Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

EDITORIAL

If only we try When people talk about resource-rich Guyana, they talk about a country that seems to have been blessed with everything necessary for its survival and the continued existence of its people at an excellent standard of living. It is a country blessed with weather that is never in the extreme although there have been times when the rains would be heavier than usual and cause limited flooding. What this country calls flooding is not even considered such in other countries. And the same thing can be applied to drought. Trees for the most part remain green and while in some locations there may be some parched grass, Guyana can never really say that it has experienced a drought. There have been no reports of cattle dying in large numbers because of an absence of food and certainly no community could talk about people being thirsty because of an absence of water. Because of the abundance of many things, we often take some other things for granted. We have never been known to manufacture much by way of utility items, so people would often criticize us for never making the spoke for a wheel. We have been good assemblymen and excellent producers of primary products. We do produce all we can eat; every major food crop that adorns the tables is grown in Guyana, yet we import foods, but then again, it has to do with either an acquired taste or a case of being induced by what those in affluent societies crave. But in an effort to appear to be a person in a developed country many, including those in Government, forget some of the products that have made some countries rich. One of those products is the coconut. There is no shortage of coconuts in Guyana. This is one plant that does not need intensive nurturing. In fact, once one places a bud in the ground there is a tree. A fallen nut will more than likely spring another tree. There was a time when people relied on this palm for a living, when they used just about everything that the coconut palm had to offer. To this day, people still make a living from the branches—they fashion brooms that could be an export commodity, since households would vow that the coconut broom is perhaps the best of its kind. The nuts were perhaps the most sought after thing from the plant. There is a burgeoning trade in the young nuts, which are believed to have special health benefits. And indeed, an analysis shows that just about every nutrient is found in the water from the young nuts-iron, magnesium, sodium. But it was the older nuts that demanded its share of the market. Copra was the mainstay of many households. In parts of this country, one could have seen the shelled nut being put out to dry. This was one stage of copra production. From copra came the oil which has immense medical benefits. Countries like Malaysia and some other eastern countries did wonders with coconut oil, to the extent that scientists in the developed world, in a quest to promote their own product, found a lot wrong with coconut oil. But while they were finding fault with the raw coconut oil, their factories were busy refining the oil and making tons of money. Today, they find that coconut oil is perhaps the best of the vegetable oils on the market and is credited with lowering cholesterol and preventing scabies and other skin infections. Guyana never had a vibrant coconut oil industry, because there was never the governmental support. It remained a bottom house industry. Today we talk about the coconut occupying almost as much land as sugar and rice. Yet it is a forgotten plant. The government late last year gave hints of resurrecting the coconut industry. It may be a little too late, but sometimes it is better late than never. We talk about being the breadbasket of the region, but we are dumping valuable food commodities. Our production of crops and livestock remains at the subsistence level; we still cannot satisfy an order for a few containers of tomatoes or bora or ochroes. However, we can supply and satisfy an order for vegetable oil, if only we try.

Tuesday August 05, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

If the PPPC remains in power, Guyana will continue its rapid regression DEAR EDITOR, Over the past 10 years I have observed Guyana as a business expat. This country has the potential to become an emerging economy, but the current government and its many of its people constantly hinder Guyana’s potential. Here are some of my observations. GOVERNMENT The PPPC regime is autocratic, inept and is consumed with graft, corruption and revenge politics. The PPPC leaders have created a Russian oligarch economic model in Guyana –you have to be invited in and pay to play. For this reason, no substantial European, Japanese, South Korean and American company has a presence in Guyana. Therefore, Guyana does not benefit from the rich human resources and technologies (required for development) possessed by global

corporations. The PPPC government, through crony companies, has its presence in virtually all major projects in Guyana. These crony companies lack the asset resources and technical management to successfully execute and complete projects awarded by the Guyana government. The PPPC leadership and their oligarch friends have profited from the largesse of poor Guyanese who are paying 16% VAT and other hidden taxes. Bharrat Jagdeo, ex-President of Guyana, is paid a retirement salary and perks greater than the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago –a country with a much larger economy. Meanwhile, nothing works well in Guyana, and the capital city and the supply of electricity is expensive and intermittent. The capital Georgetown is filthy and many residents burn garbage on sidewalks because there is no

scheduled garbage collection. The leadership of the PPPC is rife with incompetent people who are now benefiting from their decades-old membership to the party. Incompetence combined with graft makes Guyana an excellent case study: A natural resource rich county is heading towards a failedstate destination. THE PRIVATE SECTOR G u y a n a ’s p r i v a t e s e c t o r i s constantly hindered by government regulations, high cost of electricity and fuel, lack of credit and high corporate taxes. Guyana’s publicly traded companies are poorly run by inept boards and chief executives who have been installed in their offices for decades. Guyanese companies export virtually no branded or value-added products to overseas markets [not counting small West Indian-type (Continued on page 24)

Mr. Kissoon must be aware of the dangers of hearsay from anonymous sources DEAR EDITOR The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana refers to a letter by Mr. Frederick Kissoon published in your Sunday edition of August 3rd 2014 under the caption “Fazeel Feroze is not post-racial in the least”. I wish to correct a few statements made by Mr. Kissoon in defence of CIOG. Our Organization as rightly stated is a Muslim religious Organization. By virtue of its name, we as Muslims are commanded by Islamic law to denounce racism and do not even contemplate practicing it. This is why in every Mosque we have people of all ethnicities praying shoulder to shoulder as brothers and sisters. This concept is at

all times encouraged and practiced by CIOG, and we categorically refute the claim made by Mr. Kissoon that CIOG is a “racially prone organization with preference for East Indians”. We refer to Mr. Kissoon’s reference to CIOG’s relationship with the head of State and the Government of the day. CIOG has always maintained a cordial and close working relationship with all Governments and functionaries, similarly with Ambassadors, High Commissioners and foreign countries representatives in Guyana. This is a necessary requirement for any head of an Organization such as CIOG, a charitable body, as it enables us to seek the humanitarian assistance

required by our people from those in authority. This over the years has proven to be beneficial, and in some cases life saving for many deserving cases. We would do no less if a new government is in place, and will travel with any head of state if requested to assist in the service of our country. As and when necessary, the CIOG will have no hesitation in offering our appreciation to any Government official, Opposition leader or Member, or anyone that has contributed to our cause in the service to our people. The CIOG wishes to state most categorically that we were never involved in the formation of the Indian (Continued on page 5)

Let us demonstrate to future generations that President Burnham mattered DEAR EDITOR, Tomorrow August 06, 2014 we will be observing the twenty-ninth death anniversary of our late President and father of this great nation Mr. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, who led his country for twenty-one years from 1964 until his death on August 6, 1985, at the age of 62, after undergoing a throat operation in a hospital in Georgetown. President Burnham served our nation with distinction, wisdom and good leadership. He made a huge contribution to towards the development of this country during his time of presidency - in all areas, namely p h y s i c a l l y, e d u c a t i o n a l l y, economically, culturally and politically, as a leader for all of his people, regardless of their ethnicity, culture, sex orientation and party affiliation, and that is why under his leadership our national motto was rightfully regarded as “One People, One Nation, One Density. In this light, I think that renaming Ogle International Airport that is

located on the East Coast, after the late President Burnham would be a good thing to do in remembering him for the contribution he made to this country, especially at this time of his death anniversary. Let us demonstrate to future generations that President Burnham mattered and was the great leader who fought for freedom during the anticolonial struggle for our country’s Independence on May 26, 1966 and eventual Republican Status within the Commonwealth of Nations and the establishment of CARICOM in 1977. Under the leadership of President Burnham, the coastal road network and major sea defences were constructed; the Soesdyke-Linden highway; bridges on the Canje and Demerara Rivers, the international airport at Timehri and the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority; the University of Guyana and Cyril Potter College of Education; National Insurance Scheme; the multilateral schools; hinterland schools for

indigenous students. His government embarked on rural electrification, pure water supply for households and other infrastructural projects. President Burnham also established huge working people’s housing schemes, the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana National Service, the Amerindian lands rectification process, free education as an entitlement, and equal recognition of religious observances in this country. As the nation prepares to observe the twenty-ninth death anniversary of President Burnham, I strongly reiterate that Ogle International Airport should be renamed after him. Only recently the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan was honoured when the G o v e r n m e n t r e n a m e d Ti m e h r i International Airport, to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Come on President Ramotar, let us do it now for the late President Burnham just as we did for the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Rayvonne P. Bourne

Tuesday August 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

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

Dissatisfied with service received from GT&T DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me the opportunity to express my dissatisfaction with the Internet service received from GT&T combined with the poor quality of Customer Service that was extended to me. I have been a happily satisfied customer with the company since 2011 until April this year when I upgraded to an iPhone. Ever since, I kept activating the one month plan, only to have it last no more than 14 days on average. Every time you call customer care, the representatives would repeat “you are allocated 600 megabytes and you would have exceeded the amount of data allocated to you”. Every time my service ended prematurely I promised myself to switch to Digicel but my loyalty to GT&T kept dragging me back. I admit I was at fault the first two times my service ended prematurely. The very first time I activated the one-month plan, I downloaded a number of apps and my service was terminated within 12 hours!

The next time around, I used the Skype app on my phone which caused my service to be terminated within two weeks. I have learnt my lesson from those previous mistakes and ever since, avoided downloads or the use of Skype, but it still doesn’t work for me. On Thursday July 17, 2014 GT&T finally pulled the plug for me, with my one-month service which was only activated on Friday July 04, 2014. Only 13 days! This happens to every time I activate the one-month plan. All I did within this short space of time was to download the “Rising Star” app and visit a few shopping sites. I was prepared to have my service terminated maybe 2-3 days before the set time. It is just not economical to be paying $2200 - $2300 for the one month service and having it last only two (2) weeks. I feel as if I am not having value for my money. There is absolutely no point in having an iPhone/Samsung smartphone and you are only limited to only a few basic

Apps or activities. On July 18, 2014 around 7 a.m., I called Customer Care on 0488 and was connected to (female name provided). I calmly, politely expressed my frustration with the Internet service and notified her that since it is an ongoing problem, I may have to switch to the other network if the problem persists. Her response was “well that is your choice” with a trace of bad attitude. I thanked her for reminding me of my freedom of choice. Although that may be her personal opinion, as a paid customer service representative, I think she should have expressed the views of the company she is representing. She should have offered tips on how to best utilize the data allocated to me. Even though I have been a loyal customer for the past three years, the young lady’s attitude makes me feel as if my support/loyalty is not valued by the company. It gives one the impression that GT&T has thousands of customers, so if they lose one, it is not that big of a deal.

