Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Women are the key It would seem that the number of women k i l l e d a s a r e s u l t o f d o m e s t i c conflicts is increasing at a rapid rate. This is a trend that has been worrying the authorities for some time but precious little was done. Indeed, pressure on the police pushed them to respond to every report of domestic violence. There was once a time when the police w o u l d s i t b a c k a n d s a y t h a t s u c h a dispute is a private matter and that the victim should pursue the matter in court. And a few did but the majority had no relationship with the court except through the police. It was this recognition that caused the pressure on the police to help such victims. To d a y, t h e c o u r t s a r e l e s s s y m p a t h e t i c t o t h e a b u s e r. J a i l t i m e i s n o w mandatory as are restraining orders which do precious little to help the victim unless the victim has time to call the police. We are aware that the female victim is often reluctant to call the police because she feels that to cause the arrest of her abuser is to threaten her income or line of support. Many of them have gone to court only to b e g t h e m a g i s t r a t e t o l e t t h e abuser off with a warning. This has got to change. Recently, the call was for the court to ignore the plea for a warning. Sadly, prosecution is difficult without the testimony of the victim. But the courts are doing their best to put the abusers behind bars. They tend to ignore the pleas of the victim and send the abuser to jail, even if it is for a short time. A l r e a d y f o r t h i s y e a r, t w o w o m e n a r e d e a d a n d o n e c r i t i c a l . S o m e o t h e rs have been injured. And there seems to be no ease in sight. The reason for this escalation of domestic violence was once believed to be copycat. Men would hear of others abusing their spouses with seeming impunity and they would attempt the same. It is not that domestic abuse is something n e w ; i t h a s b e e n w i t h u s f or as long as many of us have been alive. Men beat their wives for whatever reason and the woman did not have the support. She could not return to her parents who simply said to her that she should deal with whatever came her way. Some ran away but most stayed. Few were killed. This time around, death is almost a c e r t a i n t y o f d o m e s t i c a b u s e . M e n simply feel that they could kill their spouses and get away with it. In fact, most of them believe that killing is the solution to their problems. And strange as this may seem, women are responsible for this. Mothers set store by their sons and more often than not, would show resentment to their daughters-in-law. There are various organisations that b e l i e v e t h a t t h e r e i s a s p e c i a l measure that could reverse the tide. These organisations believe that men should be the leaders in the reversal of domestic abuse since they are for the greater part, the abusers. But the focus should be on the mothers. They are the people who actually fashion their sons. Sociologists may credit this hike in d o m e s t i c a b u s e t o t h e f a c t t h a t mothers are no longer as active in their sons’ lives largely because they are single parents who must spend time putting food on the table. If only there could be a reversal of this trend then mothers must be the prime movers. They should instill in their sons the need to respect women, to see every woman as being their surrogate mother. But there is more. More often than not, an a b u s e d w o m a n t u r n s t o h e r mother-in-law for some comfort. She would report any abuse to that woman who must act decisively and this is where the relationship between the man and his mother comes to the fore. But regardless of that relationship the man always listens to his mother. The bottom line is that women are the key to ending domestic violence.

Tuesday April 24, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

No society can exist without the rule of law DEAR EDITOR, Recently, we have seen how the East Asian economies, in particular Singapore, Taiwan and Indonesia have developed since the period 1959 to present. There seems to be a common denominator that underpins the economic achievements of these countries, an admirable and solid social order cemented in a wider framework of the rule of law that is riveted in the principles of Confucianism. No society can succeed without a proper social order and no successful society has ever existed without the rule of law, which is a necessary and sufficient perquisite for economic growth and development. This profound response has lingered in our minds, especially against the kidnapping and vicious murder of businessman Rajendra Singh on April 9 by a ruthless person or persons. We condemn in the strongest possible manner such barbaric acts on the innocent citizens by a group of thugs who traverse the country murdering our citizens. After almost 50 years of political Independence from Britain, this kind of reprehensible and savage behaviour should not be happening in Guyana. But why is this happening? In answering this question we reflected on a number of issues, among them the continued

diminution of the social order, and more broadly the rule of law, rabid political opportunism and massive corrupt practices in every sector of the society and the government. We believe this has resulted from the marginalization of a large section of the population by the ruling oligarchy and the people’s lack of confidence in the security forces and in the justice system. All these issues are inter-connected and tend to have a single result, continued and/or ultimate underdevelopment of the nation. Social order and the rule of law are rapidly disappearing in Guyana due to cronyism and nepotism. It is not unusual for senior public officials to routinely break the law and violate traffic rules with no penalty. When a senior law enforcement officer states that senior government officials are treated differently when they commit an offence; in essence, he is actually saying that the rule of law is not the same for everyone or that some are above the law based on their status. We believe that no one should be above the law, but it appears this is not the case in Guyana. A few weeks ago, it was reported that a Minister left the scene of an accident that resulted from his reckless driving and so far, no charges. How can one expect the youths to behave

differently when they see this type of injustice taking place in front of their eyes? The police must be allowed to do their job to arrest those who break the law without political interference. We are also seeing the government abandoning the public hospitals for a Specialty Hospital, the public schools and the University of Guyana are left to rot, the prisons are in total decay, our social services are no longer dependable, crime continues to run rampant and corruption remains unabated. These are but some of our realities and they are antithetical to economic growth and development. The regime can learn a thing or two, or maybe three, that order in society is a necessary condition for everyone to enjoy their freedom. We cannot have a society in which it is commonplace for senior government officials to violate the rule of law or where criminals beat, chop, stab and shoot persons sometimes to death for their belongings. We cannot have a society in which our children are abused, our women are raped and brutalized, our youths are neglected, our seniors are not wanted, our disabled are not cared for and the poor are left to fend for themselves. What should the government do? First, they m u s t s t o p t h e marginalization of a certain

section of the population and treat every Guyanese fairly and equally, irrespective of their ethnicity or party affiliations. Second, e v e r y o n e i n s o c i e t y, including ministers must abide by the rule of law. No one should be above the law. Third, we need a competent Minister of Home Affairs who will act swiftly to weed out illegal guns, drugs and violent crimes from society, because all go together to threaten the social order. Fourth, the nation needs ministers who are not more interested in photo ops, selfaggrandizement, propaganda and abusive and vulgar language than the proper education of our children. These examples are urgently needed so that our schools can embark on a rigorous programme to teach our children to become skillful, intelligent and knowledgeable people who can be productive. But we have an education system which clearly is not producing the kind of civicminded Guyanese that are needed and is also a product of the rapidly disappearing social order and the rule of law. And the Ministry of Education has done absolutely nothing to correct this situation. The general disrespect for law and order in society is but a symptom of a poor education system which (Continued on page 23)

The temerity to lament over a handshake DEAR EDITOR, There is something I thought about when Nelson Mandela died and would like to share, but there was something that occurred during his memorial which I think I should first get out of the way. I’m talking about that Castro/Obama handshake. Look, there’s a time and place for everything. Why then was all this brouhaha over Barack Obama shaking the hand of Raul Castro, as if it was one of the most repugnant and sinful thing ever done, just reflect on some of the doltish comments that were made, as if these two men are not human beings. Imagine being at the funeral of a great statesman, one who stood tall; beyond prejudice; beyond reproach, one who saw beyond the colour of skin; possessing

the power of forgiveness, embracing human virtues and much more. Yet they expected him — Obama, the President of the greatest country on earth as they like to boast, at such an historic and momentous occasion to belittle himself, reduce his humanity, his standing, by behaving mean, exhibiting hatred, slighting another head of state as if he (Castro) was the devil incarnate. Lo and behold: some of them have shook hands with some of the most depraved individuals, cold-blooded murderers, but they wanted him to satisfy their base desire, behave silly and look small in the eyes of the world. But he damned them all, and for that they got mad, hysterical.Obama was bold enough to make strong statements at that memorial that even the USA is a pastmaster at. In any event, what

gives them the right to believe that they are more decent and smarter than him? It’s funny that the things so many people believe in are hardly in accordance with the things they do. It’s a way with most presidents/leaders into their final term, that they tend to be less cautious or cagey, becoming more bold and open, thus they often reveal things that are bottled-up and have been nagging them. Barack Obama is not going to be any different. As we have seen on CNN, the gloves are coming off: “Some don’t like me because I’m a black President”, which many of us knew long ago, and he is not the kind of man to say things he has never experienced as a President - no matter how subtle, he is too wise not to spot it. In any event, he knew

very well like most of us that the election of a black President in no way would have lessened racism in the USA. As one white man wrote: “He saw it every day from the time he announced his candidacy; he saw it within his own party during the primaries; in all ugliness during the general elections.... and no matter how smart, decent, refined, how positive and optimistic his vision, how patriotic he was, they all don’t matter, because at the end of the day he was still black. And still he is expected to perform three times better than any other president in history, while they disdain him and think he has no right to litter the Oval Office with his skin colour.” Yet for all that they had the temerity to lament over a handshake. Frank Fyffe

Thursday April 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news

Will the Rodney COI be on live TV and the Internet? DEAR EDITOR, Will the Rodney Commission of Inquiry (RCOI) be televised and video streamed live on the internet for worldwide viewers? Not all Guyanese will be travelling to the city, but country folks would sure like to witness the event. The Rodney Commission of Inquiry (RCOI) is slated to begin hearings next week on 28th, 29th, 30th April, 2014 and 2nd May, 2014, according to GINA. Many issues ought to be urgently resolved and shared with Guyanese. “‘What touches us ourself shall be last s e r v e d ’ ” ( S h a k e s p e a r e ’s Julius Caesar) cannot be acceptable anymore. The RCOI should subcontract for its own public relations needs, as budget

cuts affecting GINA have drastically affected their verve and performance. It has rendered them handicapped to handle such an unprecedented inquiry. The court setting is somber and dignified as it should be, but it is no Maginot line to overcome. The venue must be on 24/7 security lockdown to guard against telephone threats becoming disruptive. In case of technical problems, backup equipment for TV and Skype should be in place for those giving evidence. All’s too quiet on the southern front. Without a doubt mischief is afoot. Who is in charge of what should be clarified for the public. Which ministry is tasked to ensure all is working like clockwork? Which dates are Mrs. Patricia

Rodney and Mr. Eusi Kwayana slated to give evidence? Inquiring minds want to know. Somehow other issues, legalities, etc., as they should, have absorbed the secretariat’s attention, which does not project their efforts or the public’s right to know. Just having finished reading the 1964 Wismar Massacre Report for the first time, the actual report suffers tremendously. The format, typing and proofreading errors are most deplorable. I hope this is not to be repeated with the RCOI. The inquiry is being held in the Supreme Court Library Building, Victoria Law Courts, Avenue of the Republic and Charlotte Street, Georgetown, and Demerara. Sultan Mohamed

The Town Clerk shares no analogy with a REO DEAR EDITOR, On a previous occasion I felt obligated to pen a letter, to the Press, when one Peeping Tom sought through his privileged anonymity to mis-educate/misinform the reading public on the status of a Town Clerk in Guyana. On that occasion, it was postulated that the relationship between the Town Clerk of the M&CC of Georgetown and that of a Regional Executive Officer (REO) of a regional democratic council are the same. On this occasion, this letter is in response to Minister Whittaker, the Minister responsible for Local Government, who has indulged in the same travesty. In one of his recent excursions, in the Press, he pontificated that the Town Clerk of the M&CC of Georgetown is analogous to a Regional Executive Officer and as such can conduct the business of that office in a manner similar to the conduct of an REO in the execution of his/her office. This is far from the truth. It may have been either a misadventure or an attempt to mislead. In either circumstance, the public should be told the truth. I also hope that this instance is not indicative of the public education that is being conducted, under the Minister’s auspices, on the reformed elements of the local government system. While the City Council and a Regional Democratic Council (RDC) are both statutory/corporate bodies, the only power that the RDC is actively vested with is the

authority to carry out delegated functions on behalf of central ministries. In that regard, a RDC is responsible to some central ministry for every act it carries out. Its resources are provided through a parliamentary appropriation under the Ministry of Local Government and its Regional Executive Officer (administrative head) is appointed by the Ministry as an employee of the Ministry. Such an appointee additionally functions as the Clerk of the RDC and is separately appointed as the Accounting Officer by the Ministry of Finance. What is the scenario with the City Council? The City Council is a revenue-raising body. It raises its own revenue through taxes and may be given a subvention by Central Government. It has its own budget in keeping with its statutory provisions. It also has statutory officers whose functions are prescribed by statutes, which specifically states: “He shall have the duty of ensuring that the business of the council is carried out with order, regularity and expedition in

accordance with the by-laws, resolutions and standing orders of the council.” inter alia. The “He” there refers to the Town Clerk. What is clear from this provision is the duty of the Clerk to act in accordance with the “resolutions” of the Council. It should also be noted that there is a provision that specifies: “If the council or any of its committees acts against or rejects his advice, he shall be entitled to require that his advice be recorded in the minutes.” A Town Clerk may also be required to act against his/her own advice once the action does not fly in the face of the law. Hence the Town Clerk shares no analogy with a REO. It is also interesting to note that in the case of the City Council, the Treasurer is the statutory officer responsible finances and may report directly to the council on such matters. This is quite different from the RDC where the REO is also the chief financial officer. It is unfortunate that public officials are either illinformed or find it convenient to be strangers to the truth. Vincent Alexander

