the Stadium on Tuesday, while Milerock will tangle with Hubentut Fortuna of Curacao in the opening encounter at 4:00pm.

The teams are again in action on the 19th with InterMoengotape against Milerock, while Alpha face Hubentut Fortuna, then on the 21st InterMoengotape play Hubentut Fortuna and

Alpha battle Milerock in the round robin group.

According to unconfirmed reports, Alpha are leaving no stone unturned to put up a good showing and possible win the playoff by beefing up their ranks with several overseas players.

Kaieteur Sport understands that Vice President Steve Ninvalle and President Odinga Lumumba met with executives of the Guyana Football Federation to clear the way for the staging of this leg of the tournament.

Milerock, it was reported, indicated that they did not have any funds and were not in a position to co-host the event, so in the interest of the country and sport here, Alpha made the huge undertaking of footing the $6M bill.

This tournament serves as qualifying for the CONCACAF Club championship to be staged later in the year. Two teams from this round will advance to the next stage of the competition.

Carroll’s header sends Liverpool...

From page 60 player was Carroll, who netted the league winner at Blackburn on Tuesday night.

But against Everton, the England international hesitated with the goal in his sight after just three minutes, instead teeing up Jay Spearing, who swept the ball over.

With both Liverpool goalkeepers Alexander Doni and Pepe Reina suspended, Brad Jones had to make his first start of the season. While the Australian was picking

the ball out of his goal after 23 minutes, his dithering defenders was at fault.

Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger both hesitated as the ball landed between them, and Carragher’s eventual attempted clearance rebounded off Tim Cahill. The ball fell at the feet of Nikica Jelavic, who shot under Jones.

Despite dominating the game, Steven Gerrard’s longrange strike was the closest Liverpool got to an equalizer but Carroll squandered a

golden opening at the start of the second half. An inviting cross from the right presented Carroll with a free header but he flicked it wide before pulling his shirt over his head in frustration.

Everton responded to its opener by also gifting Liverpool an equalizer.

Sylvain Distin’s attempt to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Tim Howard was far too weak and Luis Suarez nipped in to seize the ball and score.

Super-16-round matches today

Following some pulsating encounters at the Everest Ground yesterday, attention will now turn to the Albion Community Centre Ground where Super-16-round action in the GT&T 10/10 Nationwide softball cricket competition will continue with four more matches.

In the male category, Universal Solutions Tigers will tangle with Unstoppable while Regal X1 will come up against Memorex.

In the female matches, Karibee Rice Strikers is set and eager to engage #28 Warriors; Rising Stars will be aiming to continue their rise but will have to get past Albion Tigers is they are to achieve that aim.

Universal Solutions Tigers, led by Rajiv Ivan, has been very impressive in eth lead up to this stage of the knock-out competition dispatching all and sundry quite easily. They certainly have experience on their side having reached last year’s semi finals after defeating Trophy Stall at this stage.

The sky is the limit for them this year but they have to fire on all cylinders in order

8th Universal Auto & General Supplies 11 Race Meet ...

Robin Persaud is feature winner

Winners and top performers display their silveware.

The experienced Robin Persaud chalked up yet another win in this year’s cycling season when he took the top spot in the feature 35lap School Boys and Invitational race at the eighth annual Universal Auto and General Supplies 11-Race programme at the Inner Circuit of the National Park yesterday.

The seasoned campaigner finished the event in a time of One Hour 17 Minutes 53 Seconds beating off the challenge of emerging Linden rider Orville

Hinds. Persaud claimed three of the eight prime prizes with Hinds hauling in one while Walter Grant-Stuart, who ended in third spot, took the other four.

Geron Williams, who suffered a puncture during the latter stages of the race, had to settle for fourth position, while Alonzo Greaves and Raynauth Jeffrey ended in fifth and sixth spots respectively.

Other winners of the day included Alfie Soonaram, Shameer Baksh, Vi rg i l J o n e s , M a u r i c e

Fagundes, Michael Anthony, Dexter Wilson, Isaiah Sahadeo, Kapil Dev Bisram, Adrian Sharma, and Makel Dias.

Following are the results of yesterday’s events: 12-14 Open Alfie Soonaram, Marica Dick, Kamal Harripersaud Veterans U-50 S h a m e e r Baksh, Stephon Hinckson, Bochel Samaroo Veterans Over-50 Virgil Jones, Wilfred Thom, Courtney Hackett Veterans Over-60 Maurice Fagundes

Juniors/Juveniles Michael Anthony, Rawle Leal, Raynauth Jeffrey Upright Dexter Wilson, Kester Croal BMX 6-9 Isaiah Sahadeo, Ken Sahadeo, Nicholas D’Andrade BMX 9-12 Kapil Dev Bisram, Jamal Arthur, Bryton John BMX 12-14 Adrian Sharma, Khemraj Sanichar, Yusuf Latiff BMX Open Makel Dias, Ricardo Sharma, Adrian Sharma

to get past their opponents, Unstoppable, losing finalists of 2010.

Unstoppable will be seeking to live up to their name and they are very capable of taking apart any team on their day. At the helm of their quest for a win will be Alfred Garnett.

The Regal X1 / Memorex showdown has all the requirements for an explosive affair with neither team taking each other lightly but going for a win however it comes.

Regal possess a highquality squad of professionals and have been dominating the scene. They will want to impress all and sundry in eth Ancient County as they have been doing in Georgetown but will find that they will have to pull out all the stops in order to achieve same against worthy opponents, Memorex XI. Inform batsman Patrick Rooplall who has already notched up solid scores including a few centuries will be called on to maintain that responsibility and will find able support from Chen Gittens who has so far played the supporting role but can also hold his own.