Mr. Kissoon must be aware of... From page 4 Arrival Committee, and have never been a member of the Committee, nor do we partake in any of the activities of the Committee. This statement is a blatant misrepresentation by Mr. Kissoon. As for statements made by the MYO, we wish to inform Mr. Kissoon that the MYO is a separate entity from CIOG, and we cannot monitor or will not dare to justify their pronouncements. The CIOG considers the judiciary and other law enforcement agencies as independent entities, and will not condone or intervene in their functions. Mr. Kissoon failed to produce any evidence to substantiate his generalization of the accusations made as to CIOG’s involvement or influences exerted to circumvent the laws of

Guyana. He must be aware of the dangers of hearsay from anonymous sources. We w i s h t o s t a t e categorically that the doors of CIOG are always open to all, irrespective of their ethnicity. While we are not sure as to the census used by Mr. Kissoon to arrive at a percentage as to who is in the CIOG, we wish to advise that CIOG does not have an individual membership programme. We maintain as

members, the membership of Jaamats or Masjids, which incorporate the communities of each Mosque throughout Guyana. We trust that certain misrepresentations and misinformation have been addressed, and we thank you for facilitating the publication of CIOG’s perspective on matters raised by Mr. Kissoon. Fazeel M. Ferouz President-CIOG

I later called the Supervisor on (telephone number provided) at 9:30 a.m. to report the incident. I got no satisfaction. On b e h a l f o f G T & T, s h e endorsed what her staff said about me having a “choice”. She even went on to say “When we lose one, you never know how much more we gain.” I was left in utter shock! Seriously GT&T?! There’s an old saying which goes “wan wan dutty build dam”. Individually, the loss of one customer will go unnoticed but collectively, it will affect the company. I was well aware of my freedom of choice from the inception but I chose you! I chose GT&T! Isn’t that why you advertise? I thought you advertise because you want to be the “preferred” choice. You spend thousands of dollars daily to attract new customers and this is how you treat a loyal customer? So your Internet package for iPhone/ Samsung smartphones is awful combined with horrific customer support? Those two just don’t go well together! I was once in the Customer Service field where I was taught, it is more expensive to attract a new customer than it is to maintain the old ones. I guess that part was omitted

from GT&T’s Customer Care books. I enquired from many of my peers that have iPhones or Samsung smartphones and are on GT&T’s network, they are encountering similar problems with their Internet. If everybody makes the choice to switch to Digicel because they cannot have redress, eventually it is going to affect GT&T’s bottom line. I certainly did not expect such a careless, laid back, lackadaisical approach to customer service from the telephone giant, especially when there is a competitor on their heels. The supervisor had the nerve to tell me that she hopes I continue to use the service. Why should I? The data allocated by GT&T is only 20mb per day (600 per month) while Digicel offers 50mb per day for a few hundred dollars more. At the end of the conversation, the supervisor advised me to take my device to the

Blackberry store and have the technicians check the settings. This is what the supervisor and her staff should have advised from the inception. The damage is already done. I’m no longer desirous of using that service. I have joined the “Bigger, Better Network” since I’m NOT having the “Best Value” for my money from GT&T. Companies need to be cognizant of the fact that no matter how big they are, they need to be more appreciative of the support they receive from their customers. Each and every one of your customers counts. When your customers call to give feedback about a product or service, it should serve as an indicator that they are not pleased. Try your best to make it work for them. At the end of the day, the success of your company depends on that same support. Dissatisfied Customer (Name and Phone number provided)

Tuesday August 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

Israel, Palestinians accept Egypt’s 72-hour truce bid (Reuters) - Israel and the Islamist Hamas movement agreed yesterday to an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire to end four weeks of fighting in the Gaza Strip, while Jerusalem was rocked by two attacks that appeared to be a backlash to the violence. Egypt’s plan called for a 72-hour-long truce to begin at 0500 GMT (1.00 a.m. EDT) today and then for representatives of Israeli and Palestinian factions to attend talks in Cairo to negotiate a longer-term agreement. Palestinian groups, including envoys of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, met the head of Egyptian intelligence in Cairo earlier yesterday to formulate a plan to end the violence. A few hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet agreed to accept Egypt’s proposal, an official in his office said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A relative of nine Palestinians mourns during their funeral yesterday. CREDIT: REUTERS/MOHAMMED SALEM

“Israel has notified Egypt of its acceptance of its proposal for a ceasefire,” the official said. Afterward, Hamas Islamists who dominate Gaza announced their agreement to the truce as well. “Hamas told Egypt a short while ago of its acceptance of a 72-hour period of calm,” Hamas

spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters. Israel launched its offensive on July 8 following a surge in Hamas rocket salvoes. It escalated from air and naval barrages to overland incursions centered on Gaza’s tunnel-riddled eastern frontier, but also pushed into densely populated towns.

U.S. to press South China Sea freeze despite China rejection

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, at a meeting with Southeast Asian nations this weekend, will press for a voluntary freeze on actions aggravating territorial disputes in the South China Sea, in spite of Beijing’s rejection of the idea. Daniel Russel, the State Department’s senior diplomat for the East Asia region, said ahead of Kerry’s trip to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) that the call was not new and was “not rocket science,” but “common sense.” A priority for Kerry would be to lower tensions in the South China Sea, where about $5 trillion of maritime trade passes annually, and China and four members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have rival claims. “The regional economy is too important and too fragile for any country or any claimant to use the threat of military force or paramilitary force in retaliation, for intimidation, or as a coercive effort,” Russel told a news briefing yesterday. He said there was room for rival claimants “to take some voluntary steps, and to identify actions they find troubling if not provocative on the part of other claimants, and to offer, if everyone will agree, to renounce those kinds of actions.” Such steps could include abiding by an existing agreement not to seize unoccupied

land features, or more significantly, a moratorium in land reclamation efforts, Russel said. Earlier on Monday, China, which will also participate in the ARF meeting, rejected the idea of a freeze, saying it could build what it wanted on its South China Sea islands. China claims 90 percent of the sea, which is believed to contain oil and gas deposits and has rich fishery resources. “What China does or doesn’t do is up to the Chinese government,” said Yi Xianliang, deputy head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Boundary and Ocean Affairs Departments. Yi said proposals for a freeze could be seen as an attempt to undermine drawn-out efforts by China and ASEAN to reach a code of conduct for the South China Sea. He said that if the United States had such a proposal, he had not seen it and that in any case the South China Sea was an issue for countries directly involved. “Trust in us Asian people to use Asian means and wisdom to resolve our own problems,” he said. The Philippines has also said it will propose a freeze at the ARF meeting, as well as implementation of a code of conduct and arbitration to settle disputes. Manila called last month for a meeting of the four ASEAN claimants - itself, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam - ahead of ARF to hammer out a common stand in dealings with China. Efforts to launch such talks since December 2012 have so far failed. China has been increasingly assertive in pressing its territorial claims and Washington fears misunderstandings could inadvertently lead to open conflict. Russel said Washington wanted to see accelerated efforts by ASEAN and China to agree on a code of conduct. China’s recent withdrawal of an oil rig from waters also contested by Vietnam had removed a serious irritant, he said, but it had left anger and tension and “serious questions on behalf of China’s neighbors about China’s long-term strategy.”

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RISING ON A STAR I did not watch ABC’s Rising Star reality singing show which featured Guyana’s Lisa Punch. I do not care for such shows. From the reviews that I read, it was clear to me that this show was more a marketing experiment by ABC than a real talent-spotting contest. Reality shows are more about building audience appeal and loyalty and less about giving exposure to young people with talent. This is not to deny that some reality shows such as America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent have provided breaks for a number of artistes, who, without the exposure on these shows, would never have been spotted by the major recording companies. But it must be accepted that ABC’s Rising Star was not one of those shows. It was never going to catapult anyone from obscurity to fame. One review that I have read did not think that this show was reall y a b o u t finding the best talent around. It was from all accounts more an attempt by ABC to venture into unexplored dimensions of multimedia interactivity. In this regard, Rising Star has broken new ground. Traditionally there was little or no interaction

between audience and the show. That trend began to change in recent years with the spread of technologies which allowed for greater engagement between the home audience and the TV shows. On some shows, voters are allowed to tweet responses, blog comments or vote favourably or not favourably about the show. This form of engagement is now a major feature of the shows produced by the main networks. And the producers have seen the potential of this engagement in increasing their home audience and ratings. This in turn translates to more profits, because advertisers want to know that any show they sponsor has a large reach. What Rising Star did, was to take this interaction between a u d i e n c e a n d show to an unprecedented level. Through the creation of a special application, the home audience was actually able to vote for the contestants on the ABC’s Rising Star. With millions of viewers rooting for the various contestants, these viewers were made to feel part of judging and this encouraged more persons to vote. In this way, ABC was able to gain a wider audience for this new show.

Dem boys seh ...

Dem Bees does play pull down Greed is a disease. It wuss than death. Is sheer greedy people deh in Guyana. Jagdeo greedy. He build a big fancy house wid nuff, nuff bedroom and none, none body fuh run in dem. He seh that he sell that house fuh $120 million but some people nah believe, including dem boys. De Hanna Rebel tell dem boys he do de transaction and he is a scamp. De greed in Jagdeo mek he build a mansion wid more bedrooms and yet nobody fuh run inside. But dem boys hear that one, one night he de Jagdeo, Bobby, Boyah, Brian and de fat scamp does deh running inside. Dem does play pull down because dem ain’t satisfy wid wha dem got. That is all dem boys saying. Is to such a level that dem tek greed. Dem want to mek de impossible, possible. That is greed. Greed is an uncontrollable appetite for more of something. It may begin by fulfilling a healthy desire, but it can change into a habitual craving. Bobby born a good, good child. He mix wid de wrang set of people and became a greedy MoFo. But dem boys start going to church fuh dem and dem boys praying fuh dem. Only yesterday dem boys learn that de greedy people neglect to remember that de Creatah we serve knows every hair pon dem head (Brazzy and Jagdeo loss almost all), every thought dem think (like de scheme that dem come up wid to win de drug contract), and every spiritual need dem have (dem want to be like God and live forever pun this earth. That is why nutten is enough fuh dem, not even de billions they already stack up). He also know that dem don’t guh to church. Even Brazzy stop going but if dem think law suit gun shut dem boys mouth, dem lie. Talk half and demand that dem change dem greedy ways.

