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Kaieteur News
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
Easter and the Guyanese tradition Christians the world over will today celebrate the triumph of one man over death. The story has it that this man was born of lowly parentage, grew up simply but demonstrated intelligence beyond his years and preached the gospel. He had many followers during his thirty-three years on earth and he set the tone for righteous living. But despite all this the people killed him. He never proclaimed to be the Son of God; the people who listened to him so proclaimed. All those who followed him agreed that he had come to save mankind. His name was Jesus and he was designated the Christ, a title that he got shortly before he died. Research stated “Jesus took three of his disciples to a high mountain where they could pray alone. According to the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ face began shining like the sun and his entire body glowed with a white light. Then, the prophets Elijah and Moses appeared, and Jesus talked to them. “A bright cloud emerged around them, and a voice said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This event, known as the Transfiguration, is a pivotal moment in Christian theology. It supports the identity of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The Scriptures proclaimed that Jesus died on the Cross, was buried in a sephulcre—a hollowed grotto in the side of a mountain—only to rise on the third day which Christians say makes this day the anniversary of his resurrection. All this happened just over 2,000 years ago but a lot has changed since then. For one, there are so many branches and teachings of the religion that one is tempted to be confused. The first big split came when an English king, King James, wanted to divorce his wife for another. The church did not promote divorces so King James made a serious modification to the religion. The old church did not permit priests to marry but King James then made this possible. That old church and its offshoot, the protestant church (the Anglican church as distinct from the Roman Catholic church) do recognize this festival which is the most celebrated in the calendar. In Guyana, we celebrate this day in a most unique way. The Guyanese tradition is to fly kites, objects that people say symbolizes the resurrection. Kites are flown in other countries too, but only in one other country at this time. Wikipedia notes, “In Greece and Cyprus, flying kites is a tradition for Clean Monday, the first day of Lent. In the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, traditional Bermuda kites are made and flown at Easter, to symbolise Christ’s ascent. Bermuda kites hold the world records for altitude and duration.” “In Guyana, kites are flown at Easter, an activity in which all ethnic and religious groups participate. Kites are generally not flown at any other time of year. Kites start appearing in the sky in the weeks leading up to Easter and school children are taken to parks for the activity. It all culminates in a massive airborne celebration on Easter Monday especially in Georgetown, the capital, and other coastal areas. “The history of the practice is not entirely clear but given that Easter is a Christian festival, it is said that kite flying is symbolic of the Risen Lord. The exact origins of the practice of kite flying (exclusively) at Easter are unclear. Two anthropologists speculate that kite flying was introduced by Chinese indentured immigrants to the then colony of British Guiana in the mid-19th century. Its link to Easter is said to be very accidental. The author of an article in the Guyana Chronicle newspaper of May 6, 2007 is more certain: Kite flying originated as a Chinese tradition to mark the beginning of spring. However, because the plantation owners were suspicious of the planter class, the Chinese claimed that it represented the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Chinese came to Guyana from 1853-1879. Whatever the case, the believers have a reason to celebrate and the rest of the country has a reason to reflect on a good man who walked the earth, on a man who caused others to say, “He came unto his own and his own received him not.”
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
The schools Priya Manickchand belong to DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the Stabroek News editorial for Sunday, April 13 captioned, “Vulgarity.” I was moved to pen this commentary out of your description as follows; “The father of political vulgarity in its modern incarnation is undoubtedly, former President Bharrat Jagdeo…Ms. Manickchand clearly belongs to the same school.” What must be added is that the fact that Ms. Mancickchand was a Jagdeo discovery. I have long written on the politics of Manickchand after I saw her performance in Parliament when she was made a Minister by Mr. Jagdeo. It was clear to me that her postures, gesticulations, vocabulary and facial expressions indicated that she was not going to be a debater who would abstain from unbecoming language. I wrote about this. What I also wrote about after conversations with people
with access to the PPP hierarchy was the type of politics she had embraced – the typical hard line approach by the PPP. In fact, one of the children of a very senior PPP leader in 2011 said that Manickchand belongs to the traditional thinking in the PPP that sees the PPP as being destined to lead Guyana. Ms Manickchand, in my opinion, also belongs to the Clement Rohee school that refuses to see that they dish out what they don’t want people to dish out to them. Right in front of me during a recess of the libel trial Mr. Jageo brought against me, Manickchand sought to upbraid Mark Benschop over an unflattering piece on her on Benschop’s web page. I was disgusted and turned away. In July last year, Ms. Manickchand contacted the publisher of Kaieteur News, Mr. Glen Lall over my column, “In the Ministry of Education, an evil injustice goes on,” Friday, July 2013.
The column was based on research I have been doing since 1989 on school placements at the nursery and primary levels. My data is irrefutable. It is fool proof and more waterproof than a submarine – at the prestigious nursery and primary schools, children from outside the “catchment” area get into those schools by large numbers In my research, I showed where in Station Street, Kitty, less than five percent of the children who live there get into Stella Maris when Stella Maris serves that area, it is the catchment school for that part of Kitty. At St. Margaret, the situation is equally obnoxious. The article made no mention of Ms, Manickchand or the Minister of Education. On contacting Mr. Lall, Ms. Manickchand complained about a line in the column which said that over the (Continued on page 7)
Sunday April 20, 2014
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Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox CRIMINALS OF CLOTH Use this circumstance to DEAR EDITOR, I call on our brothers and sisters to speak out against the criminals of cloth. There has been a nasty, cleverly hidden cancer that is eating at the soul of our people, especially the young ones. Embarrassment and fear of embarrassment has caused too many people to shut their mouths against the perpetrators. A number of so-called religious persons, pandits, imams, pastors and missionaries who “interfere” with and rape young children. Many whispered stories of these so-called religious men abound. They use their position to influence their people and screw up their mind and body for the rest of their lives. Even worse, the head “religious” organizations cover and “settle” these matters and thus the criminals continue to rape, torture and steal - body, mind and soul. I wish to plead to the parents of children who have been affected. Do NOT “settle”
these matters. Expose them and let us free society of these cancers that will remain festering and hidden until and unless we all speak out. The moment you accept silent settlement, you become responsible for the rape of others. We have nothing if not a soul and that must be preserved and protected against the criminals who use the garb of religion and the word of God. Shame on you if you have allowed any other child to suffer - just because you chose to be silent and to “settle” such matters. Like some politicians, we must weed them out and keep them out of our lives and our souls. Shame on the organizations who hide these things away and cause other young people to be at risk. Yes people can be and are rehabilitated and we pray for them, but in the meantime. let’s protect our children - they are our only future. Dr. Yog Mahadeo
Government must say how much money was wasted on this protest
DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me a space in your letter column to share some of the recent happenings in the sugar industry for the past seven days here at the Blairmont estate. As the 2014 national budget was presented to the National Assembly one would have thought that the Government would at least give some increase to workers, especially sugar workers and public servants, but they did not. All they did was to tell the Guyanese nation was to expect general elections soon, because all the money was put into projects that have trouble in the past and Guysuco is no exception. While many of the sugar workers were fooled and taken in front of Parliament to protest for Guysuco’s cause, the ministers of the Government, MP Jaffarally and several other persons from PPP echoed the sentiment of don’t let the industry go our family will starve, don’t rob us of bread and butter for our children and lots of other words came to the floor so that Guyana can feel for the workers who are being used by the PPP\C for a bad cause. As I reflected on that protest dated April 9th, 2014 I am wondering, is Guysuco
and the Government serious about the future of the industry? Well, it’s hard to answer because they say something and do something else and many fall for their petty words. Words that have no power and meaning. Guysuco and the Minister of Agriculture should now tell the Guyana people how much money was wasted on that protest. How many workers were paid for the day and they did not work? What was the turnout and amount of cane harvested on that day? How much did the transportation cost and who paid the trucks that took the workers? How much did the water and buns cost and who paid for it? And after all that tell us the Guyanese people what is the actual amount of money Guysuco lost that day alone?. So we will know if the Government and Guysuco is serious about sugar. It must be noted that the leadership of Guysuco and GAWU stay away from the sugar workers protest and it tells me another thing, that workers are being used to garner money for an entity that’s failing and paying its bosses super salaries but yet the sugar industry bosses have no time to protest for the ailing industry. This brings me to a serious
thing that is has been taking place for the past seven days. Workers are home for the past week protesting and striking for better wages that Guysuco is paying on opening and bundles. This strike is on at Blairmont estate since last Saturday, and none of the PPP\C HARD TALKING ministers at the protest are protesting with them. Guysuco has now lost billions because of this strike and no one seems to care. Workers must now ask themselves as to which side is GAWU on? and we all know the answer, because as workers were protesting for more money for Guysuco, the President of GAWU Komal Chand who is a PPP MP was standing in Parliament yard asking, what is the cause for protest? Mr. Chand will recall the persons he was talking with at that time. The PPP will continue to (Continued on page 7)
enrich our national ethos
DEAR EDITOR, The celebration of this greatest Christian holiday of Easter usually affords us Guyanese the opportunity of making merry together, as we indulge in the customary picnicking, kite-flying and other activities in which we forget our differences in a spirit of unity and harmony. We should be truly grateful that our history has gifted us with a culture that embodies the three greatest religions of the world, and use this circumstance to
enrich our national ethos so that we truly fulfil the motto of our country. But, while I would encourage all my fellow Guyanese to practise their preferred religion, as this has the enormous potential of bringing us together as a community, I posit that the Almighty Creator that we worship at our separate services resides in each of us, and we can do nothing more effective towards our salvation here and in the hereafter than to connect inwardly with Him each day
of our lives, as we also need to do in the physical, mental and social spheres, and use His infinite power to enhance and maintain our well-being in all aspect of our living. This would ensure that, no matter what the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we are always in a position to help ourselves and our fellowmen towards this salvation which we all seek as the true purpose of our lives. I wish all Guyanese and Happy Holiday! Roy Paul
Disappointed at use of this term DEAR EDITOR, Your paper does a very good job of exposing to the public what some of our countrymen are doing to bring our country down. And because of this I read your paper almost daily. So it was with much disappointment that I read in your article of April 16th: Dem boys seh … Nokta is a fake Amerindian, the use of a derogatory, racial term referring to one minority group in Guyana. I responded with a comment, but I have not seen it appear in your paper yet. I am not sure it ever will, so I decided to write this letter. Before you throw my comments here in the waste basket also, please realize that people look up to you as someone who knows better, especially in the use of language. So, I ask you not
to misuse this power to lead us back to the days when, in ignorance, intolerance or hatred, we referred to others who were different from us as bu—s, ni——s, co——s and in other racially offensive terms. Allow me to say that by the use of these terms in your paper, one can only presume that you look down on these people (my people) solely because of where they were born and who their ancestors were, regardless of what they have achieved or how they behave in Guyanese society (my society). It is easy to assume that the use of this term by you is an attempt to keep these people down as was done in the past, no matter how hard they work or how much they have contributed to our society, especially considering where they started.
Further, you may want to refrain from doing this in the future solely from a selfish position since your paper is read and judged and its contents evaluated by foreigners also. And lazy, intolerant language probably is one of the factors used in this evaluation of your paper and you, personally, as the person who edited the article before printing. So, I hope your publish this letter in your paper, even if you do not agree with my sentiments. It may help you by giving some of your readers the impression that you are balanced in your reporting, even when others disagree with you. Help and encourage us to move forward racially. David Correia President, Guyana Aid Region One, Inc.
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Shame on this Govt. for using us Youth employment must be given priority Amerindians to do their dirty deeds! DEAR EDITOR, The importance of youth employment is underscored by the fact that all the issues affecting youth rest fundamentally on their lack of assets or material means. Their housing status rests on it; their health status depends on it; the concept they have of themselves, and the state of level of their independence, indeed their very ability to exercise their rights as a human being depends on their access to assets, as described above. Therefore youth employment must be given priority. Actions to create youth employment must be ensure that: a) Employment opportunities for youth are flexible, especially for those most of risk b) Working conditions are decent for all young people and in accordance with the national and international labour laws and ILO standards. c) Employment policies must ensure that jobs are meaningful, contributing to creation of a more just and sustainable communities,
and to reinforce young people’s self-esteem and self worth. d) An action on youth employment needs to be integrated as a central plot form for achieving poverty reduction. e) Youth employment poverty reduction strategies should especially focus on young women, indigenous populations and the rural youth as those most marginalised within the current economic system. f) Governments must address the needs of young people to achieve gender equity and ethnic balance for a better empowerment of youth. Finally, Opportunities must be created and sustained so that youth can participate in the fair trade movement, and further develop open trading and financial systems that are rule based, predictable and non-discriminatory; and partnership between young people, the public and the private sectors. Ivan Bentham Chairman of the Achievers Youth Development Association
The schools Priya Manickchand belong... From page 4 past two years the situation has worsened. She told Mr. Lall that by those words, it meant her as Minister. This is the type of politician Ms. Manickhand is. To think that a Minister can contact a newspaper over such a banal, ordinary opinion is dangerous stuff. And I would like to think that can only happen in Guyana Because Ms. Manickchand is a mother of two young children, I called her about the article. I felt that a mother may feel aggrieved when her children saw pungent criticism of her in the press. And I will never set out to hurt people’s image in front of their children. In our conversation, Ms. Manickchand
promised she will release the figures to me to show that the schools do indeed stick to their catchment areas. She also assured Kaieteur News she would provide the spread sheets. To date she has not. She cannot because my research is accurate I did remind Ms. Mancickchand that contrary to her public statement that the University Council’s vote to dismiss on January 2012 was unanimous was offensively untrue. In fact, the dismissal went through by a majority of one vote. From my analysis, I predict that the worse is yet to come with Ms. Manickchand. In closing I would ask the Minister two questions. Could she answer Christo-
pher Ram who wrote in 2012 in a letter to the Stabroek News which he repeated in his Sunday Stabroek News column (Nov 13, 2011 and repeated again at a TUC symposium on the 2012 budget that under her watch as Minister of Social Services, the number of people earning old age pension cannot be what the Ministry stated. He said it was high when you take into consideration the age structure of Guyana’s population based on the then existing census. Secondly, her house in Pradoville 2 was up for sale. Has it been sold? I could go further and ask at what price but that may be asking too much Frederick Kissoon
Government must say how much... From page 5 use sugar workers because they feel the workers belongs to them and they can do what they want. I call on the Hon. Priya Manickchand, Clement Rohee, Leslie Ramsammy and the other PPP officials that used the workers to come out now and condemn the action of Guysuco and the misrepresentation of Komal Chand and GAWU towards the sugar workers. Sugar workers are now very sad that they joined in a
protest that has no benefit for them and today no one from the PPP seems to care for them. The AFC has continued their fight for the workers and last Saturday night on DTV CH. 8 in Berbice was no exception as a sugar worker spoke out against the exploitation in the industry that workers are being faced with daily. I call on the leaders of the AFC to continue the struggle for the workers in the sugar industry. Don’t allow the recent abuse by the workers
on Mr. Nagamootoo to be of a problem. Many of the workers told me they are sorry because they were misled. The AFC is the only alternative the workers have and they know that they can count on the AFC. I call on the AFC to seriously think about challenging GAWU for the rights to represent the sugar workers. In this way we will see better representation for the brothers and sisters in the industry. Abel Seetaram
DEAR EDITOR, Is that the Leader/Past Presidential Candidate of The United Force at the front of a PPP picket line? Mr. Peter Piawari has definitely come home to roost. Could not stay in hiding for too long! Many of the Amerindians who were brought out to cry about the Amerindian Fund say they have to be paid promptly because they took ‘rain and shine’. Shame on this Government for using those people to do their dirty deeds! Then come elections time, they will use that same money, parcel it off in amounts of 5,000 and pay them to go and vote for the PPP. Is that the sole purpose of the Amerindians in this country? What is so much better about the conditions under which the Amerindians live now? Were they even considered for jobs at the Marriott? They have skills too but the Chinese were allowed to bring in their labour force. And this Government wants to tell the Amerindians that they have
their interests at heart? Why not teach us to fish so we do not have to look out for your hand outs every five years or whenever you need us to protest for gains for a handful of your people. Our young women are taken to do domestic jobs with paltry pay packets. Our young women are taken into the mining fields and used as sex workers. Our young men are taken into the mining fields and worked like donkeys and paid like junkies. Our school aged children have to fetch water for their s c h o o l s ; We are denied mining rights to our very lands - these are sold out to friends of the Government. All of these and more atrocities are meted out to us yet none of the PPP well dressed parliamentarians come out in support of our just causes. A few of our people have been bought and have sold us for ‘thirty pieces of silver’ We are now reduced to mere puppets for the PPP who subtly keep us in abject poverty so that when they
pull the strings, we will chant in their favour. For this, we are reduced to accepting a box of food with a box juice. Pellum Prince
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 20, 2014
Fire leaves young mother, four children homeless
Fire rages through the Nabaclis house Fire struck with vengeance late yesterday afternoon in Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, leaving a young mother and her four children homeless. The blaze started around 16:30 hours when only two of the children were at home in the single flat Second Street, Nabaclis building. Neighbours said that they heard one of the children screaming after running out of the house. When they looked over at the house, they saw smoke billowing from the centre of the house. By the time a bucket brigade went into action, most of the house was already engulfed in flames. Nigel Ward, a neighbour who lives a few houses away, said that he had just arrived home when he saw the fire.
He said that he immediately rushed over and together with other villagers formed a bucket brigade to try to extinguish the blaze. “We try with the bucket brigade and we were controlling the fire but it got out of hand and we couldn’t control it, so we had to surrender,” Ward said. Ward said that by then a fire tender from the Enmore Estate arrived but according to him, they took about an hour to set up their hoses, and even after then they never got down to fighting the fire. It was left for another fire tender which arrived from Mahaica to go into action but by then the house had been consumed by the fire. The children had already been taken to safety, while their mother Tonza Woolford
who was at work in the city was informed. “It was the negligence of the GuySuCo Fire Service and I will send the message out to the government, in the next budget cut. We want cut (GuySuCo) fire service budget for negligence,” an angry Ward told members of the media. After the blaze was extinguished, Woolford arrived and broke into tears upon seeing the destruction. Neighbours quickly took her away from the scene in an effort to console her. But try as they might the reality of being homeless with four young children is not something that can be easily erased. Investigators will revisit the scene with the aim of ascertaining the cause of the fire.
14 more Nigeria schoolgirls escape Islamists Maiduguri (Nigeria) (AFP) - Another 14 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram Islamists in the northeast have escaped, leaving 85 missing yesterday after an attack that has sparked global outrage, an official said. The unprecedented mass abduction of 129 teenage girls from the Chibok area of Borno state has been described as among the most shocking ever by Boko Haram, an extremist group blamed for killing thousands since 2009. “I am glad to say that 14 more students have escaped from their abductors,” Borno’s education commissioner Inua Kubo told journalists. “With this development, we have 44 out of our 129 students.” It was not immediately clear how this latest group managed to flee, although Kubo said 11 had been found after running to a town on the Damboa road which connects Chibok to Borno’s capital Maiduguri. They have since been sent to their family villages, while the three others had returned to their school in Chibok and were being cared for there, he said. “We are hopefully expecting the return of our 85 students as intensive search and rescue efforts continue,” Kubo said. Some of the girls who escaped within a
day of the April 15 attack said the Islamists had taken the hostages to the Sambisa Forest area of Borno state, where Boko Haram is known to have well-fortified camps. The military said it had launched a major search and rescue operation, but some in the region say they have lost confidence in the security forces after the defence ministry issued an erroneous report claiming that most of the girls were safe. That statement, issued late Wednesday, said all but eight of those abducted were free, but defence spokesman Chris Olukolade was forced to withdraw the report on Friday after it turned out to be inaccurate. Boko Haram, whose name loosely translates as “Western education is forbidden”, has repeatedly attacked schools during its five-year uprising, including the mass slaughter of students in their sleep. The attack on the girls’ school came just hours a bomb blast at packed bus station on the outskirts of Abuja killed 75 people, the deadliest attack ever in the capital. President Goodluck Jonathan held an emergency meeting with his national security council on Thursday to review the latest unrest, with another meeting set for next week.
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
Dem boys seh
Good Friday lef de Waterfalls boss man hungry Good Friday come and gone. Was a day when everybody tek a break from wukking. Some people go to church and some just stay home and do nutten. De real Christian didn’t even cook because dem decide that dem had to fast. Some didn’t even bother that dem pickney hungry. De Waterfalls boss man was one. He couldn’t cook fuh save he life and he maid dem tek de day. Dem is not Christian but once is holiday dem deh. Dem does celebrate Hindu holiday, Muslim holiday and Christian holiday. Dem boys seh that if dem had Jewish holiday in Guyana dem maid woulda been celebrating. De Waterfalls boss man can’t cook fuh save he life suh when he wake up he watch de stove and de stove watching he. It was as cold as de fridge. He start fuh quarrel. He call Uncle Adam and ask he if he could explain why people who is not Christian got to tek holiday. Uncle Adam laugh easy because he didn’t want to get de man vex. He get vex wid Brazzy because Brazzy want 10,000 wallaba pole. Then he vex wid Jagdeo because he always vex wid
Jagdeo. De Waterfalls boss man had so much things to get vex about that he still vex. GPL start fuh play wid fairy lights. Dem didn’t have to tek de lights from Uncle Adam pole because he didn’t do dem nutten. If dem had problem dem coulda tek it out on de Waterfalls boss man. But dem frighten he and dem eyes pass Uncle Adam. Dem know that de boss man would never done wid dem once dem start. Even Good Friday he deh planning fuh dem because he belly was biting he. Hungry brace de man. All dem shop close, even KFC. Uncle Adam send over some cross buns and plenty water. De Waterfalls boss man survive because yesterday he was at de office. Now he studying Brazzy and dem wallaba pole. Is a lot of pole but then again, Brazzy is no stranger to pole.
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AFC justifies role in 2014 ‘Budget cuts’
AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan
The Alliance For Change (AFC) says that its action in Parliament when it joined in cutting several Budgetary allocations in the 2014 budget is justifiable further it “re-emphasises that it would not sell or surrender its mandate to protect the public purse.” “The minority PPP/C administration cut its own 2014 Budget by $37.4 billion after the combined Opposition signaled nonapproval of allocations for several vexed projects, including a hydro scheme, specialty hospital, new international airport, a questionable scheme for Amerindian communities and subsidies for state-run news
outlets.” The AFC, by way of the public missive yesterday, said that with its seven seats in the National Assembly, it proposed reconsideration of the controversial allocations in tri-partite talks with government and the opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). “These were scuttled after the first round was hosted by Speaker Raphael Trotman but not before the combined opposition signaled to Government, its support for a further $6B subsidy for the sugar industry in the interest of the welfare of the depressed workers.” According to the party,
subsequent to a positive vote on the sugar bailout, Government shamelessly refused to engage the Opposition in further talks “but hired protesters and staged the protests outside Parliament Buildings, initially by a handful of sugar workers who were promised two days’ pay and later, by Amerindians some 100 of whom were flown from interior locations.” The AFC says that it is re-assured that the minority government has seen the full measure of the combined Opposition, “that it would no longer be allowed to get away with arbitrary spending of the people’s monies, and lack of accountability thereof.” Continued on page 63
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Focus of Gold Board probe limited to last month …one suspect disappears The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) has insisted that its control systems remain one of the most robust in the region even as investigators continued their probe into how staffers managed to breach systems into a fraud scheme. Police are now hunting for a technician of the Bartica branch of GGB who reportedly went on the run after the probe was launched. The case has been generating attention as there were questions over the integrity of GGB system. The Gold Board is the official regulator for the buying of raw gold. Earlier this month, the board announced that it closed one of its main suboffices at Bartica, Region Seven, a community located up the Essequibo River and once considered the gateway to the hinterlands. The closure was said to
be because of allegations that staffers may have tampered with the gold being purchased from miners. Gold Board sources insisted that the probe is centered on a specific timeframe, March, when the bulk of the alleged tampering of the gold took place. It is believed that as much as 50 ounces of gold ($10M) was involved. Police are working on the theory that staffers colluded in switching purchased gold with silver and were doing so almost on a daily basis. It is also not being ruled out that the staffers could have also colluded with miners by buying gold of a lower purity quality and passing it through the Gold Board system as gold of a higher quality attracting better prices. At least six persons were taken into custody, including the female manager and the
Chairman, Dr. Gobind Ganga accountant. Police are also looking at how one of the women was able to acquire and construct a multi-million dollar house, on her salary, in Bartica. One news item sent on the international wires recently even went so far as to suggest that tainted gold is being sold on the international markets. However, GGB’s Chairman, Dr. Gobind Ganga, said over the weekend that the internal controls that exist in the entity made it virtually impossible for the incident to be anything but an isolated one. “We cannot, of course, for security purposes
disclose exactly what these controls are. But to even suggest otherwise would be inferring that the every worker at Gold Board was involved.” Ganga, also the Deputy Governor of Bank of Guyana, announced last week that the Board has engaged the services of an external auditor to perform a full forensic audit of the activities of the GGB at its locations to assist with the current investigation by the police. The official stressed that
all “gold purchased by the Guyana Gold Board are first stored under the strictest security systems where it is impossible to allow for any tampering It must be emphasized that all gold purchased by the GGB are tested to ensure a definitive level of purity before any intermediation is undertaken.” Kaieteur News was told that when gold is being sold at a gold board office, it is tested using a mould and then weighed using a precision
scale in front of the seller. The tests include purity levels determination and checks for weight. It is then placed in safes and rechecked at the end of the day. “Even at the point of selling it overseas to the Royal Canadian Mint, the checks are in place to ensure purity. Any discrepancies on stock that we have will be picked up because of what we have.” The checks continue at the head offices of the GGB with more tests for purity and weight at different points in time. With the manager holding custody to the safe, Kaieteur News was told that investigators are almost convinced that there was staffers’ collusion in the scheme, which went on for a month. The case is worrying authorities as gold, remained for the third consecutive year, the biggest foreign exchange earner and a major spinner and employer of the economy. Last year, gold exports earned a massive US$648.5 million.
