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Kaieteur News
Saturday April 25, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Kaieteur News Our past festers and the coalition Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
A real fear or a new hobby horse? The private life of a soldier is not so private after all, especially if that soldier had climbed to the rank of officer in the army. Today, the fact that some of these military men have come out in open support of a political party seems to be de worst thing that a retired officer can do. In most societies the political leaders actually served in the military. That was considered a necessity. For example, it is not unusual that most of the people who hold high office in the United States actually served in the military. However, the government in Guyana is arguing that it is unusual for a member of the military to leave the organization then serve in the opposition. The American people made no bones about wanting retired Generals, Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin Powell to actually take active roles in politics. Whether on the side of the government, or on the side of the opposition, was of no consideration. In fact, both the Democrats and the Republicans made their pitches. Further, such is the advanced state of the politics in that country, that the government does not even hesitate to reach into the opposition for a person to fill a role. But in Guyana the political lines are sharp. If one is in the opposition then one is condemned to remain there except in cases where the individual is a fringe element in a small political party the likes of which only springs up when election time looms. Ever since Brigadier David Granger entered politics he became the target of the ruling party. There must have been an inherent fear of the military. This bogey raised its head in the 2011 elections but never was the criticism as virulent as this time around. Making the attack even more strident was the decision by retired Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Gary Best to pledge his support for the opposition coalition. One hears that the relationship between the ruling party and the military was tenuous at the start. This could have only been because the ruling party back then had some morbid fear of the military. For example, as soon as it got into office it got its supporters to peddle the concept of ethnic balance in the army and the police force. And there were serious efforts to achieve this ethnic balance except that it was just not meant to be. All manner of things were tried but the ethnic composition of the army and the police remained skewed in favour of one ethnic group. By merely trying to shift the ethnic composition the government was exhibiting a distrust of the army and the police. This would explain why the government was always ready to recruit ex-military officers for a role in the public service. And so we have many retired military personnel operating out of Office of the President, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Guyana Water Inc, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But let us look at the real problem the government may have. In times of crisis the government would meet with the top brass of its security services and together they may discuss events. They may also discuss the role people, particularly the opposition may be playing in the crisis. Unusual comments would be made and in time these could come back to hurt us. Certainly, this may be a case of people joining the opposition with a working knowledge of the government. Never have the private lives of people so engulf this government. Members of the People’s Progressive Party, during their overseas missions, spoke of the supposed militarization of the opposition. And to show how serious the issue is to the party, no political meeting hosted by the PPP can end without some talk about the militarization of the political opposition. It is the new hobby horse, replacing the fabled 28 years of PNC rule.
campaigns on forgetting history DEAR EDITOR, I wish to thank Mr Tarron Khemraj for pointing out that I am no advocate for the PPP and its government in his last SN column, “History matters, but ….” I believe most readers of the letters pages are aware of this. However, it is campaign season and in the heightened rhetoric, one is put in one camp or the other. This will no doubt continue as I further question the coalition on its campaign strategy of forgetting history. A new advertisement in the press with President Obama’s quote stating that he would not be imprisoned by the past and referring to the Cold War era as being over, must be the coalition’s attempt to respond to the criticisms of its ominous campaign message. Scholars, historians and politicians on both sides of the Cold War have examined and
analysed that war, and numerous books and articles have been written, and films and documentaries produced on just about every aspect of it. It can be safely said that it is exhausted as a topic and everyone can be detached and even philosophical about it. Hence, President Obama’s statement. None of this is even remotely analogous to Guyana where the coalition leaders are actually telling us to put aside the past. They do not even want it remembered much less examined and analysed. Messrs David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo placing their smiling faces next to President Obama’s is seen as the advertising gimmick that it is. They can never be Obama’s equals. They have neither the integrity nor dignity. Every single one of us would like to
be in the position of America and every other nation that has dealt with its past – Germany, Japan and Northern Ireland come to mind – and has then been able to move on. In Northern Ireland there is a group called Healing Through Remembering (HTR). It comprises a diverse membership with different political perspectives working on a common goal of how to deal with the legacy of the past as it relates to the country’s conflict. HTR’s work is framed by sound principles for dealing with the past including respect, diversity of opinion, willingness to engage and inclusivity. Their experience is very relevant to Guyana but, as I have stated before, we have no leadership that will take us to this (Continued on page 23)
The PPP is not serious about being an ethnically balanced party DEAR EDITOR, Over the last few days Ms. Elisabeth Harper has taken quite some flak from several speakers, writers and the public. I am less interested in jabbing at Ms. Harper than I am in confronting the callousness of the PPP on several issues. The ethnic makeup of Guyana does require that in order to have national appeal, a major political party must show some balance in its leadership and be willing to address the racial sensitivities that have plagued Guyana for over 50 years. However, when the PPP selected Sam Hinds and now Ms. Harper to be their Prime Ministerial candidates, they have made a complete mockery of these considerations. The people would rather have a competent
Guyanese in such high position than an incompetent specimen. After 22 years as Prime Minister and six months as President following the death of Dr. Cheddi Jagan in 1997, Sam Hinds still cannot point to a lasting legacy. He was unable or unwilling to represent the group of people whose concerns he should have championed. Instead, Mr. Hinds has proven to be one of the most malleable and most manipulated Guyanese leaders this nation has ever seen. Now, true to form, the PPP, in order to replace Mr. Hinds, has gone for another docile and unassertive individual in one Ms. Harper. Whether they have done a poll or not, I don’t know, but my gut feeling is Ms. Harper
is not there to garner votes, she is simply there for window dressing to fool the people that the PPP is an ethnically balanced party which in essence is sheer hypocrisy. Any country that takes governance issues seriously would expect that should the President become incapacitated then the number two person should be able to replace him/her in a smooth transition to conduct the nation’s business. This is not the case in Guyana and especially not in the groupthink PPPC administration. The most obvious and classic example being how quickly the PPP hierarchy replaced Mr. Hinds whose stint as President in 1997 was short lived (Continued on page 23)
Saturday April 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Whose legacy is the current PPP following? DEAR EDITOR, Two items form the centrepiece of the PPP’s campaign Amaila Falls and hydro power and the 20 billion (100 million US dollars) for the sugar industry, along with a host of big, expensive projects which will leave the populace of our country with a huge debt on our children and grandchildren. And while all these projects are done, let us examine the only true record we have in front of us the Skeldon sugar complex, where all expectations are dissipated, even by the PPP government and which should have been built by the British who know more about sugar than anyone else. Where are there any signs for the diversification of agriculture to invest in other products and make the farmer a very important contributor to our economy? Instead, all we hear about is sugar and rice. Mr. Ramotar promises things he has and had the power to implement for years, so why is he promising the heavens now? Like the $20 billion for the sugar industry,
which will not, in any way, save this industry from increasing competition and new technology from the world markets. The PPP government is not following the dictates of President Cheddi who always talked about diversification of our agricultural base government should be giving tax concessions and subsidies to farmers to encourage new production of diverse agri-products for export and local consumption. Instead, it’s only rice and sugar. Whose legacy are they following? It certainly is not my father’s. The big project at Amaila Falls calls into question some considerations, apart from the financial arrangements which are extremely suspicious, especially after the Fip Motilall scandal and the huge loss to the taxpayer for a road which, in all likelihood, will have to be re-done if this hydro project goes through. Jagan and Burnham both believed in smaller hydro projects rather than one huge project - President Cheddi, in the 1960s talked about Tiger
Falls on the Demerara and President Forbes tried to build a hydro at Tumatumari. The concept of smaller hydro dams, spread throughout the country, is one which Canada has and it works. Here in Guyana, transmission lines from such a remote area as Amaila are very expensive and difficult to maintain - just look at the condition of Georgetown and we can see that this government gets a D- grade for maintenance- of our roads, sea defences, irrigation, school grounds and almost everything else. Smaller hydro projects will all have easier transmission, because between Moca, Tumatumari, Tiger and other falls on the Berbice River, they can feed into Linden and bring that community back from the doldrums, where the present PPP government, with the help of PM Hinds, put it. Whose legacy are they following? It certainly is not my father’s. At the back of Amaila Falls, will be a lake approximately 8 x 8 miles (64 sq. miles) which will act as a reservoir of water to run the
Banks need to change their attitude DEAR EDITOR, I noted with alarm, recently, news that a businessman was robbed while in the compound of a commercial bank at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. He was reportedly told by security guards at the bank that they are only responsible for customers inside the bank, not what is happening outside. I understand also that the police asked the bank for copies of the surveillance videos taken of the incident but were rebuffed. We know of the challenges facing our businesses and homes in Guyana. Citizens have been forced to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure security measures are in place. We are literally prisoners in our homes. We know of cases where people, including children died in their homes, because of grills and other heavy security. So here it is that a businessman was reportedly accosted and had his cash taken away in the bank’s compound. How come this was not considered as bank’s premises? What logical reasons exist in which the bank can refuse to provide the police with its surveillance tapes? One would assume that the surveillance cameras are there for a reason and one of these is the possible assistance to the authorities in case of a crime. As a
businessman who knows full well the dangers out there, I ask that the bank rethink their refusal and do the right thing…the correct thing. There are thousands of customers that have accounts at the bank and in my estimation it can only be considered arrogance that the tape is being refused. If the bank cannot release it, then it would mean that this revered institution is arrogant and has no respect for its customers. Maybe I will think of closing my account. I will await a week and probably be the first one to close my account in protest…and publicly. I am also bewildered over the operations of commercial banks in Guyana. Imagine we are moving from being a developing country into one
that will become a powerhouse in the future. Yet we have banks operating like it is the 1960’s. Our business dealings have changed. We are doing business with Japan and China in the nights, and Skype and other communication tools have place the world at our fingertips. In the US, banks open 24 hours. Yet we have banks closing 2pm daily. Why not move to open on Saturdays and even on Sundays? We have to start think out-of-the-box. There have been talks about a Chinese bank coming to Guyana. Maybe it is time we encourage them to speed up the process. Maybe we will see a change in the attitude of our banks. Cobeer Persaud
generators when the rivers feeding Amaila (Kuribrong and Amaila) Falls run dry parts of the year. This lake will destroy much timber and worse yet, all the recovery of precious metals (diamonds, gold and who knows what else) will be lost to the Guyanese people. Also, with climate changes and human miscalculations, we, the Guyanese citizens, have to wonder about this lake being in proximity to our most treasured interior location, the Kaieteur National Park. The concept of smaller but spread out hydro projects which would require no lakes, be along roads which are
already established and cost less overall, is something the people of Guyana should examine. This PPP government is only concerned with big things to impress the small man with “shock and awe”the Marriott (where the average worker can’t even afford a drink of water); the Berbice bridge (a 1950 concept bridge which is always empty because the small man can’t afford the toll); Skeldon sugar factory (the wastage of money and the continued hardships on the workers of a failing industry). Meanwhile, the small things, the everyday dreams
of the working poor, like good drinking water, ball-fields in villages for our youths, free lunches for our poorer kids and buses to take them to and from school , do not exist and yet they shout about the big things, even manufacturing Jagans who are not like my father, but rather drink soup and talk nonsense about the PPP continuing Jagan’s legacy. Whose legacy is the current PPP following? It certainly not my father’s - the venerable President Cheddi a leader who always stood by the small man, not the big shots and their big shot attitudes. Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.)
Guyana needs objective research on critical issues DEAR EDITOR, Guyana, unlike say Trinidad, Jamaica, or Barbados is yet to build a sound “research culture”. Guyana is badly in need of national development research (objective, critical, scientific study of a subject) on critical issues that will help improve understanding of them, so as to help guide policy-making. Very little research (surveys included) is undertaken at our lone university by academics, so we can have a good understanding of how various issues impact on the population and what can be done to alleviate their effects on society. Objective research (including surveys) covering a wide range of social science subjects should be encouraged at the university or at private institutions, with significant funding from government and the private sector. Students should be encouraged with grants to assist with research. This will start a research culture among our youths that would become institutionalized over time.
Overseas colleges encourage research among students by making grants available to departments and outstanding professors. When I was an undergraduate student at City College of NY, I worked with professors who provided a stipend to students like me to assist them with lab work in biology and chemistry. After my undergraduate degree in BioChemistry, I switched to the social sciences for my graduate studies. I worked as a teaching assistant and a graduate student research assistant conducting research for several professors in History, Economics, Latin American Studies, International Relations, and Political Science as well as in the Social Science Research Lab. Several Guyanese students at CCNY and at other universities were hired by professors who received grants to help them conduct research. This helped us to develop an interest in conducting library and field research (opinion polls). Guyana desperately needs investigation into important issues like suicide,
domestic abuse, gender relations, building multiethnic parties, juvenile delinquency, treatment of the elderly, school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, media bias, corruption, other governance issues, public workers’ productivity, ethnic relations, ethnic prejudice, medical issues, diabetes, AIDS, etc. And the country also needs field surveys like opinion polls to determine election results as well as people’s views on varied national issues and policies. Good scientific studies may offer very sound solutions in addressing some of these issues. Guyana has had no significant research into issues impacting on the nation. Whoever wins the next elections should provide funds to academics and their students to conduct objective research. Vishnu Bisram
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Kaieteur News
Saturday April 25, 2015
Presidential debate should go Threats to female activist… ahead regardless, says UK envoy Threats of violence There are calls for a debating package involving the Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates of the major political parties. Yesterday, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to Guyana, James Gregory Quinn, stated that presidential debates should go ahead regardless. As he addressed members of the media at his Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown residence, Quinn said that electioneering debates as an ideal opportunity for both presidential candidates to lay out to the populace, why they should vote for them. The UK High Commissioner said, “Everybody has agreed that what we want to see is a free and fair election where everybody gets to cast their vote where they want to vote. “One of the ways in which we do that is to ensure that everybody gets the information that they have, and that is through equal access to the media.”