The ingenious feature of the interaction on ABC’s Rising Star was that it was live. The TV audience actually saw the count of votes rising as the millions of viewers tapped in their votes. Previous reality shows that factored in audience votes, were done in such a way as to make it impossible for the home audience to have a decisive say in the final outcome. The weight attributed to the judges’ scores was such as to make it impossible for audience support to overturn that result. The Rising Star show broke with this tradition, and the share of each judge’s score, according to the reviews seen, were a mere 7% each, leaving the outcome of the competition heavily

reliant on votes by the home audience. This was the second ingenious feature of Rising Star. There were a lot persons rooting for the Guyanese girl. But she was bound to eventually be knocked out of the competition, because once the home audience is the major deciding factor, no Guyanese girl was ever going to gain enough votes to make it all the way to the final round. We simply were never going to have the number of votes to take her all the way to the final. As much as Guyanese were enthusiastically rooting for Lisa Punch - and they did try to their best to vote for her - their best efforts would eventually have failed to carry her through to the final. The reason is

simple. Guyana is a small country. We have less people here than a borough in New York. On top of this, our internet connectivity and computer density are both, by international standards, low. So one must take our hats off to those whose votes were able to allow the Guyanese girl to make it this far. That she got this far constituted a major achievement. If Lisa Punch was an American citizen she would have had a better chance, because it would have meant that she would have gained a great many more votes from New York than she did from Guyana, and all the Guyanese living overseas who were rooting for her.

She sang her heart out. But the fact is that we are a small country, with low internet connectivity and computer density, and therefore other contestants with greater reach would always prevail. There is one consoling fact. If you are good enough, no matter at what stage of a reality show you are knocked out, your talent would have been spotted by the agents from the major recording studios. If you are good enough, they will come knocking.

Contractor sues Princess Casino for $20M won at slot machine A local contractor is suing Princess Casino Guyana after the company refused to pay him the $20M which he claims he won on a slot machine on July 7th last. Somar Shako of 283 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, through his attorneys Maxwell McKay, Nalenee Doobay-Dhanraj, Trenton Lake and Lawrence Harris, served the writ on the company, Georgetown Investment and Management Service Inc., trading and operating under the registered name of Princess Casino Guyana. In a statement of claim to support the writ, Shako said that he began gambling at the casino two years ago, when he was issued a club membership that allowed him to access the facility without an identity check or having to produce any documents. On Caricom Day, July 7, 2014, Shako said he entered into an implied contractual agreement by custom with the casino, to be paid all winnings, when he entered into the facility at Providence, East Bank Demerara, to gamble. According to the court document, around 20:00 hours that day he began playing on slot machine # 340, and

after playing over 40 games on the said machine, it visually announced the Jackpot winnings of GYD$20,000,306. According to the court documents seen by this newspaper, after the visual announcement, Shako was immediately approached by the Supervisor of the Slot Machine Attendant, with a name tag identifying him as one 'Delon', who requested Shako's name in order to make payments. This process was however interrupted by one of the Casino's Managers, who asked Shako to remove from the machine. According to Shako, the Manager then opened a part of the slot machine and deleted the winning message, in the presence of several persons who had surrounded the machine to congratulate Shako on his winnings. Most of the persons who had gathered then demanded that the casino pay Shako his winnings. But instead, Shako was informed by the Casino Manager that slot machine # 340 was malfunctioning and that as a result, the casino cannot make any payments to him. The Manager then told Shako that he had fixed the machine and advised that he

could resume playing. But the man is contending that at no time while he was gambling on the slot machine, was he informed that the said machine was not functioning nor was any notice to that effect posted within sight. Additionally, at no time did slot machine # 340 demonstrate any malfunctioning attributes whilst it was accepting Shako's money to gamble. “In breach of the implied contractual agreement between the Defendant and the Plaintiff, the Defendant has since refused and or neglected to pay the Plaintiff his jackpot winnings won on 7th July 2014, in the sum of GYD$20,000,306 (twenty million, three hundred and six dollars),” Shako's Statement of Claim said. The matter took another twist on July 22nd when the Casino, after learning that Shako had retained lawyers, offered to pay him $1M, which Shako duly refused. According to Shako, two

days later, an official from the casino called him and upped the offer to $4M, which he again refused. Shako claimed that he has been facing constant intimidation by way of over 40 telephone calls between July 22 and 25 from casino officials who were insisting that he accept the offer. He said that as a result of the harassing phone calls, he has lost income that would have amounted to the sum of $2M. It is in this light that Shako is asking the court to order that he be paid his $20M winnings. He is also seeking damages in the sum of two million Guyana dollars for loss of income; damages in the sum of three million Guyana dollars for breach of contract; interest on the $20M pursuant to the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provision) Act Chapter 6:02 and such further Order and or relief, which to the Court seems just. The matter is to be called on Wednesday, August 20.

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Tuesday August 05, 2014

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

This nation doesn’t deserve a place on the modern map Tribalism, politics and culture have divided this nation since the uniting theme of anti-colonialism disappeared with the split between Jagan and Burnham in the fifties. But how different is our divided polity from other nations? The great United States has similar ethnic undercurrents (to put it mildly). The UK is now in fear

of a separate Scotland. Arab countries have their tribal passions. India is a land of a billion cultures. But there are threads in a nation that knit its people together, one of which is education. Political divisions, tribalism and other sociological depravities have not undermined the educational systems of these nations. India exports doctors

and scientists like mangoes falling from a tree. There are hundreds of top class universities in India that are getting better each day. The UK prides itself on its great universities. Even in the smallest states in the US like Rhode Island, you find phenomenal universities; imagine what obtains then in California, New York, Illinois etc. There is no sane mind in the world that would be so asinine to deny that the avenue for achieving greatness as a nation is through a vibrant educational system. When you talk about development, when you talk about a country outstripping others, you are talking about that country’s educational assets. China is trying like mad to outrun Harvard by creating dozens of Harvards all over China. This is one of the threads that unite a divided nation. People want to see large, handsome universities with money, scholars and

opportunities. They feel that is what their country must have. Nothing unites the people of Guyana. But if anything should, it should have been the University of Guyana. We may not like each other in Guyana because we look different. We may not like each other in Guyana because the political party we support, we want it to outdo its rival. But we ought to know that if as individual citizens we are going to survive, then our educational system should be above party and race politics, because our individual future depends on it. The parents of the African labourer in Georgetown, Amerindian youth in the interior and Indian bus conductor in Port Mourant, ought to know that social elevation can only come from their country having top class tertiary education. Most of all, the entrepreneurial class that invests billions in Guyana cannot be that stupid, selfdestructive and ignorant in

not knowing how important the country’s only university is. I was a guest of the African rights organization, Cuffy 250 Committee on channel 9 to speak about tertiary education in this country. I made the point that every Guyanese needs to be suspicious about why UG is declining. I made the point that something cannot be right; that since the PPP came to power twenty-two years ago, each year sees a resource decline at UG. It is indeed eerie and macabre. On each occasion as we enter a new calendar year, UG becomes more decrepit, more disheveled, more wretched, more rundown. That cannot make sense unless a sinister destructive hand is at work. Surely, if you endure a fiveyear period of downslide, then you creep back up slowly. But there is no upward movement from UG the past twenty-two years. Each year things get from bad to worse at UG, quality goes down, resources get scarcer and the

Frederick Kissoon devouring cancer gets more malignant. And how do I know that? I worked there for twenty-six consecutive years. There is no moral, cultural, ethnic and political reason for any citizen to support this decline. UG, like many institutions, is above politics because our individual future depends on it. Why support the decline of the army? Countries with border claims will then be bold to invade your country. Why support a moribund police force? Criminals are going to walk into your home, rob and rape family members and walk out freely, because there is no functioning police force. The point is, these national institutions are intricately tied up with your own individual existence. That the entrepreneurial class, civil society, important stakeholders and the nation as a whole can remain silent on the moribund state of the country’s only university, is huge testimony to the existence of a dead country. What makes it heart-breaking is that the poorest nations on earth have better universities than us. It is as if there is a deliberate plan to kill off UG. And the people of this land just watch helplessly. There are no words to describe this Kafkaesque nightmare in Guyana. This self-destructive nation does not deserve to be part of the civilized, modern world.

Tuesday August 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Denso Platinum plugs gas savers - Tel:654-6394 Spares for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 PVC Ceiling Panels (USA Standards), all-purpose joint compound, T h o m p s o n ’s c o n c r e t e water proofer – Tel: 6148564; 639-3675; 680-0862 New American made Wener, aluminum ladder: 17 feet$28,000; 24 feet- $38,000, 32 feet- $55,000 – Tel: 609-7257, 602-5794 German shepherd and Doberman mixed pups – Contact: 615-0513 Metal Scaffolding with planks – Contact: 332-5426; 603-0000; 628-8008 Sales! Sale! 5/8 Steel Rods$1400 each – Tel:657-4072 Wooden house 33’X20’ – Call: 615-8121 1 -500 Ton Cargo Ship – Tel: 687-6174 Greenheart Logs – Tel: 639-3450 Dressed and mill cut lumber: Kabukalli, silverballi, greenheart, crab wood etc – Call: 688-6579 One two-storey concrete building at La Grange Public Road, W.B.D; one grocery stall at Stabroek Market – Tel: 679-1151 or 629-2381 22RB Dragline, CAT 428 Back-hoe, 10-Tons compactor, CAT 320 BL Excavator, CAT 120G-MotorGrader. All in working condition – Contact: 6604021; 275-0538 Salesgirls/Cashiers – Apply in person with written application at NIRVA Supermarket – Tel: 227-5771 Exist in Diamond to teach various computer courses. Send resume to davidsukhdeo@gmail.com Are you looking for wholesale Advil Cold & Sinus & 1 burner stove wicks (pure cotton)? Contact: 664-0410 Zmodo Surveillance Security systems with CMOS cameras, 50ft night vision $85,000 with free installation – Tel: 609-2815 Food warmer 7ft long with 8 trays, freezer – Tel: 661-6795

VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 670-8893/684-2838 Urgently needed live in waitress, affordable salary – Tel: 259-0574 Work from home earn $5,000$20,000 daily- Call: 233-6517, jobfairworldwide.com 1 Handyman/woman, 1 Skillful carpenter, 4 able bodied labour, 1 welder – Contact: 265-3586 Vacancy for sales clerk at Plant Shop – Contact: 646-2108 Vacancy for porter work in Coverden E.B.D, apply at Alabama Trading, Ferry Stelling Stabroek Front cabin fishing boat 31" with 15HP Tohatsu Engine – Price $1M negotiable – Tel:690-7231, 697-0648 1 Nintendo Wii with 3 games: Mario Kart & Mario Bros, 1 Nintendo 3DS with 3 games, Pokemon & Donkey Kong 3D – Tel: 683-8386 1 Car and Truck Hoist 12000 LB 2 Post almost new forward made in American $800,000– Tel: 604-5440 or 698-2929 1-2010 Mazda Pick up 2WD 38,000 Km, show room condition with ray cover $2.5M – Tel:698-2929 or 6045440 1-2010 Mitsubishi Fork lift, 3 stage side shift indoor, outdoor - $1.5M like new – Tel:698-2929; 604-5440 Boat Engine Yamaha (2) (4) (6) even rude 6, 9.9 6, 18 from $100,000 to $200,000 – Tel:604-5440; 698-2929 Games for PS2, PS3, XBOX360, WII, consoles also available – Call: 672-2566, 2653231 Hotel white sheets, pillow cases, bath towels, floors towels slightly used & excellent condition, low prices – Tel: 626-6335

TOURS SURINAME SUMMER TOUR: SHOPPING CASINO, DOLPHIN ETC. AUGUST 1ST-4TH, 7TH 13TH & 18TH -24TH – TEL: 639-2663; 644-0185; 6655171 OR 227-8290

Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655,683-8734 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, A/C units – Call Lindon: 6411086, 694-2202, 227-8907 For low cost: Repairs to fridge, freezer, A/C unit, microwaves, TV & washing machine – Call: 629-4946 or 225-4822 For the best in landscaping, the most reliable & trustworthy landscapers call us @ 219-0468 Design Team Neher. COOL TECH: Repairs Services & Installation of all types if homes appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units – Tel: 233-2008; 675-4959 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 6626045

EDUCATION Individual tutoring available for CXC P.O.A in comfort of your own home – Call today for affordable rates: 688-3538 IAE (Secondary Educational) 194 Camp Street, register for Forms 15, Lessons, CXC Adult Classes for repeaters & beginners – Tel:223-0604; 683-5742 Kids summer computer classes, ages 4-16 - $4,500 @ Micrographics, Vreed-EnHoop: 264-3057, Parika Location: 626-4833. 9 Courses Diploma In computers, Free job training/ placement, $30,000- Register Now @ Micrographics, Vreed-En-Hoop -264-3057, Parika: 626-4833 Princeton College @ Cummings & Church Street, CXC Adult Classes, $1,200 per subject, Phonics Class for 4 to 17 years, Grade 5 & 6 classes – Tel:2238672; 690-5008 LAND FOR SALE Land of Canaan – 21 Acres of transported land from Public Road to Conservancies- Tel:612-7377

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WANTED Salesgirl/boys and porters apply in person, to Avinash Water Street 8:30 to 4:30 Salesgirls & porters apply with written application @ Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1E Dennis & Milton Sts Campbellville. Salesgirl to work in shop on E.C.D;Age 17-24 –Text: 617-7823 1 Male to look after layer birds in the Interior – Tel: 669-6030 Cashier, pump attendants, and watchman, apply in person at Shell Mc Doom Gas Station. One licensed captain to operate a mini yacht in the interior, Contact Andre/ Karen: 666-8730; 690-1216 Urgently needed two experienced cosmetologist @ Natural Beauty Salon located @ Grove EBD. Contact Ms. Kasharie on 652-5800 Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter –Call:225-0188, 225-6070 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am-4:15pm) Female Accounts Clerk to work on Distribution Vehicle, Apply Alabama Trading Ferry Stelling Stabroek. Handy boy, apply @ Shanta’s, 225 Camp Street Handy boys to work. Live-in accommodation and meals are free- Tel: 228-5655; 628-1756 Live in waitress and domestic must know to cook. Salary $50,000 $70,000. Boarding and lodging free – Tel: 610-5043 Domestic to work 4 days a week, age 30-40. Tel:681-3812, call between 8:00am-4: 00pm, preferably from E.B.D only. TO LET 5 bedrooms at Happy Acres, Duncan, DaSilva Street, Dowding Street, Courida Park (seaside), Winter Place – Tel:2312200, 683-5107 Genese Rooms & Apartments – Call: 225-3234 or 690-6494/ BBM Pin- 24E17558 Furnished and unfurnished two bedrooms apartment & rooms in Eccles, for short or long term – Tel: 690-6494; 2253234 Two bedroom, apartment with modern convenience, just off Grove Public Road E.B.D – Tel:621-2215/6479438/ 677-8074 ACCOMMODATION Tourist Villa: Furnished Rooms & apartments- 1, 2 &3 bedroom apartments at affordable rates – Lot 95 Fifth Avenue, Subryanville – Tel: 227-2199; 227-2189; 227-2186 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

SALON

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Natural beauty salon & spa: Grove Market Street EBD Tele:265-4138,652-5800 specialized in everything for women.

2006 Blue Nissan Titan. Fully Loaded GSS Series. Contact: 604-6108. AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash. Also parts available & 30 seater buses; extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Furnished apartments for overseas visitors – Call: 668-5198 2- 8000 Square foot warehouse space, high ceiling for rent at Friendship E.B.D – Tel: 225-7643 GT TOOLRENTALS: FREE DELIVERY, CONCRETE, STEEL, TILE CUTTER, SAWS, JACKHAMMER RANSOM PUMPS & MUCH MORE – TEL: 675-0767; 627-5098

2004 Toyota Spacio- Back & front camera, TV/DVD/ CD, unregistered - $2.2M – Tel: 617-2891 2 FORD 350 Diesel 2006 (4x4), 1 F150 2007 (4x4), 1 Chevy Van 2007, 1 1999 Tacoma, excellent condition – Tel: 610-5370 Toyota Tundra 2003, fully loaded GPP 4554, Bubble back - $3.2M – Contact: 641-3812

Toyota AT212, AT192, AT170, Raum, NZE, Fun cargo, AE110 Corolla, Yamaha R1 – 100CC -2009, year model – Tel:644-5096, 697-1453 Deals! Deals! Deals! Venus Auto Sale: 2002 Toyota Regius fully loaded bus, $1.8M Negotiable – Tel: 624Four bedrooms house with 5617 parking –Call:218-3999 or 604- 1600 CC Toyota Sprinter 5296 AE100- Contact: 645-0240 or Three bedroom property top 629-3814 flat @ Anira Street 2005 Suzuki APV (paniled) Queenstown - $120,000 ideal for goods business monthly – Phone: 617-4261 $1M – Call: 617-7113 Two bedrooms top flat @ O.J’s Auto imports- New Anira Street Queenstown - arrivals: Spacios, Axela, $80,000 monthly – Phone: 617- Bluebirds, Premio, Noahs – 4261 Tel: 609-2815 Vreed-en-Hoop junction – Unregistered 2002 Toyota Salon, barbershop, snackette, Premio - $2.350M – Call: 691shop, store games shop, 7475 or 657-1796 lessons class, office, bond – Call: 680-9905

PROPERTY FOR SALE CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com Progressive Auto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 219-3900 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com

Section A, 274 Great Diamond, E.B.D, 56’X40’ building on 111’ by 60’ land. $21 Million – Tel: 233-2546, 233-5859 Lot 156 Non-Pareil Street, Albouystown & 26 Sussex Street Charlestown – Contact Molly at 226-3497

One 2 flat solid concrete building with 6 bedrooms situated at Stratsphey E.C.D Aidan’s Car Rental, Canter & - $25M Negotiable – Tel:6895103 Pickup- Call: 698-7807 For sale by owner: 1 wooden Wings Car Rental- Call: 690& concrete 2 strorey building 6494/ BBM pin: 24E17558 @ 3rd Street, East Meten – Meer- Zorg, Vacant propertyMASSAGE contact Mr. Basant : 277The Gents Spa: Beautiful 3743; 626-0150 qualified masseuses, new TAXI SERVICES attendants from Cuba & Trinidad, drinks available – GR TAXI: 225-7878; 227Tel: 657- 5979 1982 or 219-5000

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Tuesday August 05, 2014

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

If the PPPC remains in power, Guyana will continue... From page 4 grocery stores] with the exception of El Dorado rum – limited distribution in the United States, Canada, India and Europe. The Guyana stock market/ bourse is controlled by individuals who are top executives with companies traded in the Guyana stock market. This is a conflict of interest which is a big negative for such a small capital market. Government oversight of Guyana’s public stock companies has been negligible. Competent finance personnel are not on the employee roster of Guyana’s government, so if the government was inclined to conduct detailed forensic audits there will be no technical staff to conduct forensic audits. In many cases, senior executives from public stock companies treat corporate assets as their own, while shareholders are handed small dividends with poor appreciation in their stock prices for such a risky market. The business environment in Guyana for small and emerging entities is treacherous. The negatives which affect public stock companies

also affect small and emerging businesses. Out of control criminal activity and the enormous cost of operating a going concern are major risk factors in surviving Guyana’s horrible business environment. The high cost and scarcity of purchasing risk insurance is also a major impediment to conducting business in Guyana with commercial fire losses greatly eclipsing general liability claims. Hiring skilled personnel from Guyana’s small and diminishing pool of workers is expensive and the quality of many of Guyana’s “skilled personnel” is below global standards. Guyanese who have returned home to start various enterprises often fail, because many of these entrepreneurs look at Guyana through nostalgic eyes rather than considering corruption in the Government, the low skill level of most Guyanese workers and Guyana’s new environment: crime, bribery, corruption, theft etc. Guyana’s justice system is inefficient and establishing property rights can be a problem due to the outdated record keeping by various

government departments. These negatives do not bode well for Guyana’s economic growth. Another major impediment to development is the limited availability of direct flights from North America (there are zero direct flights from Europe) to Guyana and high cost of tickets. Guyana also has high rates for international calls and cell service contributing to the high business costs. While internet connectivity is available in Guyana, the speed of uploads/downloads may be compared to slower DSL rather than broadband and service is sub-par. THE PEOPLE OF GUYANA The people in Guyana have been left to fend for themselves. Low wages, high cost of living and few opportunities combined with the high crime rate are major reasons for Guyana’s high rate of migration. Many Guyanese who cannot migrate depend on monthly disbursements and barrels filled with food, clothing and other items from overseas relatives. Guyanese are a relatively happy people but this coun-