They also have in their lineup Richard Latiff who has a special liking for Berbice teams.

Memorex XI has been a dominant force in Berbice this year and will be enjoying home advantage with the crowd expected to be a roaring one.

Home boy Veersammy Lallbachan will be hoping to hit the opposition out of the match as he usually does and will have support from Roy Jafferally who is in good nick and can dominate any attack.

Memorex XI knocked out last year losing finalist’s Celebrity Times last week and will be hoping to add Regal to their

list of casualties.

The batting on both teams is quite deep whilst their respective bowlers are all capable of toppling any batting line-up; add a vociferous crowd to the equation and it sets the scene for a scorching affair.

The female side of the competition has produced some high tempo clashes and no less is expected in these two matches.

Karibee Rice Strikers, an experienced unity will hope to turn back the challenge of #28 Warriors. Karibee Rice Strikers has retained most of the members of the victorious Berbice All Stars side which won the competition last year and so far they have been in dismissive mode as they intend to go all the way.

They will continue to bank on the expertise of Captain Erva Giddings, Nikita Toney, Teneza Lenard and the classical Tenesha Cort.

But #28 Warriors will not be intimidated by the star studded line-up of their opponents as they are well aware that the better team on the day will triumph; they hope to be that team as they have a knack for defeating teams from East Berbice. Leading their charge will be Christine Garrett and Melissa Daniels.

Another enthralling match-up is anticipated between Rising Star, a team that has been on the grind all year with some exciting performances recorded. They {Rising Star} upset last year’s Super 16 qualifier Mahaica Queens in the zone final with the likes of opening bat and hard hitter Dianne Prescott who surprised the queens in tearing into the bowling to take her team to victory, being undefeated in the end.

Albion Tigers, with home advantage expected to play a major role have also been quite impressive so far and boast some exciting players the likes of Nermala Sewdat who is also the wicket keeper and Shawna Park, the two forming a formidable opening pair.

Game time is 10:00hrs with lots of giveaways and specials on Blackberry handsets on offer for the fans.

Carter set for maiden...

From page 62 unbeaten on 34 from his overnight 29.

The topscorer was Donovan Pagon with 71 off 109 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Pagon and opener Brenton Parchment, who made 58 off 138 balls with seven boundaries, added 108 for the second wicket.

Left-arm spinner Sulieman

Benn was the leading wickettaker with five for 90 off 29 overs including five maidens while Brathwaite took three for 38 off 17 overs with three maidens.

Scores: Jamaica Jamaica 273 (N Miller 34* Parchment 58 Pagon 71; Wkts Benn 5) vs Barbados - 197/3 (Carter 96*, Boucher 50 Wkts: Richardson 2, Miller 1)

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 59

Tevez hat-trick inspires Man City Italy footballer Morosini dies after collapse on pitch Piermario Morosini

Carlos Tevez celebrates one of his goals Carlos Tevez’s hat-trick helped Manchester City beat Norwich to reduce Manchester United’s lead to two points at the Premier League summit.

Tevez’s swerving effort beat John Ruddy before he set up Sergio Aguero.

Norwich replied when Andrew Surman blasted in after Joe Hart’s punch.

But Tevez boosted the lead with a header and Aguero’s solo effort added the gloss before Tevez rounded Ruddy to complete his hat-trick and Adam Johnson slotted in from close range.

The Argentine celebrated his third strike with a golf swing, perhaps mocking those who questioned his desire during his unauthorised leave of absence in his home country where he was pictured on the golf course.

But after a fractious period in his Manchester City career, his performance and the result showed that his team’s title challenge was back on track. For all boss Roberto Mancini’s claims that his team have no chance of overtaking rivals United, who host Aston Villa on Sunday, the Italian’s players showed they have not given up.

Aguero, who was also a menace and scored two fine goals, came inches away from matching his countryman’s tally when he hit the post late on. It was a deadly exhibition of finishing from the front two, and City look to have recovered their former fluency, but the scoreline was harsh on Norwich, who pressured the visitors early on, and tested them again after reducing the deficit to 2-1.

Four goals in the last 17 minutes swept their challenge aside to give Manchester City their first away league win since 12 February but before the visitors could take control, they had to withstand an early barrage from the inform Canaries.

Paul Lambert’s side almost led when Joleon Lescott cleared Grant Holt’s header

off the line following a corner, the visiting defenders protesting as Anthony Pilkington appeared to block Hart.

The Manchester City players had already made their feelings known to referee Chris Foy when Tevez was booked for diving, after he appeared to be caught by Ryan Bennett. But soon after, Tevez’s recent rehabilitation continued when he was fed down the right by a reenergised David Silva and struck a swerving shot that beat Ruddy at his near post.

The second goal was a gem as Aguero supplied Tevez in the inside left channel and then picked up his fellow countryman’s backheel to fire past Ruddy.

That strike knocked the wind out of Norwich, with Grant Holt’s effort on the half-turn the only significant return before the break.

In 2005, Norwich director Delia Smith issued her infamous “Let’s be ‘aving you” rallying cry during the interval in a Premiership game Position Team 1 Man Utd 2 Man City 3 Arsenal 4 Tottenham 5 Newcastle 6 Chelsea 7 Everton 8 Liverpool 9 Sunderland 10 Fulham

between these two teams. But the Canaries - who had won seven of their previous eight home league games - are a different proposition under Lambert, and the Scot settled for a double substitution to rouse his side.