Wanted man Ronald Hurdle nabbed during house break-in A wanted man was nabbed red handed during another break and enter escapade. Ronald Hurdle, 26, of no fixed place of abode was wanted for a number of misdemeanors in various part
of Berbice. On April 9, last, his luck ran out when he was nabbed by police as he was in the act of stealing from a dwelling house. According to information the man who was on the run for some time had broken into the dwelling house of Jaipaul Motilall, called “Rafeek”, of Lot 117 No. 2 Village, East Canje, Berbice and stole a bicycle, a DVD Player and a pair of slippers all to the value of $28,000. He appeared on Friday in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on the charge of Break and Enter and Larceny and was remanded to jail. Prosecutor Sergeant Godfrey Playter told the court that Motilall, a farmer, had secured his two-storey house around 08:00 hrs that day and left for work. Around 10:00 hrs he received a called that someone had broken into his house. He
immediately called the police and left for home. Upon arrival at home he noticed a crowd and the police with a strange man in their custody. He subsequently learnt that the man’s name was Hurdle and that he was the person who had broken into his house. The prosecutor stated that the police, upon receiving the information, responded promptly and surprised Hurdle who was still in the house. He was captured in the act with the items mentioned in his possession. He was arrested and charged. The prosecutor informed the court that the man is a known character who has been charged before for offences of a similar nature. He was also wanted by the police in other parts of the county for other offences of similar nature.The Magistrate refused bail and remanded the culprit to jail until May 12.
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Minister explains US pursues project despite Govt. objection – Dr. Luncheon Hope Canal operation Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon has expressed in no uncertain terms that Government will not be reengaging talks with the United States as it pertains to their (US) initiated Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) project under “duress”. The project, which the US through it Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt, has pursued without the consent and blessings of Government has now incited the Head of the Presidential Secretariat to state that Government will not be coerced into engaging with the project when it is already being implemented. Luncheon said, “Non disclosure of their continued implementation of the disapproved project, even in the midst their fervor to have the bilateral engagements conclude to our mutual satisfaction, speaks of pre meditation.” “I am certain that you would share our horror to discover that discussing the project and what to do in the face on the conflict and at the same time one party is busy implementing in its entirety activities under the project,” said Dr Luncheon. According to Dr Luncheon the posture taken by the US Ambassador and by extension the US Government is not a healthy one, more so within the context of the bilateral relationship between the Government of Guyana and the Government of the United States, “one can indeed question exactly what is the value of the American ambassador, the American administration, what is the value they put on maintaining and even promoting a sound bilateral engagement and relationship.” He added that the implementation of activities by the American side in the face of Government’s disproval depending on the severity will have a “decisive impact on our bilateral relations.” The HPS articulated that Government has been very clear about its position on the matter. He said that it seems that they have not been heard or probably misunderstood. “Therefore in my own thinking the effort has to be made to characterize the government’s position to the greatest degree of finality, this is the government’s position and that is what I will be undertaking on my return to office and in my
US Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt anticipated engagements with the US authority,” said Luncheon. The US LEAD project outline encapsulates among other things, that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is developing a programme to strengthen democratic institutions in Guyana. Through this programme, USAID is seeking to strengthen the democratic functioning and characteristics of political parties and the National Assembly through the provision of technical assistance. The objectives outlined are to enhance the technical capacity and functionality of the legislature through the regular use of consultative practices and mechanisms for legislative drafting, analysis, review, and passage. The programme should further reinforce democratic governance in Guyana by broadening political participation through more representative and competitive multi-party engagements. This programme will include a particular focus on women and youth. Dr. Luncheon had described some of the objections made by Cabinet as it relates to the project. He said previously that the four components of the project were analyzed by Cabinet and one contained major activities that captured a relationship between USAID and individual political parties in Guyana. This, he said, was a source of concern, given that Guyana does not have a public policy by Government for the support for political parties. He said that there is nothing like that in the law nor in practice and the Americans through the project “invited a profoundly sensitive issue.” Dr. Luncheon had said that this is something that has not been dealt with by any post-independent Guyana
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon Government and further “for us represented a usurpation of our authority.” He said that this was drawn to the attention of USAID which was asked to make the overtures and activities to be a relationship between institutions such as Parliament or the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and not parties. This US LEAD project has been an ongoing issue between the US ambassador and Government and one for which the combined opposition (A Partnership for National Unity APNU and Alliance For Change AFC) have registered support. According to Luncheon, “We reiterate our commitment made when this controversy surfaced, commitment to re engage bilaterally on the project, commitment that was not open ended we did say, we did emphasize that we would not be reengaging under duress… “We are not prepared to discuss a project and its components at the very same time that the project and it components are being implemented.”
There are several aspects that are yet to be completed before the Northern Relief Channel at Hope/Dochfour East Coast Demerara could become operational. Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that some of these include maintaining that the project is on track to meet its latest extended deadline of June. According to Dr. Ramsammy, the Head Regulator aspect, which is being constructed by BK International, is about 95 percent completed. He said that there is a state of the art wrench that has to be installed, but this gear has not yet arrived. Dr. Ramsammy noted that since the completion of this component was dependent on a delayed aspect of the overall project, the Agriculture Ministry made some modifications. This includes an adjustment to the system originally intended to open the doors of the Head Regulator. The new system, for which the wrench is required, will allow for easier open and closure of the door. “The wrench should be here anytime now. That was purchased by us (the Ministry), and the contractor is waiting on it, so when that comes, we will deliver it to him. It was take just about a day to have this installed,” the Minister said. Heading out from the conservancy onto the East Coast Demerara Public Road, the dams have already been shaped and the berms (the flat strip of land bordering a river or canal) are approximately 70 percent complete. Dr. Ramsammy said that 90 percent of the work on the Canal is already done. Once
Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy operational, excess water will flow from the Head Regulator and into the canal where it will travel out to the public road, under the recently completed Bridge at Hope village, to be discharged into the Atlantic Ocean via the eight-gated sluice. The sluice is being constructed by Courtney Benn Construction. This structure has been the delayed aspect of the $3.6B project. After about three years, less than 80 percent of the required works have been completed. According to Dr. Ramsammy, works on this structure are currently moving apace. He noted however that his Ministry halted construction for several days, to facilitate testing of the concrete. “We brought in an international firm to test the concrete structure to ensure that it was strong enough, but that’s done and they resumed work about a week ago.”
Construction of the Hope/ Dochfour Northern Relief Channel was undertaken by former Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who estimated an 18-month completion period, when construction commenced in February 2011. Late last year Dr. Ramsammy, in his capacity as Agriculture Minister, announced an extended completion date – June 2013. This was subsequently extended to August 31, and later to December 2013. It has been regarded as one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in Guyana’s history. So far, Dr. Ramsammy has insisted that the project will not go beyond its original cost. It has been purported that the relief channel would have the capacity to withstand floods greater than that which occurred in 2005. It is being constructed to ease the pressure of water on the East Demerara Water Conservancy at times w h e n i t r e a c h e s its maximum capacity, releasing it into the Atlantic Ocean, via the sluice.
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Kaieteur News
Labourer gets bail for alleged car parts theft Bail for a 22-year-old labourer was recently set at $75,000 when he was taken before a city Magistrate charged in connection with the theft of almost half a million dollars in car parts. Zaman Mohamed, a resident of Annadale, East Coast of Demerara, on Friday appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the simple larceny charge which was read to him. It is alleged that between February 6, and February 7, last at Church Street,
Georgetown he stole one servo valued at $45,000, one master cylinder worth $48,000 as well as a gear box valued at $325,000; all the property of Andre Parag. Corporal Deniro Jones, who prosecuted, did not reveal the details of the crime. Mohamed, who was unrepresented by legal counsel, made a request for bail which was met with no objection from Corporal Jones. During the proceedings, the father of the accused stepped forward and told the court that the matter was settled with Parag about three
weeks ago, that he paid $350,000. He, however, could not have produced a document to that effect when requested by the Magistrate. It was also revealed that Mohamed was supposed to be charged along with another for the said theft but he was absent. As a result, an arrest warrant was issued by the Magistrate for the “number two accused” Mohamed is expected to reappear in court on May 20 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
EASTER MESSAGES PPP EASTER MESSAGE The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends Easter Greetings to all Guyanese more particularly our Christian brothers and sisters. Easter symbolizes the resurrection of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and is observed by the flying of kites which has always brought tens of thousands of people from all
walks of life and from every religious persuasion together to celebrate this auspicious occasion. It is the fervent wish of the Party that the Easter spirit of togetherness and joy will continue throughout the year and that righteousness will prevail in this beautiful country of ours.
May the kites soar high into to skies and in the process lift the spirits of all Guyanese many of whom have become exhausted and tired by elements in our midst who seek to divide us as a nation and thwart our collective efforts to lift our economy and our country to even greater heights. Once again, a Happy Easter to one and all.
PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM The People’s National Congress Reform extends Easter Greetings to all Guyanese, particularly members of the Guyanese and worldwide Christian Community, on the occasion of the celebration of one of the most important events in the Christian Calendar, the commemoration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Easter Story represents, for the members of the Christian Community, the fulfillment of God’s Prophecy that mankind would be offered the hope of eternal life through the supreme sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ, and His subsequent Resurrection from the dead. It is this faith which has kept the worldwide Christian Church alive and enabled its followers to significantly
contribute towards making the earth a better place for all mankind. The Easter Festival inspires hope that eventually what is right and good would triumph. Christians recognise that during His earthly life, Jesus demonstrated His concern for the poor and powerless in society, as well as His opposition to the evils of bigotry, hypocrisy, dishonesty, corruption, criminality and discrimination which now afflict our country and hamper our development. For most Guyanese, the Easter season is celebrated by the widespread flying of kites, which symbolically represents the theme of the Resurrection. Whatever may have been its origins, kite flying attracts
widespread participation of Guyanese from all walks of life, regardless of religion, ethnicity or culture. Easter is, therefore, a national opportunity for Guyanese to share and enjoy common experiences, interests and values. We, of the People’s National Congress Reform, hope that the symbolism of our kites soaring to the heavens inspire all Guyanese to emulate the examples set by Jesus, for the renewal of national hope that there will be the resurgence of the higher standards of good governance, needed for securing the future development and prosperity for all Guyanese in this our Dear Land of Guyana. The PNCR wishes all Guyanese a happy, joyous and fulfilling Easter.
Sunday April 20, 2014
Middleman earns US$16M on Venezuela rice deal - Farmers lose out on better paddy price
Rice under a previous contract being loaded on a ship for Venezuela. Guyana’s rice-for-oil deal with Venezuela has been hailed as a blessing for the country but there is growing anger over the management of this billion-dollar trade initiative. Farmers and millers are now critical of the high cost of shipping, especially since a middle man is said to be enjoying a “sweet heart” brokerage deal. He is enjoying the bulk of the proceeds from the rice deal. According to figures seen by this newspaper, for the last crop, Guyana was paying to ship paddy/white rice a whopping US$56 per tonne to Venezuela. However, quotes from independent shippers estimated that Guyana could have received a deal for US$36 per tonne. Farmers, crying for better prices, demanded to know how the Guyana Rice Development Board, headed by General Manager, Jagnarine Singh, could have allowed a middleman to handle the brokerage service. That middleman is a former rice miller who had a track record of owing farmers. He is making US$20 for every tonne of rice shipped. In recent years, it is estimated that almost 800,000 tonnes were shipped. “At US$20 more, this middle man earned US$16M that the Government could have paid to the rice farmers.
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo Rice farmers are asking if GRDB could not have gotten a better deal if it had done it themselves. GRDB is the state entity responsible for handling the logistics. “Why the need for a middleman? Something stinks in this whole deal. This is almost like a kickback arrangement,” one rice farmer said. The cost of shipping would be a critical one for farmers who have been complaining of low prices from millers. The higher the cost for shipping to Venezuela, the less money farmers would get. For this crop, farmers are collecting around $3,500 per bag of paddy. Reducing the shipping costs could see farmers receiving at least $4,000 per bag of paddy. The rice initiative, finalised in 2009 by former President Bharrat Jagdeo with
GRDB’s General Manager, Jagnarine Singh Venezuela’s late leader, Hugo Chavez, has been a major one for Guyana. Initially viewed with suspicion by farmers, the Venezuelan rice market has become a lucrative, secure one, at least for the time being. Currently, under a newly signed deal, Guyana is reportedly earning US$520 per tonne of paddy and US$850 per tonne for white rice. GRDB has until August to complete the shipments. Under what is known as the Petro Caribe deal, Venezuela supplies oil and would be repaid in goods. In Guyana’s case it is rice. Last year, Guyana’s rice production broke the all time production record reaching 535,000 tonnes. This year, the target is set for 540,000 tonnes.
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The opposition has done a wrong against Amerindians
T
he non-approval to the Amerindian Development Fund is unpardonable. The opposition parties have committed a grave injustice against the indigenous peoples of this country by their actions in not giving their approval to the Fund and, in the process, have contradicted the concerns fawned about the underdevelopment of areas west of the Essequibo River. The excuses provided by both APNU and the AFC cannot stand serious scrutiny. They insult the intelligence of the Amerindians and the Guyanese people as a whole. The AFC is saying that it has reservations about the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme. These reservations, however, were not grave enough to have led to the bludgeoning of the Fund. I am sure that the AFC has far more serious reservations about funds for the health sector. It has been in the forefront of criticizing the procurement policies for drugs for that sector. Yet it approved of the funding for the health sector. It is therefore hard to reconcile the concerns that the AFC made about the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Project (YEAP). The AFC ought to be reminded that this project was conceived and was being implemented in tandem with a reputable international organization which has had considerable experience in undertaking such works. To not approve funding for the YEAP, and also for the Community Development Projects, constitutes an assault against development for Amerindians. APNU on the other hand contradicts the very positions that it has taken in relation to the development of the hinterland. While contending that there is a divide in development
between the hinterland and the coastland and that hinterland development needs to be addressed, it opted to do the very opposite by not approving the Amerindian Development Fund. APNU is contending that the funds could be used for vote-buying purposes. But it seems to have ignored the participation of international organizations in these projects. These initiatives are not election year initiatives. They were announced well in advance, when the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) was unveiled. A major component of that strategy allows for Amerindian communities to benefit from the funds procured under the LCDS, which would be used to improve the development of Guyana's indigenous communities. This is how the Community Development Projects and the YEAP were conceived. These plans were in the making ever since the LCDS came into being, and have nothing to do with the holding of local government elections this year. By contending that these projects will be used as collateral to buy votes is a callous insult to the intelligence of our indigenous peoples. And the PNCR, which is the dominant party in APNU, ought to be ashamed of embracing such an argument. By contending that the funds are going to be used for political purposes, APNU is also forgetting that it was the indigenous vote, secured by Peter D' Aguiar in the 1966 elections that allowed the then PNC to attain office. But APNU ought to know better than to make such facetious arguments. APNU did a detailed analysis of the results of the 2011 General Elections, and it ought to know that the many projects which the PPPC had launched did not yield the expected results. In p a r t i c u l a r, t h e m a s s distribution of house lots did
not bring votes to the PPP. The Stabroek News did an analysis of the results of the polling stations in the new Diamond Housing Scheme and instead of the government gaining a landslide, the votes were actually split almost 50-50 between the ruling party and the opposition parties. This clearly shows that the Guyanese people are not gullible and their votes cannot be bought.
It was therefore painfully insulting for APNU to be suggesting that the PPP was trying to buy votes in this year's Budget. But is it not the same APNU which is contending that the PPP is scared of holding local government elections. So who is now running scared? If the opposition has opted to cut projects that they feel are part of a plan to buy votes, what does this imply about their readiness to face
the polls should local government elections or any other elections for that matter be held this year? The combined opposition has done a terrible wrong against the Amerindian people of this country by not approving the Amerindian Development Fund. They should reverse themselves and ask the government to return with a supplementary provision to allow the passage of the sums allocated,
because without these resources the Amerindian peoples will not benefit from the funds available under the Guyana-REDD Investment Fund, which the very opposition had demanded as part of efforts to ensure greater transparency for funds acquired from Norway.
Sunday April 20, 2014
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Smoke and mirrors: A closer look at Guyana’s looming debt crisis By Avinash Pulchan, MFM, FQF (Reprinted from Caribbean News Now) According to World Bank data, Guyana’s external debt has risen over 117%, US$850,393,000 in 2008 to US$1,845,561,000 in 2012. During that same time period gross national income per capita (purchasing power parity) has increased only 25% from US$2,720 to US$3,400. Furthermore, personal remittances have increased a whopping 34% from US$278,436,000 to US$373,096,197 during the last four years. A common problem that lesser developed countries (LDCs) face, which Guyana falls into, is that of too much dependence on foreign nations and foreign entities. Guyana’s debt to GDP ratio increased from 44% (US$850,393,000/ US$1,922,597,807) to 64.7% (US$1,845,561,000/ US$2,850,572,407). A country’s debt-to-GDP ratio compares what a country owes to what it produces and is an indicator of the country’s ability to pay back its debt. Currently Guyana’s debt-toGDP ratio of 64.7% is very unhealthy. Now some people are going to argue that other more developed nations have higher ratios but they must take into consideration that these countries are industrialized nations, where a large part of their debt is carried by their citizens and not foreign entities. Secondly, these nations are economies unto themselves and global macroeconomic stress is mitigated through their diverse economic systems. Guyana’s external debt leaves it at the mercy of its debtors and it definitely doesn’t have a diverse economy; Guyana has shifted to an ill-advised import-based economy, which I will discuss
Holidays often allow some people to do strange things. The madness always creeps in and this time is no different. The roads will continue to be a graveyard for vehicles because young drivers always want speed. Unfortunately, one of the vehicles would be transporting a family to a picnic location. There would be some injuries, but none life-threatening. **
in a moment. In light of Guyana’s indebtedness it would be a travesty to Guyanese of epic proportions to raise the debt ceiling. Foremost is the fact that, despite the much hyped years of economic growth as measured by GDP, Guyana is still running a budget deficit, meaning the Guyanese government is spending more money than it generates in revenues. As of 2012, the budget deficit is -5.9% of GDP. Guyanese citizens need to realize that the country’s debt is their debt. They need to ask the government how they plan on repaying the debt; what percent of GDP will be used towards debt repayment? What are the interest rates on loans? Are these rates fixed, variable, capped? Are the loans hedged to the US dollar or Guyanese dollar? How will the government combat inflation in face of a growing external debt? The opposition should also critically analyze the balance of payments account for Guyana and see why is there a budget deficit? They should do a trend analysis on the balance of payments account to see if there are common factors affecting the current account, capital account, and cash reserve account over the past years. This would lead to better allocations of funds over the long term and curtailment of inefficient macroeconomic policies. Guyanese should keep in mind that Guyana’s debt has increased 117% (US$995,168,000 = US$1,845,561,000 – US$850,393,000) over the last four years and what has this increase translated to for the development of Guyana? If the national debt ceiling is increased to allow the Amaila Hydro Power development initiative, how long will it take for the benefits to reach all Guyanese people?