He added that one of the other ways of doing this is through Presidential debates, which he described as an ideal opportunity for both presidential candidates to lay out to the people, why the public should vote for them. There have been calls for Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates of the leading political parties, A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to stand on a public platform and debate. The PPP/C and the APNU+AFC coalition had agreed to participate in Presidential debates organized by the Private Sector Commission (PSC). When APNU+ AFC met with the PSC, it expressed that it sees it apt to also hold Prime Ministerial debates. The coalition also stated that it would not participate in any debate unless it comes as a package deal involving both Presidential and Prime
Ministerial debates. On Sunday, PPP/C issued a statement to the effect that it would not allow its Prime Ministerial Candidate, Elisabeth Harper, to be involved in a political debate against APNU+AFC PM Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo. The Party expressed fear that Harper would be subjected to ‘disrespect.’ It paid no consideration to the fact that the PPP has been insulting and disrespecting Nagamootoo at the drop of a hat. The insults have come from the various political platforms, the press statements and at the press conferences. The PPP/C had noted that while it has accepted the invitation for a public Presidential debate from the PSC, their decision to not entertain the HarperNagamootoo debate is final. The PPP said that Ramotar stands ready for a debate but Harper is out of the question. However, APNU+AFC has
made its position clear on the matter that it must have double or nothing ; Harper versus Nagamootoo and Ramotar versus APNU+AFC’s Presidential Candidate, David Granger. While Quinn said that there have been questions where there should be a Prime Ministerial debate, “(It) is very clear that the Presidential debate should go ahead regardless.” He explained that the Presidential debate is of huge value for all: both the parties and the population. The UK envoy explained that such an activity would allow voters to consider what are the propositions of both parties if elected. This, he said, would enable voters to make a decision. “The benefit of course of the presidential debate is the way it is being set up, it would be seen and carried by everyone, so both sides would have an equal opportunity to get their message across,” Quinn said.
Nageer seeks legal advice over Health Minister’s ‘slap and strip’ tirade Embattled Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran’s recent ‘slap and strip’ tirade may land him before the courts, if women rights activist Sherlina Nageer’s attorney gives her the green light to file a police complaint against him. And Crime Chief Leslie James yesterday made it clear that charges could be laid “against anyone” if enough evidence is provided. Nageer indicated to Kaieteur News yesterday that her decision to file a complaint with the police lies
in the hands of her Attorney. “I have not decided as yet as to whether to file a report. I am still getting legal advice”, while adding that a decision will be made soon. Asked if she felt intimidated by Dr. Ramsaran, Nageer said: “I don’t feel intimidated at all (although) I think he’s dangerous.” The woman activist also refuted reports that she had spat at the Health Minister. Asked whether Minister Ramsaran could be charged over his tirade, Crime Chief Leslie James said that
Women’s Rights Activists, Sherlina Nageer “anyone can be charged, but we have not received a report from anyone. When a matter is reported and if there is evidence, then they could be charged.” Dr. Ramsaran landed in hot water last Monday after he was recorded berating Nageer, who had queried his presence outside the Whim Magistrate’s Court, with other PPP supporters, in support of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. In response, Ramsaran had told Nageer to “shut your mouth and get out my face.” As his tirade continued, the
Health Minister also called the activist an “idiot”, told her to “F off,” referred to her as a “little piece of s**t”, then stated that he could “slap her ass,” and “have some of my women strip her here…” And even after issuing an apology, Dr. Ramsaran was recorded labeling Nageer a “miscreant,” and saying that she was in need of “psychiatric help.” His behavior has been condemned by some members of the diplomatic corps, dozens of political commentators and even members of his own party.
against women never acceptable - Canadian High Commission
Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Nicole Giles
As outrage continues to grow over taped statements made by Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, to a female activist on Monday while at Berbice, the Government of Canada has joined the United Kingdom and the United States of America in criticising the incident. According to a statement from the High Commission of Canada last evening, it has noted with great disappointment the comments made by Minister Ramsaran to women’s rights activist, Sherlina Nageer. “The remarks uttered are disturbing and the High Commission of Canada condemns any form of abuse, including verbal and threatened, towards women. Threats of violence against women are never acceptable.” The High Commission said that the struggle to fully attain women’s rights, in Guyana and around the world, is an ongoing battle that must be won. “Such incidents weaken the progress that has been made. Global statistics produced by the UN, reinforce the need to strengthen women’s rights…” The High Commissioner said that it is a fact that 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence; more than one in three girls alive today were married before the age of 15; women still account for two thirds of the world’s illiterate population; and in the realm
of politics, although women constitute just about half of the world’s population, they occupy only 22 percent of Parliamentary seats worldwide. “All partners should be unwaveringly committed to advancing the rights of women. Political leaders have a special responsibility because they have the largest platforms, influence and decision-making ability. The High Commission of Canada hopes that leaders recognise the critical role they play in governance, including providing leadership and empowering the citizens of Guyana, including women.” The High Commission said that the empowerment of women and girls is a priority for the Government of Canada and “we remain steadfast in our defence of their rights, both in Canada and abroad.” Yesterday also, a statement from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said that President Donald Ramotar has strongly reprimanded Ramsaran following revelation of statements he uttered during and following a public confrontation with a protesting citizen from Georgetown in Berbice. “The statements and behaviour of the Minister do not reflect the high-standards I have set for Ministerial conduct nor the public’s expectations of an office holder. It is outright disrespectful and improper. I intend to have further discussions with the Minister on this matter,” President Ramotar said.
Saturday April 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Venezuela may have missed $24 billion in oil revenue in 2014
An oilfield worker walks next to pipelines at PDVSA’s Jose Antonio Anzoategui industrial complex (REUTERS/CARLOS GARCIA RAWLINS) (Reuters) - Venezuela, struggling to pay for essential items such as food and medicine amid strict foreign currency controls, may have failed to collect about a third of its potential oil revenue in 2014, a Reuters analysis suggests. The OPEC member nation likely realized just over $50 billion in oil revenue in 2014, according to an analysis of publicly available data and estimates based upon past performances of Venezuela’s oil sector. But as a result of generous financing mechanisms to allied nations through cooperation agreements and imports of crude oil and various products, Venezuela potentially deprived itself of about $24 billion in oil revenue last year, the analysis suggests. An exact figure for both realized and deprived revenues is unavailable given the absence of specific data from Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), and the government. Accompanying this story is an interactive calculator allowing users to input their own estimates for some of these unknown elements. The fact that the country holds the world’s largest proven crude reserves has generally persuaded investors that it can afford to service its debts, in spite of Caracas’ rhetoric lambasting capitalist imperialism. That confidence is eroding amid the collapse in oil prices and the crumbling of the state-led economic model, resulting in prices on sovereign and quasi-sovereign U.S. dollar-denominated debt dropping to levels typically
associated with a default. Analysts have found it increasingly difficult to square how PDVSA will bring in enough revenue to meet its obligations, given its underinvestment in production operations that jeopardize oil output. Venezuela’s practice of subsidizing the cost of gasoline for domestic consumption for less than it costs to produce, as well as agreements to ship oil under barter pacts to Cuba or relaxed credits to other Caribbean nations, hurts the flow of revenue to the government. China has loaned Venezuela more than $50 billion since 2007, to be repaid with crude oil and product shipments. Nearly half of that amount has been paid off, including about $14.5 billion worth of oil last year, according to the Reuters analysis. Venezuela and China agreed to change the terms for its debt repayment starting in the fourth quarter of last year, implying fewer barrels were being sent to pay off its debt to Beijing. However, the renegotiated deal with China late last year and adjustments to its
barter and/or relaxed credit agreements with Cuba and other Caribbean nations create uncertainty as to how much money Venezuela has been finally collecting in recent months. The government said in 2013 it received $9.6 billion back from the China Development bank, which was added to its coffers. This money represented the difference between the negotiated price on the oil and the real market price paid by China. PDVSA has not yet released its audited 2014 financial results that contain this figure, making a definitive calculation impossible. In the case of Petrocaribe and other bilateral agreements, the balance of crude oil and products sent in 2014 assumes a 19 percent drop in volume, as indicated in preliminary figures delivered by PDVSA and the Petroleum Ministry to the Venezuelan Congress in January. PDVSA did not respond to requests from Reuters for comments on the analysis nor to specific questions on the Chinese loans and adjustments to the Petrocaribe program.
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GUYANA IS NO CHINA The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) has a point. It is hard to reconcile how the APNU+AFC coalition arrived at a projected 7% average economic growth when one of its proposals is to develop an economic programme for the country within the first one hundred days of assuming office. What the PPPC is saying is this: how can APNU+AFC project such growth when it has not as yet developed an economic plan for the country? There is considerable merit in this criticism. After all how can assumptions be made that would yield a projected average growth rate of 7% when there is no economic plan from which these assumptions can be drawn. The coalition should be allowed to explain how it arrived at this seven per cent.
But knowing the coalition, it is not likely that it will wish to be drawn into justifying its projected average growth rate, economic plan or no economic plan. The coalition clearly did not have enough time to develop a detailed economic plan. The coalition was only formed weeks after the announcement of the date of the elections and since the coalition involved undertaking a series of frenzied actions, it would have been hard pressed to develop a full-fledged economic plan. But because the coalition did not have adequate time to develop an economic plan, it should have stayed clear of giving a projected growth figure. It makes it seems as if APNU+AFC is engaging in a guessing game or wishful thinking when it comes to economic growth.
Dem boys seh...
Hap New, Pee Pee Pee wasting we time When opportunity knocks everybody know that people must grab on to it. This is election time and dem political parties know that dem can use de press to promote and showcase demselves in front de world. Before elections dem use to hold press conference once a month to holla and tell de nation wha dem do and wha dem ain’t do. And is de Pee Pee Pee, Pee Hen See and de Hay Heff See use to do that. Now that elections coming dem got press conference every other day and dem boys can understand that. What dem boys can’t understand is who dem putting fuh face de press at de press conferences and come out dem mouth. Tek yesterday, for instance, Pee Pee Pee had one at Freedom House. Two has been and one just come host de press conference. Dem talk bout de Hap New manifesto but Hap New tell dem boys that de party ain’t release no manifesto as yet. Dem don’t know what dem three idiots talking about. Maybe is a phantom manifesto. From that press conference dem reporters end up at Hap New press conference. That party look like it get old overnight. Dem boys seh that is either dem got too many dotish old people inside or too many smart children outside because is pagalee li’l children host de press conference and talk nothing. On top of that both of dem press conferences tell de press corps that dem can’t ask no question. Dem boys seh that both parties shoulda tek advantage of de press to tell de people wha dem gun do fuh de country and fuh de people. De way how dem behave at press conferences of recent one would believe that they are running out of ideas, It look like all dem concern wid is fuh show dem face and believe that dem gun get de people votes. If face use to bring vote Peter Ramsaroop woulda been president of Guyana a long time. Talk half and hope de next time dem give de newspapers something dem can report on.
It may however be that APNU+AFC is working backwards. It may be that they are attempting to do what Kenneth King did with the National Development Strategy. It may be that APNU+AFC have decided on a growth rate that Guyana needs to achieve and will develop a plan to supposedly achieve that growth rate. This of course is courting disaster. It is case of working backwards. Such an approach will lead to a discredited economic plan because instead of growth rates being premised on assumptions, it is a case of the plan being developed after the numbers have been fixed. If however the economy cannot sustain the projected growth rates, then the economic plan would be discredited. The experience of the late Kenneth King is instructive on this issue. When the PPPC along with the Carter Center and hundreds of local Guyanese developed the National Development Strategy, it was hoped that this would form the basis of national consensus. The then opposition leader, Desmond Hoyte,
would, however, have none of it. He simply was not keen on the idea of a national development strategy having the support of the opposition. As far as he was concerned this was the PPPC’s pet project and therefore he did not wish to have anything to do with it. And so he rejected the NDS and refused to give his party’s approval. The Carter Center was keen on building national consensus for the plan and so they brokered a compromise with the main opposition party. They would have Dr. Kenneth King, the architect of the PNC’s failed Feed, Clothe and House the National Development Plan, involved. King would review the plan and present a version that would form the basis of a consensus. King of course had his own ideas and to how much the country needed to grow. And so he did what APNU+AFC are doing now. He came up with a growth figure of 9% and said this is what Guyana needs to grow by. He then cobbled aspects of the original National Development Strategy NDS and produced the revised NDS on the premise that the
9% would be achieved. It could never have worked. Nine per cent growth could never be sustained and the PPPC was never going to be interested. King’s handiwork marked the end of the National Development Strategy. It died a natural death, neglected in part because by that time other developments had superseded the plan. But it was also neglected primarily because by projecting an unrealistic growth rate of 9%, the entire plan was discredited. There was no way that the country could have achieved that growth rate over an extended period. Some people like to look at the growth rates between 1989- 1992 to point to the potential for such high levels of growth being sustained. But when you hit rock bottom as the economy did by the time 1989 came around, there was only one way to go: upwards. It is easy when you are starting from a low base to grow rapidly. But it is another thing to sustain that growth over a number of years. Guyana‘s economy has enjoyed sustained moderate growth for many years now.
The economy is at its strongest ever. The country is no longer certified as a low income country. But for that reason also Guyana’s economy, small as it is, cannot sustain levels of growth that average 7% for any extended period unless of course we discover oil or one of the richest diamond mines in the world. Thus, it is contended that 7% growth is wholly unrealistic in Guyana and cannot be achieved for any extended period. I do not know if APNU+ AFC feels Guyana is China. But even China which has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the past decade will find it difficult to continue to grow at the rates it has been growing over the past year. Guyana is no China. APNU+ AFC should explain its growth projections or it should simply wait and see if it will win the elections and then make a realistic assessment of Guyana’s economy and its prospects.