The move quickly brought reward when one of the replacements, Surman, steered the ball in after Hart had punched Adam Drury’s cross clear. And the other replacement, Wes Hoolahan, helped improve Norwich’s midfield as they supported the advanced Aaron Wilbraham.

But as Norwich pressed, the visitors almost caught them on the break twice and Yaya Toure’s arrival from the bench proved pivotal as three goals then flew in during the space of seven minutes.

It fell to another substitute Johnson to complete the rout after a sweeping move, and with City to face bottom-ofthe-table Wolves before they travel to Old Trafford on 30 April, their confidence could by then be sky high.

Played GD 33 50 34 58 33 25 33 19 33 8 33 18 33 4 33 4 34 1 33 0

Points 79 77 64 59 59 57 47 46 43 43

Ex-Italy under-21 footballer Piermario Morosini has died following a suspected heart attack on the pitch, football officials say.

The midfielder was playing for Livorno in the

Serie B match at Pescara when he fell to the ground in the 31st minute. A defibrillator was used and Morosini, 25, was taken to hospital. The game was called off with other players in tears.

Last month Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba was technically “dead” for 78 minutes after collapsing in an FA Cup tie.

The 24-year-old England player is now making “strong and steady improvements”.

Morosini had been on loan to Livorno from the Serie A club Udinese.

He collapsed face down and appeared to be in convulsion.

The referee’s assistant drew the referee’s attention and he stopped the game.

The footballer was taken to Pescara’s Santo Spirito hospital by ambulance, where he died.

Tucville Secondary hammer QC in latest Scotia/Pepsi Schools football Queens College on the attack against Tucville at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue Saturday.

Tucville Secondary defeated Queens College 8-4 in the Scotia Bank/Pepsi Schools football tournament played at the Ministry of Education Sports Complex ground on Carifesta Avenue Saturday.

Colin Waterman opened the account for Tucville in the 7th minute and went on to score two more goals in the match in the 47 th and 50 th minute of play.

Ryan Blackman also netted a hat-trick in the 37th, 44th and

57 th minute, while Werley Bishop and Sean Santos scored the other two goals for the victorious Tucville side in the 18 th and 66 th minutes respectively.

Aftab Crandon hit home three goals for Queen’s College in the 29th, 38th and 48th minutes, while Shamar Britton scored the other goal.

Twenty two goals were scored on Friday last when East Ruimveldt swamped Central High 13-1 and Charlestown brushed aside

St. George’s 5-3.

Tournament Coordinator Lawrence “Sparrow” Griffith said play will resume on April 25th due to the unavailability of the goalposts being used at the venue.

Twelve schools are taking part in the second annual tournament sponsored by Scotia Bank and Pepsi in association with the Guyana Sports Development Foundation of the United States and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

Jamaica clinch 8 medals at Carifta Swimming Champs ANGARA Sinclair secured Jamaica’s first individual gold in fine style on Thursday’s opening day of the XXVII Carifta Swimming Championships at the Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre in Nassau, Bahamas.

Sinclair, competing in the Girls 11-12 50m backstroke, set a new Carifta meet record of 32.26 seconds to erase Trinidad & Tobago’s Tyla Martin two-year-old mark of 32.27 seconds.

Annastazia Chin made it

a Jamaican one-two when she copped silver clocking 33.59 seconds, ahead of Bermudan Shannon Hassell, 34.08.

Sinclair and Chin returned to hand Jamaica their second gold when, with Tiara Myrie and Annabella Lyn, took the Girls 11-12 400m freestyle relay clocking 4:20.64. Aruba (4:22.76) and Barbados (4:23.77) secured the other medals.

Meanwhile, Breanna Roman reaped silver in the Girls 15-17 200m breaststroke posting 2:44.41, after

Guyanese Jessica Stephenson who triumphed in 2:42.20.

Martinique’s Solene Foy was third timing 2:47.75, with Jamaica’s Danielle Boothe seventh in 2:52.35.

Timothy Wynter waged silver in the Boys 15-17 50m backstroke in the first of many battles with Trindad & Tobago’s Dylan Carter, who won in a record-equalling 26.70 seconds. Wynter registered 26.99 seconds, just touching ahead of Bahamian T’Auren Moss, 26.70.

In the Girls 15-17 50m backstroke, Kendese Nangle snatched silver swimming 30.85 seconds. Trinidad & Tobago’s Kimberlee John Williams won in 30.05 seconds, with Rria Deveaux of Bahamas taking bronze in 30.98 seconds.

Nangle, however, was fifth in the Girls 15-17 100m butterfly in a time of 1:07.14, as Barbadian Zabrina Holder won in 1:03.93.

Gabrielle Hopkins held on for another silver for Jamaica

when she swam 2:54.90 in the Girls 13-14 200m breaststroke.

Martinique’s Marianne Amory won in 2:51.54, with Barbados Kimberley Willoughby third in 2:56.24.

Leanne McMaster finished sixth in the race timing 3:02.03.

Jamaica earned their second relay medal when Brittany Kenny, Roman, Boothe, and Nangle swam 4:06.71 for bronze in the Girls 15-17 400m freestyle relay. Aruba (4:01.45) and Guadeloupe (4:03.13) clinched the top two medals.