Has an independent-neutral party done a cost-benefit analysis on the feasibility of this undertaking? If differences arise from various feasibility studies of this project can they be reconciled? What are the terms of the financing of such a project? What are the positive/negative externalities of the Amaila Project? Will it create jobs for Guyanese? What are the environmental impacts? Much has been harped on about the economic progress Guyana has made in recent years such as “Guyana on course to record eight consecutive years of positive economic growth: New ECLAC report says Guyana expected to surpass CARICOM partners in economic growth this year” as reported in the Chronicle. Retired professor at New York University and author of the foremost textbook on Economic Development, Michael Todaro noted, “Economic development cannot be measured solely in terms of the level and growth of overall income or income per capita; one must also look at how that income is distributed among the population – at who benefits from employment and why.” GDP growth rate is not a true reflection of the economic health of a nation. That is why the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) developed the Human Development Index (HDI), which is used as a holistic measure of living levels. Upon examining the components of GDP and the HDI, one can then decide whether a country is achieving sustainable economic growth. Gross domestic product (GDP) is calculated as the sum of consumption (C), investment (I), government purchases (G), and net exports (NX), which is exports minus imports. I will focus on all C, I,
A participant in one of the Easter festivities is going to be seriously hurt. It will put a
damper on the proceedings. The person would try to ride a wild animal when the fall would come. ** While some are celebrating there would be those who will be plunged into sadness. A fire would strike and the victims would claim that it is accidental. This would start in the kitchen because someone forgot that one does not leave flames unattended
and NX but only briefly on G because it will require an article unto itself. Guyana’s GDP growth (annual %) has increased from 2.0% in 2008 to 4.8% in 2012, GDP (current US$) increased from US$1,922,597,807 to US$2,850,572,407, a 48.2% increase. During this same time period its GDP per capita (measured in current US$) increased from US$2,478 to $3,584, a 44.6% increase. Personal remittances (measured in current US$) increased from US$278,436,000 to US$373,096,197, a 34% increase. Now an observer will say those numbers are great, but if he/she delves deeper, the numbers tell a sad tale. Personal remittances as a percentage of GDP were 13.09% in 2012. What happens to personal remittances? Well, these remittances are pumped into in economy via consumption (C) and investment (I) and these artificially inflate GDP growth rate. Thus the government of Guyana should not take too much credit for the GDP growth rate since some of it is due to remittances. Many studies, including a study on the impact of remittances on poverty in developing countries conducted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Economic Development in 2011, corroborate this claim. An alarming statistic is that of the Guyana’s general government final consumption expenditure (as
a % of GDP), which is the G component in the calculation of GDP. Per data from the World Bank, Guyana’s general government final consumption expenditure (as a % of GDP) stayed at 15% from 2008 to the present but during this same time Guyana’s debt increased 117%, from 44% of GDP to 64.7% of GDP. Where is all of Guyana’s debt going? It is definitely not used to finance government purchases because that has remained at a constant 15% for the last five years. Finally, the examination of the net export (NX) component of GDP tells an ominous tale of what developmental economists term “growth without development”. Guyana is running a trade deficit, that is, imports exceed exports. In 2011 Guyana exported US$1.18 billion compared to imports of US$1.46 billion (deficit of US$0.28 billion) and in 2012 the deficit increased to US$0.75 billion (exports US$1.311 billion minus imports US$2.065 billion). In order for less developed countries such as Guyana to sustainably develop and wean dependence on foreign economic entities, they need to foster growth in a local subsistence economy that will actively engage citizens so that they can shoulder some of the development responsibilities. However, the Guyanese government has increasingly increased imports at a higher rate than
exports. Thus, more goods and services are being imported to Guyana that can actually be produced locally at a comparative advantage. This type of policy leads to an abhorrent unemployment rate of 21% over the last four years and expounding this statistic will lead to a positive correlation between the increase in crimes and other social problems. For those detractors of my points above, please let me use a couple of statistics so that irrational arguments and overgeneralizations do not come into play. Ethiopia and Niger experienced GDP growth (annual %) of 8.5% and 11.2% respectively in 2012 while the United States and Germany experienced 2.2% and 0.7% respectively. Now you don’t see people migrating from the United States and Germany to Ethiopia and Niger to live because the African nations have such high GDP growth rates; the world GDP growth rate was 4.9% in 2010 and 3.7% in 2011 so the world on average has experienced economic growth. My point is that Guyana’s 4.8% GDP growth rate is misleading and it hides the social and macroeconomic problems plaguing the country. The government is not implementing development initiatives that will foster a robust local economy that will complement the increase in foreign investments. Their (continued on page 46)
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Sunday April 20, 2014
Is there a stalker of elderly men? By Michael Jordan If the man I spoke to this week is correct, then there is someone out there who is stalking elderly men who live alone and killing them. The man to whom I spoke believes that he has met this slippery individual before, and that he unwittingly helped a killer to escape death row once. My informant believes that the man went on to kill again—and this time around, the victim was this informant’s own brother. The first killing occurred almost ten years ago. On Monday, January 12, 2004, the body of 55-year-old Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) Executive Secretary, Lennox Stewart, was found in his Lot 112 Duncan Street, Newtown home. He was lying face-down and his feet were bound with masking tape. A post mortem would later reveal that he was struck on the head with a blunt object and death was due to cerebral haemorrhage. Stewart had lived alone and whoever had killed him had also ransacked his home and made off with a laptop computer and other valuables. Neighbours told investigators that they had seen individuals transporting articles from the slain man’s home to a taxi. The eyewitnesses alleged that a
The victim: Hector Marshall male relative of Stewart’s was driving the car. Detectives subsequently detained a man who was allegedly seen putting a suitcase into the vehicle. But their prime suspect turned out to be 22-year-old Shawn Smith, who was allegedly found with a cellular phone and other items belonging to Stewart. Although Smith insisted that Stuart had given him the items, he was eventually charged with Stewart’s murder. It would take some three years for the trial to begin. During the High Court
The accused: Shawn Smith
trial, prosecution witness Ronald Barkie testified that he saw a tall, dark-skinned man at the home carrying away things belonging to Stuart on the day that the SIMAP official’s body was found. However, this description of the alleged robber did not fit Smith. The defence, led by Legal Aid Counsel Gary Best and Nigel Hawke, presented evidence to show that some of the items that Smith was found with had not belonged to the victim. Defence attorney Best submitted that the prosecution had not made out
a case against the accused. In March, 2007, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards ruled that the State had not made out a case against Shawn Smith. He was a free man. But before freeing the accused, the judge told Smith that if he had indeed murdered Stewart, he would have to live with the guilt for the rest of his life. According to her, every case has a silent witness who some refer to as “God” or the “Creator”. She said He sees everything and only He knows what happened in the case. And that should have
been the last time that the public heard about Shawn Smith. But then, some four years later, another pensioner died. On January 19, a woman sent her son to check on her elderly next-door neighbour, 64-year-old Hector Fitzroy Marshall, who lived at Lot 362 Powis Close, South Ruimveldt. She had become worried after she had not seen him sitting at his usual spot on his verandah. Mr. Marshall had also not answered her calls. A few minutes later, the woman’s son came running back to his mother. He claimed that Mr. Marshall was dead. A close relative of Mr. Marshall recalled hurrying to the home and finding the elderly pensioner gagged and “tied up like a ‘guana” in a back bedroom of his home. According to reports, t h e p e n s i o n e r ’s h a n d s were bound behind his back with strips of cloth. His legs were also bound with strips of cloth, while another strip of cloth was strapped around his neck. Death was due to strangulation. Marshall was a former Personnel Officer of the Ministries of Information and Foreign Affairs. He was also a Programme Director of the Institute of Adult and Continuing Education. Like Lennox Stewart, the slain SIMAP Executive Secretary, Marshall had lived alone. The close relative who visited the scene suspects that the killer entered the pensioner’s home after removing some window panes. He believes that Mr. Marshall was out at the time and that the killer secreted himself in the house and waited for his victim to return. Marshall’s home was completely ransacked, clearly pointing to robbery as a motive. According to reports, the retired public servant had told close relatives that he had allowed his pension to accumulate over a four-year period. He’d planned to use this money to repair his house. But shortly before his death, Hector Marshall had collected his pension, including cheques from the National Insurance Scheme and from the post office. Detectives began to focus their attention on a 29-yearold man who sometimes did odd-jobs for Mr. Marshall. His name was Shawn Smith, the same man who was charged and later freed for
Lennox Stewart’s murder. They located Smith several days after Mr. Marshall’s body was found. Detectives alleged that the suspect’s fingerprints were found on a gift box in the slain pensioner ’s house. Mr. Marshall’s relative insists that the suspect was never allowed into the pensioner’s house. Again, Shawn Smith was charged for murder; and again, the case reached the High Court. But in July, 2013, after a trial that lasted a little over a week, a 12-member jury returned with a verdict of not guilty. Shawn ‘Bolo’ Smith had once again walked out of the High Court a free man. Hector Marshall’s relative blames ‘sloppy’ work by the police for causing the accused to be freed. “The police case was sloppy; that why he was able to walk out of court,” he said. “They made elementary mistakes; there was sloppy presentation of evidence.” For instance, he said that the police failed to produce the music box, which allegedly had the fingerprints of the accused. He also claimed that on occasions, the police failed to turn up in court. “At one time the police weren’t showing up, and one rank told me that I have to search for the police for them to give evidence. It was a sloppy investigation and the judge had no option than to direct the jury in a certain way. I was in the court every day, and the prosecutors did their best, but the prosecutors have to work with what they have.” To add the proverbial salt into the wound, the relative claims that he had assisted the accused in hiring attorneys for his first murder trial. “I feel terrible about that. He came out and allegedly did the same thing. There is every possibility that he has grown in confidence, since he has twice gotten off with murder.” If you have any information about any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown location. We can be reached on telephone numbers 2258458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or 225-8473. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: mjdragon@ hotmail.com
Sunday April 20, 2014
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
Fear is a ghost that is always watching you At an uncivilized hour last Sunday, there was a loud noise in the lower flat of my home. It was 3.30 a.m. (Monday morning I suppose). My daughter rushed into our bedroom, asking if we heard it. I did, because it woke me up but my wife was asleep and didn’t hear it. My daughter described it for her. My mother-in-law who is eighty-eight, slept through the entire ordeal. What was the point of waking her? Then the discussion among us began. My home has two levels but there is no ground level. Because of the flood of 2005, we built way above the yard, making our home the only one in the community that does not have a ground section. My home is the very last unit in the compound. In the neighbourhood there is only one road in and one way out. I live at a culde-sac. So when you drive away from my gate you have to traverse the entire precinct to get out onto the public road; a very daunting prospect for burglars I made the point that it
would be silly for burglars to leave about fifty houses with ground entrance in our compound and seek to enter a house where they will have to use a long ladder to get to any window which are grilled anyway. Why stay upon a ladder working to rip off a grill when you can stand in the yard at another house and carry out the same task with greater ease? None of us were wildly frightened because a large door separates the first level from our bedrooms at the top. So if the burglars were in the house they would encounter difficulty getting to us. My home is right next to the Railway Embankment so we could go out onto the verandah and shout for help. All three of us agreed that at 3.30 in the morning it was suicidal to open the door and go down to see. But the timing was advantageous because in ninety minutes’ time, it would be dawn and the vehicular jungle on the Railway Embankment would begin. In the discussion among us, my wife kept saying if movement is taking
place in the living room, it is not the work of burglars but people targeting the house. Obviously, she was referring to the political thing. As we waited with increasing impatience for dawn to come, all three of us agreed that whoever was down there or whatever happened in the living room, it is connected to my politics. I knew in my heart my wife was right. The “thief man” option was just not on the table for debate. Whoever they are and whatever they did, they were not “thief men”. Dawn arrived, we went down stairs and discovered the source our concern. The hanging chandelier in the ceiling in the living room had come crashing down. The fear in the eyes of all three of us turned to smiles. But we all knew when we heard that noise that fear would take over our minds, not the trepidation of burglars that may not harm you if
you give them all that they asked for, but the fear of what brutal power will do to you. Fear is the shadow that keeps your company as you go through each day exposing and criticizing naked power. As my wife and I walked down the stairs to go out that morning, I asked her, “Did you ever imagine that when you met me at the height of the activist strength of Walter Rodney and the WPA, that thirtyeight years later you would still be afraid that my politics would cause the government to harm me? She is a quiet person. She listened and didn’t reply. Whenever I read about the children of the power elite talking about their rights and that they are Guyanese too who are entitled to equal opportunity and therefore people must respect that, I always say to myself; why don’t these people have coffee and buns and chat
with my wife and daughter. Talk to my kid and my wife so you could get into their heads to see what fear is like and how close a companion it is as you walk on the street or enter a shopping mall. Last July, a Minister of the Government and one that is very controversial, said to me that I want to remove the PPP from government. I retorted, “And why not, I almost lost my life twice.” President Burnham and President Hoyte experienced my torrid activism against them but never even essayed
Frederick Kissoon an effort to physically harm me. I wonder all the time, had I died, how Papa Cheddi would have felt in his grave. Is this the kind of power he left with the PPP?
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Sunday April 20, 2014
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My column
I got bad news this past week Something had to be terribly wrong with the people who entered Queen’s College in 1960. I remember that September day when ninety of us entered that school. For starters, the assembly was something to behold. We sat in alphabetical order in our seats that were arranged in order of the classrooms. The lowest class was the first and the progression continued. Needless to say, many of us were meeting each other for the first time. We were confused but at the same time happy that we were among the elite students that year. Seated in the front row with me that first day were people like Tyrone Ferguson, James Matheson, Errol Hanoman, Turhane Mohabir and Roger Luncheon. In the row behind me was and still is my friend George McDonald. We had the school song book and we sang for the first time, ‘Lord behold us with thy blessing’. The assembly had one
high point. Pryor Jonas had a nervous breakdown on the stage on which sat the few women in our day to lecture at that school. There were Lynette Dolphin and Ada Akai, whose nephew Terry Akai was also a student that day. Today it is difficult to find male teachers at that school, so much time has changed. The years rolled by and eventually we all went our separate ways after we sang ‘Lord dismiss us with thy blessing’ for the last time. I did say something had to be wrong with that batch of students because many of them have already travelled to the Great Beyond. Colin Benjamin, a doctor, dropped dead while playing table tennis in Florida. Alexander (his first name eludes me at this time) also died in Florida. Then Tyrone Ferguson who showed Roger Luncheon the ropes when he became Head of the Presidential Secretariat in 1992 succumbed to a virulent
strain of cancer. James Matheson, who did so much for Guyana in Brussels, also succumbed to cancer. Now Roger Luncheon has cancer. Another friend and former Queen’s College student, Laurence Clarke, also recently succumbed to pancreatic cancer. The news hit me like a ton of bricks. There I was at the first press conference he wa s t o h o s t a f t e r h e returned from a bout of illness and before he got down to business he made the announcement. I had seen him deteriorate over recent years. There was the perpetual back problem that limited his ability to climb stairs. I was there for him when one day as we walked out of the Police Officers’ Mess from a police officers’ conference h e stepped into a small indentation on the ground. He immediately slumped to the ground and would have fallen, but I caught him. Then I remembered the time when
he collapsed in his office and had to be rushed to St Joseph Mercy. This time I went there as a reporter but nevertheless, I was concerned for my friend of fifty-three years. Of course, there was a huge gap because he had gone to Washington DC to study medicine. He returned a very good nephrologist. I remember meeting him when he returned. I was playing chess at the home of a friend Chris Shervington and there was Skele. One night when he was working at the Georgetown Public Hospital, I took one of my sons to the Accident and Emergency Unit. The boy had malaria. Roger also diagnosed him as having an enlarged heart. The kid was an active sportsman so the heart would have been slightly enlarged. I also remember reporting that Roger had to be rushed to the Caribbean Heart Institute because some clots had been found in his blood stream. These can be fatal, but Roger survived. The
doctors inserted filters and his life was back to what it was, him limping along with his bad back. He had come a long way from the days when he would join with some other boys to ride up to my home in Beterverwagting for the sessions in the backlands with gallons of coconut water, stalks of sugarcane, a swim in the canals and whatever my mother cooked. I can still see those sessions. My life has been anything but pure. I drank, I smoked, and I frolicked and generally lived a life that people should live because we only pass this way but once. Roger used to drink, I believed that he also smoked, but being a doctor he knew about healthy living so he had one up on me. But there is the news of his cancer. When he made that announcement he also said something that makes me see him in a different light. Most people would do everything to stay alive. A diagnosis
Adam Harris would prompt a search for the doctor who could turn back the clock, because none of us wants to die. Roger announced that he would do nothing. He has embraced his fate. I had a friend who did the same thing. She is now dead. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and sought treatment. The cancer came back, this time attacking her liver. She battled that too, but when it returned she decided that she had fought enough. As I sit here I know that I will die some day, but it must be frightening that that day is sooner rather than later.
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All revenue streams must be accounted for and scrutinized by our Assembly By Khemraj Ramjattan AFC Leader For several years now I have been pointing out as point-person for economics and finance amongst our AFC Parliamentarians that the PPP has been hiding monies from us by not placing substantial sums into the Treasury (or what is called the Consolidated Fund). Rather this Government properly referred to as a kleptocracy by its former executive member Ralph Ramkarran, has been flagrantly hiving off these sums by keeping them in a number of bank accounts within agencies. This, of course, is wholly illegal and unconstitutional conduct by the Ministry of Finance, it being conduct that is contrary article 216 of the Constitution and a violation of section 85 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act of 2003. This year in my Budget presentation I repeated a number of the arguments. This year these arguments have somehow been appreciated more by those who have heard them. Since I do not read from a written script and Hansard will be ready with my 2014 presentation in another two
weeks’ time, I today extract from my 2012 presentation these similar points. This 2012 presentation was not played on NCN at all. Rather, 38 seconds into it, NCN replaced me and then showed the movie “To Kill A Mockingbird”. “Mr Speaker, we in this country can only know, first of all, whether we are having all the moneys in the Budget, in the Consolidated Fund, if we are honestly having them placed there. We cannot, in a Budget debate, state whether indeed this is all the moneys. National Industrial Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has moneys; Guyana Geology and Mines Commission a separate account; moneys are there in the Guyana Forestry Commission; the bank, Guyana National Cooperative Bank (GNCB) its Unit Collection or the Collection Unit got money. They, however, are not brought to book into our Consolidated Fund from which we now, as Parliamentarians, can have total scrutiny. That is why I fear that, yes, we have a good Budget, but when we feel that the amount is only $192 billion that we have to disburse, in accordance with
what the Minister proposed in his Appropriation Bill, it may not very well reflect what actually the true amount is! It is obvious that this Minister knew that we are going to get some moneys out of a certain deal by selling off the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) shares for US$30 million US$25 million now, US$5 million later on. This US$25 million shares sold to this Chinese company called the Datang Telecom Technology & Industry is not reflected in our Consolidated Fund. It is going to be reflected somewhere in NICIL’s fund. Land has been sold to Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (GBTI) to build up that beautiful bank there. A lot of transactions have been done. We do not see them reflected here. This action breaches another requirement of our Constitution, that when we now are going to expend moneys, as we are here for, as of tomorrow, in the Committee of Supply, we are not going to have, what is called, any power to disapprove or approve or cut in relation to those large sums of moneys. In this budget presentation, the Hon. Minister Dr. Ashni
Singh indicated that there will be a Marriott Hotel built, but there is nowhere in any Project profile where I see that we have to approve such a major project. So there will be, in accordance with our Constitution, a violation committed, because moneys will be spent to that magnitude without Parliamentary approval! I do not know for certain but it is going to be over $27 B (Guy) that the Government in going to put in to that Marriott Hotel project, one way or the other, through equity or guarantee behind the scene. We will not be approving it because this is a stream of revenue that is totally outside of the Budget. We have to put a halt to this in this National Assembly as of this new dispensation. All the streams of money must come into this Budget and Consolidated Fund, so we then with eagle eyes can take a position on appropriation. I want to state that there are a lot of other revenue streams, that we are suspecting there might be, and it is for that reason that a couple of days ago I did ask the Minister, through a letter, that we would like to know where statements of balances
are in respect of certain institutions. We would appreciate receiving from you, Mr. Minister, a statement of balances as of December 31st 2012. This letter was written on April the 12th, 2012. I know it is short a time for a Minister to probably get all the information, but I am certain that it is gettable, and it is in respect of what are Government’s moneys that are not in the Consolidated Fund…. yes the NICIL’s money…..Why is it not in the Bank of Guyana? Most specifically, what is in the NICIL’s bank accounts, if there is more than one? What is in the Guyana Forestry Commission’s bank account? What is in the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s bank account? The Guyana Gold Board? The GNCB’s Debt Collection Unit? The Lotto Fund? And other significant balances, including the amount held by Ministries which should have been repaid into the Consolidated Fund? Then is when we are going to know if there is more money, or if there is not more money, to pay old age pensioners. You cannot take half of the money, hide it up somewhere and then come
here with a Budget saying that the Consolidated Fund can only fund these projects. That is wrong! That is absolutely wrong and it is a breach of the Constitution. There is an additional revenue stream which is very important. A lot of people who get contracts in this country get a lot of duty-free exemptions on cars and other items, plus all manner of dutyfree exemptions. I would ask the Minister to provide the concession on duties, and particulars to all tax waivers, concessions and duties by sectors, over the period 2010/ 2011. We will have a fair idea of where it is going…. if it is favouritism. We have in this National Assembly noted that certain people and a company were given tax exemptions when it was illegal. We had to come back into this National Assembly to legalise an illegality. This is another stream which we must know the amount and the beneficiaries. The exercise here has to do with transparency and accountability, concepts the President, His Excellency Mr. Donald Ramotar, came here and spouted a lot about. Let us get that kind of information, so we will know.”
Sunday April 20, 2014
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SUNDAY SPECIAL ED AHMAD GEARS TO MAKE $600M ON $8M GUYSUCO LAND DEAL …CHANGES FROM WOOD PROCESSING PLANT TO HOUSING SCHEME Almost five years after acquiring a huge piece of prime, seaside property to develop a value-added wood processing operation, a New York-based Guyanese businessman has now instead converted the area into house lots. However, there has been no official announcement by the administration over the new arrangements and who would have given the permission. The conditions of sale were that the company would have set up a factory to create jobs for persons in the neighbourhood. This condition was responsible for the low price they paid for the land. There has been no factory to date. Instead there is a multi-million-dollar housing development project. The project, Leonora Mall and Hollywood Garden, is being managed by Leonora Projects which is owned by Shareef and Ed Ahmad. The latter is said to be a close associate of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. The name of this project is advertised on a signboard established at the site of what was to be the location of the wood processing plant. The conversion of the almost 17-acre plot to the Leonora Mall and Hollywood Garden has been raising eyebrows as again, it is the controversial National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) that is involved. Winston Brassington heads NICIL although he offered his resignation almost a year ago. He was the one that piloted this deal with Ahmad. The land, located around a scenic turn, was once the managers’ compound. It was under the control of the stateowned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and home to a pool and several of GuySuCo’s senior staffers. Around 2009, NICIL reportedly sold it to Ahmad for $80M or about $4.7M per acre. According to the company’s website, Leonora Projects is planning to construct 87 homes on the site. Company officials said, yesterday, that a house lot is now being sold for at least $7M. This means that the $80 million plot of land is now worth more than $600M. $1.3B FOR AMAILA
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo FALLS ACCESS ROAD TO MEET ROLL OVER PAYMENTS – BENN The majority of the $1.3B (US$6.5M) voted for in the 2014 National Budget for the construction of the Amaila Falls Access will be used to make payments that have rolled over. This was confirmed by the Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn last Monday, when contacted for an explanation. He has said that the project is set to be completed by the end of this month. The Minister said that a number of payments had to be rolled over and as such payments will be met from the allocation. The US$6.5M was almost axed from the budget as A Partnership for National Unity (AFC) voted against it but the Alliance for Change abstained from voting. This meant that there were 32 votes in support of the project from the government benches, 26 opposing the allocations and the AFC abstained from voting. Prior to the vote, APNU’s Joseph Harmon had questioned, why government would want to request $1.3B for the road when there is a signed project. “Why ask for money for a road that goes to no project?” AFC Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo, also voiced similar concerns over the road project. Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, in response, told the House that there is a national project for the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric project in the amount of 165MW of cheap, sustainable and renewable power. Benn recalled that Harmon as well as his colleague Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine had been flown out to the project and they at the time had expressed delight.
Winston Brassington ranks failed to act promptly to information on where the recently kidnapped businessman Rajendra Singh was being held. The Force was responding to allegations made by “a source” in a Sunday Stabroek News article. It was stated in the article that according to “well placed sources”, police had been informed that the kidnapped car dealer Rajendra Singh, who was later found murdered, was being held captive in an abandoned house at Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, but ranks only visited the location hours later when he had been removed by his kidnappers. The article went on to suggest that had the police acted promptly, Singh’s life would have been saved. But the Guyana Police Force in a press release on Tuesday categorically denied that it was at any point in time provided with such information. In the release, Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker outlined the details of the Force’s actions from the time it was aware of the kidnapping to present. The police explained that since Rajendra Singh’s motor vehicle was recovered on the railway embankment at Goedverwagting on the very night of his kidnapping, intensive patrols comprising police ranks and Community Policing personnel were subsequently carried out in the area. However, no helpful information was obtained.
Developer. Ed Ahmad
OPPOSITION CALLS FOR ANTI-KIDNAPPING UNIT The recent kidnapping which led to the unfortunate demise of Enmore spare parts dealer, Rajendra Singh, has ignited strong calls by members of the political opposition for the establishment of an AntiKidnapping Unit within the Guyana Police Force. While praises are in order for the Guyana Police Force for doing well in some areas, members of the opposition are now saying that the response to kidnappings has been poor and as such better mechanisms should be put in place to reduce the risk of losing victims in such cases. Commenting on the issue, Alliance For Change (AFC) member Trevor Williams said, “It is paramount for the law enforcement bodies to stay one step ahead of the criminal elements within our society. This is not the first kidnapping incident and I would have expected that past incidents would have incited the establishment of an antikidnapping unit. But based on my knowledge, Guyana is still without a kidnapping
unit. It is upon this background that I would like to make a call for such an important unit which would deal only with kidnapping.” “Criminals are getting very desperate in Guyana and the geographic spread and challenging terrain make it hard to apprehend.” The AFC Parliamentarian added, “It is important, especially for the Criminal Investigation Department to have relations with a specific unit that is equipped with hostage negotiation tactics and one that can also conduct behavioural analysis to better understand the underground criminal network. TUESDAY EDITION AMERINDIANS MOUNT PROTEST AGAINST CUTS FROMAMERINDIAN DEVELOPMENT FUND Scores of Amerindians, including of Toshaos from the National Toshaos Council (NTC), lobbied the members of the National Assembly who were sitting in Parliament as budget discussions continued Monday. About 150 Amerindian people protested the Opposition’s disapproval of the funds allocated by Government, for Amerindian Affairs. They were not in agreement of monies slashed from the Amerindian Development Fund. There was a steady shower, but it did not daunt the protesters. They gathered to record their dissatisfaction with the combined opposition who, during budget debates two Thursdays ago, only approved $454M of the $1.554B that was allocated by the Government for the Ministry of Amerindian
Affairs for 2014. This decision has been met with sharp criticisms from members of the indigenous communities. Those who mounted the protest wanted to have their voices heard. Many had travelled to the city in the wake of the cuts. For the protest they assembled at the corner of Avenue of the Republic and Brickdam (opposite Parliament). The demonstrators carried placards which decried that the position taken by the combined opposition was “brutal” and “unjustifiable” citing that they have been betrayed by their indigenous representatives who hold posts in the parties. ‘STASHED FUNDS’ FROM GNCB DEBT RECOVERY PART OF PARALLEL TREASURIES … FINANCE MINISTER WILLANSWER QUESTIONS OPPOSITION Monies collected by the Guyana National Cooperative Bank (GNCB) debt recovery unit will have to be accounted for. Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s point man on Finance, Carl Greenidge, planned to grill Finance Minister Ashni Singh about moneys which they say are “stashed” in revenue streams that the government is operating as “parallel treasuries”. The now privatized GNCB is said to have recovered some $4B from borrowers after its closure. However, instead of the revenue being placed in the Consolidated (Continued on page 41)
MONDAY EDITION POLICE SAY…WE HAD NO INFO ON WHERE KIDNAP VICTIM WAS HELD The Guyana Police Force has dismissed reports that its
Rajendra Singh
Scores of people surround the dead businessman’s casket to get a glimpse at his body after it arrived at the cremation site.