Cabinet blesses another US$7M drug contract Less than three weeks before the May 11 polls, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon revealed that another billion dollar drug contract has been given Cabinet’s blessings. At his press conference which was held at the Office of the President yesterday, he said that Cabinet granted its “no objection” to a contract for the procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for the Ministry of Health to the tune of $1.4B. Just last week, Luncheon disclosed that Cabinet also granted its no-objection for the procurement of medical supplies for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), at a cost of US$1.05M which is equivalent to $219.8M. There was another award for which Cabinet granted its
‘no objection’. That was for drugs for the said hospital to the tune of $1.16B. However, when asked to disclose the name of the preferred bidder for the health contracts, Dr. Luncheon said, “I generally have not used this occasion to either confirm or deny the identity of bidders.” The supply of drugs to the GPHC and the Ministry of Health has been a hot topic in recent years after it was learnt that former President Bharrat Jagdeo and his administration during the 2000s created the conditions so that one particular company, New GPC, was receiving over 80 percent of the contracts which is equivalent to billions of dollars per year. That company is led by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’
New GPC boss, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo Ramroop, a close pal of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. Other suppliers have been complaining bitterly about being sidelined with challenges raised to ensure
that they are kept out. Last year alone, drug contracts were estimated at over $5B. The Public Accounts Committee, a Parliamentary oversight body, has expressed alarm over state auditor’s findings that drugs were not delivered on a number of occasions. There have been accusations of drug prices being inflated also.
Page 10
Kaieteur News
Saturday April 25, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Holocaust controversy has relevance for the election campaign A controversy broke out last week between the FBI and Poland. It led to an intervention by the American Government. The Director of the FBI said that Poles were accomplices in the Holocaust committed by the Nazis because at the time they failed to speak out or even sided with the Nazis. The Polish Government was furious. It claimed that the Polish people were victims of Nazi Germany just as the Jews were. The American
Government stepped in and apologized for the Director’s remarks. But some scholars came to the support of the Director by asserting that Germans, Poles and other nationalities did give support to the Nazis. This Holocaust controversy comes at a time when Guyana is in the throes of its most important election campaign that has no comparison in the history of both pre-Independent and post-Independent Guyana.
The 2015 election campaign in the interpretation of this columnist is the most decisive election competition in the entire history of this nation. The outcome will determine if this country implodes and sinks into the pit of nihilism and bestiality or takes its place as the centre of the CARICOM group of nations and a bright spot in the Third World. Those who blame the PPP since 1992 for the social and ethical collapse of Guyana are
open to castigation if they fail to blame the thousands of Guyanese who willingly supported the political decadence of the Jagdeo/ Ramotar descent. The FBI Director may have upset the Polish Government but he is not off the mark. Authoritarianism grows and sinks its fangs deeper into the society with every applauder that comes on board. Many Poles and Germans supported a government that
was killing Jews en masse. In Guyana, since Mrs. Janet Jagan retired, Mr. Jagdeo and Mr. Ramotar have virtually desecrated every corner of this country to the point where everything is soiled and besmirched. But Mr. Jagdeo and Mr. Ramotar couldn’t have done it all by themselves. Thousands of Guyanese gave them succour. The Guyana Manufacturers Association, Private Sector Commission and Georgetown Chamber of Commerce have shamelessly endorsed every destructive policy of Jagdeo and Ramotar. Prominent Hindu and Muslim churches using the name of God have embraced Mr. Jagdeo and Mr. Ramotar At Jagdeo’s Day of Appreciation, A UWI professor, a prominent UG lecturer and Sir Shridath Ramphal among other dignitaries participated. I went to the launching of the autobiography of Yesu Persaud and when one of the official speakers denounced power-hogging as the common trait among politician, the applause was rapturous. Among those clapping was a woman UG lecturer. But it was this woman who sat in the 50th Anniversary Committee of UG and proposed that on UG’s 50th birthday, President Ramotar should be the person to be honoured. Imagine the vulgar impertinence of that suggestion. If UG should honour anyone it must be Forbes Burnham who took the institution from a semifunctioning night school at Queen’s College and turned it into a regional powerhouse. If not Burnham then only one other name is eligible – Clive Thomas. If there should be a change in government after May 12, national denunciation will focus on the PPP. The nation and its new
Frederick Kissoon leaders will become oblivious to the countless men and women who willingly gave a faithful embrace to fifteen years of tyrannical power. It is for this reason I would not join a political party. Once I do so, I will create mayhem in that party using my membership card as my license to denounce its hypocritical embrace of the encouragers of the ousted oligarchs. Make no mistake, when a new non-PPP government comes into power, those same business organizations will become the new sycophants. These servile creatures will now be the host of lavish cocktail escapades and our new leaders, all decked out in sartorial dapperness and robotic, gargantuan smiles, will willingly allow themselves to be feted by men and women who shut their mouths when Nero played his fiddle while Guyana burned. To most people in politics, this is the way of the world. They would argue that a new government has to work with the folks who once waltzed with the previous dictators. They would say that the new government needs every ounce of support, never mind it comes from people who helped the previous rulers to become tyrants. But where does it leave moral obligation? How can the new rulers bring themselves to shake a glass with a business leader who has no morality and encouraged his country’s destruction? If that is the way of the world, it is not my way. It will never be my way.
Saturday April 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Minister Anthony to promote heritage awareness, to attract tourists Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in collaboration with the National Trust of Guyana (NTG), is now seeking to list Georgetown, and some areas outside of the Capital City as historic landmarks. Minister Frank Anthony said that through the UNESCO International Monument, the government has been receiving grants to help with the upkeep of certain historical buildings and natural sites in an
e f f o r t to preserve these historical places. City Hall, St. George’s Cathedral, Kaieteur National Park and Shell Beach, are just a few of the places that have been chosen to benefit from this initiative. In addition to these public buildings and places, Minister Anthony said that the Ministry and NTG are also trying to get private persons owning buildings with rich history to come on board. Anthony explained that
the aim is to “get people to understand more about their heritage, so through the NTG we have a programme directed at communities for them to learn more about their history.” He added, “In many of our communities there were plantations, so within those communities there is a very rich history, sometimes you will pass, you will see maybe a koker. Most people never stop to ask when that thing was built.”
The Minister said that Georgetown was handpicked for its unique plantation layout, colonial history and historic buildings. As such, he has suggested a part of Georgetown be dubbed “historic Georgetown”. He explained that most of the historic buildings identified are wooden structures which are very hard to maintain in Guyana’s “tropical environment.” He explained that a proposal has been submitted
Presidential debates…
PSC expresses disappointment in political parties’ inability to compromise The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has expressed disappointment in the fact that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) and the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) are unable to negotiate amicable grounds for the holding of Presidential debates. The Commission is of the opinion that while both political parties are sticking to its guns and holding out for the conditions under which each is willing to participate in the debates; Guyana is being starved of a golden opportunity to witness such debates. The PSC yesterday hosted a press conference to discuss the conduct of political parties during the election period. This was held at the Commission’s Waterloo Street headquarters. Speaking at that forum, PSC Chairman Ramesh Persaud, said, that PPP/C’s decision not to partake in
Prime Ministerial debates should not be basis for no debates to be held at all. He explained that the PSC volunteered to host the Presidential debates and organize all aspects of it, but was confronted with a request to also facilitate a Prime Ministerial Candidate debate. However, the incumbent PPP/C said that it is only prepared to participate in Presidential debates, While, APNU+AFC is not willing to partake in Presidential debates unless it is preceded by Prime Ministerial debates. Persaud opined that PPP/ C’s decision not to partake in Prime Ministerial debates is not reason enough for the APNU+AFC coalition to decide not to participate in any debates at all. He said this even as he acknowledged that the Prime Ministerial debates are indeed important and should be held. Persaud told the media
that the PSC has put all arrangements in place to have the debates and is ready to move ahead with as soon as the political parties meet a compromise. In fact, Persaud said that the PSC can host the debates the very next day after the PPP/C and the coalition decides to move forward. Kaieteur News questioned Persaud as to whether the PSC tried to mediate talks between the two Parties with an aim to arrive at a compromise to which he responded in the affirmative. He however, told media operatives that despite real efforts on the part of the PSC, both parties continue to maintain a firm hold on their positions. Further, Persaud stated that the gridlock over the debates does not augur well for the future relationship between the two parties if an agreement cannot be met on such a simple issue. He said this concerns him, particularly
as to what it means for future compromise on other topics after elections. He said that he pointed this out to both parties, but it was not enough to shift any of the parties’ position. Other PSC officials also weighed in on the issue. Eddie Boyer, Vice Chairman of the PSC said that both parties owe it to the Guyanese people to have the debates and Kit Nascimento concluded that the opposition’s position to have double or nothing is unreasonable.
to UNESCO, requesting that Georgetown be listed as a historical landmark, and the next step is to prepare a conservation plan for “historic Georgetown.” He revealed that the plan is to submit the name of various sites and building to ensure that UESCO takes at least one of them and makes it as a world heritage site. According to Anthony, being the recipient of such an acclamation would help to drive people to come to Guyana, and foster tourism in a sustainable way. A group of experts are expected to travel to Georgetown to lend advice on how we can upkeep and preserve the appearance of City Hall. The Fire Department recently stated that the 125year-old City Hall constituted “a serious fire hazard.” During the inspections 18 hazardous conditions were identified, and 24 recommendations including general changes, were advised. Kaieteur News understands that with the consideration of the fire
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Frank Anthony service’s urgings, the City Engineer and his team of workers did some remedial work on the fire escapes, stairs, floors, and roof of the building. Some painting was also done. Mayor Hamilton Green asserted that despite the fact that the building no longer poses an immediate danger, there is still need for a major rehabilitation. He described the edifice as a “magnificent architectural piece of art.
Page 12
Kaieteur News
Saturday April 25, 2015
UK High Commissioner says Ramsaran’s ‘slap and strip’ remarks disgraceful Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran’s ‘slap and strip’ threats to women’s rights activist, Sherlina Nageer was nothing short of disgraceful, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Guyana, James Gregory Quinn, said yesterday. As he addressed members of the media at his Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown residence, the UK diplomat was frank in sharing his views on the much discussed exchange between the Health Minister and Nageer. The UK envoy said that had this been his country, Dr. Ramsaran would no longer be a Government Minister or
…has no place in the 21st century even a member of the political party. The language employed by the Health Minister is one Quinn believes that has no place in the 21st century. Dr Ramsaran made headlines when a recording of him calling the women’s rights activist “an idiot”, “a little piece of sh**t”, threatening to “slap her ass...just for the fun of it”, and to have her stripped by “some of my women” surfaced. Nageer was heard demanding state accountability for the local maternal mortality rate. The incident occurred on Monday
last, in front of the Whim Magistrate’s Court in Berbice. The Minister subsequently claimed that he was provoked into uttering those “harsh words” after Nageer interrupted a press interview. As the UK envoy focused on the recording that surfaced on Monday last, he said, “To be brutally frank, what the Minister of Health said was disgraceful. The language he used and more importantly the sentiment that it is acceptable to use violence, in particularly sexual violence against a woman, has got no place whatsoever in the 21st century.” He went on to state, “If that had been a UK Minister who had said that, he would no longer be a UK Minister and he would no longer be a member of the political party.” Quinn was also asked whether he was disappointed with the way the government has been handling the issue, but he said it was not his place to comment on that. He noted, however, that former President, Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Ministerial candidate, Elisabeth Harper as well as others have recorded disappointment in what the Minister said. Quinn’s remarks come
seven weeks into his appointment as High Commissioner in Guyana, but he is not the first diplomat to speak out on the incident. Speaking to an online news agency, US Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt had stated that such statements have no place in a country like Guyana, that has a high rate of domestic violence and sexual and gender-based violence. Hunt was recorded as saying “In a country that has a domestic violence rate as high as Guyana’s and a sexual assault rate as high as Guyana’s, it is downright irresponsible for any senior politician to make the statement to any woman, in public or in private, that the Minister of Health made the other day. It is completely unacceptable.” The US Charge d’Affaires reasoned that there is no “possible reason or rationale to threaten sexual violence against anyone, but especially against a woman, given Guyana’s very serious gender-based violence problem”. He too thought Ramsaran’s remarks were disgraceful. “I think the damage is much more severe than what the woman’s activist heard or the offence that she took at the remarks. I think it conveys a sense from a senior government official that somehow sexual violence is something that is appropriate to use, appropriate to
UK High Commissioner, James Quinn Women’s Rights Activists, Sherlina Nageer threaten, and somehow societally acceptable and it’s not. It can’t be,” Hunt told the online agency. The excuse offered by Ramsaran was deemed unacceptable by the US envoy who made it clear that he does not believe that there is any possible provocation that any woman could have made that would legitimately result in a response in which a senior government official threatens that woman with violence. “The Minister’s conduct was beyond, it was disgraceful…I think the question that should he be asked to resign is one the party has to struggle with internally and I will let them have their internal debates about that.” “Should he resign out of his own volition? I’m not going to prescribe to the Minister what he ought to do, but what I will say is, in the United States if one of our candidate officials were to have made that sort of comment, that person would
Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran have been expected to resign without question. Hunt held that the same principle would hold true across any number of countries that a Minister making that type of inappropriate remark for whatever reason, would have chosen voluntarily to step down. A number of nongovernmental organisations and activists have issued a call for the Minister to step down from office. Meanwhile, mere hours after his apology, Ramsaran launched another tirade against Nageer. As he addressed a meeting of Regional Health Officers at the Main Street Plaza, Georgetown on Thursday, the Health Minister was recorded labeling Nageer a “miscreant,” and that she was in need of “psychiatric help.” Last April, the Health Minister had similarly come in for criticisms after he made unwanted sexual remarks to a journalist of this newspaper. Ramsaran reportedly told the 22-year old journalist who sought an interview, “I want you to know that I am a bachelor and I can still get an erection.” Also, a few years back, a PPP member who worked at the Ministry of Education had alleged that she asked him to drop home her 14y e a r - old daughter but instead he took her to an East Coast Demerara village where he reportedly fondled her private parts.