Page 60

Kaieteur News

Sunday April 15, 2012

Over 80 horses entered for RSTC/ Lions Lakers hold off Club Horserace fund raising showdown Nuggets, clinch playoff berth

By Samuel Whyte Over 80 of the country’s top horses have taken entry for the Rising Sun Turf Club in collaboration with the Lions Cub of Durban Park, Central Demerara and the Bartica Lions Club fund raising horserace meet at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park, West Coast Berbice today.

The event, which was previously postponed due to inclement weather, heralds the start of the RSTC horserace season and has eight races listed on the day’s card with over $5M in prizes up for grabs.

This race meet is expected to be special for many reasons, but more so because since the 2012 racing season has begun, no animal has been extremely dominant. There is hardly a repeat winner in most of the events and this event at a different venue is expected to provide some answers and with none of the events being more than 1400M the showdowns are expected to be classic.

Banks DIH Limited continues set the pace as it once again takes charge of the Feature B and lower event with an injection of close to $2M. The winner of the 1400M showdown is set to race away with $1M and the Banks DIH Trophy.

The line up reads Damascus Dream, Donut Prince, Who is on the Case, Who so ever, Got to Go, Marathon Man, Fresh

Zaleena Habibulla Lawrie of The RSTC and executives of the Lions will be in charge of Proceedings.

Again, Dark and Lovely, Fairy Landing, the Girl them Sugar and Mission King will all be on a mission and hoping for some luck to land safely and take the king size prizes on offer.

The three year Guyana and West Indies Bred event compliments of The Lions family also over 1400M and will see the battle continues as to which is the top runner in the category as Storm In Tea Cup, Settle in Seattle, Serenity, Windy War, Rock Sonia, Happy Choice, Times have changed, It feels like gold, Rosetta and R.J Express will be looking to advance their claim and take the $400,000 and trophy.

The Jumbo Jet Auto Sales

and Lions Club sponsored E and lower race will see horses such as Swing Easy, Technology, the Bailiff, Bridal Stone Corner, Appealing Harvest, Night Crescendo, Damascus Dream, Prado’s Gold, Sabrina’s Joy, Majestic and Top of the Line. The top notch line up will be competing over 1400M for the $400,000 money and trophy.

The three year old Guyana bred 1400M race with a winner’s money of $300,000 is with the compliments of Hablaw’s Meat Centre and Jumbo Jet and among those entered are Watch My Shadow, I want Revenge, Third World Baby Flyer and Golden Reprise.

A top class field has been entered for the G Class 1400M race with the winner taking away the $260,000 first prize and trophy compliments of the Lions family. Stormy Lass, Prado Gold, Gabriel’s Gold, Northern Dancer, Bridal Stone Corner, Miracle Run, Sabrina’s Joy, Bridal Stone Corner and Miss Regina are among them.

The Gump will be looking for another win but will be watched by the likes of Watch my Shadow, Dream Girl, Royal Salute, Savion, The Gap, Prospectors Pride, Quincy and Pixie Fire in the H and lower 1400M event for the $200,000 prize and trophy compliments of the Lions Clubs.

The race for ‘I’ and lower horses again compliments of the Lions Clubs with a winning tag of $180,000 over

1100M will see Mona Lisa, Pixie Fire, Royal Time, Kevin, Know Body Knows, Try again, Cat Thief and Romeo among others.

Digicel sponsors the division 1, 2, 3 Race over 1100M and among those expected to swipe at the $100,000 first prize are Lil Axe, Mr Kool, Who So Sharp, She is Royal and Royal Princess.

The Trophy Stall, Bourda Market along with the organizers will be presenting incentives for the top individual performers. A scintillating and action pack day of racing is anticipated.

The top individual performers will be presented with accolades compliments of Trophy Stall Bourda market and the organisers.

The track is in perfect condition and all systems are in place for an exhilarating day of racing. Lots of food and drink will be available and Medical facilities will be on hand.

The Race will be held under the rules of the Rising Sun Turf Club. Race time is 12:00 hrs.

For further information persons can still contact Fazal Habibulla at Chester Fry at Bush Lot West Coast Berbice on Telephone No 232-0232 or 6577010, or Inshanally Habibulla on tel No 623-4495, and 623-5453 or 232-3295, Dennis On 609-9143 or Donald or Zaleena Lawrie on telephone no 225-4530or 2254565

Carroll’s header sends Liverpool into FA Cup final WEMBLEY, England (AP) Liverpool striker Andy Carroll headed the winner in the 87th minute to clinch a 2-1 comeback victory over Everton at Wembley on Saturday and secure a place in the FA Cup final.

For the first time since arriving 15 months ago for $56 million, the striker has scored in consecutive games. ‘’It’s the best feeling ever,’’ Carroll said. ‘’I’ve had some criticism but I’ve just kept on going. I get the winner here and it’s a great feeling. I believe in myself every day.’’

But the Wembley winner was only Carroll’s 10th goal in 51 Liverpool appearances, dismal form that has been a key factor in his side Premier League struggles.

Carlos Tevez scored a hat trick in the Premier League as Manchester City thrashed Norwich 6-1 to keep the heat on Manchester United in the title race. But with the leaders playing until Sunday, the

Liverpool's English striker Andy Carroll (R) scores their second goal of the FA Cup semi-final football match between Everton and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium spotlight Saturday was on the FA Cup and whether Liverpool would be affected by the sudden firing of director of soccer Damien

Comolli two days before semifinal.

Comolli paid the price for a wretched league campaign despite presiding over the

spending of more than $180 million on players in a little more than a year.