try has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. The PPPC government has done little to build or develop institutions to foster an orderly society. Guyana has an inept police force, virtually non-existent social services, poorly trained teachers and the total lack of maintenance of whatever is left of the country’s infrastructure. Many working Guyanese openly ask foreigners for money or “top-ups” to supplement their meagre wages in Guyana’s high-cost environment. Others have turned to petty theft as a way of survival. With few opportunities to make living wages, Guyana’s crime rate has skyrocketed. Guyanese constantly complain among themselves about the misdeeds of the PPPC government and write letters to editors of the Stabroek News, Demerara Waves and Kaieteur News. However, there are few large and well organized demonstrations against the PPPC government, and it may appear that letters written to the newspapers and hawkish comments in anti-government

blogs are largely ignored by the PPPC. Often university students are a hotbed of public demonstrations against autocratic/despotic governments, but this is not evident among the student body at the University of Guyana. Many Guyanese mistakenly think they will be rescued from the PPPC by foreign governments – especially the United States. THE FUTURE OFGUYANA If the opposition wins the national elections and the new government is constituted from all ethnic groups and parties [coalition], Guyana will still suffer from many of the same problems unless thousands of qualified technocrats are hired from overseas –including Guyanese in the Diaspora. The state of education in Guyana may be considered desperate since the University of Guyana and various technical institutes are not world class. The brightest graduates are migrating, so the country needs a substantial influx of seasoned personnel to reengineer every aspect of Guyana: Infrastructure, IT, education, law enforcement,

healthcare, social welfare and defence. The new coalition government must quickly establish closer relations with the United States, Britain, The European Union and Canada. Closer relations with Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Singapore and Japan must also be high on the agenda. Guyana has to secure its borders and coastal waters to begin the battle against drug smuggling and money laundering. Guyanese who ply these illegal activities do so openly in Guyana to the anguish of the United States. Britain, The EU and Canada. Guyana has the natural resources to become an emerging nation, but it will require bold steps by a new government and its citizens to embrace radical changes. Security and infrastructure must be foremost in the new coalition government’s priority, followed by education – including adult education. If the PPPC remains in power, Guyana will continue its rapid regression towards a failed state status. Tom Christensen

Tuesday August 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

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T&T PM delivers statement on Constitutional Reform (Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday delivered an address to the House of Representatives regarding government’s decision on the implementation of constitutional reform. Following is an excerpt from PM Persad-Bissessar’s statement: I am pleased to make a statement on the first day of the epoch-making and revolutionary changes we have ushered in through the new Standing Orders. We take pride in the fact that we have been able to overhaul and comprehensively revise our Standing Orders which operated for over half a century, from 1961. Likewise I am pleased that we take action and we take pride in later introducing the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2014 which seeks to ensure that we keep more of our promises made in our 2010 Manifesto (in fact we recall this is the first ever Manifesto to be

adopted through Parliament as our policy agenda for development and progress). In that Manifesto, we sought to establish a partnership with the people to build unity and ensure prosperity for all. Good governance was sought through effective representation, participation, transparency and accountability. The adoption of the manifesto through Parliament as our development policy agenda was the best way to ensure that citizens had the power to hold us to our commitments, and to demand of us, the development and progress that we promised. In other words, we immediately put the power where it rightfully belonged – in the hands of the people. As outlined in our Achievements Booklet, Honourable Speaker, we have delivered on over 90 percent of our promises, contained in our 2010 manifesto. And, today we seek

to deliver even more of those promises - by keeping our Constitutional Reform promise to give more Power to the People. PROPOSED REFORM A Constitution Amendment Bill 2014 Mr. Speaker, is to be introduced today, which will propose a term limit for the office of the Prime Minister, a recall provision and a runoff poll in elections for the House of Representatives. These measures Mr. Speaker, require only a simple majority. Further, I will in the near future, lay a Bill to fix the dates of Parliaments so the dates for general elections will be known. Such a Bill will require a special majority. REFORM DETAILS The reform details Mr. Speaker: Firstly, Term Limits for the Prime Minister. 1) TERM LIMITS FOR THE PRIME MINISTER In our present proposals

there is a simple amendment which prevents the President from offering the Prime Ministership to anyone who has served for two full terms or at least ten years and six months, which is the two Constitutional Terms. Once a Prime Minister has served for a period of 10 years and 6 months (5 years being the normal 5-year life of a Parliament and the subsequent 90 day period by which general elections must be held). We are of the view Mr. Speaker, that fossilized leadership, which entrenches itself via manipulation and control of party politics, is an anathema to the principles of democracy and growth. We have had our fair share of leaders who continued to rule and refused to give way even though it was obvious that the time for change had come. This can suffocate new talent and stifle a democracy. THE US SYSTEM VS WESTMINSTER

T&T Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

The two-term limit provision is a very important feature to give Power to the People and for a powerful democracy. And so Mr. Speaker, the provisions will be contained in the bill so I will not spend time to read the exact wording of those provisions. But I would want to say that, whilst American Presidents leave office with dignity and grace, Westminster Prime Ministers cling to power to the very end and are often forced out of

office in indignity and disgrace. These were the words I read long ago in an article by Professor Selwyn Ryan. And so, whilst American Presidents leave Mr. Speaker, there is empirical evidence to suggest that this may well be true. Some 91 countries worldwide Mr. Speaker, have term limits of two terms for their Heads of Government. We are seeking to become country number 92 with term limits for the Prime Minister. (Continued on page 26)

After seven days of oil spill, residents say: We’re suffering Marabella residents say they are still suffering from the effects of last week Tuesday’s oil spill even though Petrotrin says close to 80 per cent of oil in the Guaracara River has been cleaned. Yesterday marked seven days since oil escaped from the Petrotrin Pointe-a-Pierre refinery, when one of its tanks (MP 6) failed, and found its way into the Guaracara River. Residents of Bayshore (South) Marabella lamented Sunday that Petrotrin has ignored their plight and the suffering they are experiencing because of the oil spill. They also claim oil has reached the Gulf of Paria despite Petrotrin’s assurance on Saturday that it successfully blocked the river mouth with oil booms keeping the oil out of the sea. Bayshore resident Cory Green said there were dead fish, crabs, pelicans and even caimans floating on the sea at the end of the river and a pool of oil. He said Petrotrin is not being honest with the residents and the country. On Sunday, because of the low tide, Green could not take the media out to the river mouth by boat to point out where he found the dead animals. However, he said the

conditions in Bayshore were inhumane and Petrotrin is not treating with the residents’ concerns. “They not coming and telling people what is going on. People falling sick, little children coughing, bringing up blood. They just bawling ‘how if you have any place you could carry your children carry them away from the smell.’ But this is where we live, this is something really serious. They moving like they do not care about the residents,” Green said. Green said his wife is six months and three weeks pregnant and he is afraid for the health of his baby. “This thing is serious, dangerous and long term. Next thing you see my child, God forbid, my child born with three hands or I could have a stillborn. I do not want that. I would like them to come do something about this and talk to people. We would like to be evacuated from this area,” he said. Green said Petrotrin placed him and his wife and their two children in a guesthouse on Saturday night, but he was displeased because it was an unsavory facility. Yesterday, Petrotrin workers were busy adjusting oil booms along the river and

Petrotrin workers continue clean-up operations Sunday, following last Tuesday’s leak that led to thousands of barrels of oil from the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery escaping into the Guaracara River. PHOTO: RISHI RAGOONATH cleaning oil stained trees along the river bank. The strong smell of oil lingered in the air along Bayshore, Marabella. Mother of two, Jade Blackburn-Mohammed, was on the brink of tears as she described the pain her eight-year-old son Jadan was experiencing since Tuesday’s spill. She said she had to take him to his grandparents’ home because he kept falling ill. He was vomiting and had consistent complaints of abdominal pains. “They (Petrotrin doctors at Augustus Long Hospital) say send him (Jadan) by his grandparents for some days. I send him because I do not

want anything to happen to my child. If something will happen to him will Petrotrin be able to compensate me? Compensation will not be able to bring back my child,” she sobbed. She said her daughter Jada, Jadan’s twin sister, has also complained of breathing problems because of the smell. Yesterday, the little girl was coughing and covered her nose with a napkin as she hugged her mother’s leg while she spoke with reporters. PETROTRIN RESPONDS In a statement late yesterday, Petrotrin said within the past 24 hours, medical attention had been

provided for 19 residents at the company’s emergency outpost and six people were treated at the Augustus Long Hospital. The company said, in addition to clean-up and recovery efforts, “we have established a continuous presence in our Marabella community to attend to the concerns of the impacted residents as part of our community outreach efforts.” It said the 24-hour emergency response shelter, set up in conjunction with the San Fernando City Corporation, remains open at the Marabella North Government Secondary School (formerly Marabella

Senior Comprehensive School). “In the past 24 hours, our team has attended to residents who have accessed the facility and one family has been temporarily relocated,” As of 9 am this (yesterday) morning, we have recovered an estimated 80 per cent of the residual slop oil that had seeped into the Guaracara River. In some areas, clear water is visible with a light sheen where vestiges of the slop oil are present. We continue to complete the first phase of our cleanup efforts, which is to remove all the residual slop oil in the Guaracara River,” the release also said.