The police acted professionally in both cases

DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to respond to a letter published in the April 15th edition of the Kaieteur News under the caption “We are now a divided society where our motto no longer exists”. In that letter, the author, one Mr. Rayvonne P. Bourne compared the actions Police took in relation to protesting sugar workers outside of Parliament with that of protesters in Linden in 2012. He chose to attribute the difference of Police actions to the ethnicity of protesters rather than their behaviour on the ground. Mr. Bourne deliberately omitted to mention that the protesting sugar workers were orderly and did not breach the law. He failed to mention that the protesters in Linden, on the other hand

breached the conditions of permission granted to them to hold a peaceful protest. He deliberately omitted to mention that unlike the sugar workers, leaders of the Linden protest instigated the protesters to commit acts of wanton violence and destruction of property and then left them to face the consequences. He also found it convenient not to mention that the Linden protesters blockaded the entire interior region of our country, an act that is unprecedented in Guyana’s history. Mr. Bourne seems not to understand, or to be exact, refused to accept that the Police also acted professionally in Linden protecting the law, life and property. After all, they have sworn to protect the law and maintain law and order in the

country. It would have been certainly unprofessional and a dereliction of their duty for the Police to have just stood by and allow the Linden protesters to continue their reign of destruction and mayhem. Why it is then that Mr. Bourne wants to import ethnicity as a factor into the professionalism of the Police? Can’t he see anything outside the context of race? Mr. Bourne must accept that it is the responsibility of leaders to ensure that their followers behave in a civilized manner whenever they wish to publicly express their discontent. Certain leaders need to understand and display this responsibility and not just compare actions of Police only from the perspective of race. Reaz Holladar

The jury system should remain to preserve liberty and justice DEAR EDITOR, I read with great interest about the jury system debate in Guyana and the proposed suggestions by Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran to abolish it, due to a number of cogent points he posited. I am a frequent reader of Mr Ramkarran’s writings, because it not just educates, but in mos t c a s e s p r o v i d e s objectivity and a different perspective on the varying subject matter. However, the learned counsel’s position on the jury system should not be supported and I happen to agree with the Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s proposal, which is to reform the system rather than abolish it. We, who are alive, are fortunate to live at a time in which we have the potential to learn perhaps more from history than did our ancestors, but it seems that though technology and information have increased, our memories have only grown shorter and we quickly forget. We have forgotten the value of those fundamentals that preserve liberty and justice. One such fundamental is that sovereignty resides in the people. This being the case, we can say that the people are masters of their own governments and thus superior to them; they are the creators of

the government. A corollary of this superiority is that people have the rightful power to check their own government, to keep it within the bounds of what is lawful and constitutional. Centuries ago, Thomas Jefferson said “I consider Trial by Jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution”. The right to trial by jury stands as one of the most effective checks against the tyranny of government and as Winston Churchill said, “it is the supreme protection invented by the people for ordinary individuals against the state”. A jury is a tribune of the people (or country) that is randomly selected, the jurors are independent of the government and thus bear no vested interest in the same. Further, they are representative of the full range of views, morality and common sense that exist among the people. A recurring principle of Common Law is that the power to make decisions of great importance and consequence is retained by the people and never delegated to government. Thus a jury is convened to make decisions regarding the fate of those accused of breaking the law - a decision which is so vital that it is not entrusted

to government. The jury is thus a powerful tribune in preserving liberty, for without its consent the government may punish no person and all its unjust laws and oppressive application of laws are of no effect. Trial by jury is the final legal check on tyranny and thus a hallmark of and safeguard for a truly free people. It is thus vital we defend that right for ourselves and our children. In reforming this system that has proven in many societies that it works, should most certainly increase the pool of selections and I agree that the voters’ list should be used for such selection. There should also be recording devices in the criminal courts which will most certainly result in swifter justice being served. A tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny. So it is useless for the innocent to seek justice through reasoning when the oppressor intends to be unjust. The jury system should remain to preserve liberty and justice. Jermaine Figueira

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Thursday April 24, 2014

AG, Greenidge clash over “snail’s pace” of Public Accounts Committee The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is still to complete its report on the Auditor General’s report for the years 2010 and 2011. With the 2013 report expected to be released in a matter of months, the “snail’s pace” of the committee is now a matter of concern for Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, who strongly contends that the PAC should have been up-to-date. The reasons for the “unsatisfactory pace” have caused the Auditor General (AG) and PAC Chairman, Carl Greenidge, to be on opposing sides of the debate. Christopher Ram, according to the website of Chartered Accountant, (www.chrisram.net), explains that the PAC is responsible for examining the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by the National Assembly to meet public expenditure and such other accounts laid before it. The Committee also examines the Auditor General’s report. The AG is the public watchdog for Government accountability. The Audit Office serves the public’s interest by checking that Government organizations spend the money collected from taxpayers carefully and without waste. The AG in a telephone

interview on Tuesday last said, “It is of concern that the reports are taking so long to go through and that shouldn’t be. They are still examining the 2010 and 2011 reports. It is 2014 and when that is finished there is still the 2012 report to go through.” When Greenidge was contacted yesterday to explain why the PAC is moving at a “snail’s pace” he said, “The PAC is examining the 2010 and 2011 reports together. The only agency that is left to be examined is the Ministry of Finance. “This will be done in a matter of two to three weeks. Within another two to three weeks the draft report of the PAC will be ready. As it relates to the pace, one must be cognizant that last year we had an unusually large number of meetings. “The members of the PAC are also members of other Standing Committees and to schedule how often we would like to meet is sometimes quite difficult.” The Member of Parliament added, “There are of course, other factors which I am not going to go through. Probably it is the intention of some to slow down the work of the PAC.” “Another issue I would like to mention is that there are a number of cases where

the AG is supposed to exercise his power and deal with certain matters or rather complaints. “There are many cases which come before the PAC and it could have been handled between the AG, the Finance Secretary and the Accountant General. Instead they come before us and these take time to deal with. Even matters that are supposed to be dealt with at the Cabinet level end up spilling over into our plate… “There are other cases where matters of impropriety should be investigated by his agency or the required ministry with an attachment of the details of the police involvement. “If they were able to recover missing money and recommendations all would be compiled in one report. These are all things we end up dealing with. It is rare that a ministry would produce such a report…” Another issue, the PAC Chairman cited was the lack of technical support skills at the Parliamentary level in the PAC meetings. When Sharma was asked to respond to Greenidge’s claims, he said, “I refuse to accept that from Greenidge. You cannot tell me how to do my work. “PAC should have been up to date on its examinations and it has nothing to do with

Carl Greenidge, PAC Chairman

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram

me or my reports. I do my job and that is to report my findings and recommendations. In other countries, the committees don’t go through the reports paragraph for paragraph and that is what the PAC does.” There are cases where a team from a ministry is summoned to deal with one paragraph. That makes no sense. In the case of the Finance Secretary who deals with certain write offs which I think Greenidge may be hinting at, if he does not deal with it through Cabinet and it is occurring again, then what do you want me to do? “I have to report it again. Government takes my report seriously and I refuse to accept Greenidge’s comments.” Financial Analyst,

Christopher Ram, contends that what the PAC does is to examine only the AG report by inviting public officers to appear before them to defend their ministry, department or region. This, he says, is a horrible and expensive misunderstanding of what the PAC is required to do. Ram said that he is of the view that the Committee is required to examine the accounts whether or not the AG has chosen to do so or more often, chosen not to do so. The accountant said, “The problem with the approach taken by the PAC is that it assumes – wrongly – that we have a real Auditor General, that he acts as a professional auditor would and that the constitution and other laws are observed.

“It also assumes that the spending authority is the public officers when we all know that the financial system has been turned on its head. The Ministers make many of the discretionary spending decisions. “In my view Ministers too should be brought before the PAC to answer for their mismanagement and nonaccountability of public funds.” The PAC, Ram said, has failed to take steps to prevent the emasculation of the Audit office’s independence by the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. He said that it has failed to ensure that the Audit Office complies with its own act. “It is a circle of noncompliance,” Ram asserted.

Lethem well cost $12M The water well, which was recently commissioned in Central Lethem, Region Nine was constructed at a cost of $12M. It was funded by the Government of Guyana. This was confirmed yesterday by Public Relations Officer of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Timothy Austin. In a brief interview with Kaieteur News, he explained that the well will serve approximately 500 residents. While there are existing water services, the new well was needed to boost, and make the existing supply of potable water to Central Lethem more efficient. The well was commissioned on Saturday last by President Donald Ramotar, who was accompanied by Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali; Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai; Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony and GWI’s Chief Executive Officer, Shaik Baksh. According to Austin, the well only comprises a service station and not a treatment plant. “That is why it costs

- work commences on another for commercial zone less. It is not the regular treatment plant; it is just a service station. So while the other wells would cost close to $60M, this one cannot.” The GWI official explained that the construction was done by a Brazilian company that was working along with local contractors. He said he could not recall the name of the Brazilian entity. Austin stated that the aforementioned cost covered the drilling aspect, installation and purchasing of an electrical panel, the construction of the fence and a kiosk. “This well is not the first, but it was constructed as a means of boosting water services in Lethem,” Austin said. During the commissioning of the well, President Donald Ramotar stressed the importance of water for domestic purposes and for industrial, manufacturing and developmental use. The Head

of State announced that plans are on stream for another well. Austin subsequently said that this one is expected to serve the commercial zone, noting that the paper works have already started for construction to begin. The GWI Public Relations Officer told Kaieteur News that the well might very well be completed by the last quarter of this year. President Ramotar explained the move to have another well built, noting, “We are already seeing new developments in this Region large scale farming, in Lethem we have been investing a lot in the water sector, in 2009 we invested $17 million; 2010, $58 million; 2011, $47 million; 2012, $25 million, and last year $28 million.” Additionally, the Ministry of Housing and Water will be investing in installing solar driven wells in hinterland villages.

Thursday April 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Russia says it will respond if Ukraine interests attacked KIEV (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the United States of being behind the political upheaval in Ukraine and said Moscow would respond if its interests came under attack. Lavrov’s comments came a day after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was in the Ukrainian capital with promises of support for the pro-Western government, and a warning to Russia not to interfere in Ukraine. The crisis in Ukraine, now in its fourth month, has dragged Russia’s relations with the West to their lowest since the Cold War. In the east, pro-Russian armed separatists have seized about a dozen public buildings and are defying Kiev’s authority. A further escalation could lead to damaging economic sanctions, and raises the risk of a disruption to the Russian gas supplies on which Europe depends. NATO says Russia has built up a force of about 40,000 troop in its border with Ukraine. Moscow says some

Sergei Lavrov

are stationed there permanently, while others have been deployed as a precaution to protect Russia from the instability in Ukraine. In Moscow, Lavrov said Moscow would respond if its interests, or the interests of Russian citizens, were attacked. “Russian citizens being attacked is an attack against the Russian Federation,” he said according to excerpts of

an interview with the Russia Today news channel. “There is no reason not to believe that the Americans are running the show,” RT quoted him as saying, referring to developments in Kiev. Russia justified its intervention in Crimea earlier this year by saying it had to defend Russians living there. In eastern Ukraine some people hold Russian passports.

First troops land in Poland as US beefs up Baltic presence Swidwin (Poland) (AFP) The first American troops arrived in Poland yesterday, after Washington said it was sending a force of 600 there and to the Baltic states amid rising tensions with Russia over Ukraine. Some 130 soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade — nicknamed “Sky Soldiers” — touched down early afternoon in Swidwin, in the northwest of the country, and were welcomed by Poland’s defence minister. “Every day we work on the defence of our country but in a world that is changing, and that is full of threats, we need strong and steadfast allies such as the United States and NATO,” Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said under a cloudy sky. The troops, who are usually based in Vicenza, Italy, arrived at the base on two Hercules transport

planes. A further 450 US troops will be deployed in the next few days in the ex-Soviet Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, following Washington’s announcement Tuesday that it would increase its presence in the region to reassure its NATO “allies and partners”. “Poland has been there for the United States,” US ambassador to Poland Stephen Mull said at the ceremony in accented Polish. “And today, as the transatlantic community confronts Russia’s unacceptable aggression against Poland’s neighbour Ukraine, a sovereign and independent state, we have a solemn obligation in the framework of NATO to reassure Poland of our security guarantee.” US troops are due to carry out military exercises in the region for the rest of the year. “We’re going to do

everything from rifle ranges to company live fires.... The plan here is not to do training for a show. We’re going to do some very good and hard infantry training with the Polish Sixth Airborne Brigade,” said Major Michael Weisman, the US brigade’s spokesman. “We’re paratroopers, so our job in Europe is we’re the contingency response force. So we’re prepared to go anywhere in the world under 18 hours and we’re usually the force that commanders call for when there’s an important mission,” he told AFP. The US has pulled no punches in describing the purpose of the mission, with Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby calling the deployment a “message to Moscow” that Washington takes its obligations in Europe “very, very seriously”.

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DEAD MAN GIVES LIFE

Grieving mom donates kidneys of murdered son to save patients in need Trinidad Express - In the hope the death of her 21-yearold son, Nicholas Noel, would not be in vain, Debra Riley has donated his two kidneys to be able to save those in desperate need of them. A grieving Riley revealed this Tuesday, during an interview with the Express at the Forensic Science Centre in Federation Park while she was awaiting the postmortem report on her son to be completed. Noel was shot in his head by unknown assailants on April 13, along Upper Sim-e-on Road, Petit Valley. He was rushed to the St James Medical Complex where he was treated before being transferred to the Port of Spain General Hospital. He remained there until April 19 when he was taken off life support. He died shortly thereafter. However, Riley said out of

Kidneys every evil deed, some good had to come out, and when she was told her son could be a kidney donor, she readily informed the doctors they could remove the two vital, undamaged organs and give them to persons who needed them. She also said her son did not deserve to die the way he did as he was a very loving

young man who was always looking out for his nine other siblings. “He was always there for his brothers and sisters. Always looking after them. Now, I’m not going to stand there and say he was perfect. He was not. He had his runins with the law and even spent a little time in jail for a misdemeanour he committed. “But you see, as soon as he came out, he looked at me and said, ‘Mommy, not me and that jail thing ever again, nah. I not go-ing back. Nothing worth that,’ and from there, he was changing his life around. “He was working, and committed to his girlfriend and his three-year-old daughter. He just had a son about eight months ago, and his girlfriend is about two months’ pregnant. And he was working hard, doing everything in his power to provide for his family, and they gone and kill the boy just so? That isn’t right.