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The PPPC is neglecting the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region Guyana’s luxuriant hinterland historically attracted Europeans in search of El Dorado – the fabled city of Gold. The hinterland continues to bring tourists to Guyana. It is the hinterland’s gold rush, the golden frog, the mighty Kaieteur, the giant Arapaima, the huge Harpy and the lush flora and abundant fauna that keep tourist revenues flowing. The residents of the hinterland are the custodians of this rich gift of nature. It is therefore citizens’ collective duty to ensure that the government of the day protect the environment and provides for the needs of the people o f t h e B a r i m a - Wa i n i ; Cuyuni-Mazaruni; PotaroSiparuni; Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo Regions which comprise much of the hinterland. The Peoples Progressive Party-Civic, after being in government for more than twenty-one years, has failed to create the conditions for ensuring the
progress of the people. As the years go by and as the national Budget grows, many hinterland youths continue to be denied equal access to education. It had been hoped that the 2014 national Budget would have sought to improve this situation but, unfortunately, it has failed to do so. The Minister of Finance boasted last year that the 2013 Budget was bigger and better than the previous year. On reflection, however, it would be apposite to ask: “Has the Budget really improved the quality of the lives of our brothers and sisters living in the hinterland? What direct impact has the Budget had on hinterland residents? One year later, hinterland youths still complain of limited job opportunities. There is an acute need for them t o h a v e a c c e s s t o technical and vocational training centres located in the hinterland. Regional technical and agricultural institutes will empower the
youth of the hinterland with the appropriate skills to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the communities in which they live. What is happening, however, is that hinterland youths from far-flung communities such as Chinoweing, have to travel to Georgetown or to the Essequibo coast to be exposed to a technical education, at a very high personal cost. Many students, having been successful at one or two CXC subjects, leave the Waramadong Secondary School and return to their homes in the Upper Mazaruni year after year. These students, who have no second chance to equip themselves with technical or vocational skills, find themselves as unskilled labourers in the gold and diamond fields at a very early age. The national schoolfeeding programme which supplies hot meals to hinterland schools is to be
applauded. The World Bank study – entitled: ‘Rethinking School Feeding. Social Safety Nets, Child Development and the Education Sector”– established that schoolfeeding is a valuable exercise that captures the most vulnerable in many countries. The question is whether the money allocated for this venture is adequate? What kind of balanced meal can be provided with G$175 to nourish the brain of a child, who we expect to be literate and numerate? The cooks who prepare these meals are badly underpaid. These workers are paid G$1,000 a day or $20,000 a month from the same allocations given for the school-feeding programme. It is clear that this programme needs to be better-funded and administered so as to put an end to the continuous neglect of schoolchildren in the hinterland. Large sums of money are approved year after year. The time has now come to evaluate and assess the causes of the under-development of the
hinterland. The time has come for Bartica to become a township with better roads, adequate water supply and improved street lighting. The time has come for children in Arau, Kako, Paruima or Phillipai to do their research on the internet. When will the PPPC become serious about developing the rich hinterland? The Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region possesses great agricultural potential. This region has the capacity to produce cheap and abundant supplies of healthy foods and, in so doing, to have a rich and diverse e c o n o m y. Residents of Kamarang have been suffering without power supply since July 2013 and without water supply for several years. One wonders what exactly was done with the 2.4 billion expended in 2013 for this sector and what will be done with the 2.5 billion estimated for
this year. The 2014 Budget, which is being referred by the government as “visionary,” seems to be suffering from a cataract. The Budget lacks a clear vision for the development of this country as a whole. The Cuyuni - Mazaruni Region, for example, has been without a youth and sports officer for years. It has been more than three years since a regional camp has been held. These camps were annual events funded by the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and something the young people looked forward to attending. One wonders why the PPPC administration discontinued such an event. It cannot be “a better Guyana for all Guyanese” when our brothers and sisters in remote areas continue to bemoan the high cost of living, lack of proper medical and other social services. Budget 2014, in summary, lacks a clear vision for hinterland development!
Sunday April 20, 2014
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East Bank Essequibo fatal accident...
Varying accounts of how mishap occurred Even as police continue their investigation into the accident at Orangestein, East Bank Essequibo, on Friday morning, which claimed the life of one and left seven others injured, a number of interesting theories have surfaced regarding its cause. The accident, which saw minibus PDD 6784 and motor canter GKK 9974 colliding, claimed the life of 53-year-old farmer and bus driver Balraj, of Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo. The vehicles were heading in opposite directions. Among the injured was driver of the canter 72-yearold Abdul Jahur of Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo. He was reportedly heading to his butcher shop at Parika also on the East Bank of Essequibo, in the company of his wife, 52-year-old Fareeda Jahur, and an employee, 30year-old Nadira Persaud, when the accident occurred. Persaud is now home with a broken right foot, lacerations about her body and clueless about how the accident occurred, she and the Jahurs were admitted patients at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital. The couple claims to have no recollection of the accident. They have since been transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and are nursing head injuries, broken ribs and punctured lungs, according to a relative. All of the injured were initially taken to the Leonora Diagnostic Centre for treatment before being transferred to city hospitals.
Dead: Balraj Also injured were minibus passengers Rajesh Ganesh, 42, who sustained injuries to his chin and forehead and his 11-year-old son, Satyanand Ganesh, who suffered a wound to his head; Pooja Singh, 11 - a broken left foot and left hand and Asheanna Dudnauth, 11 - a broken left foot and fractured left side face. Dudnauth was required to undergo CT Scan to ascertain the extent of her injuries. Although Rajesh Ganesh and his son have been discharged as patients of the GPHC, Singh and Dudnauth remain hospitalised there. All of the injured children, this publication was informed, were on their way to participate in the 2014 National Grade Six Assessment at the Academy of Excellence at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara. Initial reports reaching this publication were that the
Balraj’s children (on either side) along with his reputed wife, Khemrajie (second from left) and nephew, Narine. minibus driver had swerved from a cow and ended up in the path of the canter. However the dead man’s daughter, 25-year-old Chan Singh, is bitterly disputing this theory. According to her, an eyewitness recount of the incident revealed that her father was driving east along the thoroughfare and the canter in the opposite direction. The eyewitness, the young lady said, recalled seeing the canter driver attempt to overtake a vehicle in his lane but failing in his bid to do so, and instead colliding with a cow first
before spinning and slamming into her father’s minibus. The eyewitness report, she added, detailed how her father, on observing that the canter was moving at great speed into his path, swerved into the corner of the road, but was unable to avoid the collision which claimed his life. “I never knew my father as a man that does drive speed...all my life I know how my father does drive... I am almost 26 years old and I can remember my father always telling my brother don’t drive speed,” said the distraught woman. Even as she recalled
seeing her father’s broken body, she was adamant that “my father died an innocent man...there is no way I could believe the accident was his fault.” Although none of the injured were able to recount what led to the accident on Friday, yesterday Rajesh Ganesh told this publication that he can now vividly remember what happened. According to the man, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of the minibus he remembers seeing a
speeding canter swinging into the lane of the minibus in order to overtake a car. He does not recall seeing any cow but remembers that meat from the back of the canter was thrown onto the roadway as a result of the collision. According to him, he realised that although the minibus was moving at a moderate pace, there was no way to avoid a head-on collision with canter. “All I coulda do was cover me face and brace for the impact,” said the man in a telephone interview with this publication yesterday. He remembers hitting his chest and head into the dashboard of the minibus and is certain that his fate could have been worse had he not been wearing his seat belt. “Is that seat belt save me,” the man noted yesterday. Despite the fact that Balraj too was wearing his seatbelt, his fate was dissimilar. He leaves to mourn his two children Chan and Stephon, reputed wife Khemrajie and 96-year-old mother Umaria. Balraj is scheduled to be cremated on Thursday at Ruimzeight on the West Coast of Demerara.
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National strategies needed to build strong families
Dr. Faith Harding By Zena Henry “Family is the most important institution on earth. The Creator was the One who created the concept of family and when understood, the impact of that body could change the world, for better or for worse.” In fact, many organizations, groups and gatherings are now seeing themselves as families; even those in vicious and destructive gangs have adopted the term. However, the first family remains the most pivotal foundation of training and development, Pastor Wendell Jeffrey believes. Pastor Jeffrey is the founder of the Practical Christianity Ministries and performs duties that provide services to ex-offenders, recovering addicts and their families. No stranger to criminal life himself, the born-again believer in his contribution on the topic, urged that society must place much more emphasis on the development of families, since this is the first line of defence against the harms of the world. At a public forum held last week in Jamaica, a public health official had called on his government to strengthen family life, urging that a lack of this would continue to see a decline in societal morals. Dr Michael Coombs had told the gathering that, “the breakdown of families is now being recognised and established to be a foundational cause to a lot of the problems that are faced throughout the society, not just in health, but in other social issues.” He was adamant that, “research has confirmed that, when fathers are not involved in their families, and the families break down, those children are 11 times more likely to demonstrate violent behaviour.”
Pastor Wendell Jeffrey This is the same belief of Dr. Faith Harding, who earlier this week, protested at Parliament Building for more emphasis to be placed on women and family issues. She is also of the view that more needs to be done for the development of families and advocates for a national strategy to be developed on fathering. Dr. Harding, who is also a counselor, told reporters that oftentimes, men do not fulfill their roles as fathers, leaving the woman to juggle both duties as mother and father. “The men get away from the women, and leave them to carry the babies and produce them for these men who are not taking up the needed fathering roles. We need a national project or strategy to get them to understand their roles and responsibilities,” she protested. Dr. Harding asserted that history has shown the necessary roles of the father and related that over time, the presence of the father in the home is on the decline. In 2013, at a father’s forum, special guest speaker, Pastor John Smith had related that the father is the source and forwarded the four Ps; Prophet, Priest, Protector and provider path. He had stated that fathers need to operate with a view of being effective in moulding their young to play an effective role in their contribution to society. Pastor Jeffrey has noted however that concern must be placed on the unnecessary problems faced in families. “People think that families should be perfect and they set out unrealistic expectations, but we have come to find out that no family is perfect. In fact, some of the most outstanding and well-known families are some of the most dysfunctional families. While the family structure is
important and necessary, we need not fool ourselves that it needs to be perfect.” What is needed, the Pastor implored, is a strategy to meaningfully empower the family. This deals specifically with re-educating families to know their individual worth and their societal value. Hence a strategy is needed for consultation, mobilizing, enabling, mediating and advocating. “I learned so much foundational stuff from my mother.” Explaining the absence of his father and living in what he described as a dysfunctional family, Pastor Jeffrey questioned whether he would have been more productive, or if he would not have been saved from the pitfalls encountered. He said that some persons are able to overcome challenges, while others fall victim to the world, but it is the responsibility of all to ensure the prosperity of our society, and it begins with the first family. The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security; Region Six Domestic Violence Centre; Region Five Sri Krishna Mandir; Region Three NACOSA/CIOG; Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha; Child Link Inc.; Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association; Mothers’ Union; and the Guyana Red Cross Society successfully completed a first-ever Parenting Education Workshop last year. The Feature Address was delivered by the First Lady, Mrs. Deolatchmee Ramotar, encouraged the new Community Parenting Group to remain committed to helping parents and caregivers to extend their parenting skills, build relationships, and contribute to the stability of family life in society. She had also emphasized national strategies to ensure family development.
Sunday April 20, 2014
From page 27 ‘Fund as required by law, it was secretly placed into an account at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry. The information, Ramjattan said, is not unknown to the Opposition and the Finance Minister will have to explain this, like the many other state funds that are tied up in other revenue streams instead of being placed in the Consolidated Fund. According to Article 216 of the Guyana Constitution, all revenues or other moneys raised or received by Guyana shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Fund. The GNCB funds are more of state funds being excluded from the Consolidated Fund and thus do not come before the Parliament. This, Ramjattan continued, is more state money that has also been excluded from the National Budget, but “the Minister will have to deal with this.” WEDNESDAY EDITION GOVT. MUST EXPLAIN $80M ED AHMAD LAND DEAL - APNU Government must explain the details surrounding a land deal with New-York based Guyanese, Edul Ahmad, who received a 17-acre plot of prime land at West Coast Demerara, but failed to build a wood processing plant as promised. Instead, Ahmad, said to be a close associate of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, converted it to house lots and is now set to make at least $600M from his $80M investment. The Opposition is not taking the matter lightly, with the coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), demanding an entire review of the transaction. According to APNU Member of Parliament, Joseph Harmon, whenever state resources are allocated or sold for specific purposes to help create jobs, then any changes will require a different consideration. This will include a full assessment of that change, with considerations of the market value of the land. In the case of the land sold to Ahmad, Harmon stressed that it was almost 17 acres of prime property at Leonora. “To convert this land from a wood processing plant project to create jobs to now selling house lots is concluding that the new owner is profiteering. We could have gotten more money if the true purpose was disclosed initially.” The MP insisted that with Ahmad known as a “friend of the administration”, the transaction itself becomes even more questionable. BUSINESSMAN KIDNAP/ MURDER…
Kaieteur News
COPS INTENSIFY HUNT FORALLEGED MASTERMIND Police have intensified their hunt for a man described as “Tall Man” even as they prepare to charge three other persons for the kidnap and murder of businessman Rajendra Singh. Ranks swooped down in the community of Albouystown after receiving information that the said individual was hiding out there. Kaieteur News understands that some of the persons in custody have fingered “Tall Man” as one of the main players in the crime. The victim’s wife and his employees had described his abductors as a “tall man” and a “short one”. According to a source, one of the men said that he was recruited to be part of the kidnapping, but after taking the businessman to Goedverwagting, where Singh’s car was subsequently found abandoned, he had completed his role and did not know what transpired after. He was not picked out by the victim’s wife and employees from an identification line-up. Investigators believe that another suspect in custody was the organiser of the kidnapping since he was a known associate of the businessman. “All the others are strangers, he is the only one who really knew him (victim),” the source said. Another prime suspect reportedly admitted making the ransom calls. A police source told this newspaper that while some of the persons have admitted being involved in some way in the kidnapping of Singh, they have all denied knowledge of his killing. But a senior police officer told Kaieteur News that the men could still face charges for Singh’s murder. THURSDAY EDITION COMBINED OPPOSITION SLASHES $37.4B FROM 2014 BUDGET …AMAILA VOTE RESPONSIBLE FOR $22B Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, in late March presented a $220B Budget for 2014. By the time the voting was finished last Wednesday, some $37.4B was slashed from the Estimates, leaving the administration with only $182.6B. Those affected by the cuts are the Ministries of Health, Amerindian Affairs, Public Works, Finance and Office of the President. Last Wednesday marked the final day for the consideration of the 2014 estimates and saw $22.2B being lopped from the Capital Programme for the Ministry of Finance. The contentious
allocation in the Ministry’s Capital Programme was that of a $16B allocation for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project under the Bharrat Jagdeo-led Low Carbon Development Strategy. When the project came up for consideration, Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, requested that the allocation be delinked from the rest of the Programme, given that the party had no problems with other allocations but maintains its positions on the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project. He reminded that the party wanted to await the findings of the InterAmerican Development Bank’s due diligence report on the project before it can take a positive vote for the allocation. ALBOUYSTOWN RESIDENTS FEEL BETRAYED BY TOP COP -CONDEMN HOSTILITY OF POLICE RANKS The move by the recently appointed Top Cop, Seelall Persaud, to increase foot patrols in the Albouystown area, in an effort to improve safety within the community, appears to have backfired. The residents are accusing the police of severe harassment. “Frightened” residents are now calling on Persaud to remove the officers, whose only motive seems to be to “terrorize members of the community.” The police move in Albouystown is being seen as a forced occupation of the community. In light of recent promises made by the Top Cop during his visit to the neighbourhood last week, residents now say that they feel betrayed. The Commissioner of Police made a promise to renew the relationship between residents of Albouystown and the Police Force with the launching of a community project. On Tuesday last, officers were conducting a search at a house in Curtis Street while the occupants were out. Neighbours said
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that they had to shout repeatedly at the ranks and advised them to not enter the home in the occupants’ absence. Their advice, however, was met with hostility from the heavilyarmed police ranks. FRIDAY EDITION FIVEALLEGED KIDNAPPERS REMANDED Five men accused of murdering businessman Rajendra Singh, who was kidnapped on April 5, last and later found dead in Le Repentir Cemetery, were on Thursday remanded. It is alleged that the men Adony James, 31, of Roxanne Burnham Gardens; Sheldon Chase, 34, a miner, of Pike Street, Kitty; Doodnauth Ketwaroo called “Pumpkin”, 27, of Good Hope, ECD; Tony Thomas, 27, of Bel Air, and Michael Lewis called “Jet Li”, 37, of Sheriff Street, between April 5 and April 9, murdered Rajendra Singh. The men all appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. They were not required to enter pleas since
the offence is indictable. The matter is expected to be called again on May 21. SMASH-UP LEAVES ONE DEAD, SEVEN INJURED A two-vehicle smash-up at Orangestein, East Bank Essequibo, Thursday morning has left one person dead, seven injured, and many family members in distress. Dead is 53-year-old Balraj, a farmer of Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo, who met his demise as he drove minibus PDD 6784, east along the Public Road. His vehicle crashed head-on into a motor canter, GKK 9974, which was heading in the opposite direction.Reports are that the bus swerved from a cow on the roadway into the path of the canter, resulting in the fatal collision. Both vehicles, mainly the front sections, were in a mangled state. Meat piled in the tray of the canter was scattered on the roadway as a result of the accident. The canter, this publication was told, was driven by 72-year-old Abdul Jahur of Good Hope, East
Bank Essequibo. He was reportedly heading to his butcher shop at Parika, also on the East Bank of Essequibo, in the company of his wife, 52-year-old Fareeda Jahur, and an employee, 30year-old Nadira Persaud, when the accident occurred. All three were admitted as patients in the Intensive Care Unit of the privately-operated Dr Balwant Singh Hospital in Georgetown. Reports are that all of the injured were initially rushed to the Leonora Diagnostic Centre for medical attention by public-spirited citizens, as was Balraj, who was pronounced dead on arrival there. Balraj was pinned in the vehicle for some time before his mangled and lifeless body was removed. The passengers of the minibus, Rajesh Ganesh, 42, and his 11-year-old son, Satyanand Ganesh, both of Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo; Pooja Singh, 11, and Asheanna Dudnauth, 11, both of Ruby Backdam, East Bank Essequibo, were eventually taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for further attention.
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‘X-Men’ director hit by sex abuse Miley Cyrus remains hospitalized, cancels two more concerts lawsuit weeks before premiere A man who has sued filmmaker Bryan Singer, the director of the upcoming blockbuster action film “XMen: Days of Future Past,” for allegedly raping him as a teenager said on Thursday that his claims of sexual abuse went unheeded by authorities.Michael Egan, 31, who was an aspiring teen actor, said he and his mother told the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI in late 1999 and 2000 that Egan was being abused by an underage sex ring. “What happened was basically it fell on deaf ears,” Egan said a news conference seated next to his attorney, Jeff Herman. “We didn’t get anywhere and then I basically buried it in me as deep as I possibly could.” Herman filed a civil lawsuit on Wednesday in federal court in Hawaii, alleging that Singer, 48, used his influence as a Hollywood insider as well as a range of drugs and alcohol to force anal and oral sex on Egan while promising him film roles. Singer’s attorney, Marty Singer, has called the claims “completely fabricated.” The LAPD said it does not comment on current litigation. The lawsuit comes weeks before Singer’s “X-Men” film opens in U.S. theaters on May 23. It could complicate the global promotion rollout for distributor 20th Century Fox by pushing the director’s legal problem to the forefront of what is expected to be one of the year’s top-grossing films. The film starring Hugh Jackman and Jennifer Lawrence is projected to gross $103 million in its
Plaintiff Michael Egan attends a news conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, California April 17, 2014. opening weekend, according to Boxoffice.com. “We look forward to our bringing a claim for malicious prosecution against Mr. Egan and his attorney after we prevail,” Singer’s attorney said in a statement after the news conference. Egan said he brought the suit now after going through trauma therapy, which he began 11 months ago. “I was raped numerous times in that house by numerous individuals,” Egan said. “You were like a piece of meat to these people. They’d pass you around between them.” FOX CALLS CASE ‘PERSONAL MATTER’ Singer, who directed “XMen” in 2000 and its sequel “X2” in 2003, is also signed on to direct the next installment in the franchise, “X-Men: Apocalypse,” for
Fox. The film is scheduled to be released in 2016. “These are serious allegations, and they will be resolved in the appropriate forum,” Fox said in a statement. “This is a personal matter, which Bryan Singer and his representatives are addressing separately.” Egan seeks unspecified damages and a jury trial after wide-ranging abuses at California and Hawaii house parties beginning in the late 1990s, according to the civil action. “Mike was being influenced by wanting to be in the business,” Herman said. The attorney added that the lawsuit was filed now because in Hawaii legal limitations require a civil child sex abuse case to be filed by April 24. “Hollywood moguls have been using their positions of authority to exploit children sexually,” said Herman, who is noted for his representation of sex abuse victims, having filed suits against the Roman Catholic Church and Kevin Clash, the former voice of Sesame Street character Elmo. The lawsuit accuses Marc Collins-Rector, a former entertainment business executive and registered sex offender, of initiating the sexual abuse by arranging for Singer to meet Egan at “notorious parties” in Encino, California, around 1998. Egan alleged liquor would be poured down his throat at the parties and that CollinsRector once threatened him by putting a gun in his mouth. Collins-Rector could not be reached for comment and is not listed as a defendant in the suit. (Reuters)
Music films hit distinct note at annual Tribeca Film Festival Music and movies played together even before sound revolutionized film during its infancy, and so it is at the Tribeca Film F e s t i v a l where the documentary lineup is heavy on musical subjects, from hip hop star Nas to shock rocker Alice Cooper. From the days of silent films, often accompanied by l i v e keyboards, to lavish midcentury MGM musicals, music has held a spotlight throughout cinema history. And while documentaries have traditionally comprised as much as half o f Tr i b e c a ’s s c o r e s o f offerings, films about musicians Bjork, Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir,
Robert De Niro waves upon arriving for the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival opening night screening of ‘Time Is Illmatic’ in New York. James Brown and others h a v e l e n t t h i s y e a r ’s festival a decidedly tuneful air. “We never program to an agenda,” said Tribeca’s
director of programming, Genna Terranova. “These trends sort of reveal themselves, and this year that trend definitely seems to be music.”
Miley Cyrus, who is suffering from a sinus infection, has postponed two more U.S. concerts on her “Bangerz” tour as the pop star remains hospitalized following an allergic reaction to antibiotics, her concert promoter said on Thursday. Cyrus, 21, called off upcoming shows in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday and Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday. The show in Nashville has been rescheduled for August 7 and Louisville on August 9, Live Nation Entertainment Inc said. The “Wrecking Ball” singer, who has canceled shows in Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Louis earlier this week, posted a statement on Twitter saying she suffered an allergic reaction to the antibiotic cephalexin. The North American leg
Miley Cyrus
of Cyrus’ tour in support of her recent album “Bangerz” began in February and she was scheduled to perform
more than 40 dates. The 22concert European leg of the tour begins on May 2 in Amsterdam.
Rihanna settles multimillion-dollar lawsuit with ex-accountants Pop star Rihanna has agreed to settle a lawsuit with her former accountants accusing them of mismanaging her finances and costing her millions of dollars, lawyers for the parties told a federal judge on Thursday. The terms of the deal were not disclosed during a brief hearing before U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel in New York. Lawyers for Rihanna and for the defendants, accounting firm Berdon and former employees Michael Mitnick and Peter Gounis, declined to comment. The lawsuit, filed by Rihanna in 2012, said Berdon charged “exorbitant” commissions from her concert tours, causing significant financial losses. It also accused Berdon of
Robyn Fenty mishandling Rihanna’s foreign and domestic taxes and failing to monitor unpaid
song royalties. The Barbados-born Rihanna, 26, whose real name is Robyn Fenty, is one of the world’s most successful recording artists, with a string of worldwide hits including the singles “Umbrella” and “Diamonds.” She has won seven Grammy awards. When she first hired Berdon, the lawsuit claimed, she was only 16 years old and knew nothing about financial matters. As a result of the firm’s mishandling of her finances, Rihanna suffered major losses during her 2010 “Last Girl on Earth” tour, even as Berdon collected millions of dollars in commissions, the lawsuit claimed. Spokespeople for Rihanna and for Berdon were not immediately available for comment.
Singer Chris Brown’s assault trial delayed to next week Singer Chris Brown’s assault trial was delayed on Friday, when a Washington, D.C., judge put off a verdict for the R&B artist’s bodyguard whose trial on the same charge is scheduled to conclude first. District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Patricia Wynn said she will need until Monday to consider the evidence and decide the verdict in the misdemeanor assault trial of bodyguard Christopher Hollosy, accused of assaulting a man who tried to photograph Brown. “I’m
not ready to return a verdict now,” Wynn said, after testimony concluded on Friday in the trial, which is being decided by a judge rather than a jury. Hollosy is accused of punching in the face a man who angered Brown after trying to snap a photo of the singer outside a Washington, D.C., hotel on October 27, 2013. He is charged with misdemeanor assault. Brown, who faces the same charge, is accused of hitting the same man seconds before Hollosy did.