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Tuesday August 05, 2014

T&T PM delivers statement... From page 25 BENEFITS OF TERM LIMITS There are many benefits for this Mr. Speaker, and in the debate, we will spend more time given the restraints of the new Standing Orders. We will just mention the second provision contained in the bill - The Right of Recall Mr. Speaker. 2) RIGHT OF RECALL This amendment would create the ability to recall individual Members of the House after the expiration of three years from the date of election. The right of recall is a term used to describe a process whereby the electorate can petition to trigger a vote between scheduled elections on the suitability of an existing elected representative to continue in office. This forms part of the systems of government at different levels in several countries including Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Philippines and Venezuela. PROCEDURE FOR RECALL Again, the bill would lay out the procedure for that recall. And, there are several benefits for the recall. BENEFITS OF RECALL PROVISION This again Mr. Speaker is to give us a stronger democracy, a stronger connection between elected representatives and the electorate. And, of course Mr. Speaker, greater representation at the Parliamentary level. EXPANDINGTHE RIGHT OF RECALL Thirdly, we seek to expand the existing right of recall in the constitution - You will recall Section 49 A, which is a right of recall but it is only within the hands of the Leader of a party. It was exercised in the case of St. Joseph. What we are seeking to do is to expand that right of recall to place the power in the hands of the people and the people of the country will be the ones to trigger recall of an MP. BOLD STEP The right of recall Mr. Speaker, does not yet exist at Westminster and so this is a very bold step. It may well be that Trinidad and Tobago may lead the way for Westminster because we would be the first Westminster-style democracy that will be adopting the right of recall. Indeed in the Queen’s speech June 4th, 2014 she stated that her government will introduce legislation on the recall of Members of Parliament. So we shall be the first of the 52 Commonwealth countries. SECOND BALLOT RUNOFF VOTING The third provision is for Second Ballot Runoff Voting. Section 46 (1) of our Constitution states that “the House of Representatives shall consist of members who shall be elected in the manner provided by Parliament”. This means that Parliament is vested with the authority to provide for the manner by which members are to be elected to this Honourable House. I wish to change the way we elect our members to strengthen our democracy in a way that makes the power of the people supreme. RECALL AND RUNOFF POLLS ARE CLEARLYLINKED. The runoff is often viewed as a corollary of the right of recall as an MP who is elected with less than 50 % of the votes cast is obviously immediately vulnerable to a recall. Such polls, it can be noted, are widely used in countries with substantial democratic traditions including France, Switzerland, Argentina, Venezuela, The Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea. A runoff poll is proposed so that each

member of the House of Representatives will only become such a member if he obtains more than 50 per cent of the votes cast in a constituency. This means that where, on a first poll at an election that is not achieved, a second poll will within 15 days be held between the top two candidates. This will place greater emphasis on the quality of the candidates selected as the question in the runoff will be “which of these two candidates will better serve me and my constituency?” In such a system, the voices of the minority would be respected even as effect is given to the will of the majority and, every single vote would matter and count as the possibility of voting a second time will breathe new life and meaning into the democratic process. NO MINORITY MP This measure reaffirms democracy and ensures that the balance of power is always tipped in favour of the People, not the Government. Over the years, we have seen so many candidates get elected to this House on the basis of winning less than 50% of the votes cast. It would be unfair to future candidates who will be elected and who will now come under the revised constitutional provisions for being recalled by their constituents that they should start their term of office as MPs on the basis of being minority winners. That will only serve to strengthen any persons who may wish to use the revised recall process for ulterior motives. It is necessary to protect against this by having all MPs elected on a majority basis. Further, because of its effectiveness in defining democracy and securing the rights of people over the rights of politicians, the United National Congress will also be considering the adoption of this process into its constitution, subject of course to the agreement of the membership. FIXED DATE FOR ELECTIONS Mr. Speaker, hitherto, the Prime Minister has been subject to no limit on her term of office and no particular constraints have been put on her ability to advise the President to dissolve Parliament and set a date for general elections. The Commission has recommended that the date for general elections be fixed. It is therefore proposed that the life of a Parliament should ordinarily be fixed at five years. This will effectively fix the date for the holding of general elections. Long gone would be the days of silly boasts and taunts about leaders ‘having the date in their back pocket’. This provides clarity for the population at large and enhances the ability to participate in our democratic life, for all will know the electoral timetable. This will enable all participants in the political life of Trinidad and Tobago to have the certainty needed to take a full and fair part in a participatory democracy. Furthermore, the role, Mr Speaker, of the House of Representatives and the Senate is enhanced because the influence of the executive over Parliament is lessened. I am sure, Mr Speaker, that all members of this Honourable House and the Senate welcome anything which strengthens Parliament. It is my intention to lay a Bill with this reform shortly. CONCLUSION I thank you very much Mr. Speaker and I say that these moves, these initiatives are initiatives we promised in our Manifesto in 2010, we placed into government policy on our agenda for development. We are keeping those promises to place power, and greater power, in the hands of the people. I thank you.

Tuesday August 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

Russia to hold war games in show of strength near Ukraine (Reuters) - Russia announced military exercises near the border with Ukraine yesterday in a show of strength as the Ukrainian army recaptured more territory from pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country. The Russian Air Force said more than 100 aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers, were taking part in the manoeuvres this week in the central and western military districts. The move could alarm Western powers which have accused Russia of beefing up its troops along its border with Ukraine and arming the rebels in eastern Ukraine, although Moscow denies the accusations. The manoeuvres include missile-firing practice and will assist “coordination between aviation and anti-missile defence”, Interfax news agency quoted an Air Force spokesman as saying. He said Russia’s latest bomber, the Su-24, was taking part, as well as Su-27 and MiG-31 fighter jets. Russia upset the West by staging military exercises near Ukraine in March after the conflict with Ukraine flared. Moscow said in May it had pulled back its forces but NATO military commander General Philip Breedlove said last week it still had more than 12,000 troops and weapons along the frontier. The crisis has pushed relations between Russia and the West to their lowest level since the Cold War, with each side accusing the other of

orchestrating events in Ukraine, and the United States and European Union imposing sanctions on Russia. Russia has a firm grip on the Crimea peninsula, which it annexed in March after Ukraine ousted a proMoscow president, but the rebels who wanted Moscow to also annexe east Ukraine have been losing ground in the past few weeks. UKRAINIANARMY ADVANCES Government forces said they had recaptured an important rail hub in the latest fighting near Donetsk, the biggest of the two large cities the rebels still hold after almost four months of fighting. “Units taking part in the ‘anti-terrorist operation’ yesterday took the town of Yasynuvata, which is an important hub of the region’s railway system,” Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Kiev’s military operation in the east, told a briefing. The separatists had seized the Yasynuvata railway control centre in May as their rebellion spread in eastern Ukraine. It sits just north of Donetsk near a main road leading to Luhansk, another remaining rebel stronghold. Five government soldiers were killed and 15 wounded over the previous 24 hours, Lysenko said. There were no new casualty figures for the rebels in a conflict the United Nations said had killed more than 1,100 people from midApril to late July. Fighting has intensified

since the West accused the rebels of shooting down a Malaysian airliner last month, killing all 298 people on board. Russia and the rebels blame the disaster on Kiev’s military offensive. In a sign that not all the fighting is going the Ukrainian army’s way, Russian border guards said 438 Ukrainian soldiers had crossed into Russia during the night seeking asylum. “They were tired of the war and wanted no further part in it,” Vasily Malayev, spokesman for the borders guards in the Rostov region of Russia, told Reuters by telephone. He said they had been treated well, and 180 were being returned to Ukraine later on Monday, but it was not clear what the rest wanted to do. Lysenko said the soldiers and border guards had crossed into Russia in search of safety after being blocked between the Russian border to the east and pro-Russian rebel positions in the west for more than three weeks. He gave no numbers but said Kiev was trying to negotiate their return. The fighting had prevented Dutch and Australian experts reaching the wreckage of the downed airliner in rebel-held territory for several days but they have managed to recover some human remains and belongings in the past few days. The victims included 196 Dutch, 27 Australians and 43 Malaysians.

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Tuesday August 05, 2014

There was nothing democratic ‘Notorious bandit’ commits gunpoint heist minutes after leaving court about PNCR’s election - Solomon Minutes after leaving court, a man described as a notorious bandit was nabbed by police and civilians after allegedly snatching over $2M from a Berbice businessman. Rawle Victor called ‘Ralo’29, of Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice, was arrested at around 13.00 hrs yesterday, after allegedly holding businessman Mohamed Ali at gunpoint and relieving him of $2.5M, that the victim said he was about to deposit in a New Amsterdam bank. He was caught after diving into a swamp to elude police and public-spirited citizens. Another man, who was with Victor, fled the scene. Victor was recently released on bail where he was on three charges –two for Robbery Under Arms and one for Robbery with Aggravation. According to information, Victor had just left the New Amsterdam court yesterday after appearing on these charges when he attacked Ali. Ali, 63, the owner of the M. Ali and Sons Supermarket and Gas Station in New Amsterdam, and of 19 Pope Street New Amsterdam, said he had just exited his truck and was heading for the bank, located at Strand, New Amsterdam, when two men approached him. According to Ali, one of the men pointed a gun at him while the other grabbed his money-bag. The men darted through

Rawle Victor Chapel Street with the bag of money while Ali started to shout for ‘thief.’ Ali alleged that the security guards at the bank just stood by and failed to help. According to the businessman, he then ran to his gas station and told his son about the heist and asked him to contact the police. With the help of a few workers from another business entity, the men began to ‘circle’ the area in their vehicles. Ali’s son eventually spotted the bandits on Republic Road. By then the police had responded and joined the chase. Kaieteur News understands that one of the robbers fled into the Mission Chapel Church Yard while the other ran over the road to the Regional Democratic Council compound. Realising that he was being cornered, the robber

who had fled to the RDC compound plunged into a swamp, where he was apprehended with the money-bag. According to Ali, the bag was later found to contain $1.3M. The suspect was subsequently identified as Rawle Victor. Victor’s alleged accomplice was later spotted in Pitt Street but managed to elude police. Ali, who said that he is distraught and frustrated, stated that his business was robbed before. He was however, high in praise of the work of the police who he said responded quickly and took over the chase and helped to apprehend the bandit. “Without them I would have never gotten back anything. I am thankful for my life also and that nothing more serious happened.” Victor was previously charged with robbing businessman Raymond Arnold 60, of 20-6 St John Street, New Amsterdam, of $1M and his car, PPP 9798, valued at $2,750,000. That robbery occurred on April 23, 2014. He was also charged with robbing businessman Indernauth Bishram called ‘Ajay’29 of Sun Shine Supermarket and Poultry Supply of 60 Public Road Cumberland East Canje of $1.3M on April 28, 2014. He was also charged with robbery with aggravation committed on 84-year-old John Ramberrat on Monday 12thMay.