Thursday April 24, 2014

AG wants investigation by Integrity Commission Trinidad Express Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is calling on the Integrity Commission to investigate the leaking of the report of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) into the New Flying Squad Investigative Unit. Ramlogan also stated that he has written to the Commissioner of Police “to formally ask for a formal police investigation into this leak which has the potential to compromise the integrity and independence of critical institutions of the State”. In a release, issued after Tuesday’s meeting of the Joint Select Committee, Ramlogan, who is not a member of the committee, said PCA director Gillian Lucky’s statement that the PCA report was not a confidential document “was shocking and confusing”. “This belated admission by Ms Lucky that the report is not confidential is troubling as Section 21 (4)

of the PCA Act states that all information and evidence obtained by the PCA in the performance of its duties is confidential and it is a criminal offence for anyone to disclose such information, punishable by five years’ imprisonment. “If the report is not a confidential one that could be leaked to the PNM,

why not simply give the Parliament, the Government and the media a copy?” the Attorney General asked. He said it was difficult to reconcile Lucky’s statement that the report was not confidential with the PCA’s news release, which had initially “criticised” PNM Senator Faris Al-Rawi for “placing highly sensitive information in the public domain while deliberations are still ongoing”. Stating that Lucky suggested at the JSC meeting that Al-Rawi had access to the report of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service on the Flying Squad, Ramlogan said Al-Rawi had repeated publicly and confirmed that both reports were in fact leaked to him. The Attorney General said Al-Rawi said he had both reports in the Senate, said it again in an interview with the Express, with TV6 and with CNC.

prioritised stabilisation of the exchange rate, which Shaw said needed careful management to stop the present slide of the dollar, as well as a proposal to increase the loan ceiling for National Housing Trust (NHT) borrowers. “Jamaica just cannot take any more devaluation at this time... We need to build consensus around many things. One of these is the need to settle down to a stable exchange regime, while we work on the other structural impediments that sap investor confidence and retard growth,” Shaw told the House of Representatives as

he presented the Opposition’s response to the Government’s controversial 2014/15 budget measures. Regarding the NHT’s lending ceiling, Shaw said that the ceiling on the amount of funds loaned to a contributor should move from $4.5 million to $6 million, which would make $12 million available in a joint ownership arrangement. “This would give NHT contributors greater access to a wider choice of homes,” Shaw said. He also proposed that Government: • Ramp up education and training at all levels;

Anand Ramlogan

Civil society groups call for Opposition presents nine-point protest action against new tax ‘prescription for growth’ KINGSTON, Jamaica — online protest initiative unconscionable and will The Citizens’ Action for Principle and I n t e g r i t y (CAPI) is urging Jamaicans to wear black tomorrow in protest against government’s recent tax on bank withdrawals. CAPI in a release yesterday said that the oganisation will launch an

against the tax, which is scheduled to become effective June 1. The civic group, headed by co-convener Dennis Meadows, said that they oppose g o v e r n m e n t ’s move to impose the ‘withdrawal tax’ as they “deem it oppressive,

prove inimical to its own growth agenda as it will send the wrong message to potential investors”. CAPI added that it is inviting the participation of churches, trade unions, all civil society stakeholders to join in its “civil protest against a tax which will prove deleterious to the economic health of the country and family”.

Jamaica Observer Opposition spokesman on finance and planni n g , A u d l e y S h a w, Tu e s d a y presented what he described as the Jamaica L a b o u r P a r t y ’s ( J L P ) ‘prescription for growth’, as he responded to last w e e k ’s o p e n i n g b u d g e t debate presentation from Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips. The “prescription”

Thursday April 24, 2014

It is not the policy of this column to reply to dissenting opinions. However, as previously indicated there are exceptions to this rule, such as when this column is accused of misleading readers, as was recently repeated in a letter to this newspaper by Mr. Vincent Alexander. The charge of misleading the public has been levied at this Peeping Tom over the issue of the relationship of Regional Executive Officers and Town Clerks with their respective councils. Alexander had argued in the past that Peeping Tom was either being inaccurate or mischievous in contending that both Town Clerks and the Regional Executive Officers were accountable to Central Government and not to their municipalities and Regional Administrations respectively. He contended that the two positions are not analogous. In order to illustrate his contention he argued that the powers granted to municipalities are devolved, while in the instance of Regional Administrations, they merely exercise delegated authority. But he compounded his analysis when he posited that the position of Regional Executive Officer (REO) is a composite of two positions. In his view, the REO acts as the Clerk of the Regional

Kaieteur News

Administration and at the same time the Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Administration. In both instances, Mr. Alexander argues, the Regional Executive Officer is answerable to the RDC. However as the accounting officer of the RDC he is answerable to Central Government for execution of centrally delegated functions. In response to this argument, I pointed out that if the explanation offered by Alexander about the reporting responsibilities of a Regional Executive Officer is to be accepted, all such officers stand in a conflict of interest because they cannot at the same time be serving two masters. On the one hand, they cannot be accountable to the RDC as Chief Executives and on the other hand be simultaneously answerable for the financial affairs of the Regional Administration to Central Government. Mr. Alexander has once again resurrected this argument and has retained his contention that municipalities are autonomous and independent because they raise their own revenues. This is a very weak argument because Neighborhood Democratic Councils also raise their own revenues and they are parented by the very Regional Administrations which

Dem boys seh ...

Hotels selling but Brazzy not buying Sometimes dem Ministers does seh some things that de president should seh. Priya meet some people and she did seh it before but she seh it again. Jagdeo never seh anything like this and Donald even if he want to talk like he frighten. Priya always seh that she don’t like kok wuk. Nuff time she heart complaints bout dem kantractah who tek de taxpayer money and when dem done somebody got to do over de project three months later. Well she talking de thing that de people want to hear. She got some community projects but de kantractah ain’t got things he own way. She putting de people who got to benefit from de project to supervise it. Rob de Earth did try that pun de West Coast. De only thing is that he was bluffing. De kantractah tek de wuk but when de people see bad wuk and dem talk he tell dem plain that he would run he machine over dem if dem don’t move. De people complain to Rob de Earth and to this day he never even guh pun de site to confront de kantractah. Dem boys hope that Priya different, that she mean wha she seh. Imagine Brazzy seh that Guyana serious about tourism and that Guyana gun build hotels fuh tek off everybody. Guyana already got more room that it got people but Brazzy get Jagdeo to build de Marriott. Up to now he can’t tell dem boys who is de private investor. He get like King Lair. Since last year he announce that by October he gun talk bout de private investor who gun own de hotel. Dem boys seh that he gun use de excuse that he didn’t seh which October. But instead of building hotel he coulda get Bobby and he friends fuh buy some. Dem got three hotel fuh sale and dem going real cheap. Tower selling off. It deh in de heart of de city but none of Brazzy friends ain’t buying, not Boyah, not Bobby, not Bharrat and certainly not Ash Knee. Dem got another hotel behind Princess. It selling cheap and again nobody ain’t buying. Is not that de hotel got jumbie. Now Prairie up fuh sale. Again nobody ain’t buying. Brazzy ain’t even getting he friends to take note and dem boys know why. He friends wouldn’t listen because he is King Liar. Talk half and chase King Liar.

Alexander contends is not autonomous because it is responsible to some central ministry for every act it carries out. I am sure that certain persons in Regional Administration of Region Ten who had indicated their intention to pursue their own development agenda will not share this opinion about the Regional Administration being a virtual servant of Central Government. I had argued in the past, and I still do now, that municipalities do not enjoy the degree of autonomy that Alexander wishes to ascribe to them. Indeed, the fact that they raise their own revenues hardly grants to them autonomy because they themselves require the consent of the Minister of Local Government in setting tariffs; they cannot authorize land use without the consent of the central planning authority and the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown has complained about not being granted permission to have new sources of revenue. This is hardly consistent with the status of autonomy.

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I had argued a long time ago that to understand the legal and constitutional relationship between central government and local government bodies requires an understanding of the evolution of the system and how it has been constructed. The evolved system of local government is not as what exists in federal system whereby local government and municipalities enjoy relative autonomy. In Guyana the system is one of balance and counter balance between elected councils and central government. The authority of the local organs are balanced and counterbalanced by regulations, laws and policies that link these bodies to Central Government. Local government organs, whether municipalities or RDCs cannot do as they please; they cannot carry out policies that are in contravention of the laws of Guyana or which are in conflict with government policy. For those interested in understanding this system of balance and counter balance, I would recommend they read Carl Greendige’s work entitled Empowering a Peasantry in A

Caribbean Context where in part he looked at the new local government system instituted under the PNC regime. This does not mean that REOs and Town Clerks should not enjoy comity in their relationship with Regional Administrations and Town and City Councils respectively. Indeed, these officers are required to facilitate the functioning of these elected bodies. However, as officers of local government, they are required to ensure that decisions of these councils are not in breach of statutory laws and regulations and they are more importantly required to ensure that no actions are undertaken that are inconsistent with the public interest as actuated in government policy. Two examples perhaps would suffice. No Town Clerk can allow, even on the instruction of the Council, for the waiver of rates and taxes if such a waiver is ultra vires of the law. On the other hand, if Council takes a decision to not raise revenues on Easter Monday then that is a decision of the Council which

unless it contradicts with national policy has to be complied with. I understand the concern that has caused this issue to be resurrected. There is thrust towards arguing that Town Clerks are accountable exclusively to their Councils and therefore can be removed and sanctioned by Councils. This is not so. The Courts have clarified the issue of appointment of the Town Clerk and have indicated wherein that power is reposed. It is not in an autonomous City Council. If the good gentleman, Mr. Vincent Alexander, disagrees with the above arguments, I would respect his dissenting opinions. But I would equally take umbrage if in dissenting he labels my perspective as a case of misleading the public. I rest my case.

Resorting to the courts will not solve Budget issue – Nagamootoo Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament and Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo says the legal avenue which Government has signaled it might pursue with respect to the non approvals made by the combined Opposition over the 2014 Budget, will not solve their concerns. According to Nagamootoo the Government always has a legal avenue. “We can’t prevent them from going to court if they feel that way. We understood the interpretation that was given by the Chief Justice in what is called the Budget Cut Case; there is always an avenue for the Government to go that way rather than seeking a political solution.” He outlined that Government could argue that the non approval of the entire

programme was contrary to Chief Justice Ian Chang’s ruling which he asserted “is their interpretation.” However, according to the AFC Vice Chairman, resorting “to the court is not going to solve what is clearly a matter that ought to find a political solution.” Nagamootoo further outlined that he doesn’t “think the Chief Justice could tell them that we could vote for a Specialty Hospital or the Amaila Falls, the Chief Justice cannot tell the Parliament what to do” and asserted, “that is the dilemma…. the Executive is seeking the intervention of the Judiciary in an area that concerns the autonomy of the Legislature.” The National Assembly according to Nagamootoo “clearly has responsibility to protect the public purse and we

believe that’s what has happened. On this occasion the Opposition did not cut, the Opposition did not amend; it was the Minister of Finance who, having seen the intention of the Opposition in the Committee of Supply to disapprove certain allocations in actual sense proposed to the Government to consider altering the figures.” He continued that the Finance Minister as representative of the Executive who reported to the National Assembly what happened in the Committee of

Supply in reporting to the Assembly “presented a figure to the National Assembly that the Estimates be approved with amendments …it means that at that point in time it was the Minister of Finance who proposed the amendments.” Nagamootoo posited further that the AFC didn’t cut anything; the Committee of Supply indicated its disapproval of certain aspects and it was available to the Minister of Finance to say whether or not Government would wish to amend. “So it was the Minister (continued on page 24)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday April 24, 2014

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

The keyboard under a woman’s dress If an interviewer were to ask me to rattle off my head without pausing to think for a moment something that conjures up hate in me, I would say a penname-writer that attacks other people. If an interviewer were to ask me to just let go out of my mouth without even thinking for a second, something I find deeply obnoxious, I would say a penname-writer. No philosopher with unlimited genius can defend someone who attacks, on a constant basis living humans and hide under an anonymous name. I never had any influence on the ownership of any of the newspaper to which I was attached as a columnist but the day I do, I would say to that publisher do not carry

columnists and letter writers that attack, or vilify living humans and hide under their mother’s dress. If I was ever to become an editor of a media house, my first policy would be to declare that my entity would not accept faceless and nameless writers who seek to confront, ridicule, accuse, accost public figures and do so cowardly. I chose my words here carefully because in principle I am not against such correspondents within a certain context. In fact, in certain contexts nameless and faceless people can become a national and international asset. One term used for such persons is whistle-blower. I will come to that below. The first quarrel I had with my editor, that iconic Guyanese, Father Andrew Morrison of the Catholic Standard, was over a long letter that carried a false signature. The real name was Basil Collins, a retired public

servant on Duncan Street. I was utterly disgusted by this man’s disrespect for the fate of his fellow humans. The year was 1990. His letter urged Guyanese to come out against the Hoyte Government even if it meant loss of jobs, physical injuries and other forms of victimization. He urged Guyanese to make the sacrifice. But he signed as “Observer”, not Basil Collins. The present editor of the Catholic Standard, Colin Smith, was a witness to my anger. Here was dishonesty and hypocrisy that had no match. This man was urging Guyanese to be brave and fight Hoyte and endure the consequences if any, consequences he was not prepared to face so he chose to remain invisible. Collins never forgave me for exposing his hypocrisy so he ended up seeing me as an enemy. One day he told Colin