The most expensive (Continued on page 58)

Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes (9) drives away Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee LOSANGELES (AP) Coach Mike Brown wasn’t on the Los Angeles Lakers’ bench in a suit and tie. Kobe Bryant was.

Although that’s an unlikely scenario for success, the Lakers still took an enormous step toward the postseason thanks to Matt Barnes’ outside shooting and Andrew Bynum’s inside persistence.

Bynum had 30 points and eight rebounds, Barnes added a season-high 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Lakers clinched a playoff berth with a 103-97 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

Pau Gasol had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacific Division-leading Lakers (38-22), who have won three of four without Bryant while the NBA scoring leader rests his bruised shin. Los Angeles also played without Brown, who left Staples Center shortly before tipoff for undisclosed personal reasons.

With Bryant shouting instructions and counsel as a virtual assistant coach on the bench, the Lakers gave away another early lead and committed 23 turnovers, yet still took three of four from Denver to win the clubs’ season series for the first time in three years. With six games left, Los Angeles is 1 1/2 games ahead of the Clippers for the division lead and the No. 3 playoff seed.

Barnes scored six consecutive points after Denver trimmed LosAngeles’lead to one point, hitting a 3-pointer and adding a clutch jumper with 1:29 to play. After Bynum grabbed 30 rebounds against San Antonio earlier in the week, he faced double- and triple-

teams from the moment he touched the ball on most possessions. The All-Star center persevered for a 13point third quarter in a mature effort from a mercurial player.

Andre Miller scored 20 points and Al Harrington added 18 for the Nuggets, who had won five of seven.

Arron Afflalo also had 18 for Denver (32-27), which is even with Houston for the seventh playoff spot, one game ahead of ninth-place Phoenix with seven to play.

Los Angeles led for all but the opening minutes, going up 87-75 with 9:25 left. Denver trimmed the lead to one point with a 15-4 run capped by Harrington’s 3-pointer with 3:38 left, but Barnes hit a clutch 3-pointer and added a free throw and a jumper before throwing a phenomenal halfcourt alley-oop to Bynum in the final minute.

Denver coach George Karl disagreed with several foul calls in the fourth quarter, but praised the Nuggets’ effort.

Bryant is no longer wearing a protective boot. The fifthleading scorer in NBA history is walking without pain, but must run and jump without pain before he’ll return.

Bryant has built a career on playing through any amount of pain, but with the Lakers comfortably in the playoff picture, he apparently feels he can take a brief rest from the compacted regular season. Brown wouldn’t speculate on how long Bryant will sit, saying they’ll re-evaluate his injury before Sunday’s game against the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 61

We want to compete with the Jamaicans Foster has eyes set - Kumar says, asks AAG to maximise use of synthetic track on CARIFTA gold

Director of Sport, Neil Kumar has asked the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) to produce a plan for the use of the Synthetic Track and Field Facility that is currently under construction at Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara during a site visit yesterday.

The facility, which is behind schedule for completion, is expected to be completed next year and will be the first of its kind in Guyana. It is expected to include a warm-up facility with a football field in the centre. The track is expected to be internationally accredited.

“I would like (Colin) Boyce and the AAG to produce a short, medium and long term plan for the track because I want Guyana to have the feeling that the Jamaicans have,” Kumar said during his visit that included AAG President, Colin Boyce.

Kumar said that the track should be completed this year, but the entire stadium will be done next year.

He urged the AAG to make full use of the facility, stating that it would be unnecessary for Government to build such a facility and the AAG does not maximise its use. “We are treating this project delicately and my only

By Edison Jefford

TAKING SHAPE! The Synthetic Track and Field Facility that is currently under construction at Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara taking shape. fear right now would be if the AAG does not utilise the track properly,” Kumar said.

However, Boyce was quick to indicate that the AAG will make full use of the track with intentions to bid for international competitions.

“Once we have the track completed, we will have good competition and hopefully, in the not too distant future, let’s say at the end of 2013 we can start making bids for international competitions from the IAAF to come to Guyana rather than to have our athletes travelling all the time,” Boyce mentioned.

The unpredictable weather pattern has affected the completion of Phase One of the facility that included

the laying of the foundation for the track among other works. However, Boyce pointed out that he was impressed with how far the construction had progressed.

“I was here sometime in October last year, and from our cordial discussions what came out was that there were some hiccups that would have caused a set back; now that I am here again, I am convinced that the track is indeed moving apace,” Boyce believed.

The AAG President was quick to point out the need for another synthetic facility at a centralised location in Georgetown where access will be easy for athletes. He said that the goal has got to be to have one of those

facilities at several locations around the country.

“What I would also like to say is that while it is nice to have our national stadium here where we will be holding events, it is absolutely necessary that we have another track maybe somewhere in Georgetown like the National park because we will need a track of the similar surface so that the athletes can train meaningfully,” he indicated.

Boyce stated that the toand-fro for athletes on a daily basis to Leonora could become a logistics problem.

However, he thanked Government for the first of such an initiative while asking that a consideration be made for such a facility at a centralised location.

Guyoil/Castrol Berbice Coaching Prog. starts tomorrow The historic Guyoil/ Castrol Coaching Programme organized by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) that will target all young players in the Ancient County is set to commence tomorrow in the West Coast of Berbice with sessions at the D’Edward and Bush Lot Cricket Grounds.

The Coaching Programme is being organised by the Special Events Committee of the BCB and forms part of the Board’s ongoing efforts to unearth and develop new talent at the junior level.

Chairman of the Special Events Committee Hilbert Foster is directly responsible for the programme which is sponsored by Guyoil/Castrol to the tune of $318,000.