By Abena Rockcliffe Region 10 Member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Sharma Solomon, a week after the conclusion of the party’s 18th biennial congress, has stated that there was nothing democratic about the electoral process. Solomon released a statement to this effect yesterday and while he did not state definitively the lack of democracy in the election process, the series of events outlined by the politician pointed to that. Solomon said that for any evaluation of the PNC/R electoral processes to be deemed credible, it has to be guided by the Party’s rules and corresponding action or inaction by those involved. He said that this would be a guide to learn where the Party went wrong and what can be done to avoid re-occurrences. Solomon opined that with the PNC/R being a Party vying for the seat of government, it should stick to the philosophy of its founder Leader Forbes Burnham; which is that “there is no better way of leading than by example.” Speaking to specific issues, Solomon said that he is aware of a Linden membership of 805. He said that 805 new application and renewal forms were completed and submitted with fees attached. According to Solomon, these forms were submitted by him and MP Vanessa Kissoon over a period of time and the receipts are available for verification/perusal. He said that to become a member of a group and delegate to congress, an individual is required to prove his/her bona fide status by having in possession a prescribed membership card. He noted that as per Party’s policy, eligibility as a delegate is determined by financial standing for at least two years within the Congress period. In 2014 this

PNCR Region 10 Member, Sharma Solomon would mean being a member for 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. Solomon informed that by way of a letter sent to the secretariat, in his then capacity as Central Executive Member and member of the Accreditation Committee, he urged the issuance of cards for members and volunteered his time to be part of the process in bringing this to fruition. He said however that there was no acknowledgement of the letter or acceptance of offer; but noted that efforts overtime to have membership verified were met with some success. Solomon said that in some instances, delegates were named by the secretariat via correspondence sent to him when it is really the responsibility of the groups to decide on their representatives. Solomon said that on March 19, Linden representatives (himself and Kissoon) were summoned to Congress Place for a meeting. According to him, at this meeting, the Region’s representatives were instructed to configure all Linden party groups based on the national electoral boundary lines. He said that Linden complied with the directive. Solomon disclosed that at a subsequent meeting for all

Finance Minister ... From page 3 placed on the Order Paper…However, there was a note to the effect that the paper would not be proceeded with, presumably because the Minister was granted leave of absence for this day.” According to Goolsarran, to make matters worse, “we are now informed that the paper is unlikely to be considered until after 10 October.” This delay, he said, will only serve to complicate matters, since funds have to be obtained to meet expenditure on essential services con-

tained in the six programmes that the Assembly had declined to approve. The combined Opposition had advised Minister Singh to present a supplementary estimate to cover such expenditures. The Finance Minister has so far declined to do so, and according to Goolsarran “in all probability, the Minister would have used the same route to access funds from 17 June to date…He is also likely to do so during the twomonth period when Parliament will be in recess.”

regional groups, it was learnt that the configuration of groups based on boundary lines was a requirement the secretariat made only of Linden. Solomon said that subsequently, and without consultation with leaders of the Linden groups and the regional leadership, the secretariat “apparently aided by others” dismantled the original groups which would be those formed on boundary lines. The politician said that this reconfiguration resulted in members being moved into groups that were not in existence before and without their knowledge or approval. He added that reconfiguration also posed problems in determining delegates. Solomon said that Linden and the secretariat had conflicting positions on the numbers and identification of delegates, since Linden was guided by their original groups and Congress Place insisted on using their reconfigured groups. Solomon said too that the confusion of moving members around into different groups made it difficult to trace and allot delegates. Solomon affirmed that the Party rules are clear on how groups should be formed but noted that those rules were not applied in the instance of Linden. Solomon said that ensuring each member was issued a membership card was intended to avoid nonmembers or ineligible members casting a ballot. He said that a party membership card informs when the person became a member. According to Solomon, the secretariat’s decision to approve the use of national identification card or passport as a means of identification opened the electoral process for manipulation because these documents do not have the needed information to prove membership and eligibility as delegates. He said that the nonissuance of cards affected a significant portion of Linden’s members and delegates. Also, Solomon highlighted that he was nominated for the positions of Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairman (VC) and Committee Member. But the letter sent to him excluded the nomination for VC. He claimed that the secretariat was advised of the oversight, with the accompanied evidence attached but this was never corrected as the nomination was not reflected on the ballot.

Tuesday August 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

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>>> Letter to the Sports Editor <<<

Local football and its continued underdevelopment DEAR SIR, After not commenting publicly upon the state of local football, which in my estimation is at its lowest level ever, primarily due to a lack of vision, encompassing total development in a structured manner within a specific timeframe, for meaningful achievements, Editor, as a consequence my basic reason for penmanship emanates from the publication of a letter in your newspaper (26.07.14) captioned “Faizal Khan gives Mathias an apology deadline over unprovoked attack on Golden Jaguars”. In erstwhile welcome to the public school of thought on local football, and while I do hope that your letter wouldn’t just be one off for

public edification and justification. Nevertheless, may the grace of Allah and the fellowship of the Holy Prophet; be with thou now and forever more”! Since your bold imitative in exposing a downright fallacy, at the behest of the GFF President, continues to lend credence to the philosophical voice of the legendary King of Reggae, Jamaican, Robert Nesta Marley; “Only a fool leans upon his own misunderstanding”. That the GFF President could have gone public and decry the Golden Jaguars and the Lady Jags, not primarily out of (non) performance rather out of their place of birth. Once again “Subjectiveness remains the antidote of objectiveness”!

Wherein the lack of a proper developmental plan that have within its calendar of activities competitions being played from the under -11 level right up to the seniors, within each association. Suffice it to say that the restructuring of clubs continues to be a dismal failure, since to date not one association has played youth football consistently in all the age –limit categories. That within a period of 15 months of Matthias’ 24 months tenure, there is absolutely nothing tangible to show! An expanded National League; that offers no practicable solution for development. No more than 4 inter-association tournaments, if so much. Participation in 2 international CFU regional tournaments, of

Tuesday August 05, 2014 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) If you're single, get out there and you'll meet someone new. Emotional upset may prevail on the domestic scene if you have neglected your duties or your mate. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) You may have difficulties with family members if you get involved in petty arguments. Someone may try to damage your reputation. GEMINI (MAY22-JUNE 21) Take care of the needs or responsibilities of elders. Mishaps due to preoccupation will be upsetting. They may cost you dearly. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) This will not be the day to start new business ventures or make drastic changes in your career. Pleasure trips will ease the tension between you and your mate. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Try to understand both sides of the issue before taking sides. Do something special for them. Don't trust coworkers with important or personal information. VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) Keep an open mind when listening to the opinions of others. Try to curb your bad habits. Tie up your personal papers or push to have legal settlements completed. LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Try not to let your emo-

tions interfere with the completion of your work. Don't gamble unless you can afford to lose. You will be able to talk about emotional problems with your partner. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) You need to clear up some important personal documents before the end of the year. If you're in the mood, go out and socialize, or get involved in sports activities. Try not to get upset or angry without having all the facts. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) You will make new friends through physical activities. You may have difficulties with someone close to you. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.JAN. 20) Put your thoughts into action. You will have good ideas for home improvement projects. Don't evade issues or twist the truth around. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Think twice before you say something you might regret later. Someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes, and if you're gullible, it may cost you. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) You should want to feel good about yourself and your goals. Residential changes, renovations, or moves are likely to disrupt your routine. Lack of funds may add stress to your already uncertain situation.

which a female under -15 team played 3 matches; lost all, scored no goals and conceded 40! The male under17 also played 3 matches; 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss; scored 4 goals, conceded 6 for a goal difference of -2. Then to read the coach in his comments mentioning “inadequate time for preparation and not sticking to game plan, especially in the final match against the host Dominican Republic”, that Guyana lost by a 0-3 margin. What was the yardstick for selection? Did every association coordinate an under-17 League/round robin/K.O for their respective affiliates successfully, ahead of the GFF inter-association tournament? Editor, prior to the convening of the GFF-AGM in 2013, when Matthias was elected President, I had written about reforming local football, with competitions at the inter-association level being something of the past, since Guyana maybe the only country in the world playing this format! Rather club champions under the auspices of the GFF, at the under-11; u-13, u15, u-17, u-19, u-21, u-23 and seniors ought to be the acceptable norm, along with a second tier league with more clubs, supplementing the national league. Any association that fails to coordinate a competition at any level automatically is debarred from participating in any GFF competition at the respective division. And their player (s) also debarred from national selection/representation. However, as “old habits die hard” the continuous path of inter-association football and continued underdevelopment continues unabatedly! Maybe, the Technical Development Officer should be vocal in this area! That an association devoid of a proper executive, with no competition (s) for an extremely lengthy period of time, can still have a player invited to trials, this backward step due to “overt politicking” places more burden on the coaching staff, but who cares when the vote (s) matter! Finally, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, both of whom had qualified for the 1998 and 2006 World Cup respectively made use of overseas born players, with traditional roots by way of parentage to aid their qualification. Should Guyana devoid of a proper developmental structure be

any different? The success of Germany in capturing the 20th edition of the 2014 World Cup was based on structural development over an 8-10 years period. And in building a national team non-Germans were included after residency and the relevant naturalization process. Further, no less than 4 European born players represented U.S.A, at the behest of their head coach, a German born, who would be looking for more players in the future. Can Guyana be compared to either of the countries? So, to decry the contribution (s) of the

overseas born players is indeed a backward step. Moreover, when it’s taken in consideration that coming from a (semi) professional background, along with colleges/university (female), offers a higher level of training, coaching, and management. This enables locals to compete and train harder for selection and just not saying “bound to play”. And last but not least some of the players can be used as resource personnel in conducting coaching clinics for junior players, should the GFF include the requirement. Respectfully yours, Lester Sealey.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts tapeball and dominoes competitions The August holidays are here and the office assistants within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be hosting a tapeball fest, fun day and a King and Queen Dominoes competition on Sunday August 10 at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac. Entries for both competitions will be closed tomorrow afternoon and interested teams are asked to contact coordinator, James Lewis, (628-1656, 672-6179). Competitors will vie for the Sam Hinds trophy and the Minister’s trophy along with other trophies and medals.

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Tuesday August 05, 2014

RANGERS OVERCOME Guyana Senior Women FARM XI BY 43 RUNS departs for Dominica …GCB President urges players to give their best

Members of the victorious Rangers team display their prizes Rangers defeated Farm XI by 43 runs in a 15-over softball match played recently at Thirst Park. Rangers batted first and posted 203-5 off their allotted overs. Reaz Karim and Amrit Rai came together after they had lost two early wickets and put together 97 for the third wicket before Karim went for 58. Rai scored 38 and was supported by Safraz Karim

with 26. Farm XI were bowled out for 160 in 14 overs. Avinash Sookdeo got them off to a flier despite losing an early wicket, but when he was dismissed 45, only Yusuf Yunnis with 28 and Ameer Azeez 21 offered support. Rai and Safraz Karim captured two wickets each. Reaz Karim was given the man of the match prize while Rangers collected a trophy.