Smith, “I just saw your friend, Freddie Kissoon, staggering out of a rum shop drunk like hell.” Colin Smith politely told him, he saw someone else because Freddie Kissoon doesn’t touch alcohol. Adam Harris, the editorin-chief of this newspaper can tell anyone, from the beginning of this newspaper, I was firmly against the pen columnist, Peeping Tom. I now come to context. If Edward Snowden did not come out publicly with what he knew about US government intelligence agencies, he could have become a valuable pen writer. But Snowden would have written on a specific subject – US intelligence. There are many nameless and faceless people writing and exposing corporate depravities and banking violations by the big international banks. But these people are not commentators writing on any and everything, attacking real

people and hide under their mother’s dress. Here is what a man or woman who writes under the name M. Maxwell wrote last week in this newspaper, after reading a letter by Roy Paul. Roy Paul is a real name and is a former employee of the Kaieteur News. Maxwell observed, “Hopefully, enough BRAVE (my emphasis) souls will contribute to this topic.” But M. Maxwell wishes for others to be what he/she is not – a brave soul. In writing about the very topic, M. Maxwell used a fictitious name. Maxwell is going to completely ignore calls for identification and continue to use his/her mask when attacking. One thing for sure, Maxwell is going to ignore this column. Maxwell may very well reply and come up with the banal defence of why attack the messenger and not the message. But why should the messenger hide under his/her

Frederick Kissoon mother’s dress when he/she is delivering the message? The post girl, the office attendant, the FedEx guy, the court marshal do not come to your gate with a bag over their face. And who says that the messenger should attack others when delivering the message? I have urged Eusi Kwayana not to reply to a fictional letter writer, Sultan Mohamed. I hope he ignores this cowardly fellow. The mentality, character and mind of anonymous columnists and letter-writers are constant reminders of the thin lines that separate lower and higher animals.

Thursday April 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Amended 2014 ‘budget’ missing Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon, in updating the media on the 2014 National Budget process has said that the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly is yet to reach President Donald Ramotar’s desk. The Appropriation Bill which is a legislative motion that authorizes Government to spend money “has not arrived at the Office of the President as of the Cabinet meeting (on Tuesday). He could not say if it is with the Attorney General either. Attorney General Anil Nandlall has said that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, has designed a mechanism so that the Appropriation Bill will not be going to the Attorney General’s Chambers but from the Clerk of the National Assembly directly to the Office of the President. Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, has said that he is unclear whether the Bill has been sent off. However, it will definitely be done today. BUDGET WOES Speaking to the combined opposition’s non approvals of the 2014 Budget, Dr. Luncheon outlined that this year’s Appropriation Bill is more draconian than its predecessors of 2012 and 2013 since it does not provide funding for government sectors; and if it remains unchanged, no funding would be forthcoming. Dr. Luncheon said that

that the 2013 and the 2014 rulings of Chief Justice Ian Chang removed the opposition’s options to reduce funding of programmes “his rulings restricted the opposition’s option to either approving or not approving”. He added that note must be taken of the “opposition’s stated intention to appeal the ruling of the Chief Justice and their actual filing of that appeal.” He said that the ruling will be enforceable pending the outcome of the appeal. According to Dr. Luncheon, “It is most unfortunate that the timeframe for negotiating a compromise solution was set by the constitution and indeed was of extremely short duration. An Appropriation Bill is constitutionally due at the latest the end of the fourth month of the fiscal; that is the end of April.” He said that it was equally unfortunate that the plans for even the time restricted negotiations that were entertained “were thwarted by opposition neglect.” Luncheon explained that the Parliamentary Committee of Supplies on the 2014 Appropriation “for all intents and purposes reflected the majoritarian position of the opposition. The immediate result is now history. The opposition selectively did not approve funding and essentially determined the outcome of the provisions of the 2014 Appropriation Bill.” According to Dr.

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Luncheon says auditor in NCN report overstepped terms of reference

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon Luncheon, “The 2014 Appropriation Bill makes no provision, no funding for many Government sectors and entities. The opposition option essentially resorted to that extreme and that is the non approval, zero appropriation for those programmes.” He added that the constitutional mandate of the elected Executive Government to govern cannot be discharged without adequate financing; “We all know it pays to run governments.” The HPS pronounced that in the absence of a negotiated solution the definitive answer lies “in the hands of the interpreters of the constitution and as you know constitutionally, the Judiciary is tasked exclusively with such interpretations.” When asked how soon Government would be going to Court over the 2014 Budget non approva l s , Dr Luncheon said that he couldn’t answer the question authoritatively.

“I would want to believe that the matter would have died…. but it obviously comes up,” was Dr. Roger Luncheon’s response to questions about when the National Communications Network report highlighting numerous irregularities at the entity would be available. The Cabinet Secretary at a press conference, yesterday, said that he would suspect that there may be some “imminent intervention and revelations” that would bring the matter again to the fore. According to Dr Luncheon, whether the outcome of the special investigation and the recommendation of the auditor, have been accepted

decisions have been taken with regards to the event. He said that since the report there have been few “resignations and the unemployment” of two parties at NCN whose functions were pinpointed at the report. Luncheon said that neither of the two remained within the employ of NCN. He further noted that Government has not gone further. Luncheon said that what was submitted by the auditor as his recommendation and the specific terms of reference continue to be a source of concern. “In my opinion, he overstepped his terms of reference and more than likely that has caused the delay,”

Luncheon stated. Back in March President Donald Ramotar at a press conference had said that he was not prepared to answer questions about the report. “I wasn’t prepared for that question at this point in time…But I would probably look in and see if I could give you an answer after,” the President had stated. That report was submitted about two years ago to the Office of the President for action. In March 2013, Ramotar had told media operatives that he was “surprised” that the matter had not yet been concluded. He had said that the matter is being handled and it would be concluded in the (continued on page 12)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday April 24, 2014

City Hall building Committee of Privileges to begin hearing on Ashni Singh’s contempt structurally unsound The Committee of Privileges would be convened next Wednesday to determine whether Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh violated the Parliamentary Standing Orders. The Committee would also be tasked with recommending sanctions if the ‘Member’ is found guilty. Apparently, the two weeks of Budget 2014 debates and considerations of the estimates took priority over the Opposition making good on its threat to see the Minister before the Committee of Privileges. “A complaint against Dr.

Singh was referred to the Committee. However, the Committee was unable to meet because of Budget debates but will meet shortly,” a source said. In December 2013, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) made good its promise of holding Dr. Singh accountable for allocating unapproved monies that the combined opposition cut from government agencies and projects in the Budget 2013. Leader of the Opposition, Brig. David Granger, had announced that Dr. Singh’s action was unlawful and that

APNU will initiate action through the National Assembly to deal with “Ministers who feel that they are not accountable to the National Assembly and who behave in an unlawful manner.” In 2013, the opposition cut $31.35B from the National Budget. As such, from the $208.8B proposed for spending by Dr. Singh only $177.4B was approved. The Opposition had cut the budgetary allocations set aside for the National Communications Network (NCN), Government (continued on page 19)

Celebrating girls in ICT (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown) Girls in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are preparing to join their counterparts worldwide on Thursday April 24, to call attention to the opportunities available to them in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). On Thursday, International Girls in ICT Day will be observed under the theme, Expanding Horizons And Changing Attitudes. The observance is an initiative observed by International Telecommunications Union (ITU) member states since 2010 to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICTs. The ITU is the United

Nations’ specialized agency for ICTs. The CARICOM Secretariat is hosting activities to mark the day under the theme ‘Celebrating Girls in ICT’. The focus will be on an interactive session and exhibition at the Turkeyen Headquarters of the Secretariat. About 100 women and girls, including CARICOM Staff, Youth Ambassadors, University of Guyana students, youth groups from various regions in Guyana and secondary school students are expected to convene there for the programme. Participants will have the opportunity to interact with girls and women in the field, ranging from programme analysts, web application developers, and information architects to engineers, pilots and photographers.

Grenada, Montserrat, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago were the first CARICOM Member States to observe Girls in ICT Day events in 2012, while Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago continued the tradition in 2013. Member States are expected to again join in activities to observe the day. The Community is placing more emphasis on ICTs given the importance of the sector to development and the mandate issued by CARICOM Heads of Government in March 2014 for increased attention to be placed on ICT in 2014 and 2015. One of the priority areas in this regard speaks to bringing technology to the people and transforming them to digital citizens, with an emphasis on women and girls.

The City Hall building, situated in the heart of Georgetown, is structurally unsound and would require in excess of $200M to execute rehabilitative works. This is according to Dr. Roger Luncheon, Cabinet Secretary during his weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President yesterday. Dr. Luncheon related that Cabinet has emphasized its resolve to fast track the planning of interventions into rehabilitating City Hall following various knowledgeable and expert opinions. He added that the continuous deterioration of

this historic structure remains an issue for Cabinet. While confirming that Government will be contributing to the rehabilitation cost, Dr. Luncheon did not definitively say that Government will take charge of the project. He reflected that in 2012 Government provided $20M to commence rehabilitative works to City Hall. While City Hall had executed some works, there were talks that the $20M was only a drop in the ocean. According to Dr. Luncheon, at the moment he cannot pronounce on the source and conditions of

funding for the rehabilitation of the building. However, he suspects that the works will cost in excess of $200M, taking into consideration the extent of repairs to be carried out and efforts to keep the historical realities of the building intact. Dr. Luncheon said that occupants of the building would most likely have to evacuate the premises during the renovation period. Georgetown City Hall is a nineteenth-century Gothic Revival building located on the corner of Regent Street and Avenue of the Republic. It was opened in 1889 and is 29 metres high.

Luncheon says auditor in NCN ... From page 11 near future. However, it is now questionable what “near future” means to the President, or whether he is willing to stamp out the perception of corruption. The investigation into the irregularity was confined to the Terms of Reference that sought to ascertain the relationship between Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and NCN. In a leaked report –

prepared during the first half of 2012 – it was revealed that on the part of NCN, one area of irregularity was traced back to GT&T and involved millions of dollars in advertisements. NCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Sattaur, resigned in June 2012. The entity’s Programme Manager, Martin Goolsarran, who admitted that he had deposited the payment cheque from the telephone company into his

personal account, was suspended without pay. However, findings of the investigations submitted to Ramotar would determine the future of the two men. Many are waiting to see whether the findings would engage any legal action. Without revealing details of the investigations, Ramotar said he would like to see accountability at NCN, which will help with confidence and credibility.

Thursday April 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Guyana remains firm on non-participation in Suriname oil and gas conference Guyana is adamant that it will not be participating in Suriname’s first ever International Mining, Energy & Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (SURIMEP 2014) which will be held from June 1719. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud explained to this newspaper that nothing has changed since Guyana registered its objection to a part of the country being included on Suriname’s map as a territory of the Dutch-speaking nation. Earlier in the year, an invitation was extended to Guyana to take part in the inaugural energy conference and exhibition, but Minister Persaud had explained that Guyana turned down the invite since the controversial New River Triangle area was once again brought to the fore with the Surinamese government highlighting it as part of their land. Guyana and Suriname has for years, bumped heads over the New River Triangle area or as the Surinamese call it ‘Tigri’, which Guyana currently occupies and has a stronger legal claim to. The Natural Resources Minister had explained to the National Assembly during the Budget debates that Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett had protested the issue. He said that “We withdrew participation in an oil and gas conference which Suriname was proposing to hold in June and why we withdrew …they were circulating the document and as part of the Suriname map…they have the New River Triangle.” Minister Persaud told Kaieteur News that, “we have not changed our position because nothing has changed

on the Suriname end. We reiterate our non-participation,” the Minister charged. The Minister was unable to say however, whether Guyana would participate in the upcoming event if the issue is resolved. He did say however, that the country’s Foreign Affairs office had made contact with the Surinamese Government via letter, but he is not aware of a response. During the Budget debate, Minister Persaud also made note of an incident that occurred last year where Venezuelan authorities seized a seismic vessel which was carrying out prospecting activity in Guyanese waters. The Panamaflagged RV Terni Paraná was acquiring a multi-beam geophysical survey in the Rorem concession block, in Guyana’s exclusive economic zone, for USbased Anadarko Petroleum. Anadarko was awarded the Rorem block in June 2012. Minister Persaud had pointed out that the prospects of oil and gas remains, but “unity” and “togetherness” is required on the issue. He said Exxon Mobil was on the brink of making major decisions, while a number of companies are working on striking oil. Suriname’s three-day conference will be held under the theme “Utilizing Suriname’s Natural Resources to Underpin a Sustainable Economy.” It is organised by the country’s Natural Resources Ministry, in association with AME Trade Ltd. SURIMEP will feature conference sessions, a trade exhibition, round table discussions, seminars as well as touristic trips and technical site visits.

Man, son placed on bail for wounding relative A man and his son who wounded a relative at a horse race meet last Sunday, and chased the man’s son with the intention of wounding him, also, have been charged with unlawful wounding. The duo, Shivnarine Jainarine, called ‘Bimo’, 48, of Bush Lot Corentyne, and his son Yougendra Jainarine called ‘Chris’, 20, appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s Court yesterday charged with Unlawful Wounding. They were placed on $50,000 each. The men are accused of wounding Naresh Ashram, called ‘Raymond’, 45, also of Bush Lot, Corentyne, on Sunday at the horse race meet held at Port Mourant. The men who are all relatives were involved in a family feud over land for some time, an issue that was known to the authorities.