Four Coaches, Foster stated would facilitate the programme; Michael HylesFranco, Julian Moore, Floyd Benjamin and Winston Smith.

The first segment of the programme will involve visits to sixteen (16) venues across Berbice and would be followed by five elite squads and being trained for two days each. The final segment would see the training of 30 coaches by senior coaches Michael Hyles-Franco and

Albert Smith.

At the end of the Coaches training Programme, they would be accredited by the Berbice Cricket Board to Coach their local club teams after receiving their Certificates.

Foster is encouraging all clubs in Berbice to take advantage of the sessions. Following is the list where sessions will take place: 1. Bush Lot Community Centre and D’ Edward Cricket Ground –April 16 - 17 from 15:00 to 18:00 hrs.

2. Berbice High School and Cumberland Cricket Ground – April 19 - 20 from 15:00 to 18:00 hrs.

3. Warren Cricket Ground and Fyrish Cricket Ground –April 23 - 24 from15:00 to 18:00 hrs.

4. Albion Community Centre Ground and Rose Hall Town Area “H” Ground – April 25 - 26 from15:00 18:00 hrs.

5. Port Mourant and Kennard’s Memorial Cricket Ground – May 2 - 3 from 15:00 to 18:00 hrs.

6. Mibicuri Cricket Ground -Black Bush Polder – May 5 6 from 09:00 to 13:00 hrs.

7. No. 74 Ground and Skeldon Cricket Ground – May 9 – 10 from15:00 to 18:00 hrs.

8. Rose Hall Town Area

Anil Beharry presents water coolers to Coach Michael Hyles Franco for the Coaching Programme “H” Ground and Blairmont Community Centre Ground for Female cricketers May 14 – 15 from15:00 to 18:00 hrs.

9. Mahaicony Multi Purpose Community Centre - May 17 – 18 from15:00 to 18:00 hrs.

10. Edinburgh Community Centre Ground – May 17 – 18 15:00 to 18:00 hrs.

PHRASE TWO 1. Under-13 and Under-15 Elite squad - Albion Community Centre - May 19 – 20 from 09:00 to 13:00 hrs.

2. Elite Under-17 and Under-19 teams - Area “H” Ground May 26 – 27 from 09:00 to 13:00 hrs.

3. Elite Female Squad - Port Mourant Ground on May 27 09:00 to 15:00 hrs.

PHRASE THREE 1. Training of Coaches at Albion community Centre June 1, 2 and 3 from 09:00 to 15:00 hrs daily.

Food for the Poor (Guy) Inc has also contributed water coolers for the programme.

She was not akin to athletics, but after local scouts spotted her at a regular schools’ competition, channelling her in the right direction just about a year and a half ago, Andrea Foster has become one of the best junior female athletes in Guyana at the moment.

It is indeed a fact that one has to be extremely talented to win a CARIFTA Games medal with so little of history on their side; Foster is more than an exception; she is an athletic phenom that has a sharp focus on what she wants to achieve from track and field.

Foster was Guyana’s only medallist at the justconcluded CARFITA Games in Bermuda and that bronze medal was not satisfying enough for the ambitious athlete, who told Kaieteur Sport in an exclusive interview that she will win a gold medal the next time around.

“For a year and a half competing, I think I did pretty well, but my goal is to get a gold medal at the next CARIFTA Games,” the 15year-old Foster said; she believes that if she had been used to the cold and windy conditions in Bermuda, she would have won gold.

The Bladen Hall Multilateral High School student was genetically inclined to athletics given that her mother is none other than the effervescent Alisha Fortune, who has dominated sprinting since the dawn of the New Millennium until an injury ruled her out last year.

Coaches Sham Johnny and Leslie Black introduced Foster to athletics in 2010 after seeing her at an InterZone competition on the East Coast of Demerara. Running Brave Athletics Club swiftly snapped up the talent and she has been in that fold since then.

“I didn’t really like running, but after they encouraged me to join a club, and I saw my standards improving, I fell in love with running,” Foster indicated.

Maybe her sudden ascension depended on getting her mind in sync with an obvious physical ability.

It was indeed a process, but as destiny would have it, that process did not take forever. In 2010 at the National Schools’ Championships, Foster went back to her Beterverwagting home without an award; yes, she did not win a medal at the 2010 Schools’ Championships.

However, last year would

Andrea Foster prove to be a different year with different results; Foster got into stride and produced impressive performances that forced the Athletics Association of Guyana to select her for national debut at the Inter-Guiana Games in Suriname. Her silver and gold medals at those Games in the 800m and 1500m helped Guyana win the athletics title.

She returned to Guyana as one of the leading junior distance athletes, and proved that accurate at the 2011 Schools Championships where she won two silver medals in the 800m and 1500m. The only athlete standing in her way then was the endowed Melissa Byass.

But since then Foster has gone on to topple leading athletes like double CARIFTA gold medallist Jevina Straker in her ascendancy. She says that her philosophy is simple: she trains hard and gets easy results. Her coaches say that she even cries and get her work done.

“The hard training that my coaches put me through I didn’t like it, but then I put the effort in and saw that my achievements were increasing, so I stuck with it and here I am today. I will continue to work hard because I want to be the best I can,” Foster admitted.

She told this newspaper that she is into science and her grades are good in school.

Foster believes that if she maintains good grades and continue performing well locally and internationally, then a scholarship may be on the horizon, which is her ultimate goal.