Saturday April 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 21
Hospital health and safety E’bo leads in suicide committee presented with badges
(SITTING, LEFT TO RIGHT) CEO of the GPHC Michael Khan, Kempton Alexander of the GPSU and Francis Carryl, consultant to the Ministry of Labour, along with the OSH committee members Two dozen employees of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) were yesterday conferred with badges of occupational safety and health as Guyana gears up to observe World Day of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). During a simple ceremony at GPHC’s Resource Centre, 24 members of a joint OSH Committee were urged to maintain their mandate of keeping the health and safety of workers at the hospital on the forefront. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPHC Michael Khan in brief remarks said that the management of the hospital recognised the importance of having a functional OSH committee. He said too, that
the management has several roles in maintaining the protection of workers. However, he noted that issues which plagued the administration cannot be dealt with by the management alone and would require the help of the committee. He added that the committee ensures that processes are safe and without risk to the health of all workers. He admitted that previous reports had shown that dangers posed had been due to carelessness. With a committee, workers are consulted, informed and trained in all aspects, Khan said. “I look forward to the many proposals from that group of workers to implement what they’ve
learnt,” Khan said. He continued, “I implore you, as OSH representatives, to actively participate in the implementation of prevention and control measures that will ensure the workers to work in a safe environment.” The CEO also expressed hope that a strong relationship will be forged between the management and the committee. “Safety begins with teamwork so let us work together as a team to join in building a culture of prevention for OSH.” The Joint Safety and Health Committee provides the platform for communication, coordination and cooperation between workers and their representatives and their
employers to ensure that working conditions are safe and that workers enjoy optimal physical and mental health. At GPHC, the committee comprises of 24 different representatives from different departments. The hospital will also be participating in a planned series of activities in Guyana to observe the OSH World Day. These activities commenced on Thursday with the participation of the 5 committee members in training sessions. The training focused on building capacity and strengthening efforts for OSH. The goal will be to have all of the representatives trained in OSH.
Elderly Providence accident victim succumbs The 75-year-old woman whose right leg was crushed by a truck on the Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) Public Road last Monday, succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Ramdai Dookdat, of Herstelling, EBD, died Tuesday morning. The mother of one passed away after undergoing surgery to amputate her leg at the medical institution. According to reports at around 13:45 hrs., the woman was crossing the road in the vicinity of the Providence Police Station when the truck which was heading north on the East Bank Demerara Public Road, struck her down then drove over her leg. She was first rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre before being transferred to the GPHC. Relating what transpired at the time of the accident, an eyewitness had told this newspaper that a vehicle had stopped to allow another vehicle and the woman to cross the road.
DEAD: Ramdai Dookdat “A truck stopped to allow the NDC (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) vehicle to pass across the road. There was a bus at the back of that truck and then another truck (the one that was involved in the accident). “After the NDC vehicle passed, the woman crossed but the truck at the back, like the driver didn’t want to wait, and he overtake and drive in front and hit the woman,” the eyewitness said. He added, “The truck side barely hit her but because she is old, she fell in front of the truck and the
truck front wheel run over her foot. The driver didn’t know he hit her. We had to shout and tell him to stop.”
When contacted, ranks at the Providence Police Station could not say whether the driver was in police custody.
A 73-year-old Richmond Housing Scheme pensioner has been recorded as Essequibo’s latest suicide. Fitzroy Augustus Oriley Grant, a Berbician, died Friday morning moments after his relatives rushed him to the Suddie Public Hospital. He shared a common-law relationship with Waltereen Baird. Relating what she was told by one of her daughtersin-law, Baird said that shortly after sunrise yesterday, she heard screams emanating from her lower flat as her daughter-in-law called for her. “Wallo! Wallo! Come! Come!” Mrs. Baird said that as she ventured downstairs she noticed that something about Grant wasn’t right. His appearance had changed.”He look like he was far gone”. She said she then proceeded to question Grant what had happened and he told her that he drank poison. Baird noted that after learning about what Grant had done, she called out to her neighbors and they hurriedly transported Grant to
the Suddie Public Hospital. Grant however died moments later. Baird said that Grant, who is originally from Berbice, was living on the Essequibo Coast for a lengthy period. He worked at the former Guyana Rice Development Board, now currently the Caricom Rice Mills Ltd. He was described as a good gardener and hard worker. Grant fathered no children. In another recent suicide incident, minibus driver, 37year-old Devanand Satytoo, formerly of Affiance died last week after he consumed one litre of poison. Constable Leono Patrick, formerly of Anna Regina new Housing Scheme died early this month after consuming poison. He reportedly had domestic problems. Reports are that a 17-yearold Suddie resident has consumed a quantity of poison and is hospitalized at the Suddie Public Hospital. The Essequibo Coast continues to register a high incidence of suicide cases.
Man slashes son’s neck A Richmond Housing Scheme troubled father is now in hiding after he attempted to kill his toddler son, Thursday night. According to reports, the father of three, attempted to cut his son’s neck with a sharp object. The child was
saved after his mother had intervened and rescued him. There was no stated reason for the attack. The child was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital and remains a patient at the institution. The wound required several stitches.
Page 22
Kaieteur News
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Toyota AT212, AT192, Runx, Fielder wagon, 4 Runner, Tundra, Premio, RZ, Nissan Bluebird & Cargo small bus. Tel:644-5096; 697-1453
The Gent’s Spa: Massage done by Tiffany & Kandi – Call:657-5979
One 290 Tractor with plough and cage wheel –Tel: 6686976; 675-5575
Cummings complete genset generator 4CYL 30KVA, 2011 Ducati 1198’s superbike, pearl white, CH series original –Tel: 684-2838 Male Enhancement - Tel: 638-1627 1 Mini marine tanker capacity 11,500 Gallons – Tel:227-1744 or 657-9237 Hymac, 200KVA CAT generators, portable, hours 07115, G3 John boat 14Ft, 25HP 4 Stroke Yamaha, 399 Massey Ferguson tractor Tel: 601-1138 3 Storey building 12 offices upper flat, established business @ 220 South Road. Contact: 601-3369; 218-2029 10 Acres Roadside land at Kuru Kuru for resort/ business- Contact: 6013369; 218-2029; 227-1042 1- 318 BMW and register, cash 3.2 M, down payment 1.2 M- Contact # 616-0429 Rottweiler and German shepherd mixed puppies, one month old – Contact:641-1771; 601-5500 High quality rough or dressed lumber available at reduced prices. Free delivery- Call: 6001212 for details JUST ARRIVED!! 18" BRUSH CUTTER BLADES WHOLESALE & RETAIL QUANTITIES - CALL: 6148564/ 639-3675 Quantum magnetic analyzer, body scanning machine and foot spa detox machine for sales Tel: 692-7886; 649-7884 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc Call: 225-9032, 647-2943 AMERICAN BULLY PUPS GOTTILINE REMYLINE CALL: 220-7933; 6674845; 610-0068 House and land @ Diamond Housing Scheme E.B.D – Call: 687-9107 XBOX 360 250GB with games, Nintendo 64 with: trilogy, golden eye, Mario karts and 3 original controllers, cheap- Call: 6838386 Pure bred Rottweiler pups, 6 weeks old, vaccinated & de-wormed, male & femaleTel:627-1360 1 RT58c Grove Crane ,l $10 Million- Contact 650-0402 Continued on page 23
Saturday April 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Venezuela may have missed $24 billion in oil revenue in 2014 (Reuters) - Venezuela, struggling to pay for essential items such as food and medicine amid strict foreign currency controls, may have failed to collect about a third of its potential oil revenue in 2014, a Reuters analysis suggests. The OPEC member nation likely realized just over $50 billion in oil revenue in 2014, according to an analysis of publicly available data and estimates based upon past performances of Venezuela’s oil sector. But as a result of generous financing mechanisms to allied nations through cooperation agreements and imports of crude oil and various products, Venezuela potentially deprived itself of
about $24 billion in oil revenue last year, the analysis suggests. An exact figure for both realized and deprived revenues is unavailable given the absence of specific data from Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), and the government. Accompanying this story is an interactive calculator allowing users to input their own estimates for some of these unknown elements. The fact that the country holds the world’s largest proven crude reserves has generally persuaded investors that it can afford to service its debts, in spite of Caracas’ rhetoric lambasting capitalist imperialism. That confidence is
eroding amid the collapse in oil prices and the crumbling of the state-led economic model, resulting in prices on sovereign and quasisovereign U.S. dollardenominated debt dropping to levels typically associated with a default. Analysts have found it increasingly difficult to square how PDVSA will bring in enough revenue to meet its obligations, given its underinvestment in production operations that jeopardize oil output. Venezuela’s practice of subsidizing the cost of gasoline for domestic consumption for less than it costs to produce, as well as agreements to ship oil under barter pacts to Cuba or relaxed credits to other
Letters... Where your views make the news
The PPP is not serious about being... From page 4 when the Freedom gang crowned Mrs. Jagan with the presidency. Most Guyanese believe that Mr. Ramotar knows very little and he does very little and this is why he has been dubbed the do-nothing president. Furthermore, could anyone contemplate the state the country will find itself in should an emergency arise and Ms. Harper has to take command? I would argue that the nation would be far safer with a Granger/Nagamootoo team than a Ramotar/Harper duo. Knowing how the PPP feels about ex-military men getting into poli-
tics, I guess they are familiar with some of our expressions. I would conclude that since she is clueless, all that she is expected to do is to “fall in and cover down.” Finally, I believe that Ms. Harper appears to be very uncomfortable while on television or at public meetings. She seems more like a hostage than a willing contender. Therefore, I appeal to the electorate to save the country the shame and to save Ms. Harper the pain and embarrassment, and vote the PPP out of office with this simple refrain, “never again”. Aubrey Reteymer
Caribbean nations, hurts the flow of revenue to the government. China has loaned Venezuela more than $50 billion since 2007, to be repaid with crude oil and product shipments. Nearly half of that amount has been paid off, including about $14.5 billion worth of oil last year, according to the Reuters analysis. Venezuela and China agreed to change the terms for its debt repayment starting in the fourth quarter of last year, implying fewer barrels were being sent to pay off its debt to Beijing. However, the renegotiated deal with China late last year and adjustments to its barter and/or relaxed credit agreements with Cuba and other Caribbean nations create uncertainty as to how much money Venezuela has been finally collecting in recent months. The government said in 2013 it received $9.6 billion back from the China Development bank, which was added to its coffers. This money represented the difference between the negotiated price on the oil and the real market price paid by China. PDVSA has not yet released its audited 2014 financial results that contain this figure, making a definitive calculation impossible.
Our past festers and the coalition... From page 4 juncture of healing and reconciliation. Instead, our past festers and with the coalition campaigning on forgetting history, there is little chance that if they form the next government that our past will ever be reconciled and healed. For both campaigns, unity is a song and dance on top a stage. Only in Guyana could senior politicians get away with forwarding the idea that not con-
sidering the past is the best way forward. The use of rearview mirrors is essential to safe driving. If you do not keep a close eye on the rearview mirror as you drive forward you will be a danger on the roads. I cannot go as far as the coalition leaders do and wish anyone to crash and die. That is offensive, and unbecoming of men who see themselves as leaders. Ryhaan Shah
(From page 22)
TO LET Kitty two bedroom a p a r t m e n t , C a b l e T V, parking, Internet, Security Cameras -$100,000 monthly- Tel: 645-0247 3-Bedroom unfurnished bottom flat in Sa Silva Street, parking for 2 cars, overhead tank, fully grilled, price $80,000- Call:616-0537 One upstairs 3 bedroom house; semi furnished, situated at Diamond Housing Scheme –Contact: 697-2456
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Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves. Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported Property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, grilled store room & Shed, (45X26) – Call: 660-1353,216-4338
Accounting & Taxation Services: tax returns, compliances, financial statements. Avinash Persaud Tax Consultancy, 163 Parika, EBE - Call: 260-4762.