On the day in question the men were at the horse race meet being held at the Port Mourant Turf Club. Around 16:30 hrs Naresh and his son, Alvin, were attacked by the two assailants. Yougendra used a cutlass and dealt, NareshAshram, a chop on his shoulder, while the father, Shivnarine used a knife to stab the man. The men then chased the younger Ashram (Alvin) across the pasture when the police intervened. The two assailants were arrested and taken to the Whim Police Station where they were later charged. Ashram was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was treated and sent away. The men who were represented by Attorney at Law, Ryan Crawford, will have to return to court on May 19, next, for continuation. The case is being prosecuted by Sergeant Phillip Sheriff.

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Kaieteur News

PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale.Call:627-5416

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Houses located Ogle, Diamond, Herstelling, BelAir, Lamaha Gardens, ETC, Contact: 223-8479/684-4748, www.spaceseek.gy

FOR SALE Toyota Forklift - Excellent condition, 4,000lbs capacity, 117" Lift, Solid Wheels, Automatic Transmission, 4 Cylinder LPG Motor. Call: 604-6108. Milking cows, 1 complete 3Y Shell, one short base EFI – Call: 231-1256 or 684-1336 Hand Truck, Bar –B-Que fireside – Tel:627-7835 Games PS2 - $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 - $2600 & PS3 - $2600 & Original Games Call: 672-2566

Blow out sale on 5/8 smooth steel rods – Priced to go – Tel:657-4072 1,500 Acres of Land located in Berbice. Includes Machinery, Property and Multiples Vehicles, etc, Contact: 223-8479/684-4748, www.spaceseek.gy One 6125 John Deere tractor for sale. For more information contact: 670-3328 Pure breed German Shepherd puppies - $75,000 each – Tel:682-2148, 655-8674 Pure Rottweiler Pups - Call: 672-6402 Pork - $380, Pork Chops - $650, leg pork - $480lb, salted pork $450 (8 Lbs pails) @ Geroge & Hadfield Sts. Red Honda 250 Twister motorcycle – Contact:6713533; 681-2217 Two 212 Carina, 2 AE100 Wagon – Tel:660-0018, 6411040 Honda Welder, 270 Amps, 2002 Tundra – Call:611-5114, 220-4495 One – 2 Storey concrete house for sale – Contact:618-1754 Mixed bred German Shepherd and Rottweiler pups, fully vaccinated and de-wormed – Contact: 6291471, 220-2277, 220-8904 A BLACK XBOX 360 WITH 6 CONTROLLERS AND 10 AUTHENTHIC MICROSOFT DISC, EG BLACK OPS 2 – TEL: 6017152, 223-9987 Pure bred German Shepherd pups, fully vaccinated & dewormed – Contact: 629-1471, 220-2277, 220-8904 Sets of (3, 2, 1) seats pillow back cushion suite in excellent condition. Owner leaving country – Call:6971243 PORK WHOLE SALE, WHOLE, HALF & QUARTER CARCASS. NO HEAD! NO TROTTERS! – CALL:266-2711, 609-4594

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

LAND FOR SALE Blankenburg, Public Road W.C.D (38ftX150ft), (39ftX150ft) $16M each - Call: 658-0132

Two Storey concrete building. Price$32M, E.C.D. Call: 661-9431 1-2 storey wooden & concrete house with 5 bedrooms, upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $38.9M – Tel: 642-7898 One three storey business property @ Middle St. Georgetown – Tel:619-7134, 225-6481 price negotiable. 2 Business properties on Whim Public Road Corentyne – Call: 619-7134, 225-6481. Price Negotiable Sophia - $3M, 3 houses @ W.B.D - $22M, Diamond A – $28M, Providence- $16M, South - $17M – Contact:2312199, 618-7483 One property for sale at Covent Garden Island, E.B.D – Call:265-3586 House and land at Lot 30 Ketley Street -48ft X 27ft, back house- $4M – Call: 6028771 Double lot with house at Lot 254 East Bank Demerara, one block away from Public Road – Call: 621-1766 Two bedrooms concrete building with toilet & bathroom. House : 31ft X 21Ft, land: 120ft X 60ft - $8M at Anna Catherina, W.C.D – Call:276-0712

TO LET 1 – Four bedrooms house with all modern conveniences, semi-furnished - $300,000 monthly, Happy Acres - Tel: 231-7839 (working hours) Two bedroom apartment to rent with toilet & bath located in Eccles – Call:2332252, 694-4563, 662-3837

CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com Progressive Auto Rental - carsCall: 643-5122 or 225-8711, Email:pro_autorental@yahoo.com Wings Car Rental - Call:6431131 Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 6987807 DRESSMAKING Jean is offering courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration. Lot 153 Barr St Kitty – Call:670-2653, 618-1706

Now Open! Harmony Inn, Georgetown Branch - $6,000 & $7,000 – Contact:6680306, 694-7817, 602-8769 Have your properties to let, sell or manage? Email: Diana_reality@yahoo.com or contact Diana: 227-2256, 626-9382 Two bedrooms concrete bottom flat located at Middle Rd, La Penitence - $45,000 per month – Contact: 6669534, preferably working couple. Furnished two bedrooms apartment in Linden for short term local & overseas guest – Call:614-4415, 4444704 Two bedroom apartment to let on E.C.D – Call:684-8906

Thursday April 24, 2014

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Two bedrooms concrete bottom flat located at Middle Rd, La Penitence - $40,000 per month – Contact: 6669534, preferably working couple. Executive Four Bedroom House located in Bel-Air Park- USD $2500-Contact: 223-8479/6844748, www.spaceseek.gy Executive Houses & Apartments Located in Queenstown, Prashad Nagar, Kitty, Lamaha Springs, etc, Contact: 223-8479/ 684-4748, www.spaceseek.gy Office Spaces located in secure compound on New Market Street. Contact: 223-8479/6844748, www.spaceseek.gy One upper flat @ 6th Street Cummings Lodge ECD – Call:622-3580 Top flat – Diamond E.B.D – Tel:678-9835

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 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 Graphic Artist, CorelDraw & Adobe PhotoShop CS2, Apply to: Executive Office Service82 Albert St. & Regent Road, Bourda, Georgetown Accounts clerk & Salesgirl: Apply in person with handwritten application at Alabama Trading, Ferry Stelling, Stabroek.

SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773

WANTED

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Allion PRR 9124, low miles, mags, reverse camera, etc. In excellent condition CallAyube: 233-5557; 610-1309 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

One Legal Clerk – Call: 617-3851, 269-0504 Experienced cashier apply with application & Passport size photo to survival shopping complex – Tel:2275286/9 Handy boys to work, live in accommodation and meals free – Tel:228-5655, 628-1756

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

Live-in couple, husband: driving duties, wife: domestic. Good rates & accommodation – Tel: 2271830 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 Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter – Call:225-0188, 223-7500 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am-4:15pm)

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

One maid – Call:612-9570 Large quantities of Purple Heart, greenheart and other woods needed. Also Nibi furniture. 218-5591 or 6757292

1 Leyland Daf 45-130, GNN7347 ,1 Nissan Titan 4x4 GLL3687 for $2.6M-Tele # 660-4483

BMW 525I M BODY KIT, E X C E L L E N T CONDITION, LOW MILEAGE, PRICE NEG. CALL : 620-1026

To y o t a R a u m , S p a c i o , AT212, AT192, NZE ,LTouring wagon,Fun Cargo, IST, Nissan E24 Caravan – Tel:644-5096; 697-1453 We buy all low income lands One Toyota AT192, good especially in La Parfaite condition – Price $850,000 Harmonie 218-5591 or 675-7292 negotiable – Tel: 616-1671 Hire Cars at Atlas Taxi Reduced Prices: Premio, Services – Tel:661-3043 Spacio, Axela, Raum, Allex, Graphic Artist – Tel:233- AT212, Tel:681-4208, 220-6262 2725 2008 Blue Bird - $3M, 2005 Experienced sales girl and Spacio - $2.1M, 2006 sales boy – Tel:609-1535,227- Premio - $2.3M. ALL VEHICLES FULLY 8529 & Attractive live in waitress- LOADED U N R E G I S T E R E D Call:327-0252/674 Call:642-7295 One office cleaner – 1 day per WANTED week – Call: 614-4358 One maid for East Bank Area One mechanic to work in the - Call: 614-4358 interior. Must have knowledge about Cummings Live in domestic and live in waitresses, 18-25yrs, Engine – Call:681-6044 boarding and lodging free - A one bedroom apartment $50,000 monthly – Tel: 610- between the cost of $30,000 3974 $35,000 for rental – Work from home; earn $5,000- Contact:666-5276 or 680-2508 $20,000 daily, Urgently needed: One jobfairworldwide.com or 622- cosmetologist at Nalini’s 1957 (computer skills required). Beauty Salon, Vreed-EnOne professional Hoop Junction – Contact:625cosmetologist to work in Eccles 3899, 604-2900 - Tel: 639-7672, 658-4429 EDUCATIONAL Looking for a small Toyota mini Practical Electronic Course bus to buy – Call:684-5918 beginning May 6th 2014 – Kitchen Assistants: Come Call Abdul Electronics – 226into Dian’s Deli, opposite 6551 or 225-0391 Kitty Market. (Continued on page 23)

Thursday April 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Pathologist, eyewitness testify in Mahaicony murder trial Almost three weeks into the trial of Mahaicony murder accused, Satnarine Jaikaran, called Sato, and his nephews, Neville and Randy Crawford, the court heard the testimonies of Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh and the Prosecution’s main witness, Valerie Lyle. Lyle had taken to the stand, yesterday. The three men are before Justice William Ramlal and a mixed twelve -member jury at the Georgetown Supreme Court, for the murder of their relative, Maxwell Rendell Watson, who was allegedly chopped and beaten to death during “a family feud,” on January 29, 2010, at Little Abary, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. Lyle, who failed to show up for court at a previous hearing, is said to be an eyewitness to the alleged crime. She was called to the stand yesterday, by State

Prosecutor, Dhanika Singh. Lyle told the court that she was the victim’s wife and had resided with him at Lot 60 Little Abary, Mahaicony, until the time of his death. The witness took a few quick glances, in the direction of the prisoner dock, as she related her ordeal. The tone of her voice fluctuated, she appeared nervous. After observing the woman’s actions, Justice Ramlal asked her, whether she was alright. “I am just a little scared,” Lyle replied. The Judge reassured the woman that she has nothing to fear. After taking a deep breath, Lyle continued giving her evidence. She told the court that she knew, Jaikaran, the number one accused. He was her husband’s uncle. She said that she knew him for seven years. Asked whether, she could identify her dead husband’s uncle, in court yesterday, Lyle pointed in the

direction of the prisoner’s dock, where Jaikaran was seated. The accused stood up and she positively identified him. Lyle is expected to continue her evidence today. However, before Lyle took the witness stand yesterday, Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, concluded his testimony. After being deemed an expert in forensic pathology, Dr Singh explained to the court his finding, in regards to the Post Mortem examination conducted on Maxwell Rendell Watson. He told the court that the victim sustained several wounds to the posterior aspect of his body, these included abrasions and incised wounds. Dr. Singh noted that the body bore a wound that penetrated the left lung. He concluded that the post mortem examination revealed that the victim died of shock and haemorrhage, due to the

No society can exist without the rule of... From page 4 needs some strong dose of modernization techniques and skills in teaching and learning. This means graduating students who are mathematically competent, who can read, write, think and have a marketable skill. One can teach oneself almost anything once you have acquired those necessary skills. But this is not the case in Guyana where we have a political system that is characterized by greed, selfishness, propaganda, pettiness and racism carried on by hostile groups which seem to be

perpetually at war with one another over our children and the nation’s future. If the politicians continue to politicize everything, then Guyana is in for even sadder and worst times if they do not change course immediately. This sad state of affairs graduates into the palpable distrust that thousands of Guyanese have for the rule of law, the justice system, the security forces and the government. Some people feel that if they are not well connected monetarily, socially and politically to the ruling party there

is little chance of your success or getting justice. This is the kind of Orwellian reality that “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.” While this is the reality, those who are paid to fix the system must do so with alacrity instead of resting on their laurels wasting time thumping desks in Parliament with obnoxious language and platitudes. We need to fix the anomalies urgently or else development will escape Guyana. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh

(From page 22)

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

The three accused as they left the courtroom perforated lung. Under cross examination by Attorney-at-law, Jailall Kissoon, Dr. Singh agreed that some of the injuries, which the victim sustained, are consistent with someone who had been running and fell on a hard surface. Kissoon is representing Jaikaran. Attorneys-at-Law, Satyesh Kissoon and Renee Kissoon, are representing the other two accused persons. Kissoon asked Dr Singh if he could say whether an injury to someone’s arm is consistent with barring or blocking during an attack of some sort. The doctor agreed that it is possible. As such, the lawyer made an application for his client to reveal injuries to his forearm and back, to the ‘expert witness,’ and the jury. His application was granted after Prosecutor Singh, told the court that she had no objection at that time.

As such, the accused rolled up his sleeves and revealed a scar to the posterior aspect of his left forearm. The mark is just above his elbow. His Attorneys assisted in lifting the back of his shirt as the doctor, examined the scar on his right shoulder. The doctor told the court that the scar appeared to be approximately, a half of an inch in length but noted that he could not determine the extent of the injuries or how long the ago it was inflicted on the accused. The lawyer asked the doctor whether he conducted a toxicology analysis on the deceased, (whether he was tested for marijuana, alcohol or traces of other substance in his system). Dr. Singh told the court that he did not conduct such an analysis because the Government Laboratory does not have the capability to do it.”

Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. COOL TECH : Repairs Services & Installation of all types if homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959 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 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Dating and relationship advice – Tel: 662-6862 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045

VACANCY Vacancy for porters: Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Ferry Stelling Stabroek. One machinist & one welder – Call:234-0780 or 613-1588

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Kaieteur News

Thursday April 24, 2014

Man on trial for stealing Black Bush rice farmer, wife from Legal Affairs Ministry lose $1.7M in bandit attack

A 26-year-old man who identified himself as an employee of the Ministry of Legal Affairs is on trial before the city court for purportedly swiping and selling a gadget from the Ministry. Sherwin Benjamin, of Lot 100 South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, is currently facing Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on a charge of theft. The

allegation against him is that on April 5 at Carmichael Street, he stole a Digital Virtual Disc (DVD) player valued at $15,000 from the Ministry. When he first appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on April 11 he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $10,000. The case was then transferred to Magistrate Chandan-Edmond for trial

which commenced yesterday. Two police witnesses testified on behalf of the state. The case against him is that he took the DVD player from the security hut and later sold it. Yesterday, the man asked for a bail reduction since he was unable to raise the sum. His bail was reduced to $9,000 and he will appear in court on Friday for the continuation of his trial.

The home of the Black Bush farmer.

Resorting to the courts will not solve ... From page 9 of Finance representing the President who actually proposed the amendments to the Estimates and the National Assembly having approved the estimates as amended; the Finance Minister then brought the Appropriation Bill to have the sum appropriated from the Consolidated Fund in that amount as he amended it” said Nagamootoo. He explained that it was the entire National Assembly that voted on a motion by the Minister of Finance. “So it was the Minister of Finance who moved the motion that the Estimates be approved as amended meaning he acted on behalf of the Executive to

amend the Estimates after the Committee of Supply which is a Committee of the House, it does not have more power than the House.” According to Nagamootoo, that’s why the Speaker of the National Assembly has repeatedly said “after a vote is taken in the Committee of Supply by non-approving it, it is actually making a proposal for amendment not actually amending.” He said the Government will have to decide whether it will put the estimates as submitted, in which case it would then have been available for the AFC to vote on the entire Estimate either in favour or vote against.

“The Minister of Finance did not put the Estimates as tabled so it was by the Ministers own hand that the Estimates was altered so if they want to go to the court for an interpretation of what the Minister of Finance did, they can do that.” Nagamootoo asserted that he doesn’t “believe that the Minister of Finance is reposed with the final wisdom… he has acted and he may wish to now go and ask the court to interpret whether his actions was contrary to the constitution…I don’t know if it makes any sense having acted to now go and ask the umpire to decide whether he was leg before wicket.”

In a case that has shocked the farming community of Black Bush Polder, armed bandits have left two residents badly injured following an attack Tuesday evening. The rice farmer from Yakusari North, which is part of that East Berbice, Corentyne community, is believed to have been trailed from the bank where he reportedly withdrew over $1M. Both Baijnauth ‘Baij’ Niwaz, 58, and his wife Kalawattie ‘Vedo’Niwaz, are now in a private Berbice hospital where they were admitted. According to police, at

19:00hrs, Niwaz, 58, and his wife Kalawattie Niwaz were in their home when two men, one of whom was armed with a firearm, entered through an open door. They were held at gunpoint and the perpetrators took away a bag containing $1.7M and escaped. The police found an improvised shotgun at the scene, as the investigations continue. Neighbours said that the couple, who lived alone, had just returned from one of the banks. Niwaz is said to be a prominent farmer who buys paddy from smaller farmers. He also has several acres and does his own planting.

Rice for the first crop is currently being harvested across the country. Neighbours said that the bandits entered the home and started to assault the couple. The woman was chopped across the back while the farmer was struck several times across his head. It is believed that the money was withdrawn to pay farmers. Both were rushed to the hospital by neighbours who were alerted. Residents yesterday called for an increased police presence. The attack in that close knit community has left residents in shock.

Lima Sands man injured in fight A Lima Sands man is currently nursing a stab wound to his body after he was reportedly involved in an altercation with another young man of the same village. His condition has been listed as serious. The incident reportedly occurred Easter Monday night at Lima Sands.

The injured man, who had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, was at a barbecue when an altercation ensued between he and the other guy, who remains in police custody. Reports are that the injured guy allegedly pushed the other man. The neighbourhood police

officer said that she turned in her son to the police officer at the Anna Regina Police station and said her son is insisting he did not commit the offence. Other reports have indicated that the neighbourhood police officer’s son was armed with a knife and he retaliated after he was hit by the man during an argument.

Thursday April 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

Obama seeks to ease Asian allies’ doubts during visit to Japan TOKYO (Reuters) President Barack Obama will use a state visit to Japan today to try to reassure Tokyo and other Asian allies of his commitment to ramping up U.S. engagement in the region, despite Chinese complaints that Washington’s real aim is to contain Beijing’s rise. Obama will be treated to a display of pomp and ceremony meant to show that the U.S.-Japan alliance, the main pillar of America’s security strategy in Asia, remains solid at a time of rising tensions over growing Chinese assertiveness and North Korean nuclear threats. It was unclear, however, whether a last-ditch round of talks between U.S. and Japanese negotiators would yield a breakthrough on a two-way trade pact seen as crucial to a broader transPacific agreement that Obama has championed. The challenge for Obama during his week-long, fournation tour will be to convince Asian partners that

Barack Obama Washington is serious about its promised strategic “pivot” towards the region, while at the same time not harming U.S. ties with China, the world’s second-biggest economy. The difficulty of Obama’s balancing act was underscored hours before he arrived last night when Chinese state media criticized

U.S. policy in the region as “a carefully calculated scheme to cage the rapidly developing Asian giant”. Obama told Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper that while Washington welcomed China’s peaceful rise, “our engagement with China does not and will not come at the expense of Japan or any other ally.” Leaders who will meet Obama on his Asia trip - which will also include stops in South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines - are also keeping a wary eye on the crisis in Ukraine through the prism of their own territorial disputes with Beijing. Some of China’s neighbors worry that Obama’s apparent inability to rein in Russia, which annexed Crimea last month, could send a message of weakness to China. The eve of Obama’s arrival in Japan was marked by a final push by U.S. and Japanese negotiators for a trade deal to support the broader TransPacific Partnership (TPP), which would connect a dozen AsiaPacific economies.

Hamas, Abbas’s PLO announce reconciliation agreement GAZA/RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - The Gaza-based Islamist group Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) agreed yesterday to a unity pact, both sides announced in a joint news conference. The move, coming after a long line of failed efforts to reconcile after seven years of internal bickering, envisions a unity government within five weeks and national elections six months later. “This is the good news we tell our people: the era of division is over,” Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said to loud applause at a Palestinian press conference also attended by representatives of the PLO. Israel said after the announcement that Abbas

had chosen Hamas over peace, and canceled a session of U.S.-brokered talks with the Palestinians that had been scheduled for last night in Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office that Abbas “chose Hamas and not peace. Whoever chooses Hamas does not want peace.”

Israeli Channel 2 TV said Netanyahu would convene an emergency session of his security cabinet today to discuss his response. Along with the United States and the European Union, Israel views Hamas as a terrorist organization, and says Abbas’ efforts to unify with the group show he is not serious about extending the troubled negotiations.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday April 24, 2014

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Kaieteur News

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Joseph Memorial Dominoes Persaud slams century... to conclude this weekend The playoffs of the Orin Joseph Memorial Dominoes competition will take place on Friday and Saturday at the National Gymnasium while the final will be played on Sunday at the said venue. Action gets underway at 18:30 hrs on Friday and 13:00hrs on Saturday and Sunday. Teams will be engaged in a march past before the

playoffs. Among the Georgetown teams that have qualified a r e T N T, P r o v i d e n c e , Pacesetters, Phantom, R a n d R , D r e a m Te a m , Assassins and Turning Point. The winning team will take home $500,000 and a t r o p h y, t h e r u n n e r u p $300,000 and a trophy, third place $100,000 and a t r o p h y, f o u r t h p l a c e

$60,000 and a trophy. The most valuable players (male and female) will be given $7,500 each, the player that shared the first double love $5,000 and the best uniformed team $30,000. The competition is being played in memory of the late president of the Georgetown Dominoes Association Orin Joseph and sponsored by Faye Joseph.

Thursday April 24, 2014 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): Are you going on a trip or possibly moving, Aries? Is education involved in some way? Whatever your reasons for going away, you're going to gain whatever you hope for - and more. *************************** TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): You tend to be intuitive by nature, Taurus, but today you could receive psychic impressions by the dozen. You might even experience visions or hear voices. Don't worry – you aren't going crazy! *************************** GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): Communication with friends and partners should be clear, open, honest, and supportive today, Gemini. Camaraderie flows freely, and affection is shown without restraint or overkill. *************************** CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): Have you been reading about how a positive mental outlook creates a healthy body and a happy life, Cancer? If so, you might just find that this attitude brings results. You're feeling strong, fit, and mentally sharp. *************************** LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): Research that you've been doing for a particular project may finally be completed, Leo. Now you're ready to finish your work. Your mind is especially sharp right now, so this is a good time to work on any kind of project that involves communication. ************************ VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): Dreams and visions about your family paint a rosy picture of your future, Virgo. These dreams could well be prophetic, but don't jump to that conclusion without first analyzing the symbols and discerning what your dreams are trying to tell you.

LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): Tonight you might decide to attend a social gathering held in your community that involves a lot of people who are into psychic or spiritual matters, Libra. *************************** SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21): If you've been uncertain about the possibility of a raise in your salary, Scorpio, today you could finally be told for certain that it's coming. This is definitely cause for celebration. *************************** SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 DEC 21): Love and romance take top priority with you today, Sagittarius. You might be feeling a little insecure about the stability of your current relationship, but you're wasting your energy. *************************** CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): If you play your cards right, Capricorn, you just might be able to turn what you're picking up psychically into an exalted creative effort. The emotions and images flowing into your brain might be obscure, but they're significant in some way.

*************************** AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): Expect to exchange a lot of phone calls and emails with friends today, Aquarius. Communication with others is your top priority. You have a lot of news to deliver and you'll receive a lot in return. *************************** PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): Financial good fortune continues, Pisces, although old habits are hard to break and you might have difficulty adjusting to it. You could alternate between wanting to buy out the store and continuing to pinch pennies the way you used to. That's OK. Everybody has to make adjustments in life.

From page 28 were reduced to 44-3. But after they were separated, the rest of the batting showed little fight as Persaud crowned a fine all round game by grabbing 5-21. Marshall made 20 while Jaikarran, despite being left not out on eight showed much promise facing 128 balls. Orlando Ghisiawan took 222. At GYO, the hosts went down to Bel Air Rubis by 19 runs. Bel Air Rubis took first strike and rattled up 215 all out in 41.2 overs. Josiah Butler slammed 84 (4x4,9x6) and Nand Sanicharan scored 71 (5x4,1x6) not out. The pair rescued their team with a fifth wicket stand of 101 after they were tottering at 72-4. Toney Hargobin snared 3-11 and Pradesh Balkishun 2-15. Navindra Persaud and Chandra Mohan set their team on course with an opening partnership of 76 before Mohan went for 19. Persaud who effected a brilliant run out while fielding and played some lovely shots on both sides of the pitch top scored with 62. Mavindra Dindyal 17, El Nathan Sukhnanand 16 and Brandon Matthews 13 not out were the other main scorers as GYO

bagged 4-9, Joel Spooner bagged 3-9 and Akeem Mahoney 2-14. At DCC, the host A team overcame Everest by seven wickets. Everest were bowled out for 45 in 23.4 overs, batting first. Yudistir Persaud made 15 not out. Ashmead Nedd was the pick of the bowlers with 4-5 while Junior Phillips captured 3-10 and Bhojnarine Singh 3-11. DCC A replied with 46-3 which included 24 extras. Mandy Mangru took 2-8. The competition continues today.