“I want an athletic scholarship because right now I am balancing athletics and academics and I’m a role model. I want all the things my mother did not get in her career, so I am very focused,” she noted, adding that she is very keen on fulfilling her athletic dreams.

Page 62

Kaieteur News

Shiv makes move up rankings

Shivnarine Chanderpaul Port-of-Spain, Trinidad — Windies veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul has moved up to fifth on the batting list of the International Cricket Council Test player lists after his unbeaten 103 in the first innings in Barbados.

Chanderpaul, who won the prestigious ICC Player-of-the-Year award back in 2008, made his 25th Test century and jumped three places in the rankings. The 37-year-old was removed for just 12 in the second innings but Australia coach Mickey Arthur fully expects Chanderpaul to provide more headaches for his team in the second Digicel Test in Trinidad “You’ve never got a handle on a player like Chanderpaul,” Arthur said. “The last series we had them when I was coach of South Africa I think he got a hundred every Test, and he’s kicked off here with a hundred. So I’ve seen enough of Chanderpaul to know he

is world class.”

Left-hander Darren Bravo, who made a half century in the first innings retained his position at Number 21, as the second highest ranked West Indian batsman. West Indies captain Darren Sammy took three wickets in the match to move from Number 25 to Number 22. He reached the highest position of his Test career and is now the highest ranked West Indies Test bowler.

Australia captain Michael Clarke has lost his status as the world’s top-ranked Test batsman despite his team’s first Test win over the West Indies this week.

Clarke, who achieved the number one ranking when the International Cricket Council updated their world Test player lists at the end of March, has fallen two spots to third behind South Africa’s AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis in the wake of the three-wicket win in Barbados.

The Australia captain managed 73 and six in his two innings at Kensington Oval but the scores weren’t enough to hold on to top spot.

The news was better for man of the match Ryan Harris and impressive fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus who have both achieved careerhigh rankings on the bowling list after their first Test efforts.

Harris made an unbeaten 68 in the first innings to turn the match around as well as five wickets while Hilfenhaus’s devastating spell before tea on day four, where he claimed three top order wickets in six balls, proved pivotal in putting Australia on top.

Carter set for maiden ‘ton’ as Barbados eye lead v Jamaica

Sunday April 15, 2012

Australia look to spin twins in second Test Port of Spain (AFP) - Australia may employ two specialist spinners for the second Test against the West Indies, which starts today at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Nathan Lyon, who played in the three-wicket victory in Barbados in the first Test, could be partnered by left-arm spinner Michael Beer as the Australians look to wrap up the three-match series.

“Over the last two seasons it’s been relatively lowscoring but also very, very spin-friendly. The temptation to play two spinners could be there,” said Australia coach Mickey Arthur.

“You never write that off until you have a look at the conditions. I guess we’ve just got to look at conditions, then decide how best we’re going to get 20 wickets.”

Lyon took just one wicket in the three-wicket win over West Indies in Barbados, while Beer has only played one Test.

That was against England in Sydney in January 2011, where his match figures were an embarrassing one for 112.

Meanwhile, Arthur praised Michael Clarke after

the skipper declared the team’s first innings at 43 runs behind the West Indies before pushing for victory in the Bridgetown gloom on Wednesday. “I thought it was a great idea and I sort of just backed him on it,” said the coach.

“Michael needs to take all the plaudits for that because it was a brave decision that worked out for us.

Tactically he is very good.

He’s very positive, a very aggressive captain and that’s something I really enjoy and something I really like.”

The last time that Australia played at Queen’s Park Oval nine years ago, Ricky Ponting was man of the match. He scored 206, his highest Test score at the time, as Australia scored a massive 4-576.

It was a high-scoring match that Australia went on to win by 118 runs. Of the current squad, Ponting is the only one to have played Test cricket at the ground.

Preparations were hindered on Friday when afternoon rain meant Australia had to cancel their training session, although the West

Indies managed to complete theirs before the rain arrived.

The player that the West Indies would surely have loved to have selected is Sunil Narine. The Queen’s Park Oval is his home ground and the off-break variations that allowed him to take 34 firstclass wickets at an average of just 11.88 brought him to the attention of the selectors.

Unfortunately for the hosts, he won a lucrative Indian Premier League contract and, like Marlon Samuels, is unavailable.

Instead, they have called up off-spinner Shane Shillingford, who last played Test cricket in November 2010 before his bowling action was deemed illegal.

His 14 Test wickets have cost 56.78 runs apiece but in his only appearance in Portof-Spain he took 4-27 against South Africa.

The weather could play a part as it did in Barbados, with rain likely at some point over the five days, but it is not likely to dampen the spirits of the locals as they play their steel drums in support of a team that they are starting to believe in once again.

Victory Valley Royals School Basketball Championships...

LTI remains unbeaten; MHS register first win Jonathan Carter Kingston, Jamaica – (www.bcacricket.org) – Talented middle order batsman Jonathan Carter was within four runs of a maiden first-class century as Barbados put themselves in a strong position to take crucial first innings lead over title holders Jamaica on a rainhit second day of the 2012 West Indies four-day championship final at Sabina Park here yesterday.

Left-hander Carter was unbeaten on 96 as Barbados reached 197 for three off 58.1 overs in reply to Jamaica’s first innings total of 273 all out off 93.1 overs when rain ended play 18 minutes after tea.

At the crease with Carter was Dwayne Smith on 16.

The 24-year-old Carter, playing his 23rd first-class match, shared in a vital third wicket partnership of 144 with

Rashidi Boucher opener Rashidi Boucher, who made 52 in his first match of the season.