Two properties located at Lot 10 Camp Street- Contact Andrew:611-9297
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Transported 3 bedrooms property at Good Hope E.C.D-Tel: 621-1722
LAND FOR SALE Parfait Harmonie -$1.3M (80ftX50ft), Fort Ordinance $1.2M Berbice, Tuschen $1.6M –Tel: 675-7292; 6893339
EDUCATIONAL
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Balloon decorating for birthdays, weddings, anniversary etc, make your event extra special! Tel Maya: 642-6664 Eagle’s fridge re-gas $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 646-0966 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS - CALL: 6294946 OR 225-4822 Mahadeo Construction for all construction, carpentry, masonry, pluming, painting etc. Free estimates and plan Contact # 669-7376 Fazil Ali Constructionbuilding, repairs & construction needs: plumbing, carpentry, painting, trowel tex, electrical, mason etc.Call: 677-0465/ 275-0844 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar:231-0655,683-8734 FOR SALE HOUSEHOLD ARTICLES @ GUYSUCO GARDENS, REDUCED PRICESCALL: 655-8171 Toyota DYNA canter, working condition, music set – Tel:642-7277; 654-6795
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Saturday April 25, 2015
Hostility during election period is a dangerous development - PSC Chairman Scorching criticisms and “eye-opening” accusations which have been characteristic of the election rhetoric thus far, caused the Private Sector Commission (PSC), yesterday, to urge the political parties to “tone it down”. The increasing hostility could lead to a dangerous situation, the PSC said. Articulating this sentiment was the PSC Chairman, Ramesh Persaud, who held a press conference to speak on the conduct of the election period at the Commission’s Waterloo Street Headquarters. Persaud said that the Commission as the voice of the business community is committed to the cause of ensuring that the 2015 elections are peaceful, free, fair and credible. He said that the Commission has however, noted the “seemingly escalating hostility with which candidates and supporters of the major political parties are reacting to each other.” The PSC Chairman told the media that the Commission is of the opinion that this is an “unfortunate and potentially dangerous development” and believes that all parties must accept responsibility for this situation. He then urged the leaders of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) to confront and defeat this trend by coming together to make a joint statement which condemns all or any form of hostile behaviour and calls for tolerance on the part of each citizen regardless of their political persuasion.
PSC Chairman, Ramesh Persaud (centre) delivering his remarks during the press conference yesterday He sought to remind the political leaders that regardless of the outcome of the elections, the country must be governed and governable in their aftermath. “The Commission believes that the opportunity to lead a political party is a trust which is inviolable and sacrosanct. We therefore expect political leaders and parties to act in a manner which will ensure a peaceful and non-violent election,” Persaud said. The PSC Chairman said that the Commission’s perception was based on a number of reports from both parties which documented complaints of such behaviour. “We have received reports from the APNU+AFC and the PPP/C of very specific incidents. The APNU+AFC in particular, wrote to the Guyana Elections Commission Chairman and the PPP/C made police complaints with regards to attacks on its supporters. “This happens when they are putting up flags and other party paraphernalia. There are
lots of attacks and statements which were reported in those letters. We have copies of those reports but we are not privileged enough to share that with you but it chronicles everything or most of the challenges the parties are encountering out there.” Based on those reports, he said that the Commission is extremely concerned about certain developments during the election campaign period. As it relates to the joint statement by both political parties to ease the growing tensions, Persaud said that it would serve as a positive sign to supporters who may or may not be taking cues regarding respecting each other. He added, “We believe that the parties have differing views and the elections will have a winner. We want the people to be prepared for that outcome.” As it relates to statements during the elections period which have the potential to incite fear, the PSC Chairman said that the Commission believes that the campaign rhetoric needs to be toned down somewhat and that there is some irresponsibility taking place in that regard. He said that he does not believe that it is necessary at this time and the Commission condemns all such acts of hostility. On the issue of conduct during the election period, Persaud also spoke to the behaviour of Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran in disrespecting women’s rights activist Sherlina Nageer when he said that he would slap her just for the fun of it and get one of his women to strip her. The PSC Chairman said that the Commission believes that the Minister
“undoubtedly, may have been provoked” and “we also believe strongly behaviour of that nature is not acceptable
and is somewhat irresponsible.” Persaud said that the Commission hopes to meet
with the political parties before May 11 to iron out some last-minute issues. He also urged the major political parties to sign on to the Code of Conduct drafted by the Elections Commission. He added that the Commission has submitted a preliminary list of persons to be accredited to observe the elections throughout the country. He said that they expect to have 35 persons on board. The PSC Waterloo Street headquarters will in a few days time, be transformed into a communications centre to provide information on the election period. He also expressed how elated the Commission is to have the Carter Centre’s presence during this historic election phase.
Inner Wheel Club of Georgetown Central pledges continuous support to Help & Shelter
Members, friends of Help and shelter and the president of the Inner Wheel Club of Georgetown Central, at the presentation of the toiletry hamper, recently. Recognizing the work being done by Help and Shelter to better the lives of abused women in Guyana, President of the Inner Wheel Club of Georgetown Central, Isha Husain-Singh, has said that the club will continue support to the shelter. She commended the shelter for the works they have done since the 1994 commissioning. Despite the shelter being shut down on two occasions due to financial difficulties, it is now stable as the Guyana Government has given Help and Shelter a $4 million grant. Support by other entities such as the Inner Wheel Club of Georgetown Central. The club in observance of their 30 th anniversary presented a hamper of
household items, to the shelter in a simple handing over ceremony at the Help and Shelter’s Homestretch Avenue location recently. Husain-Singh, said that the club has agreed to give three of the women residing at the shelter, funding to undertake short courses in the areas of sewing, manicure and pedicure and care for the elderly. The initiative is meant to prepare them for a new life in which they can earn a living for themselves and the little ones in their charge. “Our club’s main fundraising events are our annual tea party, a take away lunch and recently added variety concert. With the proceeds, we manage to take care of community projects to which our members have given consent. Hence, Ixora has been chosen” said Husain-Singh. The donation was one of the customary activities by the group who now celebrates. Husain-Singh, the second time president of the
club, said that she always see it fit to choose Help and Shelter, as she also serves as an executive at the shelter. “I know the urgency and need of the shelter; as it works to better the lives of women,” emphasized Husain-Singh. She added, with monetary donations the shelter was refurbished on two occasions; retiled, repainted and the kitchen was upgraded. Husain indicated that she does not want the “bucks” to stop at the giving of the hamper basket, there is a need for continuous help as the shelter depends solely on funding. Help and Shelter, a NonGovernmental Organization (NGO) provides shelter for abused women and their children. Counseling is also available for women and their partners. Margaret Kertzious said that all services provided by the organization are free of cost. The women are granted six months of living at the shelter, however, the time is negotiable.
Saturday April 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
EU continues to withhold funds to Guyana - UK envoy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to Guyana, James Gregory Quinn yesterday said that the millions of Euros in budgetary support to Guyana for the sugar sector and sea defence from the European Union (EU) remains withheld. Speaking to members of the media at his Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown residence yesterday, Quinn said that the decision to release that funding is one which will be made in Brussels, Belgium’s capital and home to the EU headquarters. Earlier this year, the EU announced that it has temporarily put on hold its two latest partial payments, Euro$28.9M for the local sugar sector and Euro $14.8M for sea defence works. The EU had said that it has temporarily put on hold its two latest partial payments being, EURO until all eligibility criteria, including budget oversight, are “satisfactorily” addressed. Former UK High Commissioner to Guyana, Andrew Ayre had come in for criticisms from government when said that Guyana may be facing possible sanctions for operating without a Parliament. He had reportedly said as well, that UK taxpayers would more than likely object to its government providing budgetary support to a country functioning without any means of parliamentary scrutiny. This was followed by a firm retort from Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon. He had accused the EU and the British High Commissioner of conspiring to dishonour the longstanding budgetary support agreement between the EU and the Government of Guyana. Luncheon also hinted that the EU had reneged on an agreement with Guyana on budgetary support. While the Government had lashed out on Ayre’s comments, yesterday, Quinn made it clear that the decision not to disperse that last tranche money was one that was led by the 28-member states of the EU in Brussels, Belgium. He emphasised “we can’t block things by ourselves.” The UK High Commissioner revealed that in the future the Economic Development Funding (EDF) will be project base. The Euro 30.5B worth of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), he said, will go to specific activities.
UK High Commissioner, James Quinn
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Saturday April 25, 2015
Tackling economy is top priority for new Anguilla government
The new AUF government: (L-R) Evans McNeil Rogers, Curtis Richardson, Chief Minister Victor Banks, Evalie Bradley, Cora Richardson-Hodge, Cardigan Connor (Photo: Anguilla News) THE VALLEY, Anguilla (WINN) — Anguilla’s opposition Anguilla United Front (AUF) handed a heavy defeat to the incumbent Anguilla United Movement (AUM), taking six of the seven seats in Wednesday’s general election in the tiny British overseas territory. The AUM won no seats – the seventh was taken by independent candidate, lawyer/ businessperson Pamovan Webster, who defeated the man who led the incumbent party into the election – medical practitioner Ellis Lorenzo Webster. Outgoing Chief Minister Hubert Hughes was not a candidate in the election but had predicted a landslide for
his AUM. “I now have reserves of $30 million dollars in the fund. I have a surplus situation. I never had to borrow to pay my civil servants... I have a situation where Anguilla is growing faster than any other state in the region,” he said. Chief Minister-elect Victor Banks, a former finance minister, speaking to WINN FM on Thursday, dismissed the claim that the economy was doing well under the Hughes administration. “There’s definitely been no growth of significance for the past five years, so the economy cannot be doing well. We have a situation where there are a number of non-performing loans in
banks. It has increased over the years because people can’t meet their commitments. Many people have been out of work for years, and many people have been underemployed, working two or three days per week rather than [working for] a living wage,” he said. Banks said that Hughes’ statement did not add up. “The fact is if the government had been able to balance its budget that would mean the overall economy would be doing well,” he said. The new head of government says stimulating the Anguillan economy will be a key priority. “We have been very welcoming to investments. We’ve always had a very professional approach to dealing with people who come to our country and invest in our country. We’ve always try to find ways and means incentivize persons who are involved in the job-creating sector – the private sector which includes local and foreign... we’re also looking at diversifying the economy, moving away from just focus [the] narrow focus on tourism, and diversifying within the tourism economy as well as other aspects of our country that still have been underexploited,” Banks said.
Grenada government defends decision to open diplomatic post in Miami GEORGE’S, Grenada CMC – The Grenada government has sought to defend its decision to open a Consulate General in Miami later this month, saying it remains committed to strengthening its partnership with Grenadians in the Diaspora. “Grenadian citizens and the network community organizations throughout the world continue to make substantive contributions to Grenada’s socio-economic development in all areas of life, and for this the Government is highly appreciative,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. It said “it is, therefore, necessary to have adequate representation, as far as possible, to facilitate Government’s obligations to its citizens and other partners, as we seek to realize the shared goal of prosperity for Grenadians at home and abroad in service to our beloved project Grenada”. The diplomatic post opens on April 30 and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it represents “an impor-
Derrick James tant step in broadening that outreach. “It is envisioned that the Consulate General will not only provide consular services to Grenadians but also promote Grenada’s socio-economic development through the promotion of foreign direct investment. “The Ministry wishes to underscore that the Diaspora community in the New York Metropolitan area remains an integral pillar of our Diaspora community in the United
States and ensuring a close working partnership with our community remains an absolute priority.” It said that the appointment of Derrick James as Ambassador for Diaspora and Humanitarian Affairs accredited to the United Nations “is a testimony to the Government’s commitment to ensuring the facilitation of a dynamic and responsive community engagement between our citizenry and government”. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Embassy of Grenada in Washington, DC, continues to service the entire United States, including New York with regards to comprehensive consular services. “The Ministry wishes to further inform that the Government of Grenada is currently reviewing modalities of strengthening its representation in New York with a view to facilitating consular representation and continuing to work hand in hand for the benefit of the people of Grenada at home and abroad,” the statement added.
Saturday April 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
EU rescue ships head for Libya, as migrants die also in Balkans (Reuters) - British and German warships made ready to sail for waters off Libya as Europe ramped up rescue operations in the Mediterranean after up to 900 desperate migrants drowned last weekend on a boat heading for Italy. Yet hours after European Union leaders agreed in Brussels on Thursday to treble funding for EU maritime missions and pledged more ships and aircraft, 14 clandestine migrants were killed when a train ploughed into dozens of Somalis and Afghans making their way in darkness along a rail track in a Macedonian gorge. The incident highlighted the variety of routes that growing numbers are taking to escape war and poverty in Asia, Africa and the Middle East and chance their luck in a wealthy region that offers, at best, a chilly welcome. EU governments remain deeply at odds over how to share out the care of those who make it. After the sinking of a packed fishing vessel last weekend nearly doubled the death toll at sea this year to almost 2,000, EU leaders responded to a public outcry by reversing sharp cuts in search and rescue operations — though voters’ wariness of immigration means few are willing to take in many more refugees. Britain’s helicoptercarrying flagship Bulwark, currently near Istanbul, will head for the area between Libya and Italy on Sunday, the government said. However, Prime Minister David Cameron, who faces a threat from anti-immigration populists as he seeks re-election in less than two weeks, stressed when he offered it on Thursday that few of those rescued would come to Britain. Germany, favoured desti-
nation for many migrants who make it to Europe, said on Friday it would have a frigate and a supply vessel in the area within days to comb the sea for refugees. Nearly 40,000 have made it to Italy so far this year, though Germany and its neighbours complain that Italy and Greece do too little to track those who arrive and then swiftly head north. EU border agency Frontex says 276,000 people entered the bloc illegally last year, more than double the number in 2013. Sea crossings to Italy quadrupled to 170,000 as anarchy in Libya opened opportunities for people smuggling gangs. Some 43,000 came into the EU last year via the Balkans but 32,000 arrived in just the first three months of this year, Frontex data shows. DEATH ON THE RAILWAY Near the Macedonian town of Veles, a Reuters photographer saw body parts, clothing and food strewn along a remote stretch of rail line beside a river on Friday — part of a migrant route that stretches back thousands of miles into places of war and hunger and on towards Germany and Europe’s prosperous north. “The train was unable to stop before hitting and running over some of them,” said a prosecutor. About 50 people, mostly from Somalia and Afghanistan, had been on the track, he added. The United Nations, which was critical of the EU response off Libya, welcomed the summit decision that EU officials said will effectively restore the same level of help as a mission run by Italy which picked up over 100,000 last year but which was replaced by a more modest EU-
run operation last October. But the U.N. refugee agency also urged Europe to make it easier for people to seek EU protection without making hazardous journeys. EU leaders agreed to look into ways to offer more access to its asylum and immigration procedures outside Europe. “Ultimately the test will be whether we see reduction in lives lost, effective access to protection in Europe without having to cross the Mediterranean and an effective Common European Asylum System, which truly lives up to its commitments of solidarity,” UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards said. Charity Save the Children said it was concerned that adding more ships to Frontex’s Operation Triton off the Italian coast would not save more lives if the mission were not extended much further out towards the Libyan coast 300 miles away — where Italy’s own Mare Nostrum mission did much of its work last year. Such an extension is the prerogative of Frontex, consulting with the operation’s Italian hosts. Those consultations are under way and Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri said in a statement that the greater forces would mean a “significant expansion of our operations in the Mediterranean”. Italian and EU officials said a broader area of operations, bolstered by more air cover, was likely in the coming days. COURT HEARING In the Sicilian port of Catania, the presumed captain of the migrant boat that sank appeared before an Italian judge on Friday after prosecutors asked for a charge of homicide.