Navindra Persaud were bowled out for 196 in 53 overs. Alex Chunilall claimed 3-38. At Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC), the home team lost to Transport Sports Club (TSC) by 144 runs. TSC scored 208-8 off their reduced 48 overs, taking first strike. Anthony Antonio led with 36 (3x4) not out, Colin Barlow made 34, Deon Allen 26 and Toney Adojdah 25. Jowan Cadogan picked up 3-17 and Stece Norville 2-32. In response, MSC were skittled for 64 in 31.5 overs with Avin Gangadin and Sachin Basdeo scoring 16 and 11 respectively; Antonio

Real Madrid beat Bayern... From page 30 caught out again on the break but Ronaldo failed to keep his effort down from 15 yards. Bayern’s defending was alarming at times and when Isco’s deep cross eluded everyone just before the break, Angel Di Maria should have punished them again but volleyed wastefully over the top from the corner of the six-yard box. The second half started in similar vein with Bayern seeing almost all of the ball but Ronaldo getting a sight of goal with an angled shot which was saved by Neuer. The Portuguese, who had missed the previous four games with a hamstring injury, tested Neuer again from a rare Madrid attack before making way for Bale with 17 minutes remaining. Bale’s last game had seen him score Madrid’s stunning winner in the Copa Del Rey and the Wales international helped give his side some late attacking threat. But Bayern came closest to scoring with six minutes to go when Mario Gotze was picked out by Thomas Muller. The substitute had only Iker Casillas to beat from eight yards out but could not find a way past the Madrid captain, who made a fine save diving to his right. Muller then claimed a late penalty when he went down as he was about to shoot but English referee Howard Webb waved away his appeal. Madrid held on and must hope their missed chances do not prove costly as they hope to repeat their sole semi-final success over Bayern in 2000, which led to the eighth of their nine European titles. The winners will play either Chelsea or Atletico Madrid, who drew their semi-final first leg 0-0, in the final in Lisbon on 24 May.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday April 24, 2014

Letter to the Sports Editor

A response to Lester Sealey’s letter of 21-4-2014 DEAR EDITOR, It is my continued pleasure to use your space to reply to Mr. Sealey’s letter (KN 21/4/14) captioned ‘ Misguided Conceptions’. I am constrained from the start to acknowledge how little quality research or analysis the contributor puts into his ramblings on football discourse. While it is not my intention to misspell Mr. Sealey’s name, the occurrence seemed synonymous with the general content of his contributions. Mr. Editor how else can one describe the straw issues he raised in his last letter after taking one week to reply. Why is it that I am asked to defend the GFA with whom I am not affiliated? Is it that Mr. Sealey wants an explanation of the grounds on which the GFA office assistant signed a supposed nomination to Congress- Red Card.? Mr. Sealey, defending cronies by blaming the General Council is straw – it took this administration to bring these revelations to light: why do you think Mr. Klass YOYOs wanted Guyana to know that if the team progressed one round in the World Cup it gets US$30,000 but the coach gets US$20,000? See undated

contract of April 2012. Mr. Editor in the same vein commentator Sealey accuses the GFF President of having a specific European visa challenge getting to a FIFA sponsored meeting,- true, but this was subsequently resolved and meetings were attended at FIFA in 2014 no fault of his. However, what he did not tell Guyana was that his friends knowingly employed a coach (US$6,500 per month) and senior manager (US$400 every 14days) for our national team who could not travel to the USA, but agreed to host a game there. Mr. Sealey who coached the Mexico/ Guyana game in the US, WHERE was the US$6,500 coach and who paid for that? Mr. Sealey it cost Guyana/GFF $$$US to use alternative routes for certain games because of the people your friends employed. It is easy to see the principle on which Mr. Sealey’s discourse in the media is grounded when he says Klass gave me a junior manager posting- what garbage unless as he is convinced, that Klass, while at home for the US$$ in brown envelope was running the GFF in August 2012. This however leads me to the

promise land since, I as manager was never paid Mr. Sealey and the coaches on the team received under GY$40,000,were never given a contract and this occurred when the GFF had $1M US. Mr. Editor there continues to be clear evidence that the valve of Mr. Sealey’s contribution to the discourse is decreasing at a fast rate, given quality of research he opted for. A case in point is his questioning of my role with a club and association; a mannequin would have done differently especially if he reads KN. Mr. Sealey, Eton Moses is the Secretary of Buxton United FC for over five years during which it won the EDFA Senior League, entered the GFF National League and remained there, of the 12 youth leagues administered by the EDFA over this time BUFC played in 10 of the finals, won eight. Complementary is the number of national players that our structure has produced. As VP of the EDFA it was the only Association in 2013 that hadn’t a challenge to select clubs on merit to the National League since its two rounds domestic League was complete, while EDFA was the only Association to administer a U15 League and

en-camp a team in 2013. Mr. Sealy please tell Guyana that your friend shattered the hopes of those youths by not registering for the CFU tournament but spent over $250M in that same year (April2012-13). Now Mr. Sealey, please tell football -Guyana what you did over that same period for the game’s development except pose as an authority for football in the press. Mr. Editor, history will not spear us for playing the fool, because we are in the discipline of Football, so what merit is Mr. Sealey’s utterances about the Congress’ decision on the Executives of UDFA and my unilateral decision. I want to ask which Association agrees to publicly flout a

ruling by Congress. ALL Guyana should know, Mr. Sealey, the sitting GFF Executive Member at the time that flouted Congress and played on the day- Spat on one of our premier referees (female) as a National player – do you want this to continue! He still plays. You still have time Mr. Sealey, live for something. Destroying the game while doing the bidding for a section of private sector to regain market share will backfire just like the point you made about KLASS pardoning the President into football while forgetting the last GS like KLASS was suspended for US $$$ but returned. But what was the Presidents’ crime? Mr. Editor I conclude on

the issue of employment which Sealey and friends band as a cost cutting avenue to save the GFF after their mismanagement. First, the new staff employed cost the sum earned by the former office manger and deputy GS. Secondly, do you know that the GS as the highest paid servant in the office and his deputy were paid GY$50,000 as allowance to attend Executive meeting held in their offices, but for which they were employed to take minutes? Who instituted that Mr. Sealey as part of their contract? Look how much needs to be brought to light. Mr. Sealey there are still teachers around who give marks for effort but most do solely for content. Eton Moses

Paul Scholes: Manchester United legend back to coach BBC Sport - Paul Scholes has returned to help Manchester United’s coaching team following the sacking of David Moyes. Scholes opted against taking up a full-time position under Moyes as he wanted to spend time with his family. But, with long-time friend Ryan Giggs now in charge and former teammates Nicky Butt and Phil Neville assisting, he has agreed to help out. United revealed on their Twitter page that Scholes was

back at the club’s training ground on Wednesday. Scholes did join But as a coach for United’s Under-19 squad in the UefaYouth League earlier this season. However, that has been the limit of his involvement after retiring for the second time at the end of last term. The 39-year-old finally called time on his stellar career after collecting his 11th Premier League winners’ medal. His 718 appearances leave him third in the all-time United list, trailing only Giggs

and Sir Bobby Charlton. He also was part of two Champions League-winning squads and lifted the FA Cup on three occasions. Notoriously publicityshy, Scholes did make a recent TV appearance as a pundit for United’s 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City in March, when he was left distinctly unimpressed by his former team’s performance. “When I was playing, we could be two or three down, but we never felt we were beaten,” he said.

Thursday April 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

NY Masters face GT Veterans today at GFC Sponsored by Big Boss Transportation Service, the New York Masters from the United States of America (USA) take on local side GT Masters this evening in a feature Football encounter at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground. The specially arranged game includes several former Guyana players on both sides with the likes of Western Tigers’ Christopher Giles, Anthony Stanton and former National Captain

Terrence Archer representing the North American based unit. The locals will have in their line-up former Guyana Goalkeeper Andrew Bright and Junior National Stanford Miller. The action is scheduled to commence at 18:00hrs and admission is free. New York Masters: Ken Gibbs, Terrence Archer, Eon Williams, Winston Chester, Lyndon ‘Poison’ Boston, Anthony Stanton, Orin

‘Tublo’ Cumbatch, Trevor ‘Lanie’ Maxwell, Christopher Giles, Junior Walkes, Michael Godfrey, Ronald ‘Pane’ Wigging, Jomo Benfield. GT Masters: Andrew Bright, Shawn O’Neil, Prince Johnson, Wayne Blacks, Lyndon Bacchus, Lionel Grimes, Sheldon Bobb, Jolfon Lewis, Terence Wills, Stanford Miller, Frank ‘English’ Parris, Mark Cox, Natty Wilshire, Michael Pedro, Sherwin Scotte, Kevin Leandes.

Jamaican Arthur Barrett first to score ton, take 10-wkts in same Regional first Class match Continuing to recount Regional cricket history in the Caribbean, Statistician Charwayne Walker notes the achievement of Jamaica’s Arthur Barrett as he became the first regional cricketer to claim 10 wickets and score a century in the same match to etch his name in the annals of the regional game. The first man that scored a century and captured ten wickets in the same match at the Regional first class level since sponsored Regional Cricket started in 1966, is Jamaican all-rounder Arthur Barrett. Playing against combined Islands 1 9 7 0 a t Vi c t o r i a P a r k , Castries St. Lucia, Barrett scored an unbeaten 102 and captured a match haul of 10 for 82. As a result of Barrett’s brilliance Jamaica won that Shell Shield battle by 207 runs. Scores: Jamaica first innings 287 all out, Arthur Barrett 102 not out, Linden Wright 33, Samuel Morgan 29 and Lawrence Rowe 27. Bowling for combined Islands John Warrington took 3 for 46 from 29 overs, Grayson Shilling Ford 3 for 89 from 22 overs. Combined Islands first innings - 170 all out, Skipper Mike Findlay 43, H. Wi l l i a m s 36, Irvin Shillingford 34. Bowling for Jamaica Arthur Barrett took 5 for 39 from 16 overs, Maurice Foster supported with 2 for 25 from 13 overs. Jamaica second innings - 260 for 7 declared, Maurice Foster 79, Lawrence Rowe 67, Skipper Easton Mc Morris 34. Bowling for Combined Islands M. Francis captured 5 for 73 from 19 overs. Combined Island second innings - 170 all

Roger Harper out, Irvin Shillingford 51 and A. Hector 40. Bowling for Jamaica Arthur Barrett took 5 for 43 from 24.5 o v e r s , L i n d e n Wr i g h t took 4 for 25 from 25 overs. Guyanese All Rounder Roger Harper joined Barrett when he captured 10 for 122 and scored 120 vs Barbados in 1987 at the Kensington Oval. However, Harper’s heroics failed to save Guyana from a 68 runs defeat. Scores: Barbados first innings - 318 all out, Skipper Carlisle Best 112, Dale Ellock 47 Not out, Roland Holder 38, Michael Worrell 25, Winston Reid 24. Bowling for Guyana Skipper Roger Harper took 4 for 59 from 31 overs, Collie Solomon 2 for 51 from 11.1 overs, Sydney M a t t h e w s , b o wling leg spin, 2 for 93 from 34 overs. Guyana first innings 198 all out, Ravindranauth Seeram 61, Clayton Lambert 30, Timur Mohamed 26 and Roger Harper 22. Bo wling for Barbados Winston Reid took 4 for 46 from 16 overs, Roderick Estwick 3 for 21

from 10 overs. Barbados second Innings 190 for 9, Skipper Best absent injured, Nigel Johnson 46, Roland Holder 32, Arnold Gilkes 28, Leslie Reifer 27. Bowling for Guyana, Skipper Harper snared 6 for 63 from 31.5 overs giving him match figures of 10 for 122, Sydney Matthews supported his captain by capturing 2 for 44 from 19 overs. G u y a n a ’s second innings 242 all out, Skipper Roger Harper 120, Timur Mohamed 38 and Sydney Matthews 26. Bowling for Barbados, Roderick Estwick took 4 for 59 from 22 overs, Dale Elcock 3 for 49 from 13.1 overs, Tyrone Greenidge 2 for 64 from 17 overs. Before 1966 Cyril Rutherford Browne playing for British Guiana vs Barbados (1925) at Bourda and took 13 for 135 and scored 102 as British Guiana won that Regional clash by 8 wickets. Scores: Barbados first innings - 230 all out, E.L.G. Hoad 79, P.H. Tarilton 48, L. A. Walcott 40. Bowling for British Guiana, Cyril Browne took 5 for 77 from 39 overs, R.L. Hunte 3 for 51 from 21.4 overs. British Guiana first innings - 374 all out, Cyril Browne 102, Maurice Fernandes 89, J.F. Dare 46, E.A. Phillips 30. Bowling for Barbados E.L.G. Hoad took 5 for 84 from 28.3 overs. Barbados second innings - 205 all out, C. F. B r o w n e 6 2 , P. H . Tarilton 37 and Herman Griffith 21. Bowling for British Guiana Cyril Browne took 8 for 58 from 35 overs. British Guiana second innings 62 for 2, W.M. Green 40 not out.

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Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in Champions League semi-final encounter BBC Sport - Real Madrid will take a narrow lead to Germany for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final thanks to a first-half goal from Karim Benzema. Benzema scored against the run of play as Madrid extended their unbeaten home record in the competition to 18 games. No side has successfully defended the Champions League title and Bayern have work to do to end that record after failing to threaten an away goal. Pep Guardiola’s side had most of the ball but Real spurned several chances. Cristiano Ronaldo was among those who missed

potentially vital opportunities for Real, who had lost four of their five previous semi-finals against Bayern, after returning from injury. Gareth Bale was only fit enough to start on the bench following a bout of flu. And he had to watch Bayern dominate the first half to such an extent they had 80% of possession. Yet for all that, the best chances came Real’s way and they could have virtually put the tie to bed before the break had they been more clinical in front of goal. Not that there was any lack of cutting edge in the way they opened up Bayern to take the lead.

The visitors might have thought they were about to take the lead when Toni Kroos met Mario Mandzukic’s downward header with a goalbound volley. But Pepe got in the way to make the block and Real broke away with devastating effect as Ronaldo released Fabio Coentrao with perfect pass. His low cross was perfect for Benzema to side-foot home his 24th-goal of the season and 17th in Champions League games for Real, during which time the Spaniards have never lost. Benzema then turned provider as Bayern were (Continued on page 27)

Thursday April 24, 2014

GFF U-17 Inter Association

Bartica needle East Bank Bartica joined West and Upper Demerara as winners of their first game when play in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Under-17 Inter Association League continued yesterday at the Grove Playfield. Despite enjoying home advantage, East Bank failed to put together proper passes which were done by the Bartica boys who secured full points 11 minutes into the match-up. A powerful shot from just outside the area off the boot of Keno Washington was all that Bartica needed to seal victory. They looked a more organised unit and despite giving up size advantage to the home team, kept their focus to the end. East Bank created numerous opportunities but on many occasions were denied scoring owing to some excellent work between the

Game winners for Bartica, goal scorer Keno Washington (left) and custodian Akeem Hendricks uprights by Bartica’s goalkeeper, Akeem Hendricks. East Bank goalie, Lloyd Matthews also had a good game, were it not for his awareness and control in the area, the score line could have been different. Competition will continue next weekend

with matches at various venues around the country. Bartica, West Demerara and Upper Demerara are all on three points; Georgetown and East Demerara are on one point each with East Bank and Essequibo yet to register a point.