R&B singer Chris Brown
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Ingrown toenails - a common medical problem among Guyanese By Dr. Kumar Sukhraj, BSC, MBBS. The caption speaks for itself. Ingrown toenails occur when the side of the toenails grow into surrounding skin, and usually affect the toenails, particularly the big toe, either on one or on both sides. The nail curls and pierces the skin, which becomes red, swollen, tender, painful and infected. Patients can experience severe pain when pressure is applied to an ingrown toenail. The medical name for an ingrown toenail is onychocryptosis. People with diabetes, vascular problems, or numbness in the toes need to be aggressive in treating and preventing ingrown toenails because they can lead to serious complications, including the risk of losing a limb. There are several possible causes of an ingrown toenail, these include: · Incorrectly cut
toenailsCutting your toenails too short, or cutting the edges, will encourage the surrounding skin to fold over your nail and the nail to grow into the skin. · Tight-fitting shoes, tight socks or tight hosiery. Wearing tight-fitting shoes, socks or tight hosiery places pressure on the skin around your toenail. If the skin is pressed onto the toenail, it may be pierced. Tight-fitting footwear can also cause your toenail to curve inwards towards your skin, resulting in an ingrown toenail. · Excessive sweating or poor foot hygiene or improper grooming of the feet. The skin on your foot can become moist and soft through excessive sweating or from poor foot hygiene, such as not changing your socks regularly. Having soft skin around your toenails makes it easier for your nail to pierce the skin and embed itself within it. · Injury such as stubbing or jamming your toe.
Injuring your toenail can sometimes cause an ingrown toenail to develop. For example, damage can occur if you stub your toe or if your nail is accidentally ripped off. · Nail infections. Sometimes, a toenail can become thicker and wider if it has been affected by a fungal nail infection, such as athlete’s foot. If your toenail becomes brittle, pieces of nail may break off, making it easier for the nail to pierce the surrounding skin and for an ingrown toenail to develop. · Natural shape of the toenail. If you have naturally curved or fan-shaped toenails, your risk of developing an ingrown toenail is increased. This is because the sides of your nail are more likely to press into the nail fold (the skin surrounding the nail). For those who are diagnosed with ingrown t o e n a i l s h t t p : / / w w w. w e b m d . c o m / s k i n problems-and-treatments/ toc-image-picture-of-
ingrown-toenail there are several things you can do yourself to treat mild ingrown toenails and prevent them from getting worse, including: · Practice good foot hygiene by taking care of your feet and washing them regularly using soap and water ·Trim the nail straight across to help prevent it continuing to dig into the surrounding skin ·Gently push the skin away from the nail using a cotton bud (this may be easier after using a small amount of olive oil to soften the skin) ·Wear comfortable shoes that are not too tight and provide space around your toes ·Painkillers can be used to manage space. Surgery may be recommended in cases where an ingrown toenail is more severe. This may involve either removing a section of the affected toenail or removing the whole nail. If you still have an ingrown toenail after you’ve
tried self-care treatments, see your doctor for advice. Depending on how severe your ingrown toenail is, surgery might be recommended. It is very important you visit your General Practitioner if you have diabetes and an ingrown toenail. Having diabetes could affect the healing of your toenail, particularly if your diabetes is poorly controlled. If your toenail does not improve, your doctor may recommend that part or all of your toenail, is surgically removed (avulsion). Partial nail avulsion, where part of your toenail is removed, is the most common surgical procedure for treating ingrown toenails. It is about 98% effective. Total nail avulsion involves removing the whole of your toenail to reduce the risk of an ingrown toenail developing in the future. You should visit your doctor if you have problems with your feet. They will be
Dr. Kumar Sukhraj able to examine your feet and make necessary recommendations to improve your illness. Please feel free to send an email to kumarsukhraj@yahoo.com or call 6228032 for further enquiry and discussion on the topic. Patient education plays an important in the diagnosis and management illness. Please look forward for a continuation of the discussion on health issues in the next publication.
Yoga may help women Mediterranean diet may ease PTSD symptoms slow diabetes progression Women enrolled in a small study reported a reduction in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a series of yoga classes. However, women in a comparison group that didn’t take the classes also reported a similar decline in symptoms, researchers found. “The yoga group did well - they improved in their PTSD symptoms - and our control group actually did well, which we didn’t expect,” Karen Mitchell told Reuters Health. Mitchell, from the National Center for PTSD at the VA Boston Healthcare System, led the new study. “I do emphasize that the yoga (group) definitely didn’t do worse,” she said. “Yoga could potentially be triggering for people with trauma, so while that’s not as exciting a finding, I think it is important to say that.” About one in 10 U.S. women is affected by PTSD, according to the authors. Many say that alternative and complementary therapies such as yoga - help them cope with the symptoms, which can include trouble sleeping and having flashbacks related to the traumatic event, known as re-experiencing. “It can be very debilitating and in the general population it affects women about twice as often as men,” Mitchell said. Her team’s findings were published in the Journal of
For people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, eating lots of olive oil, fish and whole grains slows progression of the disease more than restricting fat, according to a new analysis. In a trial that followed participants for more than eight years, those following a so-called Mediterranean diet went significantly longer before needing diabetes medication and more of them had their diabetes go into remission, compared to those on a low-fat diet. “There’s been lots of epidemiology suggesting that a Mediterranean diet was beneficial with metabolic syndrome and
Traumatic Stress. A total of 26 women with PTSD completed the study. The women were an average of 44 years old and included both civilians and military veterans. Fourteen of the women attended weekly yoga sessions for 12 weeks or twice-weekly sessions for six weeks. Each session was 75 minutes long and focused on mind-body connections, breathing and physical postures. Women also filled out a symptom questionnaire each week. Twelve women in the comparison group met once per week for 12 weeks in small groups to complete the same questionnaires. All
participants completed a follow-up assessment one month after the sessions ended. Mitchell and her colleagues found that women in both groups had significant improvements in their symptoms. The yoga participants showed decreases in re-experiencing and hyperarousal symptoms, while the comparison group reported improvements in reexperiencing symptoms and anxiety. “Both groups were doing assessments, coming in every week, and interacting with us - doing these kinds of things that might have been helpful for both groups,” Mitchell said.
d i a b e t e s , ” D r. L e a n n e Olansky told Reuters Health. “But this was a randomized controlled trial, so we know it really was the diet causing the results,” she said. “This is the kind of evidence that we use to determine if drugs are effective.” “Everybody thinks of fat as being bad, but this shows that it depends on what kind of fat,” said O l a n s k y, an endocrinologist at the Cleveland Clinic who was not involved in the new study. People diagnosed with diabetes should aim to have a healthy diet, and a Mediterranean diet is a good, healthy option, lead Mediterranean diet
study author Katherine Esposito told Reuters Health in an email. Cutting calories is important, and cutting fat is an easy way to cut calories, but according to this study, maintaining the right levels of healthy fats is important, she said. “One of the main aspects of the Mediterranean diet is the percentage of daily fat, which is higher than 30 percent of daily calories, however, the main fat is monounsaturated, usually from olive oil in the Mediterranean basin,” said Esposito, of the Diabetes Unit at University Hospital at the Second University of Naples in Italy.
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Kaieteur News
IMMIGRATION INFO: Attorney Gail S. Seeram, Gail@GailLaw.com Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: Gail@GailLaw.com. *** Question #1: I’m a 16 year old, my father is a citizen of USA and he filed a petition for me it’s going to be one year in a few months. The last time we heard from the embassy was when it was at the affidavit of support stage. My father spends a lot of time in Guyana with me; will this hinder the process to take
Sunday April 20, 2014
Immigration News For Our Community
longer? Or does it depend on the co-sponsor? How much longer is the process likely to take? Answer #1: The affidavit of support must be completed by the petitioner, your father, and if his income does not meet the requirements then you will need a co-sponsor to complete an additional affidavit of support. Once the petitioner shows through the affidavit of support that he can meet the income threshold (requirement) to support the beneficiary (you) then the visa should be issued. Question #2: I was sponsored in August 2002, family-based F3, and it was approved in February 2005. My eldest child was 13 years old at the time. In November 2010 I was required to submit all documents to NVC. All of
this was submitted, including visa fees, with the best of my knowledge he would benefit from the Child Status Protection Act. In January 2011 the visa availability date then retrogressed almost 18 months. We received an appointment letter, his was omitted. I ask the interviewing officer and she said he is aged out. Can you please tell me how or what you can do so he can be reclassified under Child Status Protection Act. His date of birth is January 19, 1989. Answer #2: Our office would need to recompute his age under the guidelines set by the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). Note, eligibility for CSPA must be presented within one year of the visa being available. Question #3: I am a US
citizen and petitioned for my adult children on June 28, 2007 - all relevant fees already were paid for visas, etc. The visa bulletin advised that they are currently working on June 2006 - my question is, in how many months prior to visa availability will I hear from the NVC? Answer #3: The National Visa Center (NVC) will contact you for visa processing and submission of the affidavit of support and other civil documents about 6-9 months before the visa will be available. Question #4: I am a citizen of Guyana and became a permanent resident in New York on November 2011.I am currently in Guyana since February 28th 2012 and would like to pursue my studies at an international institute here and would like to know if that would affect my permanent residency. Answer #4: As a lawful permanent resident of the United States, you need to be living in the U.S. An extended stay outside of the U.S. (even if studying abroad) may result in the immigration officer taking away your green card. ****** RE-ENTRY INTO THE U.S. AFTER REMOVAL/ DEPORTATION Re-entry into the United States once a person has been removed or deported from the United States is not an automatic process. Removal proceedings (formerly known as “deportation proceedings”) are used to determine whether a non-U.S. citizen, or permanent resident (green card holder) should be
deported, that is, expelled from the United States. If no relief is available, removal or deportation proceedings can result in: (1) voluntary departure from the United States; (2) removal/ deportation under Immigration & Custom Enforcement supervision; or (3) self-removal if you left the United States with an order of removal. Based on the grounds on which a person is removed or deported from the U.S., they may face a five-year, ten-year or lifetime ban from returning to the U.S. Additionally, under the Immigration and Nationality Act, if you remained unlawfully in the United States for more than six months but less than one year and you leave the U.S., then you face a three-year ban to return to the U.S. If you remained unlawfully in the United States for more than one year and you leave the U.S., then you face a ten-year ban to return to the U.S. A person may be placed in removal or deportation proceedings for the following reasons: (1) unlawfully present in the United States because the person overstayed on a visa or entered the U.S. illegally without inspection; (2) as a permanent resident (or green card holder) he or she committed a crime that under the U.S. immigration laws result in removal from the U.S.; (3) as a permanent resident (or green card holder) he or she abandoned their residency in the U.S. by extended stay outside the U.S.; or (4) as a permanent resident (or green card holder) he or she committed immigration violation, visa and/or passport fraud, alien smuggling, willful misrepresentation, false claim to U.S. citizenship, illegal reentry after a prior deportation, security and foreign policy violation, and other miscellaneous violations of the U.S. laws. If a person was removed/ deported from the U.S. or left
Gail S. Seeram the United States voluntarily after living in the United States illegally, then that person would be required to file a waiver AND an application for permission to reapply for admission into the United States. *** Q: I was deported from the U.S. seven years ago but my U.S. citizen daughter filed for me and I have an interview at the Embassy. When do I file the waiver and/or application for re-entry? A: Once you attend the immigrant visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate, the officer will advise you if and what type of waiver is required to be filed. The type of waiver that is required depends on the reason why you were deported. The waiver and application for re-entry with required filing fees is no longer presented to the Embassy during the interview. Rather, is required to be filed in the United States. If the waiver application is approved, then you and the Embassy will be notified and the immigrant visa will be issued by the Embassy. If the waiver is denied, then you may appeal the decision or file a motion to reopen or reconsider the decision. Our office has successfully handled many waiver cases and would be happy to customize a winning case strategy for your waiver application. Q: How likely is it that my waiver and application for reentry will be approved? A: The U.S. Government will review the waiver packet and application for re-entry along with the supporting documents to determine whether the positive factors (immigrant rehabilitation, good character and extreme hardship evidence) outweigh the negative factors (reasons for deportation) in that particular case. Note: - a winning waiver packet contains supporting documents and evidence to prove the extreme hardship in the following manner: strong family ties in the U.S., health or medical issues, education concerns, financial issues and country conditions in the native country.
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 45
Pageant promises to promote character building for young girls in Linden
Little Miss Rotaract 2014…
By Sunita Samaroo In a world where the ascent is invariably concentrated on physical attributes, and little girls are often pressured from all sectors of society, the major focus in the upcoming Little Miss Rotaract pageant will not be on external beauty but rather on the “aura that is inside.” For the third time, the activities of the Linden Town Week will go beyond being synonymous with fun and frolic. As a matter of fact, come May 2, eight 10-year-old girls from public schools across Guyana’s mining town promise to light up the stage at the Mackenzie Sports Club as part of the pageant, bringing refreshing individuality, talent and brainpower to the forefront. The event, organised by the Rotaract Club of Linden, is geared towards bringing a fresh dimension to the world of pageantry by allowing each of the contestants to recognize their aspirations and their need to see themselves as valuable individuals within their communities. This is according to the club’s President, Analese Roman, who recently spoke to Kaieteur News. The pageant, she said, started in 2012 and has since been integral in helping to build confident, self-assured and humble young ladies for tomorrow’s generation. Roman said that the pageant is in fact the brainchild of past Rotaractor Dawn Barker who in making a
proposal to the club two years ago, saw the need for the empowerment of young girls in their community as imperative. “It was an idea the club got behind because we recognized that at the time there were no pageants targeting grade five girls and we (club members) all agreed that pageantry is one sure way to empower females from a very tender age.” But the pageant is not all about physical beauty. The objective, she affirms, was and still is to help young girls to build their self-esteem and the effort does not end with the sashing of a princess. She explained that they intend to promote the Queen as an ambassador to help in the continued promotion of literacy in young children. “It’s also about building character. The focus is for each contestant to build their self-esteem but not become vain.” The pageant which promotes institutional strengthening “is rather to expose them to an arena that helps them to develop their ability to study as well as retain what they have studied
and put it across in an articulate manner.” “Enabling them (the contestants) to display their talents and abilities among their peers was also an objective since as we believe that we are all multi-faceted individuals and we want them to be aware of that,” she said Elaborating on the theme for the pageant, Roman revealed that “Little Miss Rotaract - Caribbean Queen” was chosen to offer the contestants a chance to learn and adequately represent a different Caribbean country.” That simply means that even as the pageant curtain drops, the contestants will be equipped to promote the culture, food, dress and general way of life of each of the chosen Caribbean countries. Roman explained that the countries which will be showcased are all part of the club’s Rotaract District (7030). “As we also promote our organisation, the beautiful Caribbean islands each have a Little Miss representative.” “Representing our neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago will be Ashanti
Contestants of Little Miss Rotaract 2014
Sullivan from the Christianburg Primary School; Barbados by Shuana Gray of Wismar Hill Primary; St. Kitts and Nevis by Watooka Day
Primary’s Curtdacia Nestor; St. Vincent and the Grenadines by Amelia’s Ward Primary’s Angelicia Loo; St. Lucia by Mackenzie Primary’s
Naomi Maraj, Dominica by Coomacka Primary’s Kesa Pearson; Martinique by St. Aidan’s Primary’s Alicia (Continued on page 47)
Page 46
Kaieteur News
Sunday April 20, 2014
Smoke and mirrors ... From page 21 focus on large infrastructure development will not create jobs in the long run or short run because the labour force in Guyana is not being equipped with the tools needed to maximize the potential benefits of these infrastructures. The opposition should ask the government how many engineers and skilled technicians will be needed to run the Amaila Hydro Power Facility; how many Guyanese possess these skills? Are there training programs, study abroad programs to educate Guyanese in these areas? For instance, educating a couple of miners on operating new mining equipment is different than educating them on how to fix the equipment in the case of a breakdown. The government needs to focus on local development strategies to promote sustainable economic growth and well-being locally. They should use information from all the different case studies by development economists that point out the pitfalls of LDCs and how to avoid them. The Guyanese government should look at the work of Nobel Laureate and economist Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, who pioneered microcredit
lending, and the Grameen Bank, which did wonders for that country, and something along those lines will be instrumental for economic progress in Guyana. Now there is a big difference with naming an institution microcredit and having it perform the duties of a microcredit institution. The reason I point that out is because I’ve already investigated microcredit lending in Guyana and it is very different from what microcredit lending needs to be. Therefore in order for Guyanese to achieve what Mahatma Gandhi called “the realization of the human potential”, they must demand changes to inefficient policies of trade, micro and macroeconomics, fiscal and monetary that foster “underdevelopment” in Guyana. The Land of Many Waters currently has a budget deficit, trade deficit, a malfunctioning, barely existent local economy, unemployment in excess of 21.00% and a GDP growth rate that is misleading due to the impact of remittances. The following analogy sums up the pervading mindset of the Guyanese government: what is the use of an economics textbook
to an illiterate person? Sure that textbook can be purchased for US$100 but is it worth US$100 to an illiterate person? Definitely not. It could be worth that of toilet paper or fuel for a stove. The point is why build a bridge over a river, expand an airport, harness a waterfall, when at this moment Guyanese people don’t need them? The enormous amount of funds used for these projects can be used to improve the lives of Guyanese by creating a sustainable local economy that will generate earnings for Guyanese and tax earnings for the government in both the short and long-run? The government in Guyana needs to stop copying what they see happening in industrialized nations because Guyana is still a developing economy that has different initial conditions of modern economic growth than those experienced by already developed nations. Guyana is unique in its physical and human capital and resources, population size, distribution, and growth rate, etc. Therefore, responsible fiscal, monetary, and macroeconomic policies need to be tailored and implemented for the economic condition of Guyana. Guyanese who visit Guyana always say that
Guyana has changed for the better, everybody has a car now, there are dishwashers and microwaves, and even cane cutters have cell phones. Well, is it really development? I want these same people to Google search cell phones in Africa, or televisions in the Philippines and they will see that people in those places have technology too. In an increasingly global economy, technology transcends borders and Guyanese would’ve experienced these technological innovations regardless of which political party is in power. The Guyanese people need to know that they will have to shoulder the burgeoning debt of Guyana and should always examine and scrutinize any government projects that require more national debt because a continuous budget deficit, trade deficit, barely existent local economy, an unskilled labour force, high unemployment rate resulting in social ills, etc. are all ingredients of a concoction that will result in a vicious, selfperpetuating cycle of “growth without development” in Guyana where those in power will continue to enjoy a decadent lifestyle while the common Guyanese will continue to languish in mediocrity without achieving their full potential.
The colourful and highly imaginative ... From page 34 anything; “Mudder-sick!” is an exclamation of shock or disbelief; your 'bungee' (boong /gie) is your rear end'; 'Nanee' is a childish word for faeces; and a 'jungalist' is a vulgar, abrasive woman, maybe the kind that would be referred to as a 'b****' elsewhere. One of my students asked me if I was a 'Conchee Joe.' I said I didn't think so, and I was right. A Conchee Joe is a White Bahamian. A girl once asked me about my 'bright' son. She didn't
know my son or his intellectual prowess; she was referring to his light skin, what we would call 'Red' here. Thankfully, no one would probably ever call him a 'joneser' - a drifter, panhandler or 'junkie' who may wash your car for a dollar. Remember the warning I gave earlier about some words that may seem like dialect. Well I'm glad that I don't consider myself what one may call pompous or condescending, or I may have been put in my place by my Amerindian
friends in the North West. I heard some of them using the word 'dunnage' frequently when loading their boats with bags of yam, or any kind of cargo for that matter. On more than one occasion I was tempted either to ask them about this strange word, or even politely correct them with the 'right' word – 'tonnage' meaning, the cargocarrying capacity of a vessel. I'm glad I did neither. As it turned out, dunnage was the correct and proper word, meaning the boards and planks laid at the bottom of the boat upon which cargo is placed. Instead of a proper correction, I would have looked a proper fool. Another word which I heard them use often was 'droug' when they were fetching out bags of ground provisions from the backdam. For example, “Teacher Dennis, come help we droug dese cassava to de corial” Although it now seems to have disappeared from usage, I had found the word in a dictionary several years ago. Its meaning is 'to fetch or carry especially heavy objects or loads.' Since then, I have become much more of a listener and a learner, than a talker, especially when I'm around persons whom some may consider uneducated, a word which should almost never be used to describe anyone. The English language is a
dynamic and living lexicon. Words considered urban dictionary slang a few years ago, are now in both Webster's American and the Oxford English dictionaries. Here are a few that I think need no definition, except maybe for the over 70's: Bling, mini-me, ginormous, bootylicious, bromance, frenemy, d'oh (or duh!), dis, po-po (think Madea) sexting, selfie, and the now notorious twerking – all now 'ahem' acceptable. As far as I am aware, all of these originated as recent offbeat 'Americanisms.' So what about a few of our more imaginative 'Guyanisms'? Most of us can be quite 'voicestrous' when we need to be. Maybe we should actively lobby for a few Guyanese/Caribbean 'words' to be recognized as valid contributions to the English language. I think backdam, bangamary, sanders, feg, scraven, lickrish, basidee, babylon (police or corrupt state) dreadlocks (a valid Scrabble word) jook, (to stab) cunumunu (fool) wine (gyrate) and mamaguy (pretend/ make fun of) can stand international scrutiny and gain international acceptance. If not, we could somehow brackle (corner) a group of well-placed American or British lexicographers, and force them to take notice. They may become basidee (confused) and comply.
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 47
Pageant promises to promote character building for young... From page 45 Grandison and Grenada by One Mile Primary’s Diveyane Kalipersaud.” The pageant entails different segments beginning with the Intelligence Segment. At the beginning of the pageant the girls are given packages which contain information on various subject areas, a brief history on Linden and its Town Week activities as well as Rotaract. Recounting, Roman said that the very first time the pageant was executed under the theme “Little Miss Rotaract - Little Princesses” offering the contestants a chance to focus on the innocence and magical nature of their childhood. The very first winner was Miss Olivia Bicar who represented Christianburg Primary. Roman explained that during her stint as “Little Miss,” she was used to further the promotion of Literacy in younger children. Last year the pageant was themed “Little Miss Rotaract - Little Miss Professional” and it was chosen to ignite in the
children a spark that encouraged them to think of what professions they would like to choose in future. The contestants, the President said, all choose for themselves what profession they wanted to represent and that included Doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, police officers, flight attendants etcetera. The winner of last year’s pageant was Miss Lesryn Datson who represented the Watooka Day Primary. Roman explained that the pageant was also seen as an opportunity to raise awareness of Rotaract to the community at large.
Rotaract, Roman explained, is a service organisation comprising young professionals and tertiary level students, between the ages of 18 and 30, who are always eager to touch and transform lives within their communities. To elaborate, Rotaract clubs organise a variety of projects and activities, depending primarily on the interests of the members of the club, which are said to be influenced by the needs of their communities and the world at large. “Rotaract Clubs in Guyana have over the years contributed to community development through various
projects that range from supporting Special Needs schools, adoption of orphanages, geriatric homes, medical outreaches, donation of school supplies to children in need and orphanages; and many more.” “It was a good fundraising activity to execute during a time in Linden that’s economically viable. All community service Rotaract projects are executed with funds raised and sponsorship.” She explained that the main reason for the fund-raiser was for the club to be able to complete payment for the transportation of a child they had sponsored who was
successful at the grade 6 examination and was attending high school in the city and was forced to travel daily from Linden. The club, however, has since extended on that. Last year, the funds were used to assist in the distribution of books on World Literacy Day to all the primary schools involved as well as donating approximately 30 backpacks, complete with school supplies, to children in the community. “We have decided to direct the funds raised to completing projects we have planned in this the last quarter of the Rotaract year which
includes Rehabilitation and Adoption of the Centre for the Differently Able.” Event sponsors include Bosai Minerals, Banks DIH, the Regional Democratic Council, Live Wire, Snooks Variety Store, Fine’s Jewelry, Fredco’s Photo Studio, Ryan’s Air Touch, Foreign Links Auto Parts, Giftland Office Max, Mrs. Shirley Roman, BrainStreet and Rotary Demerara. Thus far this year, many of the ardent supporters remain the same along with Babies “R” Us, Major’s Sports Centre, Triple ‘A’ Book Store and Media Solutions – Mr. Malcolm James.