The pair came together after left-hander Omar Phillips was leg before wicket by fast bowler Andrew Richardson for nought off the very first ball of the innings and Kyle Hope was caught at mid-off

by David Bernard off Richardson for 13 to make it 30 for two.

Rain also stopped play 35 minutes after lunch with the score 104 for two. There was a resumption 45 minutes later and tea was belatedly taken at 3.30 p.m.

Boucher was caught by wicket-keeper Horace Miller off left-arm spinner Nikita Miller after hitting seven fours in his 133-ball innings.

Carter has so far faced 172 balls and struck ten fours.

Carter’s highest first-class

score is 99 against Combined Campuses & Colleges at the 3Ws Oval, Cave Hill in Barbados last year when he was bowled by his cousin Carlos Brathwaite, who is now his Barbados team-mate and also playing in the final.

Jamaica Bowling: Richardson 10.1-0-45-2, Cotterell 9-1-45-0, N. Miller 22-7-39-1, Brown 10-1-28-0, Bernard 4-0-18-0, Lambert 30-14-0.

Earlier, Jamaica, starting the day on 266 for eight, were bowled out 16 minutes after the start of play.

Sheldon Cotterell, who resumed on 15, was bowled by fast bowler Tino Best without addition and Odean Brown was caught by Brathwaite off pacer Javon Searles for one.

Nikita Miller was (Continued on page 58)

The Linden Technical Institute (LTI) defeated Wisburg Secondary 51 – 15 to keep their unbeaten record intact while Mackenzie High School outclassed New Silvercity Secondary 53 – 22 to secure their first win, when the 2012 Victory Valley Royals School’s Basketball Championships continued on Friday last.

Playing at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court, Wisburg were no match for LTI who though playing without their star, Linden Fraser, were still able to comfortably walk away with the win.

However, their display in the game was undesirable and it was reflected in the scores.

At half time, LTI led their SSCHOOLS L.T.I C.W.S.S L.F.S M.H.S N.S.S.S WISBURG

opponents by 12 points but the scoreboard only read 17 – 5.

Fraser is the team’s leading scorer and tournament’s leading defensive player and the junior national power forward presence was certainly missed with LTI shooting terribly from the floor.

Akeem Primo led all scorers with 15 points, while Stanley McIntosh and Joel Webster each netted 11 points.

For Wisburg Secondary, both Gavin Gasper and Akeem Rivers shot in six points to be their side’s top scorers.

Meanwhile, in the second game of the planned double header, Parish Cadogan continues to impress as the National High Jump record

GAMES PLAYED WIN LOSS POINTS 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0

Mackenzie High School Guard Parish Cadogan holder poured in a game high 19 points to lead MHS to an impressive win in their first match of the tournament.

Isaiah Alphonso was MHS’ next prime scorer with 14 points as they handed New Silvercity their second loss in as many matches.

Marlon Alexander and Raydon Wilson scored eight points apiece for New Silvercity who will now play Linden Foundation Secondary in the opening game tomorrow at 14 hours 30.

In Game two MHS will hunt their second win of the tournament when they battle Wisburg Secondary.

Sunday April 15, 2012

Kaieteur News

Page 63

t r o Sp

Benjie KO’ed

GT&T 10/10 nationwide softball cricket Super-16-round...

Bayrock Blazers, Mahaica Raiders, Trophy Stall Angels & 4R Lioness into quarter finals

Capoey Rising Stars batter Romey Persaud is about to be caught by successful bowler Tanisha Isahack who ended with 4-4.

F

K

aieteur News Sports Journalist and former boxer also TV host Michael Benjamin tied the knot with his long time sweetheart Colette yesterday at the First Assemblies of God Church,

Durban Street.

The entire Kaieteur News family would like to wish Michael and Colette many years of marital bliss and God’s richest blessing and direction in their lives in the future. Congrats.

our teams have made it into the quarterfinals of the Third GT&T 10/10 Nationwide Softball Cricket Tournament following the commencement of the Super-16-Round yesterday at the Everest Cricket Ground, Camp Road, in the city.

On a beautiful day, where good weather prevailed, spectators were treated to some quality and exciting matches as all the teams tried their best to upstage each other but only the fittest survived and made it into the quarterfinals.

Bayrock Blazers representing the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden upstaged Farm X1 of East Bank Demerara in the feature match of the day which turned out to be the most exciting encounter, winning by six wickets.

Mahaica Raiders turned back the challenge of Rising Stars Super Sixers by five wickets in the other male clash while on the

distaff side; there were easy wins for Trophy Stall Angels who blasted their way past Capoey Rising stars by 96 runs while 4R Lioness tamed Capoey Regal Warriors by 37 runs.

With the crowd primed and anticipating a thrilling finale to the first day of the Super-16Round, a match-up between Farm X1 and Bayrock Blazers, they were not disappointed as the two teams went about the quest for victory in businesslike fashion.

Farm took to the crease first and rattled their way to 111-3 on the heels of exciting batting from top scorer Avenash Sookdeo who smashed 45 (5x6 1x4), Shoaib Mohamed 25* (3x6) and Patrick Khan 20*.

Bayrock did not help their cause as their bowlers served up some juicy deliveries which were treated with disdain by the Farm (Continued on page 56)

Australia look to spin twins in second Test

Pg. 62

Alpha, Milerock to commence CFU Pg. 58 Carter set for maiden ‘ton’ as Pg. 62 Club Championship action this week Barbados eye lead v Jamaica

Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210