Migrants arrive at the Sicilian harbor of Catania (REUTERS/ALESSANDRO BIANCHI)
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Euro zone warns Greece no cash till full reform deal (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers warned Greece on Friday that its leftist government will get no more aid until it agrees a complete economic reform plan, as Athens lurches closer to bankruptcy. Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis faced a harsh morning in which euro zone ministers bemoaned talks they felt “were going nowhere” and one minister said that maybe it was time governments prepared for the plan B of a Greek default. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch finance minister who chaired the meeting in the Latvian capital, slammed the door on Varoufakis’ proposal for early cash after partial reforms. “A comprehensive and detailed list of reforms is needed,” Dijsselbloem told a news conference following a meeting in Riga. “A comprehensive deal is necessary before any disbursement can take place ... We are all aware that time is running out.” He also said a remaining 7.2 billion euros in frozen bailout funds would no longer be
available after June, and Greece’s creditors would not talk about longer term funding and debt relief until Athens concluded a full interim agreement. In a sign of the euro zone’s frustration, the discussion on Greece lasted little more than an hour, while ministers declined to go into any detail over issues such as the budget surpluses Athens might target because Greece had no details prepared. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Brussels on Thursday he hoped for an agreement by the end of this month and Merkel on Friday reiterated her call for a deal soon. But Dijsselbloem said finance ministers would review progress again only on May 11 - a day before Greece has to make a crucial and uncertain 750 million euro payment to the International Monetary Fund. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the ECB would go on allow-
ing emergency lending to Greek banks as long as they were assessed as solvent. But he cautioned that soaring Greek government bond yields were diminishing the value of the collateral that the banks present to get funds. Facing a wave of deposit outflows, the banks are staying afloat with 75.4 billion euros in emergency liquidity assistance from the Greek central bank. But criticism of the lifeline is growing inside the ECB, central bank sources say, and it would be in doubt if Greece missed a payment to its creditors. European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said despite some progress in recent days, international creditors were still nowhere near an agreement with Athens. “Our message today is very clear: We need to accelerate, we need to accelerate from today ... there is no other choice if we want to reach the goal that everyone shares, which is a stable, prosperous Greece anchored in the euro zone,” Moscovici said.
More fighting, air strikes in Yemen, civilian death toll exceeds 550
Members of the Southern Resistance Committees man a tank during clashes with Houthi fighters in Yemen’s southern city of Aden. (REUTERS/STRINGER) (Reuters) - Fighting between Yemen’s warring factions raged in southern and central parts of the country and air strikes hit Houthi militia forces in Aden on Friday, but there were no fresh moves toward dialogue. Saudi Arabia says it is winding down its month-old bombing operation against the Iran-allied Houthis and forces loyal to Yemen’s former president. But Riyadh pounded targets with at least 20 airstrikes across Yemen on Thursday and 10 more yesterday.
The civilian death toll from the fighting and airstrikes since the bombing started on March 26 has reached an estimated 551 people, the United Nations said on Friday. Its children’s agency UNICEF said at least 115 children were among the dead. Washington and other Western countries backing the Saudi-led aerial campaign have grown increasingly worried about the humanitarian crisis on the ground and also about the risk of Sunni Muslim jihadist groups taking advantage of the chaos.
Islamic State, which has had little presence in Yemen, released late on Thursday a video it said showed members of the group in the country conducting military exercises and pledging to attack the Houthis, who are from the Zaydi Shi’ite sect. Saudi Arabia has called a meeting with major U.N. aid agencies and others to discuss improving aid deliveries to Yemen, which have been hindered by the naval blockade, Saudi officials and U.N. sources said. Violent clashes continued between the Houthis and local militias near the Khor Maksar district of Aden on Friday, residents said, as well as in Taiz and al-Dhala. Heavy fighting in Marib province east of the Yemeni capital Sanaa killed 15 people, tribal sources there said, as the Houthi militia and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh tried to advance into the rugged Sirwah district. AIR STRIKES Renewed airstrikes, days after Riyadh announced the end of its main bombing campaign, hit the 35th Brigade in Taiz, a Yemen army unit loyal to Saleh whose troops have clashed this week with militiamen supporting President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
Saturday April 25, 2015
Venezuela accuses former transit minister of corruption CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A former transportation minister confirmed in an interview released yesterday that Venezuelan officials have filed a corruption complaint against him. Maj. General Hebert Garcia Plaza said the allegations involve a deal to buy three ferries from Europe on behalf of the South American country. He told the weekly newspaper Quinto Dia that he’s still deciding whether to present himself for a hearing. It was unclear whether he was speaking from outside of Venezuela. Local media have
reported that a warrant is out for his arrest. Garcia Plaza denied any involvement in corrupt deals, and said he doesn’t trust the Venezuelan justice system. “If they really wanted to fight corruption, there’s a lot that could be done,” he said. The general previously headed agencies responsible for food and for combating corruption. He was a member of the presidential Cabinet until last September. The administration of President Nicolas Maduro has been hit with multiple corruption allegations. Several officials have been accused
Hebert Garcia Plaza of stashing embezzled money in foreign bank accounts.
Lack of foreign $$ continues to affect businesses in 2015 Trinidad Express - A number of sectors of the business community are saying the unavailability of United States currency continues to affect their operations because less than half of their demands for foreign exchange is being met on a monthly basis. These were some of the findings of a survey of members of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce conducted by the business group for the first quarter of 2015. The chamber’s Trade and Business Development Unit in an e-mail analysis earlier this week noted: “Whilst over the past few years the business community of Trinidad and Tobago has been experiencing increased difficulty in accessing adequate supplies of foreign currency, this impediment to business operations has been exacerbated since the beginning of 2014. This environment has cre-
ated major problems for local businesses resulting inter alia in major delays in the completion of contracts, loss of business and the development of adverse relationships with foreign suppliers.” For the first quarter of 2015 respondents from various sectors of the business community (which include financial, shipping, manufacturing, construction, food and hospitality, distribution, security and consulting) expressed that the unavailability of foreign currency has greatly affected their businesses making it difficult to operate, compete and expand, the chamber said. “Ninety per cent of respondents to our Forex Survey need US currency to operate their business and 75 per cent indicated that the required currency is also more difficult to obtain than before. It is important to acknowledge that the foreign currency
problem in Trinidad and Tobago still needs to be adequately addressed.” Fifty-two per cent of the respondents indicated that they require more than US$250,000 monthly to operate their business efficiently and meet other business requirements. It is important to note that 54 per cent of respondents indicated that less than half of this demand is being satisfied monthly. Long waiting times for foreign currency are being experienced, with 42 per cent stating that they wait more than one month. Most businesses in the survey (56 per cent) also admitted that in the hope of improving their chances of receiving the required currency, they still split their requests amongst several banks. However this has not greatly improved their position,” the chamber’s unit stated.
British rogue trader allegedly stashed millions in offshore banks in the Caribbean – FBI LONDON, United Kingdom - CMC – The United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is investigating a British trader who allegedly stashed millions of pound sterling in offshore bank account in some Caribbean islands. The London Evening Standard reported that Navinder Singh Sarao, 36, who lives in a modest semidetached house with his parents in Hounslow, West London, and doesn’t even own a car, was able to find £5 million (1£ = US$1.50) in sureties to pay his bail.
The FBI insisted that Sarao hid his alleged ill-gotten gains in a “complex” web of offshore accounts. In the criminal complaint, United States of America v Navinder Singh Sarao, filed Thursday at the US District Court in the Northern Illinois, FBI Special Agent Gregory Laberta claimed the Briton admitted to amassing “the majority of his (net) worth in no more than 20 days of trading on days when the market was particularly vulnerable”. According the FBI Special Agent Laberta, the Briton
stashed money he earned during the 2010 Wall Street “flash crash” and in his other high frequency trades in Nevis and Anguilla. “Around the time of the Flash Crash, SARAO took significant steps to protect his assets,” says the criminal complaint. According to the criminal complaint, one of Sarao’s “wealth management assistants” described the company, in an email dated November 22, 2012, as having been created as part of “tax planning work” undertaken on the trader’s behalf.
Saturday April 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Yelyco of Suriname defeat GVF President’s X1 in friendly volleyball match Rollers and St. Cuthbert’s win male and female categories By Samuel Whyte International volleyball returned to Berbice after an absence of over 16 years, when the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) hosted Suriname’s senior male volleyball club champions - Yelyco. That team clashed with a GVF President’s Eleven in a friendly match at the recently commissioned Modular Tile All Weather Volleyball Court at the Port Mourant Community Centre on the Corentyne. The game was played last Sunday, (April 19) in front of a sizeable crowd of volleyball fans. The last time an international game was played in Berbice was 1988 when Berbice took on Barbados Bombers. The crowd was treated to a scintillating display of top
Captain of Yelyco, Wholoe Ongafat receives the trophy. class volleyball by the Surinamese who are accustomed to playing indoors but quickly adapted to the outdoor conditions and used the strong wind to their advantage to defeat the GVF President’s X1 in three straight sets: -25-21, 25-21 and 25-19.
The friendly match was organized by the GVF to afford the Surinamese an opportunity to play on the new surface which was made available by the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) through the South American Volleyball Confederation (CSV) as a gift to the GVF.
Saturday April 25, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) There's an Earthy weightiness to today. You could feel like your relationships are in a difficult situation, Aries. Don't worry, because the clouds are going to lighten up tremendously after today. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your love, generosity, and sense of beauty are heightened today, Taurus. If there's one thing you need to do, it's go outside and watch the sunset. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Let your guard down today, Gemini. Don't feel like you need to perform for anyone. Accept the notion that you're perfect the way you are. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Reconnect with your selfworth today, Cancer, and say out loud, "I am awesome!" You're good at extending your heart to others and helping them with their issues. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Stay at home tonight and cook a delicious meal for you and someone you love, Leo. You will gravitate toward beauty, both tangible and intangible. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today may seem like one of those days in which everyone but you has a perfect life. Realize that no one has a perfect life. Everyone is plagued by demons of some sort.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today may be serious, Libra, with clouds looming over your parade. Although the clouds are dark and threatening, that doesn't necessarily mean that rain will pour down. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today is a terrific day for you, Scorpio. You have the chance to start over on many levels, especially romantic ones. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Things are starting to lighten up for you, Sagittarius, even though you may find your interactions quite heavy today. Don't run away from the feeling. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Today is a terrific day to let your sensitive, caring nature shine through fully, Capricorn. Surprise someone with roses and a candlelit dinner. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Turn over a new leaf with your loved ones today, Aquarius. Infuse something new into the relationship. Add a new wave of tenderness and sensuality to the dynamic. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You will experience the oneness that comes when people acknowledge that we are all part of a whole. This will resonate loud and clear in your core today and you will be extra sensitive and emotional.
Before the friendly game was played the GVF staged a third division competition that attracted eight males and two female teams from across the country. After a “roundrobin” play off in the preliminary stage, Rollers of New Amsterdam defeated PMTC 2 to win the male category, while St. Cuthbert’s defeated PMTC females to win the female category. At the presentation ceremony held in semi-darkness, President of the GVF Mr. John Flores thanked all for their participation especially Yelyco of Suriname and the teams that journeyed from the different parts of the country. He had special praise for the St Cuthbert female team that is domiciled in the Amerindian Village located some 50 miles up the left bank of the Mahaica River. He also thanked the officials and all others who assisted to make the event a success. President of the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA), Gregory Rambarran, also had words of compliments for the visiting Suriname and other visiting teams. Yelyco of Suriname and the GVF President’s eleven both received trophies. Tro-
WDCUA to host doublewicket competition tomorrow The West Demerara Cricket Umpires Association (WDCUA) will be hosting a double wicket competition at Wales starting at 09:00 hrs0 tomorrow. The tournament will be played with coloured clothing and white balls. Entrance fee is $3,000 per pair and the winning side will pocket a trophy and $50,000, the runner up a trophy and $25,000; there will also be other incentives. The first 30 teams entered will be accepted. Clubs slated to take part are Cultural SC, Independence SC, Wales CDC, Long Pond, All Youths, Invaders, Zeeburg, Leonora, Meten-Meer-Zorg, Tuschen, Uitvlugt, Cornelia Ida, McGill SC, Malvern and Tiger SC. Among the sponsors on board are Banks DIH, Giftland Office Max, Rakesh Pharmacy, Fatboy Discount Store, N.D&S Furniture Store, Country Side Agri Centre, Universal Drug Store, Country Side General Store, Nadira Grocery and Tiger Sports.
phies were also presented to the first and second place winners in both categories of the 3rd Division Competition. Rambarran also presented Mikasa MVA330 balls to the winners of the 3rd Division Competition on behalf of the BVA. The presentations were made by the GVF President,
Mr. Verdy Getrouw of Yelyco, Suriname and officials of the GVF. Trophies for individual performances were presented to: - Kevin Sporkslede of Yelyco (Best Spiker & Most Valuable Player (MVP)), Dion Brunnings of Yelyco (Best Setter), Juan Calzado of GVF ( Best Receiver).