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 61
ROBBING A “WAKE”! CAN IT GET ANY LOWER FOR GUYANA? By Ralph Seeram I could not believe what I was reading - bandits holding up a wake and robbing the mourners in Georgetown. I had to read the article in detail to be sure it was not a joke. At a most traumatic moment of their lives people had to suffer at the hands of these heartless bandits. Crime has sunk to a new low. What next? It won’t surprise me if you read that bandits rob a funeral procession on its way to the cemetery. Nothing seems sacred anymore from criminals in Guyana. Robbing a wake? My God. The significance of this crime has escaped the Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee as well as the Guyana Police Force. This is a sign of how far crime has escalated, or some may say the level to which it has descended; a sign that criminals have no respect or fear of the law. They have no morality; they are more brazen now and its “open season”. Nothing is safe or sacred. My article on
crime last week drew a lot of responses and suggestions. One suggestion is that anyone convicted of robbery with a weapon is jailed for 10 years on first offence; 20 years for second offence and life for third offence, something that is implemented in some States in the US. The problem is that there are too many guns floating around in Guyana, and the penalty for gun crimes is not severe enough to serve as a deterrent. Forbes Burnham had the right idea (though for the wrong reasons) when he confiscated guns. A collateral effect was there were very little gun crimes. The most serious crime against a person then, was “choke and rob”. Today it’s murder, kidnap, robbing mourners. Speaking about mourners, wakes these days in Guyana are not what they used to be. They are not a coffee and biscuit affair anymore. I recall in the “good old days” in New Amsterdam there were some characters
who would attend every wake. In fact everyone was welcome to the wake. But there were some “professional mourners” who would be at every wake. There was Simon (Sio) on his flute, LaRose on his trumpet and an old Lady Canty, incidentally my neighbour then, who would lead the mourners in signing hymns. They were actually welcomed at every wake; their only unwritten rule was having some “likka” for them. Speaking of rum, my neighbour, Miss Ethel’s brother died, and she decided to host the wake. Now let me tell you that Miss Ethel and her brother did not speak to each other, for maybe more than 20 years. When the brother died she quickly grabbed hold of the body. You see, her brother had a lot of properties. She felt that if she buried the body she would inherit the properties. Anyway, Miss Ethel had the wake; food and liquor were in ample supply; lots of singing, but at some point the singing died down as the mourners became more focused on the liquor.
Civil Rights lawyer to represent TUC at Walter Rodney COI Prominent Canadian Civil Rights Lawyer Selwyn A. Pieters, B.A., LL.B., L.E.C. has been retained to represent Guyana’s largest trade union, the Guyana Trade Union Congress, in the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry. The Guyana Trades Unions Congress is the umbrella organization for 22 affiliated unions of some 70,000 workers. It is affiliated to the International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions (ICFTU). Dr. Walter Rodney was an internationally renowned historian and a political leader of the Working People’s Alliance in Guyana. He was killed in Guyana in 1980 in a bomb blast. Dr. Walter Rodney’s book “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” 1972 remains an essential piece of reading on Africa and its past relationship with Europe. Another book, Grounding
With My Brothers, also remains a significant work on oppressed Africans in the Caribbean. Selwyn Pieters said, “I feel honoured to be asked to appear in this important inquiry on behalf of workers. Walter Rodney made significant efforts to promote the liberation of the working class in the Caribbean and North America and to promote equity, equality and human dignity for all people.”
An angry Miss Ethel shouted, “Tek away all de likka from dem”. Believe me the chorus started up once again and you could have heard “Rock of Ages” a mile away. A few years ago we returned to Guyana for the funeral of a relative on the Corentyne. I was shocked to see what a wake was transformed into. As we were making a budget for the funeral I was expecting to see four food items, coffee, biscuit, tea and sugar. Instead, it was a food list like a wedding, then you had to hire a band to play at the wake. This was new for me; apparently no more volunteer singers, you had to get professional singers and band. I don’t know how
widespread it was but it certainly seems to be a Corentyne thing. Funerals these days also seemed like a fashion event for the ladies, wearing the latest styles. I went to a funeral, and I thought some of the ladies were going to a party after the funeral, judging from the way they were dressed. The way one was dressed you could, in Dave Martins words, “see Arizona”. A wake is when friends and relatives who have not seen each other for a long time meet, and the ladies “catch up” on their gossip. It’s a time when warring families call a truce, at least temporarily; sometimes old grudges and scores are settled at wakes in a show of respect for the dead. Persons who have not
been talking for years to each other can be seen hugging and crying in solidarity. Wakes had their good points and served as a uniting moment, the least we need is some bandit interceding with a gun. As you read this I am surprising my Pastor by attending Easter Service (I have been slacking). So on this Easter morning as we celebrate Christ arisen from the dead, I wish all my readers and friends a very happy Easter, especially families of Mara, Gregory, Adam, Errol, Claire, the Corentyne crew and Facebook friends. Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com
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Kaieteur News
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Sunday April 20, 2014
EDUCATIONAL Practical Electronic Course beginning May 6th 2014 – Call Abdul Electronics – 2266551 or 225-0391
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guy-oil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant - Call: 670-8893/ 695-9880/ 684-2838 Federal Management Security Services: Armed, Baton Officers, bus drivers. Located @ 120 Peter Rose Street, Queenstown - Tel:2260633, 226-0652, 226-0637 Supervisors, Cosmetologist, Massage Therapist. For details call:672-1239 One domestic helper, 25-40 years, Between 8:00am-4:00pm Call: 227-7355,615-2483 Sawmill – Mill wright, porters, wood mizer, band saw & moulder operators. Eccles industrial Site, EBD – Call Richard:609-7675,233-2614 One night security, Apply in writing with a valid,Police clearance to GCC Ground, Bourda. Cashiers @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Pump Attendant @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) Tel: 265-7305
CAR RENTAL CAKES & PASTRIES: Courses in cake decoration, pastry making & cookery; also edible images and Wedding dresses for sale. Call: 670-0798
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal street. Fee $16,000- Call:227-3869 FOR SALE Cheap earth delivered to spot E.C.D and E.B.D- Call:6279977, 698-0182
Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com Aidan’s Car Rental & PickupCall: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Wings Car Rental- Call:6431131
MASSAGE The Gents Spa: Be pampered by beautiful masseuses. New masseuses Amanda and Crystal – Tel:657-5979
TO LET 1 – Four bedrooms house with all modern conveniences, semi-furnished - $300,000 monthly, Happy Acres - Tel: 231-7839 (working hours) Have your properties to let, sell or manage? Email: Diana_reality@yahoo.com or contact Diana: 227-2256, 626-9382 La Parfaite (A.C), Diamond, O g l e , P r a s h a d N a g a r, Q u e e n s t o w n , Lamaha Gardens, Stabroek, Robb St, South & North Road Tel:231-2200, 670-9128
DRESSMAKING
Wings Two bedrooms apartment in Eccles – Tel:643-1131
Jean is offering courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration. Lot 153 Barr St Kitty – Call:670-2653, 618-1706
Space Available for rent at UG Road, for any type of business – Call:623-3404 Rooms - Tel:225-9223
VEHICLE FOR SALE Unregistered Toyota Raum Year 2004 , Black interior, HID lights, power door, TV navigation – Tel:617-5536 Toyota Allion PRR 9124, low miles, mags, reverse camera, etc. In excellent condition CallAyube: 233-5557; 610-1309 1 Alex PNN Series with Rims, HID lights, A.C, Alarm, CD player Pioneer – Tel:6174317, 646-1921 1 Runx, PPP series with rims, DVD, CD, A.C, flair kit alarmsTel:617-4317, 646-1921 1 Unregistered 2004 Toyota Raum with A.C, Rim, DVD player, TV, flair kit - Tel:6174317, 646-1921 Reduced Prices: Premio, Spacio, Axela, Raum, Allex, AT212, Tel: 681-4208, 2206262 1 -1RZ, 15 seater, automatic mini-bus, BNN 3760 - $1.7M Negotiable. Good condition, never used for public transportation – Tel:6280310 ; 672-5429 Toyota Fielder motor car, PNN series, excellent condition, price negotiable – Tel:627-7261 One registered Allion 2003. In excellent condition – Call: 652-3820, 665-4529 First Class Auto: Premio, Allion, Spacio, Raum, 212, Allex, Runx, IST, Fielder, Bluebird, Axela – Tel:6098188, 638-3045 NISSAN TITAN - VERY GOOD CONDITION, LEATHER INTERIOR, FULLY LOADED $2.5M NEG. CALL: 620-1026 One 8,000 Ford Tractor, one 450 Ford Towing Truck & size 16 & 17 tyres - Contact Floyd: 694-5599 1 Leyland Daf 45-130, GNN7347 ,1 Nissan Titan 4x4 GLL3687 for $2.6M-Tele # 660-4483 One RX-8 Mazda fully air conditioned, stick gear, wheel lights, fog lamps, power windows - Tel: 653-2477 2004 Toyota Tundra GNN Series - $1.6M. Owner leaving country - Phone: 647-5919 AT170 Corona – Phone:2340475 or 628-2796 1 Suzuki R1 wagon (Jeep) Automatic, Fully Powered with A/C, hardly used – Price:$1.3M Contact Rocky: 621-5902/ 225-1400 1 AT 212 Carina (Private) Automatic, fully powered with AC, alarm - Price:1.3M Contact Rocky:621-5902 1- AT 192 Carina (Private) automatic, fully powered, mags, A/C - price$1.2M Contact Rocky:225-1400 BMW 525I M BODY KIT, EXCELLENT CONDITION, LOW MILEAGE, PRICE NEG. CALL : 620-1026 (Continued on page 63)
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Large E’bo bush rum camp destroyed (From page 62)
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, G R A D U AT I O N , W E D D I N G S , ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 COOL TECH : Repairs Services & Installation of all types if homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959
Police pounced on a camp where illegal spirits were being manufactured, in a dense area at Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast over the weekend and destroyed the entire operations. No one was apprehended but barrels of the illegal spirits (bush rum) were subsequently destroyed.
Police on a routine patrol found the camp at Golden Fleece and numerous drums of the illegal spirits in barrels. No one was in that area at the time. In areas like Golden Fleece, bush rum is produced and sold to locals in wholesale and retail quantities.
AFC justifies role in 2014 ‘Budget... From page 9 On Wednesday last the PPP/ C Government was blocked from grabbing over $16B for the aborted $200B Amaila Falls Hydro Project. “AFC repeated that any further funding would be conditional to the release by government of a technical due diligence evaluation of the project…The hydro project was touted as a Low Carbon Development project for which Guyana has already put in equity to fund a road, but there has been no inflow from the so-called Norway LCDS Fund for the hydro project.” According to the party, though it had and continues to demand the due diligence disclosure, it gave government partial support to raise the debt ceiling to allow the Government to cover loans as payment for purchase of power from the hydro scheme, upon its completion. “But investors were not impressed and wanted all three parliamentary parties to under-write the project…The investors have since walked from the hydro project which took a huge credibility hit when photos revealed that the falls that would channel water for hydro generation had dried up.” According to the party, it feels that the government is
to be wholly and solely blamed for irresponsibility and recklessness in not delinking the controversial projects from other worthwhile allocations such as rehabilitation of interior airstrips, student loans, presidential guards, land titling, basic needs projects, etc., which the AFC support, and would approve when the government returns them to the National Assembly for supplementary vote, as it has done on previous occasions.” The party maintains that the PPP/C has exploited the welfare of our people for petty propaganda purposes and cheap electioneering stunts. “The AFC will not be
intimidated by these antics, and even by the veiled bluff that the PPP/C would call fresh elections.” The AFC noted that before the “Chang Ruling”, the party could have proposed, where it suspected abuse of funds, a lower amount for a specific line item in a financial programme that contained several projects. “No such proposal to reduce an item could be made this year, and it was open to the Government to reduce or withdraw the allocation, as it could with the Amaila $16B and proceed with others projects which were not opposed…But it bluntly refused to budge and gleefully set the projects up
Investigate all state assets... From page 14 Bharrat Jagdeo tenure, has come in for intense criticism and calls for investigation over some of the deals it has made. On such gained widespread notoriety that was called the “deal that stinks to high heavens,” is that involving Jagdeo’s best friend Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop when NICIL sold his company Queens Atlantic Investment Inc (QAII), the Sanata Complex. Brassington, Jagdeo and Dr. Ramroop had also come under intense scrutiny over the sale of the Guyana Pharmaceutical Company along with the Government’s subsequent drug purchasing policy after the deal. Ahmad is also no stranger to negative publicity. He was charged by US Federal authorities for his involvement in a massive fraud scheme and in 2012, he entered a plea deal with US agents, and was found guilty of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to defraud several lending institutions over a 15-year period.
for chopping, as these could fuel the PPP’s vulgar and hostile propaganda blurps against the combined opposition.” The party insists that in spite of the ongoing propaganda blitz and misuse of taxpayers’ money by the PPP/C to fund mobilization, “the AFC will continue to safeguard the welfare of the Guyanese people, and AFC trusts in the better judgment of our people.”
WANTED We buy all low income lands especially in La Parfaite Harmonie 218-5591 or 6757292 Large quantities of Purple Heart, greenheart and other woods needed. Also Nibi furniture. 218-5591 or 6757292 VACANCY Graphic Artist CorelDraw & Adobe PhotoShop CS2 Apply to: Executive Office Service 82 Albert St. & Regent Road, Bourda, Georgetown
B R I D G E WAT E R CONSTRUCTIONS - CO: NEWHOMESREMODELING, NEWBATHROOMS,TILE& MARBLEINSTALLATION, F R E E E S T I M AT E S CALL: 660-6935; 6769660; 269-094 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165/ Home and Office visits at your comfort!! TO LET Immediately! Mature Christian Working couples no children, one bedroom apartment: Parking, telephone, water conveniences - $30,000 – Contact:623-8759, 218-3463 Bedroom house, E.C.D – Call:663-9816 or 619-3887 Eccles Furnished apartment with cable, TV, internet, phone, A.C, etc – Call: 2332770 Now Open! Harmony Inn, Georgetown Branch - $6,000 & $7,000 – Contact:6680306, 694-7817, 602-8769 VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota extra cab pick-up (22 R engine) manual, (EFI) 4×4, (GPP series) price $2.5M- Contact Rocky 6215902/225-1400
WANTED Experienced cashier apply with application & Passport size photo to survival shopping complex – Tel:2275286/9 Urgently needed live-in waitresses to work in bar & restaurant. Reasonable Salary Offer. Tel:259-0574 Two mechanics, assistant mechanic, secretary. Apply at J&J Service Center – Tel:227-4897 or 660-3360 Handy boys to work, live in accommodation and meals free – Tel:228-5655, 628-1756 Attractive Live in waitress – Tel:228-5129 or Cell: 604-8277 Live-in couple, husband: driving duties, wife: domestic. Good rates & accommodation – Tel:6102978 - (after 5pm) One Bahir (cook) to work in the interior. Must keep self & environment clean & tidy – Contact Troy: 604-6730 . Girls to work at bar, preferably out of Town – Tel:223-4778, 653-0220 Lorry Drivers to work labour lorry at Emore Estate and L.B.I – Tel:228-5655, 6281756,615-6683 Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter – Call:225-0188, 223-7500 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am-4:15pm) One maid – Call:612-9570 Pump attendants and Cashiers, Apply at Shell Gas Station, Mc Doom, EBD – Tel:627-2550, 646-7180
LAND FOR SALE Schoonard - $2M, La Parafaite Harmonie- $1.2M & $1M, Herstelling (100ftX60ft) - $3M, Tuchen (with foundation & Column) - $3.2M - Contact: 218-5591, 675-7292 Blankenburg, Public Road W.C.D (38ftX150ft), (39ftX150ft) $16M each Call: 658-0132
1 Transported lot#1079 @ Tuschen H/S, 50’X26’ To y o t a R a u m , S p a c i o , f o u n d a t i o n & 10’ AT212, AT192, NZE ,L- c o l u m n , b u i l t f o r 2 Touring wagon,Fun Cargo, storey building - $2.4M IST, Nissan E24 Caravan – – No Agents! – Tel:665Tel:644-5096; 697-1453 8445
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 20, 2014
Prioritise Region Eight health services - says Councillor Chenapou Health Centre
Government has allocated $42.327M to the delivery of health services in Region Eight in this year’s National Budget. This allocation is expected to cover the construction of health posts; purchase of furniture and equipment; and purchase of vehicles. The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) controlled by the Alliance For Change (AFC) is hoping that the Regional Administration would see the speedy execution of these projects
since the health sector is in need of development. According to AFC Councillor, Niem Gafoor, budgeting for projects looks and sounds good but the fulfillment of these projects is critical. He pointed out that the Council requested an ambulance for Mahdia Hospital in 2011 and approval was granted in 2012. However, the ambulance only arrived in the Region early this month and it is nonfunctional. Gafoor said that in 2012
when the RDC inquired from the Regional Executive Officer (REO) about the status of the ambulance the body was told that the Regional Health Officer was waiting on the “duty-free setup”. He noted that in 2013 the REO informed the RDC that the “duty-free set-up” was in place and a design for the ambulance was being worked on. The RDC was subsequently informed that the ambulance had arrived in Guyana and was on the wharf.
Guyanese journalist charged with... From page 59 Accounting and Marketing departments realised that there was a significant amount of financial matters outstanding and upon investigation, it was found that Nelson had personal information which could have cleared up the outstanding matters. He was summoned to a meeting with the company officials on Wednesday
morning, and decision was then made to hand the matter over to the Criminal Investigation Department. On Friday morning he was charged with two counts of Stealing by reason of employment, a total of EC$15,140.64 and EC$253.64; Forgery and Uttering a False Document. The Police Force is continuing the investigations and there may be more charges laid on
Nelson, who once worked in St Kitts and Nevis. He is also the owner of a marketing company called “Optimum Solutions” and it is believed that most of the missing funds were diverted to the account of Optimum Solutions. He is expected to make his first court appearance at the St George’s court on Tuesday. His legal counsel is Ruggles Ferguson from the law firm of Ciboney Chambers.
Gafoor said that the ambulance is a pick-up vehicle transformed into an ambulance. The chassis is rotten and the plastic radiator is loosening. He said that the vehicle is not made for Region Eight terrain and would most likely never function effectively. According to Gafoor, he hopes that money in this year’s budget would cater for the enhancement of Chenapau Health Centre, which is in a deplorable condition. He believes that the REO is not forthcoming with the happenings of the health sector. According to Gafoor, Regional Chairman Mark Crawford and recently visited Chenapau to ascertain what is happening in the area. The visit was prompted by several complaints of neglect. He claimed that the REO had assured him that a contractor was tasked with repairing the Health Centre fence and building but a visit to the area proved otherwise. He noted that for some time the fence has been in disrepair, there is faulty
The new ambulance plumbing and inadequate facilities. Gafoor said, “It is shocking to see how the Community Health Worker and Malaria Health Worker tend to the growing population in this
community.” He added that the Village captain wants to see changes in the community. He noted that the captain showed him the poor conditions under which the health workers have to live.
Man 75, gets 10 years for stepson’s murder Seventy- five year old Albert Andries has been jailed for ten years for the unlawful killing of his stepson, Lakhram Persaud, whom he allegedly murdered on July 27, 2012 at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara. Andries, who is ailing after suffering a stroke a few years ago, was sentenced to prison by Justice Dawn Gregory, after a mixed twelve member jury found him guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter, last Thursday. Andries was represented by Attorney-at-Law, Sonia Parag, while the State prosecutors included Attorneys-at-Law, Mercedes Thompson and Lloyd Mark Conway. According to details
relating to the case, Andries reportedly stabbed his 34 year- old stepson twice in the region of his chest during an altercation at the home of Ramkumarie Manbahal at Lincoln Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara. Manhabal, the victim’s mother was in a visiting relationship with Andries at the time of her son’s demise. Andries had claimed that his stepson was in the habit of abusing both his reputed wife and himself and he wanted to put a stop to it. He claimed that the victim, who was a drug addict, had attacked him and in turn he defended himself. However, while giving her portion of evidence before the
court, the dead man’s mother claimed that her spouse had attacked her son. Manhabal told the court that on the night her son met his demise, she was awakened to the sound of his voice outside her two storey house calling for her. She said that she asked Andries to open the door for her son since she was already “tucked in bed.” The woman said that she heard an argument and went downstairs minutes later to find her spouse choking her son. Manhabal recalled that she begged Andries to stop but he continued to physically abuse her son until he finally picked up a knife and stabbed him.
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
Former AG blasts government on “leaked’ report controversy 38 PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj has called on the government to make public the contents of a report into the New Flying Squad Investigative Unit (NFSIU) that a retired senior police officer said he had been asked to establish by a fromer senior government minister. Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and National Security Minister Gary Griffith have been critical of the leaking of the reports to the media and an opposition legislator, with Ramlogan describing the leak as “treason”. The reports were the results of investigations carried out by the police and the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) into the flying squad that a former senior police officer said he had been asked to reestablish by the then minister of national security, Austin “Jack’ Warner. The report formed the basis of a front page story by the Sunday Express newspaper and Ramlogan called for an immediate investigation by the PCA and the Commissioner of Police into this leak, which he said has “jeopardised” and “compromised” the integrity of the criminal process. But in a statement, Maharaj said there were no national security considerations involved in the public disclosure of the contents of the PCA report adding that Ramlogan’s public comments about the PCA were “unbecoming of an Attorney General”. Maharaj said the existence of a Flying Squad outside of the Police Service attracted widespread public attention and intense public debate. “The public has a right to know the findings
Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj contained in this report. What are the national security considerations which are involved if the public gets to know the contents of this report? There are none,” he said. The former attorney general said that Ramlogan “without an evidential basis accused the Police Complaints Authority and its Chairman, Gillian Lucky, of leaking to the media the PCA’s report on the establishment and the existence of the (NFSIU). “The Attorney General has not disclosed to the public that he conducted any investigation of the leak and its source before he made the public accusation. “The question therefore arises whether the Attorney General’s public accusation was generated due to his genuine concerns for the public interest or was instead generated by his political motive to condemn Ms Gillian Lucky and the Authority. Ms Lucky is independent and points out to the public the abuse and misuse of power by the Government. She (Lucky) has refused to be subservient and sycophantic to the Attorney
General and his government,” he said. Ramlogan in questioning how the reports had been leaked said that neither Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, the national security minister nor himself had seen the document. But Mahaaraj said that it is his duty “to point out to the Attorney General that the Police Complaints Authority Act did not require its Chairman or its members to have sent that report to the Prime Minister, the National Security Council or the Attorney General. Section 19 of the Act makes its crystal clear that the Authority is not answerable or accountable to them”. Maharaj said the government was trying to “hoodwink and fool the population into believing that the Report contained security risks. “Is this a public relations gimmick of the Government to divert public attention from the sex scandals involving members of the Government?” he asked. Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley has also called on Prime Minister Persad Bissessar, who is also head of the National Security Council, to indicate whether or not she had seen the report, dated December 2013. “If the Prime Minister is prepared to tell the country that she was unaware of the police findings, then let the Commissioner of Police tell us that he would not have had access to this report. That he would not have told the Minister of National Security and the Minister would not have told the Prime Minister; and that this matter never came up at National Security Council. “Then the country would know in how much trouble we are in with respect to the management of our affairs,” Rowley said.
RIDICULOUS!: JUSD wants Gov’t to reconsider withdrawal tax Jamaica Gleaner - The civil society group Jamaicans United for Sustainable Development (JUSD) has added its voice to the growing condemnation of the government’s decision to impose a levy on withdrawals from deposit-taking institutions. The levy was announced by Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips as he opened the 2014-2015 Budget debate in Parliament on Thursday. It was among the new tax measures which the government expects to bring
Richard ‘Dickie’ Crawford in $2.3 billion in revenues this fiscal year. But in a statement
this morning, convenor for JUSD Richard ‘Dickie’ Crawford described the levy on withdrawals from banks, credit unions and other financial institutions as ridiculous. Crawford charged that banks are already mercilessly charging Jamaicans for various transactions, causing the Parliament and the Bank of Jamaica to intervene. He says instead of taxing Jamaicans a second time, the government should collect the $6.6 billion in revenues from the profits of the banks.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 20, 2014
I support decriminalisation of ganja, but not for smoking - says health minister MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson, says he is in support of the decriminalisation of marijuana from a point of view of justice, but not of health. “I don’t support the smoking of marijuana, just as I don’t support the smoking of tobacco.... Our position is very clear, there are some cannabinoids which is part of the constituent elements of marijuana that is useful in relation to health, but there are others, the THCs (Tetrahydrocannabinols), which are the psycho-active elements that in many regards have created a negative impact on the health services,” the Minister told journalists in Bethel Town,
Westmoreland, on April 16. Ferguson said any legalisation for the purposes of medical marijuana use, must be against the background of a regulated framework. “My support would not be (for) legalisation that will allow for wanton smoking of ganja,” the Minister said. Commenting on the social impact of ganja smoking, Dr Ferguson said that in his capacity as Member of Parliament, he has seen many useful citizens, especially young men who were not presenting any anti-social behaviour, prevented from travelling and from benefitting from the Overseas Farm Work Programme, because of being caught with small quantities of marijuana in their youthful
Dr. Fenton Ferguson years. Ferguson was in Westmoreland to deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Bethel Town & Neighbouring Communities Association Inc (BTANCA) health fair held under the theme:’Tackling Diabetes — Prevention, Treatment, Management’.