GCA/Brain Street U-15 tournament

Persaud slams century as GNIC thump DCC B By Zaheer Mohamed Joshua Persaud stroked a fine century as Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) defeated Demerara Cricket Club B by 177 runs when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Brain Street U-15 tournament continued yesterday. Persaud hammered fourteen fours and eleven sixes and shared in a second wicket stand of 217 with Stephan Campbell as host GNIC posted 281-1 declared in 21.2 overs after they were inserted by the visitors. Persaud and fellow opener Kurt Lovell added 64 for the first wicket before Lovell played back and was LBW to Kennard Moonsammy for 20. Persaud and Campbell then capitalized on some wayward bowling and sloppy fielding, but after seemingly well set for a century Campbell was run out for 85 (9x4) which prompted the declaration. His fifty came off 32 balls while Persaud, who brought up his century off 48 balls, was left not out on 142. DCC B were bowled out for 104 in 42.3 overs in reply. Eleven year old opener Brandon Jaikarran and David Marshall put together 41 for the fourth wicket after DCC B (Continued on page 25)

Wins for Bel Air, TSC and DCC A

Joshua Persaud (left) and Stephan Campbell

Nand Sanicharan (left) and Josiah Butler

Thursday April 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

XXIX CARIFTA Swimming Championships

Soroya Simmons and Britany van Lange achieve PBs

Soroya Simmons

When competition at t h e X X I X C A R I F TA S w i m m i n g , Synchronized Swimming a n d O p e n Wa t e r S w i m m i n g C h a m p i o n s h i p s continues at the Pisina Olimpico Roly Bisslik, Savaneta, Aruba, today, the third day of competition, only Britany van Lange will be in action. S h e w i l l b e competing in the 100m freestyle event. Tomorrow, the final day, both van Lange and Soroya Simmons will be competing, both will aim for improved times in the 50m freestyle, while Simmons will also seek glory in the 200m backstroke. On day one, Tuesday, Simmons achieved a PB in the girls 15-17 50m backstroke, starting off seeded 15th of 16 swimmers with a seed time of 35.08, she placed 12th in 34.58; Trinidad and Tobago’s Kristin Julien won the event in 30.86 with Jamaican Danielle Boothe second (31.27) second and Surinamese Brienne Renfurm (31.70), third. O n d a y t w o , y e s t e r d a y, v a n L a n g e placed 12th of 13 swimmers in the 15-17 girls 200m free in 2:23.11, the race was won by Joanna Evans of

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Ferrer suffers early defeat in Barcelona BARCELONA (Reuters) - Four-time finalist David Ferrer crashed out in the second round of the Barcelona Open on Wednesday, producing a rusty performance to lose 6-4 6-2 to Georgia’s Teymuraz Gabashvili. The world number five, who beat fellow Spaniard Rafa Nadal en route to the semi-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters last week, was a long way from his best against a player 50 players below him on the ATP rankings. Gabashvili made precious few mistakes, breaking the second seed four times on his way to victory. “This was one of my best victories, no in fact it is my best ever, beating David Ferrer,” the Russian told reporters. “I went into the game knowing that I had to be steady and controlled which is what I managed to do.”

David Ferrer of Spain returns the ball to his compatriot Rafael Nadal during their quarter-final match at the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco April 18, 2014. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard Gabashvili raced into a 30 lead in the first set but it appeared as though Ferrer was back on track when he leveled at 3-3. Ferrer, continued to make unforced errors though, and once he went a set behind he looked dispirited. Third seed Fabio Fognini

from Italy also bowed out with a whimper, trailing 6-0 4-0 to Colombian Santiago Giraldo when he retired from the second round match. Nadal has dominated the Barcelona Open in recent years having won eight out of the last nine tournaments.

NBA roundup: George takes charge to lift Pacers

Britany van Lange the Baha m a s i n 2:1040 who was followed by Jamaica’s Michelle Dols (2:11.25) and Daniell Van den Berg of Aruba in 2:11.37.In the 50m fly, van Lange ended 14 of 16 with a time of 32.29; T&T’s Julien also won this

event in 29.67. Seeded last in the 100m back, Simmons put that aside to shave 3 seconds off her previous best of 1:16.91 to clock 1:13.71. Boothe of Jamaica took t h i s event in 1:07.14.

Associated Press - When the Indiana Pacers needed a lift. Paul George stepped up. All over the court, over and over again. George had 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, and the Pacers used a big secondhalf run to rally for a 101-85 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. George Hill scored all of his 15 points in the second half. George also had four steals and blocked a shot while helping keep Hawks point guard Jeff Teague in check. “That’s why he was in the MVP conversation early,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said of George. “He always does those types of things, guarding the best perimeter player, rebounding the ball, deflecting the ball. His hands were all over the place. It makes him one of the most complete players in the game when he plays like he did tonight.”” Indiana limited the Hawks to 33 second-half points and dominated the third quarter. Next up is Game 3 today in Atlanta, where the Pacers have only two wins since December 2006 — though one of those closed out last

year’s first-round playoff series in six games. G e o rg e w a n t e d t h e responsibility of guarding Teague, who had seven points in the first quarter and seven more for the rest of the game. “I sat down, and it was homework for me, just locking into his tendencies and figuring out where I will get beat or where I’m vulnerable against him,” G e o r g e s a i d . “ I t ’s a challenge.” Luis Scola, who kept the Pacers close when West got into early foul trouble, finished with 20 points and seven rebounds. The defense that gave up 11 3-pointers in Game 1 and eight more in the first half of Game 2 allowed just two over the final 24 minutes. “Our execution on both ends of the court wasn’t at the level we need it to be,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “Give them credit, they were aggressive, they made a lot of plays, and our execution, particularly in the third quarter has to be better. That’s what we’ll work on.” Raptors 100, Nets 95: DeMar DeRozan put his playoff jitters aside and turned in an All-Star performance for Toronto. DeRozan scored 30 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 14 rebounds,

and the Raptors beat visiting Brooklyn, evening their firstround playoff series at one game apiece. “We knew he was going to bounce back from the first game,” Brooklyn’s Deron Williams said. “He took over the game, hit some crucial shots, some tough shots. We’ve got to do a better job of stopping him, especially late.” DeRozan made 9 of 21 shots and went 12 for 14 at the free-throw line, hitting nine of 11 attempts in the final frame. “It’s everything you dream about, especially when you become a professional athlete, to be at the highest level and have the trust of your coaching staff and your teammates to have the ball in your hands and win a game for them,” DeRozan said. “That’s big.” Wizards 101, Bulls 99 (OT): Bradley Beal came on strong late in regulation to finish with 26 points, Nené scored six of his 17 in overtime, and visiting Washington beat Chicago to take a 2-0 lead in their series.Fifth-seeded Washington rallied from 10 down in the fourth quarter after blowing a 17point first-quarter lead Tuesday to win the first two games at the United Center.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday April 24, 2014

Jose Mourinho among Chelsea trio handed FA charges Jose Mourinho (right) is among three Chelsea staff charged by the FA in the aftermath of the club’s loss to Sunderland. (Reuters)

BBC Sport - Manager Jose Mourinho is among three Chelsea staff charged by the FA in the aftermath of the club’s Premier League loss to Sunderland. Assistant manager Rui Faria and midfielder Ramires have also been charged following the 2-1 defeat . Mourinho has been charged with misconduct in respect of the comments he made postmatch. Ramires has been charged with violent conduct, while Faria has been charged with two counts of misconduct. Mourinho refused to take questions after the game against bottom club Sunderland, in which his unbeaten Premier League home record as Chelsea managed ended. H o w e v e r , h e ‘congratulated’ both referee Mike Dean for his performance - which he d e s c r i b e d a s “unbelievable” - and M i k e R i l e y, h e a d o f refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited, in a television interview. After considering the remarks, the FA alleges that his comments call into question the integrity of Dean and/or Riley

and/or bring the game into disrepute. Mourinho has until 18:00 BST on Monday, 28 April to respond to the charge. Brazilian midfielder Ramires, 27, has been charged following an offthe-ball incident with Sunderland’s Sebastian Larsson, which was not seen by the match officials at the time but which was reviewed by a panel of former referees. He has until 18:00 on Thursday, 24 April to respond to the charge. M e a n w h i l e , F a r i a ’s two charges follow an allegation that he used abusive and/or insulting words towards the fourth o ff i c i a l a n d t h a t h i s behaviour after being ordered to leave the technical area amounted to improper conduct. The FA designated this as a nonstandard case due to the aggressive and/or threatening and/or serious nature of the reported behaviour. Faria, who had to be restrained from confronting Dean after Sunderland had been awarded what turned out to the match-winning penalty, has until 18:00 on Monday, 28 April to respond to the charge.

Rafael Nadal returns with win over Albert Ramos in Barcelona BBC Sport - World number one Rafael Nadal recovered from last week’s early exit in Monte Carlo with a straight-sets win over Albert Ramos at the Barcelona Open. Eight-time champion Nadal won 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 to claim his 40th consecutive victory at the tournament. The 27-year-old’s only loss in Barcelona came on his debut in 2003 as a 15y e a r- o l d a g a i n s t A l e x Corretja. Second seed David Ferrer, who beat Nadal in Monte Carlo last week, lost 6-4 6-2 to Russia’s Teymuraz Gabashvili. “Three weeks ago I lost to Ferrer in Miami but I dominated that first set,” said Gabashvili. “Today, I wanted to maintain my energy and

keep it going, which I did for 90 minutes, but any more and it might have been tougher to win.” There were other surprise results as Italian third seed Fabio Fognini retired injured while losing 6-0 4-0 to Santiago Giraldo of Colombia, and eighth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine lost 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 to Spain’s Albert Montanes. Nadal was made to work hard against fellow Spaniard Ramos, ranked 103rd, and said: “After losing in the Monte Carlo I wanted to raise my game here. It just took a while. “I had to accept that I was going to be made to work today, that I was not playing at my best level, but I got through it.”

Thursday April 24, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Royals v Super Kings, IPL 2014, Dubai

All-round Jadeja downs Royals

Dwayne Smith thumped 50 off 28 deliveries. (BCCI) Ravindra Jadeja is overjoyed after dismissing Shane Watson. (BCCI) ESPNcricinfo - On a day that the usual Chennai Super Kings heavy batting artillery failed to fire, their bowling, led by the versatile Ravindra Jadeja’s four-wicket haul, carved out a seven-run win against Rajasthan Royals on a slow Dubai pitch. Defending a middling total, Jadeja’s two wickets in two balls in his first over swung the pendulum decisively in favour of Super Kings, the wickets being those of Shane Watson and Sanju Samson. Royals never really recovered from the jolt and despite some happy hitting towards the end, disintegrated to their second defeat. When Super Kings were asked to bat, Brendon McCullum mishitting a number of deliveries seemed a case of the batsman struggling but if anything, it was actually an indication of the nature of the pitch which wasn’t as batsmen friendly as thought to be before the start of the match. McCullum was eventually out to a stunning catch by Steven Smith behind midwicket, hitting a length delivery from James Faulkner higher than longer. That slowness of the

p i t c h d i d n ’t s e e m t o bother Dwayne Smith, however, as he raced to his second half-century in three matches with a flurry of big hits. After carefully playing out his first 18 deliveries for 17 runs, Smith used the pace the seamers offered him and carted the ball around the ground, his next nine deliveries bringing him 33 runs. Smith reached his fifty with a six but was done in by the sponginess of the surface in the very next delivery as he tried to force the ball over the infield, but only spooned a catch to mid-off. What followed was a period of play controlled by the Royals’ slower bowlers. He wouldn’t have known at the time, but he did end up playing the defining innings of the match as no one from either team came close to his strike rate of 178.57. The canny Rajat Bhatia, who later joked he was probably bowling “slower than the pitch”, served up his most economical spell in the IPL of 4-0-13-2 - all 13 of them in singles - hardly giving any pace for the batsmen to work with. At the other end, Pravin Tambe removed the dangerous MS

Dhoni to push Super Kings from a comfortable 59 for 1 to a perilous 74 for 5. Was it not for a fighting 36 from Jadeja, Super Kings would have had to settle for a much lower total than what they eventually got. The task at the start of the second innings would have been considered manageable given the skill-level in Royals’ batting and the knowledge of how the pitch was going to play. Though Royals lost Abhishek Nayar early to a suicidal run, Rahane appeared comfortable as he regularly employed late deflections to manoeuvre the ball. Samson was impressive, launching Ben Hilfenhaus for two clean sixes to finish the fifth over on 37 for 1. The introduction of spin in the sixth over had the same effect as in the first innings with Rahane topedging a sweep to deep square leg. Dhoni tossed the ball to Jadeja in the next over that pushed Royals to the edge of the precipice. Scores: Chennai Super Kings 140 for 6 (Dwayne Smith 50, Jadeja 36*, Bhatia 2-13) beat Rajasthan Royals 133 (Jadeja 4-33) by seven runs.

GFF U-17 Inter Association

Bartica needle East Bank P.30

Heads Up! Bartica (red and black uniforms) defending stoutly against East Bank in their Under-17 clash yesterday at the Grove Playfield

Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in Champions League semi-final encounter P.30

Karim Benzema scores his first half goal that saw Real Madrid win. (Reuters)

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