Leonora overcome Zeeburg by eight wickets Leonora defeated Zeeburg by eight wickets when the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA) 40-over tournament continued recently. Zeeburg batted first and were sent packing for 83 in 24 overs. G. Narine made 16; R. Rahaman claimed 5-7 and H. Kowlessar 4-20. Leonora replied with 84-2 in 12.2 overs. P. Persaud scored 38; G. Narine took 212. Meten-Meer-Zorg beat Zeelugt in their encounter. Meanwhile, the WDCA T20 competition will com-
mence shortly. Tuschen will play Winsor Forest, Culture B will take on Christ Ambassador, Zeelugt will match skills with Leonora, Wales CDC will entertain Intruders, Zeeburg will tackle Rising Star, Jasper United will face MC Gill, Vulture will battle Supreme, Malvern will clash with Western United, Brave Heart will challenge Invaders, Mc Gill will take on Meten-MeerZorg, Independence B will play Sapit, Independence A will battle All Youhts and Cornelia Ida will engage All Youths.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday April 25, 2015
NBS 2015 Second Division 40-over cricket in Berbice
Cort (86), Mathieson (66) spearhead Courtland to 316 for 7 in 30 overs 70 years old Zamin Hamid takes hat-trick Jamal Cort hit 86 (6 fours and 5 sixes) and Troy Mathieson 66 (3 fours and 6 sixes) to spearhead their team Courtland All Stars to 316 for 7 in 30 overs against No7 in their latest match of the 2015 New Building Society Second Division 40-over Cricket Competition in Berbice, their effort being the best performance by a team so far in the competition. Their opening pacer Keon Sinclair took 4 for 15 to bowl out No7 for 116 to see his team to a massive 200 runs victory, the widest margin of victory in the competition so far. Seventy year old off spinner Zamin Hamid, who has been participating in organised cricket in Berbice for fifty six years, took the first hat-trick of this year’s
competition so far for Fyrish Road. With a 5 wicket haul under his belt from an earlier round, the captain, his son Riaz Ahmad Hamid, inexplicably brought him on until the 25th over after Chesney were 144 for 7 and he picked up a wicket with the last ball of that over. Two runs were then taken off Hassan Hussain’s over after which Hamid took two wickets with consecutive balls to end with the interesting figures of 3 for 0 off 1.2 overs leaving Chesney 146 all out. His effort was however in vain as his team were bowled out for just 106 in 24.5 overs. With Isaac Kamulladdin hitting 55 (6 fours and 4 sixes). Cheskoy Riders posted a daunting 267 for 9 in 25 overs against Kendall’s Union B
who in response, their number three batsman Yougraj Totaram blasted 51 (10 fours and 1 six) but with the scores of 8, 3, two 1' and six zeroes from the other batsmen, they ended on 80 all out in 16 overs. Extras was the second best topscore with 16 as Cheskoy pacer Levi Thomas took 4 for 13. Other batsmen scoring half centuries were Nick Ramsaroop of Blairmont Community Center, Kevon Clarke of Scottsburg United Totaram Persaud of No 68 Turn Team. There were three five wicket hauls from Shabeer Baksh of Blairmont CC and Vidal LaFleur of West Canje in winning efforts, while the other by Steffon Adams of Hopetown United in a losing cause.
VP Baichan and Sons sponsors Upper Corentyne/RHTY&SC May Day Cup 2015 The organizing committee of May Day Cup 2015, “FRIENDS OF THE PPP/C” was able to secure sponsorship for the combined Upper Corentyne and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Team to enable them to participate in the upcoming mega fundraiser to be played under lights at the historic Albion Sports Complex. The sponsor is Mr Vishwan Persaud Baichan, Sawmiller and Sand and Stone Dealer of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne. Proceeds from this event will go towards to PPP/C to assist with their election campaign 2015 and beyond and is expected to be done annually. Four exciting teams from the county of Berbice namely West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne/RHTY&SC will be competing for bragging rights. The matches will be of 15 overs aside with two semi finals and a grand final with the winner taking home a trophy and $100,000, the runner up $50,000 and the two losing semi finalist $25,000 each. The man of the match will also receive a trophy and $10,000 cash. The big game under floodlights will see arch rivals Berbice clashing with Demerara in a T20 game with the winner collecting a trophy and $200,000, man of the match a trophy and $20,000 and the loser $100,000. Several top national and international players will be on show. Several gate prizes for the
Zamin Hamid In summarized scores: At Fyrish, Courtland All Stars beat No7 by 200 runs. Courtland All Stars 316 for 7 in 30 overs with Jamal Cort 86, Troy Matheison 66, Michale Cummings 43 n.o and Oswald Giddings 41. No7, 116 all out in 21.2 overs with Jonathan Bhola 37. Keon Sinclair 4 for 15. 2. At Chesney, Chesney beat Fyrish Road by 40 runs. Chesney 146 in 26.2 overs with Shabeer Bacchus 41 and Imran Khan 27. Zamin Hamid 3 for 0, Safraz Khan 3 for 28 and Asif Gajnabi 2 for 31.
Fyrish Road 106 all out in 24.5 overs with Asif Gajnabi 27. Devendra Harilall 3 for 16 and Riaz Ramcharran 3 for 20. 3. At Kilcoy, Cheskoy Riders beat Kendall’s Union B by 187 runs. Cheskoy Riders 267 for 9 in 25 overs with Isaac Kamuladdin 55, Junior Jeffrey 40, Nazrudin Bux 42, Intiaz Hussain 34 and Levi Thomas 28. Narinedat Seetaram 2 for 22, Satesh Totaram 2 for 24 and Vejai Seecharran 2 for 55. Kendall’s Union 80 all out in 16 overs with Yougraj Totaram 51. Levi Thomas 4 for 13, Isaac Kamuladdin 3 for 21 and Meron Williams 2 for 19. 4. At Blairmont Community Center, Blairmont CC A beat Bath by 117 runs. Blairmont CC ‘A’ 218 all out in 35 overs with Nick Ramsaroop 53, Mahendra Singh 44 and Shabeer Baksh 25. Mahesh Persaud took 4 for 31 and Devendra Gossai 2 for 42. Bath in reply, 101 all out in 17 overs with Suraj Latchman 33. Shabeer Baksh took 5 for 25 and Derrick Cadogan 3 for
54. 5. At Scottsburg, Scottsburg United beat No 68 Turn Team by 55 runs. Scottsburg United 193 in 30.5 overs with Kevin Clarke 57, Trishan Ramdass 41, Calvin Cort 35 and Odell Kyte 28. Narine Nandkumar took 4 for 30. No 68 Turn Team 138 in 23 overs with Totaram Persaud 66. Odell Kyte 2 for 19 and Kevin Clarke 2 for 25. 6. At Lochaber, Guyana Eagles beat West Canje by 85 runs. Guyana Eagles 165 in 24.2 overs with Charles Grimmond 38. Ryan Victor took 4 for 34 and Kwesi Mickle 3 for 27. West Canje 80 in 15 overs with Malcolm Mickle 25. Vidal LaFleur took 5 for 15 and Fiaz Latiff 3 for 16. 7. At Hopetown, Cotton Tree Die Hard beat Hopetown United by 1 wicket. Hopetown United 151 in 25.4 overs with Keith Blair 38, Roshan Gafoor 3 for 41, Abdul Subhan 2 for 2 and Nirmal Gaffoor 2 for 30. Cotton Tree Die Hard 152 for 9 in 27.4 overs. Abdul Subhan 45 n.o and Jagdeo Persaud 30. Steffon Adams 5 for 28 and Kenje Sedoc 2 for 30.
Narine to undergo test in Chennai again
Mahendra Persaud Baichan, son of sponsor presents cheques to Vicky Bharosay, member of the organising committee. fans will be up for grabs and games for the young and the old will be there. Following the cricket, Shakti’s Strings will provide life entertainment for the entire family in a big after party lime. Crown Vibes International will provide the music. This mega event will be held at the historic Albion Sports Complex on Saturday May 2, 2015 from 10:00am and is expected to be an annual fundraiser. Tickets will be $1,000 all day with kids under 12 free. At a simple presentation ceremony, Mahendra Persaud Baichan, son of sponsor said that his father
is happy to assist with the sponsorship of the team and is happy to give back to the community. He said that he is in full support of the event and praised the initiative. Accepting the cheque on behalf of the organizers, Vicky Bharosay, representing the committee thanked the sponsor under the banner VP Baichan and Sons for coming on board and promised that the tournament will be well run. He said that the sponsorship includes providing uniforms for the team, assist with preparations leading up to the event and provide refreshments and meals for the team on the day of the match.
ESPNcricinfo - Kolkata Knight Riders have decided to send Sunil Narine for another test of his bowling action after match officials expressed “concerns” over “fair amount” of deliveries the offspinner bowled in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday in Visakhapatnam. If Narine is called a second time, he will be out of the IPL and hence the franchise wants to play it safe and not risk playing him in the upcoming matches without the test. It is understood that the franchise is trying hard to get an appointment at the Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy and Sports Science Centre in Chennai, an ICC accredited testing centre. Narine will travel with former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram, who is Knight Riders’ bowling consultant, and team analyst AR Srikkanth. This will be the second time Narine will be travelling to Chennai this month having already received a clearance from the BCCI’s subcommittee on suspect action days before the IPL started. The panel, comprising former
India captain S Venkataraghavan, former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath and former international umpire AV Jayaprakash, had no issues with Narine’s remodelled action and gave him a clean chit. That was a re-test for Narine considering he got the clearance in two months having obtained the earlier one from the testing centre at the University of Loughborough on March 10. According to an official privy to the matter, the onfield umpires Richard Illingworth and Vineet Kulkarni reported to the match referee having doubts about a few deliveries Narine bowled against Sunrisers, who won the rain-affected match by 16 runs. Incidentally, Narine had gone wicketless, giving away 38 runs in his four overs. The official said “a fair number of deliveries, about four to five” were spotted by the umpires. He did not describe the type of deliveries but did confirm the faster one was one of them. It is understood that the BCCI told the franchise that the match officials were “concerned” about
some deliveries. The news would have definitely come as a surprise for Narine and the franchise considering the BCCI panel had given him a positive report card earlier this month. As intriguing as the matter could be, the official pointed out that sometimes a bowler, if he is pushed into a corner, can fall back on old habits. Indirectly he said that Narine might have repeated some of the mistakes he made during the Champions League Twenty20 last year, when he was reported twice by the umpires and was consequently out of the tournament. According to the official he did not want to cast aspersions on Narine’s future in the tournament and only said the decision was his and Knight Riders’ to make. Although no Knight Riders official was available for comment, as a first step the defending champions have decided to not risk playing Narine without sending him for fresh testing. Knight Riders play Rajasthan Royals at home on Sunday and there is a strong possibility Narine will miss that match.
Saturday April 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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RHTYSC /Ansa McAl May Day Cup Usain Bolt: Gay’s reduced doping ban sends wrong message Several teams name sides for LONDON (AP) — Usain Bolt believes Tyson Gay should have been thrown out of the sport for doping, calling his American rival’s reduced ban for cooperating with investigators ‘’the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.’’ Gay received a backdated one-year suspension last year after testing positive for a steroid at the 2013 U.S. championships. He was given the reduced penalty because he provided evidence to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that led to an eight-year ban for his former coach, Jon Drummond. Bolt, the Jamaican who has won six Olympic gold medals and holds the world record in the 100 and 200 meters, said he was ‘’really upset’’ with the decision to let Gay cut a deal. ‘’He got a year just because he talked to the authori-
ties about how it was done and who helped him,’’ Bolt said in an interview with Runner’s World magazine published Friday in The Times of London newspaper. ‘’That sends the wrong message: ‘If you do it and get caught, just tell us all you know and we’ll lower your ban.’’’ ‘’It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,’’ he added. ‘’The message should be: ‘If you cheat you’re going to be kicked out of the sport.’’’ Gay, who won the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay at the 2007 world championships, returned to competition after his suspension last summer and ran faster times than Bolt. He and Bolt are expected to run against each other at the worlds in August for the first time since the American’s return.
‘’I’m not looking forward to competing against Tyson,’’ Bolt said. ‘’It really bothers me. ... I respected him so much over the years. He was a competitor, kept me on my toes and he pushed me to always do my best. ‘’Then to find out that he was on drugs - it’s a bit like I think parents must feel when they have a kid who does something bad and lets them down. I feel like he let me down and let the sport down.’’ Gay’s results dating back to 2012 were erased, including his silver medal in the 4x100 relay at the London Olympics. ‘’You have to drive fear into athletes, to make them think about the consequences of their actions,’’ Bolt said. ‘’If they’re getting an easy penalty why would they care?’’