Sugar workers end strike BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Sugar workers returned to their jobs yesterday after talks mediated by Labour Minister Dr Esther Byer Suckoo have resulted in an end to the seven day strike that cost the industry nearly BDS$300,000 (One BDS dollar= US$0.50 cents). General Manager of the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC), Leslie Parris, confirmed that an agreement had been reached during the marathon talks with officials of the Barbados Workers Union (BWU). Workers at the island’s lone sugar factory Portvale had been off the job for the
past week protesting the manner in which 50 of their colleagues at the Andrews Sugar Factory were retrenched by the BAMC last month. Paris said that there were still some unresolved issues which would be discussed next week, but “in the interim, the crop will continue. “We estimate that there is approximately 860 tonnes of sugar in the yard of Portvale alone and another 500 at the weighing station which we will have to process immediately and will attempt to salvage as much of that as we can. That will most likely end up being molasses, which is the cheaper of the
two, which is the price that we could sell at,” he said. Parris said the company is also proposing to immediately continue to process approximately 600 tonnes of sugar. “So those would be our two priorities over the next three to four days,” he said, noting that the industry had lost an estimated BDS$286,000 because of the work stoppage. BWU general secretary, Sir Roy Trotman, said while the union was pleased with the terms of the settlement even though the joint accord did not specifically say that the management of the BAMC had apologised as the union had been demanding.
BMA executive warns of link between crime and rising unemployment BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – A senior private sector official has warned Barbadians to observe the link between a reduction in work opportunities and the increase in criminal activities on the island. Executive Director of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA), Bobbi McKay, said such a link cannot be ignored. “Many of us are complaining about the rising crime and brutality taking place in the country over the last few months – well, we need to see the links; the links between increasing crime and our decision to buy imports over local products. We are putting people out of work,” McKay said as she addressed
the launch of this year’s May Day celebrations. She told the ceremony that the survival of local businesses was dependent on national support and business owners collaborating and supporting each other in their endeavours. “We have to actively seek opportunities if we are serious about our future and our survival. What I think has still not yet hit home is that when we face obstacles in manufacturing, it is not only a manufacturing problem, it also affects the people and the members that unions represent as well…when we remain closed-minded and selfish, everyone loses.” Making specific reference
to the challenges facing the sector, the BMA executive noted that every decision taken had consequences and some of these consequences can have far reaching implications. “For example, in the purchase of imported poultry…or the choice of foreign furniture over local – one of the furniture stores said to a manufacturer ‘we don’t buy from you anymore because your furniture lasts too long, we want furniture [purchases] to turn over in four or five years,” she said. She said that “cheap is not always good” and that there was now a disturbing trend where we “import everything and anything from anywhere and everywhere.
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Death toll climbs to at least Asia seeks 13 in worst tragedy on Everest Obama’s assurance in territorial spats
(Reuters) - Rescuers recovered the body of one mountain guide yesterday after an ice avalanche swept the lower slopes of Mount Everest, bringing the death toll to at least 13 in the deadliest accident on the world’s highest mountain. The avalanche struck a perilous passage called the Khumbu Icefall, which is riddled with crevasses and piled with serac - or huge chunks of ice - that can break free without warning. “We were tied on a rope and carrying gas to camp when there was a sudden hrrrr sound,” said Ang Kami Sherpa, 25, one of at least three survivors flown by helicopter to Kathmandu. “We knew it was an avalanche but we couldn’t run away or do anything. “There was a big chunk of
snow that fell over us and swept us away. It looked like clouds, all white,” he said in a hospital intensive care unit where he was being treated for a blood clot on his leg and facial injuries. Climbers declared a four-day halt to efforts to scale the 8,848-metre (29,029-ft) summit and, while some decided to abandon their mission, others said they would go ahead after talking to their guides. All of the victims were sherpa mountain guides. “Everyone is shaken here at Base Camp. Some climbers are packing up and calling it quits, they want nothing to do with this,” Tim Rippel of Peak Freaks Expeditions wrote in a blog. Shocked relatives wondered how they would cope without the men who
take huge risks to earn up to $5,000 for a two-month expedition - around 10 times average annual pay in Nepal. “He was the only breadwinner in the family,” said 17-year-old Phinjum Sherpa, as she waited for the body of her uncle, Tenji Sherpa, at a Buddhist monastery in Kathmandu. “We have no one to take care of us.” Although relatively low on the mountain, climbers say the icefall is one of the most dangerous places on Mount Everest. There are, however, no safer paths along the famous South Col route scaled by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Around 100 climbers and guides had already passed beyond the Khumbu Icefall to prepare their attempts on the summit.
Mediator heads to east Ukraine, seeking surrenders
People sing the Ukranian national anthem as they attend a pro-Ukrainian rally in Luhansk, eastern Ukraine yesterday. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko KIEV/DONETSK (Reuters) - A mediator from Europe’s OSCE security body headed to eastern Ukraine yesterday seeking the surrender of pro-Russian separatists as the Kiev government declared an Easter truce following a peace accord with Moscow. Gunmen occupying public buildings in Donetsk and other Russian-speaking border towns refuse to recognize an accord in Geneva on Thursday by which Russia, Ukraine and Kiev’s U.S. and EU allies agreed that the OSCE should oversee the disarmament of militants and the evacuation of occupied facilities and streets. The coming days may determine whether unrest following the overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow
president can be contained. Russia, which annexed Crimea last month in the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War, denies running the separatists or planning to invade. Western powers threatened more economic sanctions if Moscow does not prevail on the militants to surrender. Ertogrul Apakan, who heads the special mission in Kiev of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said his deputy would be in Donetsk yesterday and meet separatist leaders today to see if they will comply with the agreement. After a meeting in the Ukrainian capital with diplomats from the four parties to the Geneva accord, Swiss envoy Christian Schoenenberger, whose
country is chair of the OSCE, said its monitors had spoken to several activists: “For the time being the political will is not there to move out,” he said. “That’s the task of the monitors, to create this political will, inform the people, so eventually they will understand that the best option for them is to move out,” he told reporters. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia, who warned on Friday of “more concrete actions” to end the stand-off if there were no movement over the Easter weekend, said after the meeting that the senior OSCE officials and the local authorities in the east would “work out practical steps for the implementation of the Geneva agreement in the course of the next day or two”.
WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Barack Obama travels through Asia this coming week, he will confront a region that’s warily watching the crisis in Ukraine through the prism of its own territorial tensions with China. Each of the four countries on Obama’s itinerary — Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines — has disputes with China over islands and waters in the South and East China Seas. Their leaders will be weighing Obama’s willingness to support them if those conflicts boil over. “What we can say after seeing what happened to Ukraine is that using force to change the status quo is not acceptable,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose country is in one of the fiercest disputes with China. Administration officials, including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, have taken a tougher line on the territorial issues in recent weeks, sternly warning China against the use of military force and noting that the U.S. has treaty obligations to defend Japan in particular. But in an attempt to maintain good relations with China, the U.S. has not formally taken sides on the question of which countries should control which islands. Analysts say there are concerns that China could be emboldened by the relative ease with which Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine over U.S. objections, as well as the very real possibility that Moscow could take more
land. Moreover, some in Asia question Obama’s ability to follow through on his security pledges in light of his decision last summer to pull back on plans for a military strike against Syria. “The heavyweights in the region got very scared by the Syrian decision,” said Douglas Paal, a longtime U.S. diplomat in Asia who now is vice president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “They’ve never seen anything like that. They’ve always counted on strong executives bringing the Congress along or going around the Congress to make sure that our security guarantees will be honored.” Obama’s advisers say they see little evidence thus far that China has been encouraged by Russia’s incursions into Ukraine. Instead, they say Beijing appears to be viewing with concern the Kremlin’s attempts to sway proRussian populations in areas of Ukraine, given China’s own restive minority populations in border regions. U.S. officials also have tried to keep China from supporting Russia’s moves in Ukraine by appealing to Beijing’s well-known and vehement opposition to outside intervention in other nations’ domestic affairs. Officials say they plan to emphasize that stance when they discuss Asia’s territorial disputes with regional leaders this week. “We have been talking with them about the importance of a strong international front to uphold
Barack Obama principles that they and we all hold dear, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, the need for peaceful resolution of disputes,” said Susan Rice, Obama’s national security adviser. “And we will continue to have that discussion throughout each of the stops on our trip.” Obama’s eight-day Asia swing is a makeup for a visit he canceled last fall because of the U.S. government shutdown. Leaving Washington on Tuesday, he will stop briefly in Oso, Wash., where mudslides killed dozens of people. He will arrive Wednesday in Japan. Obama’s advisers say there are no plans to scrap the trip if the situation in Ukraine worsens. But the president may have to make decisions while traveling about imposing more penalties against Russia if a deal to ease the crisis collapses. The U.S., Russia, Ukraine and the European Union signed an agreement Thursday. But already, the prospects of it holding appear slim, with pro-Russian insurgents in eastern Ukraine refusing to leave the government buildings they occupy in nearly a dozen cities.
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe slams Europe’s ‘homosexual nonsense’ Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe’s strong man ruler Robert Mugabe lashed out at Europe’s “homosexual nonsense” and condemned the refusal of its leaders to accept his grip on power in his latest marathon tirade on Friday. “The Europe of yesterday is gone, we have a Europe of today which has no principles at all,” the 90-year-old told a crowd of thousands gathered in a Harare stadium to mark 34 years since the country’s independence from Britain. Mugabe, who has been Zimbabwe’s ruler since independence, faces EU sanctions as a result of his authoritarian rule. He refused to attend an EU-Africa summit earlier this month after his wife was denied a visa to enter Europe. “The Europeans will never ever accept a ZANU-PF government in this country,” referring to the political party he dominates. “What is natural is made unnatural. And what is unnatural they want to say it is natural,” he said in the speech, which lasted an hour and a half.
Mugabe repeated his claims that Europe is trying to force gay rights on Africa. “(Europe says) If you pass a law that rejects homosexual marriages we will punish you like they are doing to Uganda and us,” he said. “Let Europe keep their homosexual nonsense there and not cross over with it here.” Mugabe, who once said gays and lesbians are worse than pigs and dogs, warned Western diplomats in Zimbabwe against preaching gay rights, saying they would be deported. His election victory last year was rejected by many Western countries amid claims of widespread rigging and intimidation. But a defiant Mugabe has refused to brook any dissent, and threatened the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change, saying its plan to lead protests over the deteriorating economy and high unemployment would not be accepted. “We shall never tolerate acts of violence,” he said.
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“What exactly is wrong with Guyana’s cricket?” The last time that I represented Guyana in 1st class cricket was 1981/82, when West Indies did not have any “home” series, and Test players appeared for their regional teams. Also, I have not lived in Guyana since 1980, when I moved to Florida, via Trinidad & Tobago. With that background, I am positive that I am as out of Guyana’s cricket loop as a boxed kite without wood, cellophane paper or string! But, as a former Guyana and WI player who has done as much as most, probably more too, who still has bowling records in Guyana and WI cricket, I ask the obvious question: What has gone wrong with Guyana’s cricket as regards WI regional cricket overall? From the outside, it looks as if Guyana’s cricket is meandering into outright purgatory! Guyana’s cricket is not, presently, any different than that of much maligned Leeward Islands, yet LI ended above Guyana in the
recently concluded 2014 regular round-robin 4-day competition. Looking at results for 2014, well presented by Adriel “Woody” Richards and/or Imran Khan, WICB’s Media Communication Officers, Guyana is the only team not to have won any of its six games in the recent fracas. This is not just worrying, but downright disgraceful, when one considers that Guyana could boast, like all territories in WICB’s cricket, to have the same, if not more, talent than most regional entities. Since that is so, then the only other area to investigate is the management of Guyana’s cricket by Guyana’s Cricket Board. Surely they cannot be pleased with what has transpired in this year’s regional season! I put much trust in reports in Guyana’s newspapers by Sean Devers, former Guyana youth off-spinner who has done an excellent job so far as a sports journalist specializing in covering regional cricket. Much of what Devers
writes on Guyana’s cricket turmoil not only rankles but makes one with general pride in Guyana’s cricket, like me, cringe. Apparently the internal politics of Guyana’s cricket has to be experienced to be believed! Last week, a “Letter to the Sports Editor” in one of Guyana’s newspapers complained bitterly that one important arm of Guyana’s internal cricket was not only illegally manifested, but still exists and openly operates anyway, since that seems to be standard way in that country’s cricket. That letter was not written by Devers, but by, like me, a very concerned Caribbean cricket supporter. In 2012, the Government of Guyana attempted to circumvent and undermine the running of Guyana’s cricket, to take over its operations, with an astronomically poorly thought out process and modus operandi, naming an Interim Management Committee, headed by former WI captain Clive Lloyd. At that exact time, Lloyd
Sunday April 20, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Today should be devoted to paperwork and getting your financial affairs and budgets in order, Aries. Once this is done, you can relax in the evening with friends and loved ones ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): All financial undertakings have good aspects today, Taurus. It could be that you have been thinking of starting a new business venture. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): This is bound to be a wonderful day, Gemini. You're looking and feeling great and it shows! This is a day of kindness and cooperation. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): This is a good day for you to analyze information, Cancer. You have an especially acute business sense, which you should use to your advantage. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): You're a conscientious, hard worker, Leo, but today your thoughts are more on home than work. You feel especially close to your family and friends. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): oday is likely to be another busy one for you, Virgo.high-energy day.
********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): You have a strong spirit of cooperation today, Libra. It inspires you to pitch in and help others without being asked. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): Keep your eyes and ears open to all new possibilities, Scorpio. Even if it isn't your habit to read the "Help Wanted" section of the newspaper, do so today. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Today your strong sense of nostalgia likely has you leaning toward all things old. If you do some furniture shopping, you'll be drawn to antique shops rather than contemporary stores. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): This is bound to be a wonderful day, Capricorn, as everybody seems to be in a warm and congenial mood. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):You have much to be grateful for, Aquarius. Why not go out tonight and celebrate with friends? ********************* PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20): You're eager and optimistic today, Pisces, which works well with your strong, capable nature.
Devendra Bishoo
Colin E. H. Croft says:
was also Chairman of International Cricket Council’s Cricket Committee. Everyone knew that ICC had specifically decreed in its by-laws that no government or political interference would be adhered to, or indeed condoned, in any country’s running of its cricket. Quite honestly, to this
very day, I am still at a desperate loss to comprehend why Clive Lloyd would have allowed himself to be so caught up in that unadulterated mess, and not be able to see the severe roadblocks ahead, political or otherwise, that that IMC would have caused with both WICB and ICC!
WICB and ICC waded in quickly, correctly decreeing that if that IMC, a de-facto Guyana government coup d’etat on GCB’s overseeing its cricket, then games scheduled for Guyana would be staged elsewhere. In quicker time than it took for that blood red moon to disappear (lunar eclipse) after earth’s shadow interfered with rays of the sun playing on our nearest planet, the IMC also disappeared. The moon’s “Tetrad” of four eclipses will continue over the next two years, but if Guyana’s cricket does not improve in that period, then WICB should consider intervening in Guyana’s cricket, for its own good. This last year has been totally dismal for regional cricket from “The Land of many waters”, which had produced Hooper, Chanderpaul, Butcher, Sarwan, Solomon, Kanhai, Lloyd, Gibbs, Fredericks, Harper, Butts, Kallicharran and yours truly, etc. This is not about insularity, but has it occurred to anyone yet that there were no Guyanese in West Indies men’s squad to ICC WT-20 last month? It has been years since Guyana last won WICB’s 4day competition but many would still remember that it was Guyana which won that inaugural R. Allen Stanford 20-20 competition in 2006/7. Narsingh Deonarine’s six over a left-handed cow-corner off world’s No. 1 T-20 bowler, Samuel Badree, as Guyana beat Trinidad & Tobago with one delivery remaining, still resonates for Guyana’s then players. Guyana also won the inaugural Caribbean T-20 in 2009/10, when they beat Barbados in T&T, again with one delivery remaining, thanks to Jonathan Foo’s whirlwind big-hitting. The greatest irony is that Davendra Bishoo, who was not even originally selected for last weekend’s game v T&T, but had a record 15 wicket haul in that same game, was also voted “Man of the series” back in 2009/10. Yet, this guy cannot get into any team on merit! Something stinks here. What is really going on in Guyana’s cricket? Enjoy!
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Letter to the Sports Editor
Time for the GFF General Council to awake and do what’s right DEAR EDITOR, The GFF will be hosting its Annual Congress on 26th April 2014 at the Tower Hotel. This Congress is expected to be as fiery as the last one held at the Pegasus in April of 2013 when there was elections for office bearers. New persons were elected into office and since then the amount of excitement and haphazardness that transpired made the previous 20 years look pale in comparison. Let me see if I can remember some of the main stuff that transpired. The Deputy General Secretary was fired, the Office Manager was asked to resign, a Vice President resigned, another Vice President was suspended, another Vice President has called for the President to demit office, the President sent a VP a lawyer’s letter after he chastised the President for not Managing the GFF Business properly amongst other things, the President lied to the nation when he said that he went to Zurich but instead went and
visited his family in the USA. The Gen Secretary has submitted his resignation, the Accountant has also resigned, the GFF was fined a substantial amount of USD for withdrawing from the Beach Soccer Tournament after the President assured all that CONCACAF said that the GFF would not be fined, The GFF continue to incur unnecessary indebtedness with the playing of so called Premier League, small crowd support, small gate income, large transportation expenses, ground rental, referee fees, no security and medical personnel at games and the travesty of comical things continue to prevail. No International matches played for over a year and counting. The UDFA Executives were suspended by the Matthias led regime for some exorbitant period, yet before the playing of that ill fated final on 1st’ Jan 2014, Mr Matthias had lots of meetings with individuals so that the Linden Finals could have been played, and yet this
man spearheaded this long suspension to show that he is in charge. Mr Editor after seeing such inefficiency and mismanagement, those who had the wisdom to move a motion of no confidence on the sitting President deserve commendation of the highest order. At last football will be spared another year of stress and agony. Mr Beckles of Bartica is suing the GFF for monies owed to him, he had earlier requested payment and he received confirmation that he will be paid at a certain date, after many months of no response, Mr Beckles sent a Lawyers letter threatening court action, Mr Editor the GFF has decided to contest the matter and has engaged the service of a Lawyer, now tell me isn’t that intelligent stupidity the monies owed will be less than the legal fees, that is the type of leadership that is prevailing. Mr Aubrey Major is also owed and the GFF is procrastinating in the payment, but instead the
President takes out his staff to lavish dinners and lunches instead of trying to alleviate the outstanding debts. Speaking about Staff, the President preaches transparency, accountability & structure. Mr Editor, one of the Presidents trusted and close staff used to collect monies on behalf of the GFF and when the accountant approached this seemingly powerful individual for the funds, none was there. The monies amounted to was approximately 200,000 dollars. Mr Editor that is misappropriation of funds and requires dismissal and or jail. A football official who is involved in politics had to loan that individual monies to repay the misappropriated funds. This matter has been swept under the carpet and
the President preaches accountability. Am I hearing that the same individual was also involved in collecting monies for the GFA Finals at the stadium for booths and the money can’t be accounted for and I hear it is lots of dollars? So much for transparency and accountability. Mr Editor, the GFF constitution is clear on certain matters yet the President operates like he is a law on to himself. Let me give you an example. In making certain constitutional decision it requires 4 Executive to decide, only 3 executives are functioning and as far as we are aware it is only 2. The President in an attempt to fill two VP’s Position appointed two persons to function and has even invited them to meetings
of the Executive, is not that crass eye pass to the highest order and this is the guy that we want to lead Guyana football into the future. Come on General Council wake up from your hunches and save Guyana Football.News is also emanating that the FIFA, CONCACAF-& CFU officials are not too pleased with his performance. In the interest of good governance, fair play and sanity, I am hoping that the General Council in their wisdom shall move this individual. Mr Editor, can you or anyone say that the President did a good job over the last year with all that transpired. He caused too much destruction. Thank you, Concerned Football Fan
Senior Police Officer in plot to remove Roger Harper from cricket administration DEAR EDITOR, It has come to my attention that there is a concerted plot by a group of known individuals to remove Roger Harper from Guyana’s Cricket Administration, at a time when cricket is in utter ruins and our cricketers badly need his experience and expertise. The group, of course, does not care for our cricket or cricketers but is more concerned with the lust for power and personal gain even if it means running cricket into the ground. The group consists of: (a) Some Executives from The Guyana Cricket Board and Demerara Cricket Board (b)The GYO, Everest, GCC, DCC cricket clubs along with a former GCB Secretary, an Insurance Broker, the Sports Director and an Assistant Commissioner of police along with an attorney at law and a senior executive of Sterling Products Ltd. The group meets at the GCC and Everest Cricket Club where it plans for a general takeover of our cricket with the Sports Director and the
Assistant Commissioner of Police promising to use all the resources available to them. This is all happening when our national cricket teams are being beaten by all and sundry. Promising young cricketers, who were performing well four years ago, have been destroyed mentally and physically by a group of illegal and inept cricket administrators who never played the game of cricket and cannot boast of even a decent cricket administrative track record. Players such as Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devendra Bishoo, Narsingh Deonarine, Christopher Barnwell, Jonathon Foo, Paul Wintz, Richard Ramdeen, Brandon Bess, Ronsford Beaton, Derwin Christian, Rajendra Chandrika, Vishal Singh and Zaheer Mohamed among others, have all suffered negatively, despite their obvious talents, from the calculating and grossly incompetent leadership of the current cricket administrators. The selection and the mental and physical preparation of
the players have been exceptionally poor. Neil Kumar, Anand Sanasie, Rayon Griffith and sports writer Sean Devers have all2 showered praises for the GCB’s preparation and selection of the team which they touted to be the bestprepared team for years. Let them tell the public why the best team has performed so badly especially when the regional opposition has been so poor? When one analyses the fact that the government in its de-recognition of the GCB proposed the Cricket Administration Bill ostensibly to resolve this untenable cricket madness, yet its erstwhile Sports Director/ Member Parliament who sat on the Select Committee publicly embraces the rejected GCB, showering compliments and unflinching support all the while. It causes one to wonder if the Cricket Administration Bill will ever be approved in Parliament and even so if it will ever be instituted. W. G. Boston
Singh (73 and 2 for 8), Hinds 61.. From page 72 help Cotton Tree Die Hard to a 121 runs victory over D’Edward. In scores from the matches played: At Goed Bananen Land, Tucber Park beat Goed Bananen Land by 1919 runs. Tucber Park 255 in 44.2 overs with Martin Singh 73, Hakeem Hinds 61, Randy Baichan 3 for 20. At the Rose
Hall Welfare Ground in Canje, Police beat Rose Hall Community Centre by 243 runs. Police 285 in 44.3 overs with Leo Andrews 86, Kwesi Mickle 56, Marlon Shepherd 46, Kris Bahadur 3 for 52, Latchman Ramoutar 3 for 55, Keon Isaacs 2 for 57. Rose Hall Community Centre 42 in 17.5 overs with
Kwesi Mickle 4 for 6 Leon Andrews 4 for 19. At D’Edward, Cotton Tree Die Hard beat D’Edward by 121 runs. Cotton Tree Die Hard 182 in 31 overs with Munesh Hemraj 50, Raymond Braithwaite 4 for 45. D’Edward 61 in 14 overs with Andre Chesney 4 for 15, Leonard Seetayah 2 for 15, Fizul Mohamed 2 for 16.