Silver Jubilee Tournament
Preparations for the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club May Day Ansa McAl five overs cricket tournament is progressing smoothly with four teams declaring their squads for the twelve teams tournament. Tamarind Root of Hampshire, Courtland, Chesney and Young Warriors of Cumberland, Canje have submitted teams that include some of the top Second Division players in the ancient county. Young Warriors would be spearheaded by veterans Anil Beharry and Ishwar Singh and they would be supported by the promising Alex Algu, Mortimer Fraser, Wahid Edwards and Balram Samaroo. Chesney would feature former Guyana 20/20 player Imran Khan and former Berbice wicketkeeper/batsman Shastri Persaud. A pow-
President Cup Horse Race meet
Could Diplomatic Cat, Jack is My Style or Spit Fire defeat Score’s Even By Samuel Whyte Systems are in place for the President Cup Horserace meet organised by the Port Mourant Turf Club in collaboration with the PPP/C slated for this Sunday April 26th at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne Berbice. Most of the major players and sponsors in the horseracing fraternity have indicated a willingness to be part of the day’s action. Among the sponsors on board so far are Beverage Giants Banks DIH Limited, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables, Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service ad Racing Stable, Kris Jagdeo and Sons Construction and Racing Stable, Mohammed ‘Nankoo’ Shariff Business entity and Racing Stables, Peter Lewis Construction, Anirude Ramcharitar Construction and Dennis DeRoop among others. Eight races are listed for the day with close to $6M in cash and other incentives up for grabs including the President’s Cup for the winner of the feature event. The A class event will see the country’s top runners in renewed battle for the top prize of a sumptuous $1.2 M winner’s pocket and the President Cup over 1700M. Top horse Score’s Even will be out to avenge its loss at the recently held Guyana Cup
Boyo Mohabir (left) of the organising committee receives the cheque from Glendon Sooklall of the Shariff Racing stable. Groom of the stable William LaRose holds top horse Spit Fire in the background. Fever meet at the same venue, but with the likes of Diplomatic Cat and the ever improving Spit Fire and Jack is my Style set to burn up the track Score’s Even can expect to have a hard time. Other horses like the up and coming Just Call Me Boss. Bridal Stone Corner, Monsoon and Run Nana Run could also spring a surprise. A hotly contested event is anticipated. The other key events on the day’s card are the E1 & Lower for a winning take of $500,000 and trophy over 1300M, the G1 and lower 1300M event has $400,000
available for the winner along with a trophy along with the three year old West Indies Bred 1400M event for a winner’s money of $400,000 and trophy. There is also a race for H and lower and three years West Indies bred maiden animals for a winners pocket of $240,000 and trophy over 1300M. The horses slated to compete in the ‘I’ and lower event will race for a winning take of $220,000 and trophy over 1400M. The J1 and lower animals will run for a winning take of $200,000 and trophy over
1000M. The event for J3 and lower horses has a top prize of $180,000 and trophy also over 1200M. The final event which is also over 1200M is for horses classified J3 and lower for a winning take of $160,000 and trophy. With so much on offer a scintillating and action packed day of racing is anticipated. Top individual performers will be presented with trophies and other goodies compliments of Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market. The coordinator is Dennis DeRoop.
erful Courtland team would be led by hard hitting all rounder John Percival and includes former national Under-19 player Leroy Bristol and First Division players Troy Mathieson and Keon Sinclair. Tamarind Root would depend heavily on Adrian Singh, Mahendra Ramdihal, Dilip Ramsammy and guest player Linden Austin. RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, who is spearheading the Silver Jubilee event, said that barring the weather, all plans are in place for a highly successful one day tournament. The twelve teams – Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’, Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘B’, Young Warriors, Courtland, Fyrish, Chesney, Albion, Tamarind Root, Tain Block 4, Whim, Yakusari and Susannah are asked to report to the Area ‘H’ Ground at 8:00 am for a 9:00 am start. The winning team would receive $70,000 and a trophy, the Runner Up $30,000 and trophy, the losing semi-finalist $20,000, while the Man of the Finals would receive $10,000. Funds raised from the day’s event would be used for the RHTYSC Cricket Development Programme and “Say No to Drugs and Yes to Education” campaign. The teams declared are: Tamarind Root Cricket Club 1) Adrian Singh (Captain) 2) Kunal Mangal 3) Micheal ‘Mahendra’ Ramdihal (Vice Captain) 4) Altaf ‘Mohamed’ Abrahim 5) Dilip Rangasammy 6) D e o n a r i n e Rangasammy 7) Ajay Ramsammy 8) Dave Looknauth 9) Rajendra Deonarine 10) Balram Samaroo (guest player) 11) Linden Austin (guest player) 12) Parmanand Sahadeo
13) Vijay Sukra 14) K e v i n Madramuthoo 15) Ravi Ramdass Courtland All Stars 1) John Percival 2) Dwayne Crandon 3) Delon Crandon 4) Oliver Giddings 5) Eon Gibson 6) Keon Sinclair 7) Troy Mathieson 8) Leroy Bristol 9) Wesley Crandon 10) Jamal Cort 11) Michael Cummings 12) Timothy McDonald 13) Trellon Cort 14) Kellon Sinclair 15) Levi Thomas Chesney Cricket Team 1) Imran Khan 2) Shashri Persaud 3) N. Deonarine 4) A. Deonarine 5) Ricky Amoi 6) R. Ramcharran 7) Y. Burdyal 8) Z. Khan 9) S. Bacchus 10) M. Budhoo 11) R. Khan 12) D. Harrilall 13) F. Bacchus 14) R. Singh 15) RE. Samaroo 16) S. Latchana Young Warriors Cricket Club 1) Anil Beharry (Captain) 2) Ishwar Singh (Vice Captain) 3) Mortimer Fraser 4) Wahid Edwards 5) Balram Samaroo 6) Alex Algu 7) Zaheer Moakhan 8) Rudolph Baker 9) Charran Singh 10) Jermin Henry 11) Gevon Schultz 12) Ameer Khan 13) Kawal Mangal 14) Ricky Ballack 15) Royden Phil 16) Junior Williams 17) Sahadeo Singh (Manager) 18) Kwesi Maltay (Coach)
SPR 40-over cricket continues this weekend The East Coast Cricket Committee/SPR 40-over tournament is set to continue this weekend with several matches. Today Golden Achievers will play Lusignan at Enmore (Ryan Banwarie and Ava Baker the umpires). Tomorrow, Strathaven will host Lusignan A (Umpires Guianand Sookdeo and Gib-
bons), Ogle will entertain Lusignan C (Umpires - Baker and Eddie Nicholls), Strathaven A will journey to Enmore (Umpures - Banwarie and Deon Feassal), Enterprise A will tackle Tigers XI at Unity (Umpires - Patrick Albert and Cyril Goberdhan) and Mahaica will travel to Fairfield (Umpires - R. Ramsammy and Gavin D’Aguiar).
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Kaieteur News
Saturday April 25, 2015
Brathwaite ton stiffens West Indies’ resolve ESPNcricinfo - An unbeaten hundred from Kraigg Brathwaite was the lodestone of West Indies’ second-innings efforts to defy England in Grenada. As the National Stadium basked in sunlight, Brathwaite summoned his first significant contribution of the series to bind together a resolute reply, after England had taken a 165-run lead and early impetus in their attempts to force a victory. A second-wicket stand of 142 between Braithwaite and Darren Bravo tempered England’s expectations after they had removed Devon Smith in the third over. Bravo also passed 50, showing greater patience than in the first Test, until England succeeded with a plan to bowl doggedly into the rough outside off stump. James Anderson and Stuart Broad took the wickets but England’s attack otherwise worked hard for little reward. Brathwaite, 22, has made each of his four Test hundreds within the last 12 months and his relish for long innings was again in evidence. Twice he flashed Ben Stokes behind gully, to the allrounder’s noticeable chagrin, and he survived a review for lbw against Chris Jordan thanks to an inside edge. Otherwise, there was little for En-
gland to exploit. Eight of Brathwaite’s 11 boundaries whistled away through the area from point round to third man and he was equal to England’s attempts to have him caught at short leg, as in the second innings in Antigua. During the evening session, he spent 26 balls on 69, as well as playing out six maidens against Joe Root. England attempted to delay him through the 90s, as well, but Brathwaite was unperturbed and inched to three figures in the penultimate over of the day, having faced 228 balls. There has now been a West Indies centurion in each of their four innings against England. The morning session passed in a blur, as Root made his second-highest Test score and England lost their last four wickets to be dismissed for 464. The wicket of Smith before lunch sharpened England’s ambitions of taking a 1-0 lead in the series but, as Brathwaite and Bravo dug in during the afternoon, the pace of the match reverted to something more in keeping with life in the Caribbean. It was the first time in the series that West Indies had gone through a full session without losing a wicket. England took a considerable first-innings advantage
Darren Bravo picked his strokes carefully, West Indies v England, 2nd Test, St George’s, 4th day, April 24, 2015 ©Getty Images largely thanks to Root, who made an unbeaten 182. He provided the thrust as England added 91 to their overnight total, before Anderson struck in his second over Smith becoming the last player to deflect the ball on to his own stumps while attempting to leave. The game was moving on, which increased the pressure on West Indies’ batsmen, who faced the prospect of having to bat another four sessions, as they had done to draw the Antigua Test. Neither Brathwaite nor Bravo contrib-
uted to that rearguard but they made England wait 48 overs for the second wicket this time. With the pitch remaining true, West Indies will feel they have already gone a good way to picking a path to safety; by the close, they had a small lead. England, despite building another dominant position, were hampered by time lost earlier in the match, though once again their attack did not look penetrative enough to break down sides in benign conditions. England might have
started the day hopeful of a total beyond 500 but that prospect became more remote when Jos Buttler fell early. Root took it upon himself to score the majority of the 77 added for the last three wickets and in the process he extended his innings past 150 the fourth time he has done so from six Test centuries (and the other was an unbeaten 149). Batting in long sleeves having finished the third day wearing a cap, Root was again busy from the outset, sprinkling judicious boundaries among scampered ones and twos. He seems to be a source of renewable energy, the kind governments around the world are devoting technology and finance to discover; clean, too, apart from when he is chirping at the opposition from under a helmet at short leg. When he had made 126, Root reached 2000 runs in Test, the second-youngest England batsman to do so behind Alastair Cook. With just the No. 11, Anderson, for company, he struck Bishoo for sixes down the ground and over midwicket and was pushing on towards a second career double-hundred when a third run-out finished the innings. Anderson’s absentminded failure to run his bat in left Root wondering what
had occurred and swiping his own bat in frustration. His thirst for runs cannot be slaked. England resumed six down and 74 runs ahead, with the expectation that it would be Buttler to get the scorer’s pencil scratching. He managed one boundary, thumping Devendra Bishoo down the ground, but fell to the legspinner’s next ball, lured out of his crease and this time beaten by a delivery that dipped short of him and spun past the bat for a simple stumping. That meant England had lost 4 for 58 at a time when they would have anticipated the cavalry at Nos. 6, 7 and 8 scattering the opposition bowling to all parts. Jordan looked in more adhesive mood, helping to add 39 for the eighth wicket before being run out by Root’s enthusiasm. Root steered the ball to deep backward point and intimated he wanted a second; Jordan obliged only to be sent back. It was one of the few moments in the day when Root, who also bowled 13 overs and threw himself around in the field, shirked a challenge. Scores: West Indies 299 and 202 for 2 (Brathwaite 101*, Samuels 22*) lead England 464 (Root 182*, Cook 76, Trott 59) by 37 runs.
GCA’s Carib Beer t20 cricket
Barnwell leads DCC to 84-run win over GYO
By Sean Devers An authoritative unbeaten 88 from West Indies t20 all-rounder Chris Barnwell spearheaded DCC to an emphatic 84-run win against an outclassed GYO unit at the DCC ground in Queenstown in the opening round of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Carib Beer t20 first division cricket tournament yesterday. Played under murky skies on a nice hard track and small ground, DCC rattled up an imposing 188-5 with Barnwell
smashing five fours and eight sixes in his 41-ball innings. National opener Trevon Griffith (24) and Kevin Boodie (26) offered support to Barnwell. There were some good spells from left-arm spinners Trevon France (1-26 from 4 overs) and Mark Hamilton (1-31 from 4) who opened the bowling, and the experienced medium pacer Antony Ifill, who bowled cleverly at the ‘death’ to finish with 1-36 from four overs. GYO was a one man army when they batted with Ifill returning with the bat to hit a fighting 53 from 50 balls with six fours and two towering sixes off Griffith’s off-spin, but no other batsman could lend any back-up to Ifill as the visitors struggled to 104-9 when their 20 overs expired. National swing bowler Paul Wintz (2-16), left-arm seamer Andre Stoll (2-14) and Griffith
Chris Barnwell lofts offspinner Abdool Rahim for another six at DCC yesterday.
National opener Trevon Grifftith drive fluently at DCC yesterday.
Kevin Boodie pulls a bouncer from Garfield DeRoach for six at DCC yesterday.
(2-21) did the damage for DCC. National under-19 skipper Brian Sattaur (14) was removed by France at 18-1 but Griffith, who played some
flowing drives and Boodie, the only batsman to register a double century at the intercounty 50-over competition, took the score to 60 before
pacer Garfield DeRoach sent back Griffith who hit a four and a six in his cameo. Boodie who faced just 18 balls and reached the bound-
ary three time and pulled DeRoach for a dismissive six, was trapped LBW to Abdool Rahim as DCC slipped to 87-3 but Barnwell and Demerara under-19 left-hander Sherfane Rutherford (13 with a six and a four) played some attractive shots before Rutherford was LBW at 140-4. Barnwell continued to hit the ball to all parts of the field as he played in commanding fashion and dominated the partnership with Kemol Savory (11) before the lefthanded DCC Keeper top edged one from Hamilton and was taken at short third man to leave the score on 169-5. When GYO began their run chase Stoll plucked out the first two wickets to leave the score on 12-2 before Ifill who played several audacious shots, including a stunning square cut to bring up his fifty, provided the only resistance from GYO. The other game scheduled for yesterday between hosts Malteenoes and GNIC was washed out without a ball being bowled.