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Guyana Cup Fever horserace Guyana’s Top Volleyball team Meet definitely on today PMTC wings out to Trinidad High Court injunction discharged The much anticipated Guyana Cup Fever horserace Meet is definitely on for today, Easter Sunday, at the Port Mourant Turf Club. This was confirmed after the High Court Injunction sought and granted by Horse Owner Dennis DeRoop to compel the organisers of the activity to have his horse compete at the activity, was discharged. The matter was discharged by Chief Justice Ian Change at a hearing held in his chambers. Meanwhile, the meet, which is being held in collaboration with the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing stables, has so far attracted over 80 entries. A packed and exciting day of racing is anticipated with eight races carted for the day. With champion horse Score’s Even, unable to participate due to legal ramifications. Fans will be anxious to see if Treacle will be able to continue its dominance. There are a number of feature events on the day’s programme with the C class collision again the talk of the day with a whopping winner’s take of $2M and trophy up for grabs over one mile. The co-feature event for three year old horses bred and
born in Guyana and the West Indies will see the animals racing over a distance of 1200M for a winning pocket of $1M and trophy. There is a race for fouryear-old animals over a distance one mile for a winning money of $700,000 and trophy. The E1 & Lower 1300M event will see the animals competing for a first prize of $600,000 and trophy. There is an event for G3 & Lower animals over a distance of 1300M for a pole position taking of $500,000 and trophy. The H & lower gallop is also over 1200M for a first prize of $350,000and trophy. The I2 and Lower race has a winning pocket of $300,000 and trophy over 1000M. The final event for animals classified J2 and lower also over 1000M is for a winning purse of $200,000and trophy. Horses such as of Treacle, Swing Easy, Got To Go, Run Nana Run, The Message, CP Got Even, California Strike, Red and Lovely, Grand De Roja, Force Entry, Some Legend Gold Rush, Milwaukie Blitz , Monsoon, Princess Alisha, it’s My Turn, Settle In Seattle, Silver Jet, Wild Grinder, Ameera’s Joy, Gypsy Rose,
Untouchable, Flying in the Park, Set For fame, Flying baby, Gold Princess ,Serenity, Windy War, Rosetta, Times have changed, Princess Kiara, War Craft, Marathon Man, Appealing Harvest, Silent Lizzy, Fresh Again, Swing Easy, Top of the line , Damascus Dream, Joyful Victory, Bridal Stone Corner, Traditional Man, Miss Regina, Intruding Account, Princess Kiara, Silent Night, She So Special, Cat Massiah, Lucky Gold, Party Time, Easy To win, Angel Flyer, Sole Classic, Feels like Gold, Quiet Strom, Wild Grinder and Third World, Pixie Fire, Savion, Mona Lisa, I want Revenge, Golden Reprise, Diplomat, Speed Vision, Prince Bayaya, Windy Killer, Smarty Light, Lucky Gold among others will be in the running today. The events will be held under the ru l e s o f t h e G u y a n a H orse Racing Authority. The top individual performers, including top Jockey and stable will receive accolades compliments of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market. Additional details can be obtained from Chandu Ramkissoon (6249063 or 232-0633), Romel Jagroop (624-1798), Irshad Mohammed on 664-1650. Race time is 12:30hrs.
Lewis Hamilton takes stunning pole for Mercedes in China BBC Sport - Lewis Hamilton took his third pole position in four races this season with a stunning performance in qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix. Hamilton was more than half a second clear of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo in treacherous wet conditions. Sebastian Vettel was third as Nico Rosberg took fourth after spinning his Mercedes in a vain attempt to close the 1.2-second margin to his team-mate. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso took fifth from the Williams of Felipe Massa. Hamilton was in irresistible form throughout qualifying, fastest in all three parts, and each time by about the same margin. “Definitely the most satisfaction is getting this result when it is raining,” said Hamilton. “It was so slippery out there, trying to find the grip and not make mistakes. “It was a tough session, but the car was feeling great. There are some things that can be improved on but it has put us in a good position for the race.”
Vettel was the quickest Red Bull in the first two knock-out sections, but Ricciardo beat the four-time champion when it counted and by an impressive 0.505secs. “I think we are in the best position we have been all season to give Mercedes a hard time tomorrow, because we managed to split them up,” said Vettel. Rosberg, who seemed unsettled by Hamilton’s pace, ran off the track early in the final session and then spun after getting too wide at the final corner on his last lap. As it happened, the spin may have prevented Alonso from knocking the German down to fifth. The Spaniard was the next car through and had been just under a second off Hamilton’s time at the second split point. But the yellow caution flags demanding a driver slow down were already waving as he entered the final corner after Rosberg’s spin. Although the Ferrari driver improved his time he was just under 0.5secs
down on the German and a similar margin clear of Massa. The Brazilian’s Williams teammate Valtteri Bottas was seventh, as Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne and Lotus’s Romain Grosjean completed the top 10. It was the first time Lotus have been in the top 10 on the grid and marked a major step forward after a difficult start to the season. Alonso’s team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was knocked out in the second session, when he was 1.1 seconds slower than his team-mate, and will start 11th. Ferrari said the Finn suffered a problem with his downshift. It was also a difficult day for McLaren, with Jenson Button taking 12th and teammate Kevin Magnussen only 15th, 0.7secs adrift. “In these conditions it’s very tricky for us,” said Button. “We struggle with front [tyre] temperatures. “I think it will be a fun race, it’s further back than we would like but there have been some pretty good results from this far back this season.”
Receives uniform from Poonai’s Pharmacy
Poonai Bhigroog (right) of Poonai’s Pharmacy, Rose Hall Town hands over one of the jerseys to Quacy Matheson in the presence of teammates and officials. The Port Mourant Training School Volleyball team, which is one of the top Volleyball teams in Guyana and the top team in Berbice, left Guyana on Thursday to participate in the Players League 4 Caribbean Club Championships at Chaguanas in neighbouring Trinidad & Tobago that is underway from April 18th to 21st. Before departing Guyana, the team which is being coached by National Coach Levi Nedd and was encamped at the National Gymnasium in Georgetown, were presented with a set of uniforms by popular businessman Poonai Bhigroog of Poonai’s Pharmacy, Rose Hall Town. At a simple presentation ceremony which was held in front of Poonai’s
Pharmacy, the uniforms were presented by Mr. Bhigroog to Quacy Matheson in the presence of other teammates and the businessman son. The businessman, who also serves as the Vice President of the BVA and the Chairman of the Berbice Regional Health Authority, urged the team to give of its best and promised that next time around the donation will be doubled if they return with the Championship Trophy. Matheson, who is the star spiker of the team, expressed gratitude on behalf of the team and said they will give of their best to be successful. PMTC 1 were specially invited to participate by the Trinidad & Tobago Volleyball Federation for the third successive year although
Guyana is not a member of CAZOVA (Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association). PMTC 1 is made up of current and former students of the Port Mourant Apprentice Training Centre and has a number of current and former National Under-19 Players. The squad - Quacy Matheson, Creston Rodney, Beepaul Bandoo, Ian Bagot, Luen David, Adriel Moore, Akeem Bowling, Shemroy Ross, Stephen Veerapen, Trevlon McRae, Rashaad Razack, Madan Budram, Jason Seelochan, Devendra Latchman and Narad Rengasammy. The team is also being accompanied by Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) President, Gregory Rambarran. (Samuel Whyte)
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COP Inter-Division t20 cricket 3 Softball Finals fixed for next F & B divisions face-off today, Saturday evening @DCC Cricket fans will be in for Masters teams in Floodlights That will be followed winner to meet TSU in Final a treat next Saturday evening who have been in all Masters at 6:15PM by the battle of the when the 3 Finals of Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association organised Trophy Stall male and female softball cricket tournaments are contested at the DCC Ground in Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown. Action starts at 2:00PM with two of the country most powerful
finals except the first one (Over-40), since the inception of this category some 7 years ago, will do battle against Success Masters in a 20/20. At 5:00PM, the country foremost female teams; Wellwoman and Trophy Stall Angels will battle in a 10/10 affair being dubbed the Battle of the Divas.
big men; Wolf Warriors and Regal doing battle in the Male Open final, which will be a 20/ 20 affair. There will be live commentary on the ground, musical entertainment, lots of beverages and food on sale. Admission is $200 and paid parking of $500 is available inside the ground.
2014 Elizabeth Styles Under-19 50 overs cricket competition in Berbice
Ramsaroop, Sewkarran, Ramdhan help Blairmont demolish D’Edward
By Sean Devers The Commissioner of Police (COP) Inter Division t20 Cricket Competition sponsored by C. Persaud Dental Clinic and Laboratory continued yesterday with three matches as ‘F’ division and ‘B’ division advancing to today’s semi-final, while TSC drew a bye to the final. It could come down to Trevor Benn against Michael Newland today in the semi-final between ‘F’ division and ‘B’ division from 09:00hrs at Eve Leary with the winner facing TSC, for the $200, 000 winner’s prize. TSU are already assured of at least $150,000 even if they lose and will be all to play between Newland’s Berbice division and Benn’s ‘F’ division from the Interior location. Yesterday a full house at Eve Leary watched TSU, led by useful all-round performances from Rawle Haynes and Stephon Blacks beat ‘A’ division by 45 runs in the morning game played in sultry conditions on a placid track on heavy outfield. Blacks followed up his classy 82 in the first round with a solid 30 and along with Bertie
Carmichael (15) added 29 for the first wicket before Haynes weighed in with an unbeaten 43 to see TSU to 138-8 despite a fine performance by Eion Parris who grabbed 4-37. Blacks returned to capture 310 with his medium pace while Haynes took 3-12 and Quinton Sugrim 2-22 as ‘A’division were blown away for 93 in 18.4 overs with only Rolston Grenville (21) and Ganesh Deokarran (15) reaching double figures. In the afternoon game, ‘E’ division from Linden, wasted a superb fielding display which included outstanding work behind the stumps from Jermaine Tucker and a stupendous catch at short-mid wicket by Carlsdale Austin, who dived forward to hold a stunning low catch to remove Philburg Wilburg off Naddan Haniff with an ordinary exhibition of batting to be all out for 73 in reply to ‘B’ division’s 146-8. Haniff removed the first two batsmen to leave ‘B’ division on 12-2 before Kord Griffith (14) who fell at 68-2 and Davidson (31) put on 56 for the third wicket. Former Berbice inter-county cricketer
and sprinter Newland (10) was then brilliantly run out by a direct hit as the Berbicians slumped from 68-2 to 131-8. Haniff, Khemraj Chand and Orin Sobers picked up two wickets each for ‘B’ division whose bowling, apart from Newland, looked innocuous. However, the batsmen failed to take advantage of some very loose bowling with only Jevon Thomas (15) and Austin, who hit two sixes off successive balls before he was bowled for 13, getting into the teens. Ansel Doris picked up 3-19 and got support from Brentnol Woolford (2-20). At GDF, ‘D’ division from West Demerara, were bowled out for 100 with only Dellon Henry (25) reaching 20 as 28-year-old hyper active pacer Trevor Benn taking 3-3 and Kelsey Roberts 3-8. Keith Jobe topscored with 29 as ‘F’ division reached 104-3 with seven overs to spare. Richbland Blauhun and Benn, who toured with the Guyana first class team without playing a game, both made 21 with Benn finishing the contest with a boundary.
2014 Elizabeth Styles under-19 50 over cricket competition in Berbice Avishkar Sewkarran
Parmanand Ramdhan
The 2014 Elizabeth Styles under-19 50 overs cricket competition in Berbice continued recently with some more outstanding performances. Berbice under-19 batsman Nick Ramsaroop blasted 128 (9 fours and 5 sixes), Avishkar Sewkarran 91 (8 fours) and Guyana under-17 all rounder Parmanand Ramdhan 67 (7 fours and 3 sixes) to spearhead their team, Blairmont Community Centre, to a daunting 351 for 8 in 45 overs against D’Edward, the highest score by a team in the competition so f a r. Ramsaroop and Sewkarran had put on 227 in just 30 overs for the opening stand. When D’Edward replied they ran up against Berbice under-15 pacer Rameshwari Somwaru who took 5 for 6 from 6 overs and medium pacer Sewkarran who rounded off a fine all round performance with 5 for 12 from 7 overs as they were skittled out for a paltry 24. Crabwood Creek Risings opening batsman Naresh Deo slammed 105 (3 fours and 9 sixes) to help his team post 185 in 30.2 overs against No.70 Young Star whose off spinner
Thameshwar Kumar took 6 f o r 3 6 . D e o ’s e ff o r t however went in vain as Kumar slammed 71 (6 fours and 6 sixes) to steer Young Star to an easy 6 wickets win. Clifton Lindee hit 97 (15 fours and 1 six) and Kwesi Mickle 60 (6 fours) to steer Police to 268 in 43.2 overs against Edinburgh. When Edinburgh replied Police off spinner Leon Andrews took 5 for 21 from 7 overs to help bowl them out for 139 in reply despite a fine 70 (11 fours and 1 six) from opening batsman Joseph Giddings. In score from the matches played: At Blairmont, Blairmont Community Centre beat D’Edward by 327 runs. Blairmont Community Centre 351 for 8 in 45 overs with Nick Ramsaroop 128, Avishkar Sewkarran 91, Parmanand Ramdhan 67, Allosia Murphy 2 for 3, Raymond Braithwaite 2 for 62, Andre Rambarran 2 for 75. D’Edward 24 in 14 overs with Rameshwari Somwaru 5 for 6, Avishkar Sewkarran 5 for 12. At Crabwood Creek, No. 70 Young Star beat Crabwood Creek Risings by 6 wickets. Crabwood Creek Risings 185 in 30.2 overs
Thameshwar Kumar
Nick Ramsaroop with Naresh Deo 105, Thameshwar Kumar 6 for 33, Viendra Gooniah 2 for 39. No. 70 Young Star 190 for 4 in 29.4 overs with Thameshwar Kumar 71, Vi e n d r a G o o n i a h 31, Parmeshwar Chatterpaul 27, Delon Harvey 3 for 31. At Edinburgh, Police beat Edinburgh by 129 runs. Police 268 in 43.2 overs with Clifton Lindee 97, Kwesi Mickle 60, Vijay Mangra 2 for 11, Clifford Welcome 2 for 30, Wally Latif 2 for 37, Joseph Giddings 2 for 52. Edinburgh 139 in 35.4 overs with Joseph Giddings 70, Leon Andrews 5 for 21 Kwesi Mickle 2 for 17, Steffon Anderson 2 for 33.
Singh (73 and 2 for 8), Hinds 61 and Smith (6 for 19) see Tucber Park through The 2014 Elizabeth Styles under-19 50 overs cricket competition, organised by the Berbice Cricket Board continued recently with victories for Tucber Park, Police and Cotton Tree Die Hard. Martin Singh slammed 73(6 fours and 4 sixes) and Berbice under-19 batsman Hakeem Hinds 61 (6 fours) to steer Tucber Park to 255 In 44.2 overs against Goed Bananen Land. The former Guyana under-15 pacer Nial Smith took 6 for 19 from 10 overs and Singh bowling offspin, 2 for 8 to bowl out Goed Bananen Land for 64. Berbice under-19 batsman Leon Andrews hit 86 (4 fours and 3 sixes), Kwesi Mickle 56 (5 fours and 1 six) and Marlon Shepherd 46 were the top scorers for Police in their total of 285 in 44.3 overs against Rose Hall Community Centre, after that Mickle and Andrews came back with their offspin and took 4 for 6 from 2.5 overs and 4 for 19 from 9 overs respectively to skittle out Rose Hall for a paltry 42, giving Police a huge 243 runs victory. Munesh Hemraj scored 50 and pacer Andre Chesney took 4 for 15 from 4 overs to (Continued on page 67)
Andrews (86 and 4 for 19), Mickle (56 and 4 for 6) help Police to 243 runs victory
Kwesi Mickle
Leo Andrews
Martin Singh
Nial Smith
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Suriname Easter Int. Badminton Tourney
Mixed results on day one for Guyanese Guyana’s Badminton Te a m t o t h e A n n u a l Suriname Easter International Tournament being played at the Walter Amo Sports Hall, Paramaribo enjoyed mixed results on the opening day, Good Friday. Matches were played in the Under-15, 19 and Open categories and some of the players moving on to the second round, quarterfinals and semifinals were Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani, Jonathan Mangra, Ambika Ramraj, Krystal Peters, Hemraj Beharry and Ronald Chang Yuen. Following are the results of matches on day one contested by the Guyanese: Under-15 Boys Singles Hemraj Beharry (GUY) lost to David Cheung (SUR) 22-20, 21-15 Under-15 Mixed Doubles Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) and Justin Kertotiko (SUR) lost to Tariq Sweet and Jogia Williams of Suriname 21-16, 21-16 Under-19 Boys Singles Jonathan Mangra (GUY) defeated Ghalry Oemar (SUR) 21-5, 21-12 Ronald Chang Yuen (GUY) lost to Samuel
Ricketts (JAM) 21-2, 21-3 Under-19 Girls Singles Krystal Peters (GUY) lost to Yuan Yang (SUR): 159, 15-11 Ambika Ramraj (GUY) got a walk over into the Quarter-Final Under-19 Boys Doubles Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra (GUY) defeated Arvind Nannanpanday and Patrick Vigelandzoon (SUR) 21-16, 21-12 Under-19 Girls Doubles Ambika Ramraj & Krystal Peters (GUY) got a walk over into the SemiFinals Under-19 Mixed Doubles Narayan Ramdhani & Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) defeated Denzel Sweets & Sherifa Jameson (SUR): 2117, 16-21, 10-21 Jonathan Mangra & Ambika Ramraj (GUY) defeated Shawn Brandon & Mary-Ann Zhong(SUR): 21-14, 21-14 Ronald Chang Yuen & Krystal Peters(GUY) Lost to Patrick Vigelandzoon & Anjali Paragsing (SUR): 218, 21-8 Open Senior Men’s Singles Round Robin Group A Christopher Persaud
Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra of Guyana in their U-19 Boys Doubles match against Suriname’s Arvind Nannanpanday and Patrick Vigelandzoon. (GUY) lost to Alrick Toney (SUR) 21-15, 21-16 and Virgil Soeroredjo (Suriname #1 seeded player): 21-7 215. Group C Narayan Ramdhani (GUY) lost to Samuel Ricketts (JAM) 21-8, 21-7 The tournament continued yesterday.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday April 20, 2014
Illness to family member forces Boat legend to miss return 80-year-old Pat Holder out of today’s Bartica Regatta
Pat Holder speeds along the Essequibo River during a race at the Bartica Regatta.
Pat Holder stands with some of his silverware won over the years. By Sean Devers A Spine Surgery in November 2011 resulted in veteran Power Boat champion and National Awardee Pat Holder losing his ability to walk properly
up to last year but at age 80, the Power Boat Race legend had everything planned for his grand return to the water in today’s Bartica Regatta. However, a serious illness to a family
member forced the former Motor Racing and Cycling Champion out of today’s Regatta. “I had everything set f o r t o d a y ’s e v e n t i n Bartica where I was going to make my come-back to Power Boat racing to thank all my supporters from Bartica for their support and to prove that at 80 I could still compete with the much younger fellows,” Holder,
who received a Medal of Service Award in the line of Sports in 1989, informed. “I began preparing for this since last year when I was recovering. I bought a second hand 25 Horse Power Engine from a friend in the USA and a special life jacket for today’s race. I had full sponsorship and my locally built Boat was to be ready for the big race. However, due to an illness to a close family member I had to pull out,” a disappointed Holder lamented. Holder, who owns the ‘Pat Holder radiator repairs’ in Bar Street Kitty, last raced at the Bartica Regatta in 1996 and has had 53 years experience as one of Guyana’s top Power Boat Champions. Holder would usually race his 40HP Boat ‘Midas’ in the 75HP races, giving up 35HP. “I was winning everything in the 40HP category so I decided to race in the 75HP races with my same boat and began winning those races also,” Holder proudly remembered. “My doctor, Professor Crandon was coming from Jamaica to see me race today,” an extremely mentally fit Holder stated. The inspirational Holder was the only consistent competitor from Georgetown and his
only child, the late Carl Holder, was following in his father’s footsteps when he drowned at age 29 while preparing for a race in 1989 in Bartica. In 1998 Holder ended his unbroken 43 years service to Motor Racing in Guyana and in an extensive interview with Kaietuer Sports recounted how he helped to form the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) in Albert Street, Thomas Lands. Holder remembered how he started racing on the sands on 63 Beach in Berbice in 1955 and raced at every meeting until 1962 when he assumed the duties of official starter. Before Boats and Motor Bikes, Holder became a cyclist at 14 and in 1953 he was selected along with Lindsay Gordon to represent British Guiana in Suriname in 1953. H o w e v e r, t h e multitalented sportsman was involved in a motor cycle accident in the city which left him unconscious for seven days and in hospital for four months, forcing him to give up cycling. He then turned to Motor Bike racing along with his brother Clive (who also died in a motor sport related accident) and
Billy. In 1956 he represented this country in Motor Bike racing before retiring from the track in 1958 when he turned his attention to Power Boat Racing becoming Champion for many years in the Bartica and Suriname Regattas. Holder also raced Boats in Barbados and Trinidad and just to show off his versatility even ventured into Horse Riding at the then Pony Club. With all his near death experiences and his advancing age the big question is what still attracts Holder to such a potentially dangerous sport? “ Yo u k n o w m a n y people have told me that most of those who have represented Guyana in more than one sport did so in ball games….cricket, football, hockey and Table Tennis. But I am among the few to have done so in Boat, Cycle and Motor Racing. I love the feeling you get from racing. It’s a special kind of thrill and if I still feel good next year I intend to give the Bartica Regatta one last shot,” Holder concluded. His return will be missed today but keep your fingers crossed the Power Boat legend could be back one year from now competing in a sport which has given him his most recognition.
Dickson guides DCC A... From page 75 102 balls and struck seven fours and also featured in a third wicket stand of 45 with Ronell Brandis who was dismissed for 25 (3x4). Sagar Hitharamani was unbeaten on 17 when victory was achieved. Mohan, Pradesh Balkishun, Brandon Matthews had one wicket each.
Earlier, GYO posted 152 all out in 48.1 overs after electing to bat. Ronald Basdeo stroked 41 with eight fours, while Balkishun and El Nathan supported with 18 and 17 respectively. GYO lost an early wicket, but Navindra Persaud and Balkishun put together a 37 for the second wicket before Persaud (08)
was run out at 41-2. Basdeo and Nathan came together after the loss of a few more wickets and featured in a fifth wicket partnership of 45 to steady the innings, but the rest of the batting offered little support. Extras contributed 34 as Ashmead Need and Junior Phillips grabbed two wickets each.
Sunday April 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Everest Cricket Club launches centenary magazine By Zaheer Mohamed The year 2014 marked one hundred years since the Everest Cricket Club has been in existence and on Thursday last the club launched its 100th Anniversary souvenir magazine. The publication highlights the club’s success over the years and contains articles on the history of the club, softball cricket, lecture by Professor Clem Seecharan, features on past and present cricketers and messages from H. E. President Donald Ramoutar and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank
Anthony. Speaking at the launching, publisher Vi c k r a m S i n g h o f Classimag, said it was very challenging and efforts are underway to do another publication. Newly elected president, Stephen Lewis stated that the club has cultivated a rich history over the years and it is their desire to produce a more comprehensive research in the form of a book in the near future. He added the club has planned a number of activities to celebrate their milestone. Minister of Culture,
GBA National Novices set for early May NOC back after over a decade out
The Annual National Novices Boxing Championship of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has been fixed for May 2 and 3 and the venue has been set as the East Ruimveldt Community Centre Ground pending approval. President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, informed that his association is on a drive to take the sport to the people, hence the staging of the event at the East Ruimveldt CC ground. He said that they are waiting official approval from the Mayor and City Council to stage the event there. The GBA boss further disclosed that Gyms from across the country have been invited with New Opportunity Corps (NOC) being invited to compete after a hiatus of over a decade. Ninvalle disclosed that he was in recent discussions with Assistant Director of Yo u t h , M r. D a v e n a n d Ramdat, of the NOC to
Steve Ninvalle formalise and finalise the participation of the team from that institution. It was disclosed that National B o x i n g C o a c h Wi n c e l Thomas will be sent to the NOC to assist in their boxing programme. This event will kick off the association’s activity for the year, which promises to be a very busy one with several local, regional and international events on the cards for local boxers.
GCA/Brain Street U-15 tourney
Dickson guides DCC A to 7 wkt win over GYO A fine half century by Darian Dickson guided Demerara Cricket Club ‘A’ to a seven-wicket victory over h o s t G a n d h i Yo u t h Organisation (GYO) when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Brain Street U-15 limited overs tournament continued yesterday. Dickson slammed seven
fours in a top score of 65 not out and as the visitors reached their target of 153 for the lost of three wickets in 32.1 overs. Dickson added 50 for the second wicket with Alpheus Bookie (17) after his opening partner Sachin Singh (05) was LBW to Chandra Mohan with the score on 18. Dickson faced (Continued on page 74)
Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony explained that the club has played an important role in the development of the East Indian community in Guyana. He said that history is important. “One of the differences with organizations is that they do not document their history and it becomes lost to the next generation so I am happy to learn that the club has undertaken to write a
book about its history,” he said. The minister stated that cricket is important to Guyana and people must be encouraged to play and have vibrant club structures. He congratulated the executive of the club for the magazine. The Everest Cricket Club formerly the British Guiana East Indian Cricket Club, was founded in 1914 by John Aloysius Veerasawmy.
President of the Everest Cricket Club Stephen Lewis (left) presents a copy of the magazine to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr, Frank Anthony.
t r o Sp COP Inter-Division t20 cricket
F & B divisions face-off today, winner to meet TSU in Final P.72
Trevo Benn
Darson LaRose is bowled by Stephon Blacks at Eve Leary yesterday.
Lewis Hamilton takes stunning pole for Mercedes in China P.71
Hamilton is unsure how the Mercedes will behave in the race today. (Getty Images)
Guyana Cup Fever horserace Meet definitely on today P.71
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