Overseas-based Guyanese continues... From page 32 thanked Crawford for being an example to others and for always remembering his club and countrymen. Roberts in expressing appreciation thanked Crawford for always

remembering the club, “Thank you Franco for always remembering us. You are an example of what others should be. He used the opportunity to call on other past members, overseas based Guyanese and businessman

and more so the Government to take a page out of Crawford’s book and come forward and assist the youths so that they could be kept away from the ills of the society and illicit activities.

Paul powers Guyana to victory... From page 35 and Skipper Brian Sattaur, Guyana’s most aggressive pair, were both removed by the impressive Louis. Berbician Hetymer, a West Indies under19 player who scored a century against the Windwards in the 2012 limited over tournament, struck two fours in his 14 before he played around a full toss and had his stumps rattled by Louis, who trapped Sattaur LBW for a duck two balls later to push the hosts on the back foot. The usually reliable Tagenarine Chanderpaul faced 32 balls for his 24 before he chopped Joseph onto his stumps to leave Guyana, who reached the 50-overs Final in 2007 in St Kitts when they lost to Jamaica, on 46-3. The 50 was posted in the 13th over but four runs later Baldeo (6) was LBW to Louis as Guyana slipped to 54-4 under a clear blue sky with specks of white cotton wool-like clouds drifting lazily over the Enmore sward. Askay Homraj (5) then fell to Hodge as Guyana, the reigning three-day Champs, slumped to 60-5. Paul, who turns 17 next year February, batted too late in the order and took the score to 98 with a fighting 38-run stand with Ramcharran. The Albion right-hander struck a couple of boundaries in his 47-ball 23 before he was bowled by off-spinner Shaquille Martina, who began playing at this level since 2010. It was soon 107-7 when St Martin spinner Mohit Hingorani, who is of Indian parentage, induced the left-handed Kemol Savory to miss a sweep; trapping LBW for six. Waldron joined Paul, who played some audacious shots, brought up his 50 with a majestic cover drive for his fifth boundary.

But Paul, who was born the Essequibo river community of Saxacalli, soon lost Waldron for five, LBW to Louis at 140- 8 but the lower order rallied Guyana to a respectable total with useful partnerships. Sankar and Paul, who dumped Hingorani for a six and a four in the same over, put together 58 for the ninth wicket before an exhausted Paul, hunting quick runs, lofted Hodge to long-on at 198-9 with two overs left in the innings. Sankar (13) fell in the last over to Louis. When the visitors began their reply they lost the in-form Ross Powell, comprehensively bowled by Smith for two with two runs on the board and Dion Weste (4), who survived a difficult chance to Chanderpaul at short cover, but was LBW off the next ball at 8-2 as Basdeo struck. Hingorani and Kacey Carty joined forces to take the score to 23 before Carty (7) and Hodge, who was bowled by Baldeo for a firstball duck, were removed off successive balls to leave the Islanders on 23-4. Hingorani and Jaeel Clarke revived the position somewhat with a 37-run partnership before Sankar got rid of Clarke (10) to leave the Leewards on 60-5. This was the exact position Guyana were in at that stage but the tourists had no Paul in their line-up to resurrect their fortunes and they never really recovered although Louis and Martina (14) offered token resistance towards the end. The competition continues today with second round matches and Guyana face the ICC Americas at Bourda in the City, while the Leewards come up against defending Champions Jamaica at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara. Both matches are scheduled to commence at 09:30hrs.

Guyana senior female team departed yesterday for Dominica where they will compete in the 2014 Regional Super50 Tournament from August 5-14. The teams vying for the title are Grenada, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago. Seeing the players off, President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Drubahadur, urged them to give their best and make Guyana proud. He further called on the senior Guyana players with West Indies experience (Tremayne Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt, Subrina Munroe and June

Ogle) to lead by example and help guide the younger ones. The President also welcomed newcomer Lashuna Toussaint and wished her the best for her first outing with the senior team. The Guyanese women will be looking for their first Regional title and Coach Andre Percival believes that the ladies are capable of accomplishing the task as the team has a rich blend of experience and new talent. The furthest Guyana managed to reach in the Regional Super50 was the semi-final in 2012 when Barbados hosted the Tournament. Guyana will battle Jamaica

in Round One on August 7, St. Vincent on August 8, and St. Lucia on August 10. The semifinals are slated forAugust 12, while the Final will be staged on August 13. The Guyana team: June Ogle (captain), Tremayne Smartt (v. captain), Latoya Smith, Melanie Henry, Shemaine Campbelle, Kavita Yadram, Lashuna Toussaint (wkt keeper), Plaffiana Millington, Akaze Thompson, Hasena Mohamed, Subrina Munroe, Katana Mentore, Heema Singh, Erva Giddings. The Coach is Andre Percival and the Manager is Carol Nurse.

Involvement in global events to be evaluated: NBA commissioner (Reuters) - NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league would re-open debate about the merits of participating in international events in the wake of Paul George’s gruesome injury, but did not foresee a major shift in policy. George, an Indiana Pacers All-Star, suffered a compound fracture of his lower right leg on Friday in a USA Basketball intra-squad scrimmage ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain starting August 30 and is expected to miss the NBA season. “At this point, I don’t anticipate a major shift in the NBA’s participation in international competitions,” Silver said in an e-mailed statement to ESPN. “It seems clear, however, that this will be a topic at our next NBA competition committee meeting in September and our board of governors meeting in October.

“And, of course, we will continue to evaluate the pros and cons of participating in international tournaments.” Silver spoke out after Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban renewed calls for the NBA to run its own global events independent of FIBA, the international governing body, since the league assumes a big financial risk and does not directly profit from the players’ participation. The NBA commissioner said the sport and the league had greatly benefited from participation of the game’s greatest players in the Olympics and world championships. “Without a doubt, basketball has grown tremendously since 1992, when NBA players began playing in the Olympics,” Silver said, referring to the Barcelona Games when the U.S. ‘Dream Team’ made their debut. “Injuries can happen any place at any time.

‘Superman’ flies into Guyana on... From page 31 that they may launch into the international arena,” explained St Clair. He said that during his stay in Guyana he will attempt to identify other young boxers for training in Australia.

Even amidst such ambitions, St Clair proclaimed local boxers are more talented than their Australian counterparts and would find the opportunities available in that country to be beneficial. He said that health and fit-

Alpha United tackle... From page 35 feature in his second Champions League after making his debut with Trinidad’s Caledonia AIA last year, even scoring in the team’s 5-1 loss to Mexico’s Toluca. Boasting players from Brazil, Jamaica, Panama and St Vincent who have all represented their country at the highest level, Alpha United are poised to prosper. Coach Wayne Dover said that he believes that this time around, the team is way better than the first one which was knocked out without

winning a game. He felt that it’s important for Alpha United to progress, since a positive result would indicate that Guyana’s football is still alive and well. Meanwhile, statistics show that Deportivo Olimpia are Honduras most destructive side, having won 27 Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras with the most recent being the 2013/2014 title. The club also features several players who represented Honduras at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.

ness is a big thing in Australia and the Government invests heavily in this sector. He was so encouraged by the Australian Government’s input in this sector that St Clair said that he has invested in the ‘Gary Superfit Boxing Gym,’ where he conducts daily sessions. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Frank Anthony often advocates daily exercise to contain the high incidences of non chronic diseases. St Clair supports Mr. Anthony and added his voice to the call for such wholesome practices. Questioned on a proposed time limit for his involvement in the sport, St Clair remained cagey and said, “I am now semi-retired; let’s wait and see how things go!’ He is now an ardent family man with 6 children and one granddaughter and he says that his life revolves around their development and well-being.

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SCORE IS EVEN WHIPS THEM AGAIN AT KENNARD MEMORIAL TURF CLUB - Battle Hymn scores double, Cat Messiah and Perfect Wind Storm also outstanding

Connections of the Dennis DeRoop Simple Royal Stable receives the prize for Score’s Even victory in the A class event. By Samuel Whyte Score’s Even of the Dennis DeRoop Simple Royal Stable on the Corentyne, a drawing card at any race meet in Guyana, continues to dominate the racing circle with impressive performances whenever it is given the opportunity to participate. Guyana’s number one racehorse, with a ranking of A1, did not disappoint. Given that chance to race on Sunday when the Kennard Memorial Turf Club held their Grand Annual Emancipation one day horserace meet at its Bush Lot Farm Corentyne, Berbice track, the racehorse used the occasion to dish out

another gate to pole beating on its opponents. Carrying a weight of 130 pounds and piloted by top Jockey Randolph Richmond and running with a body weight of over 1000 pounds, the Kentucky bred animal again displayed its ability. Racing away from the rest of the field as they left the starting gates, Score’s Even was all alone using its powerful stride to create distance from its opponents. Cruising for most of the way, the powerful racehorse accelerated down the home stretch for the lopsided win to take the feature A and lower one mile event and the $1M first prize and trophy compliments of Peter Lewis and Sons Construction

Company. Battle Hymn of The Sooklall Stable sermonized it opponents, dominating proceedings with two convincing victories to be crowned champion horse on s h o w. I m p o r t e d f r o m Trinidad less than a year ago, the animal not only won its first even but scored the double. With Jockey Yap Drepaul on the mount the horse raced away with the G3 Non winners’ five furlongs event and the $300,000 top prize and trophy to get home ahead of a fast finishing Cat Messiah, Bridal Stone Corner and The Legend. Battle Hymn again with Drepaul returned to battle with its opponents before

Mr Ghansham Singh and entourage receives their winning trophy for Cat Messiah’s win in the I and lower race. breaking away down the home stretch to take first place in the G1 six furlongs race and capture the $320,000 first prize and trophy in similar fashion from Red Cloud, Another Jet and Monsoon. Perfect Wind Storm with Trinidadian jockey Nicholas Patrick on the hunch made a perfect entry to the racing arena in Guyana winning its first race. Imported by the Jagdeo stable, the Kentucky bred animal won the D3 and lower six furlong event with a late surge down the home stretch in a close battle with Princess She Is Not of the Sheriff Stable also in its first race to take the $500,000 purse and trophy as Church House and Dark and Lovely

rounded out the money. Cat Messiah of the Ghansham Singh Stable with the Jamaican Jockey Brian Blake on board also had a good day at the races. After narrowly losing out in the G3 event it returned to toy with its opponents in a gate to pole licking in the ‘I’ and lower 6furlongs encounter to take the $250,000 winners money and trophy from Mary Ann, Party Time and Lady Secret. Royal Cash with Rodrigues on board rode away with the J1 race from Smarty Light. The J1 and Lower 5 Furlongs race saw Royal Stallion of The Simple Royal stable with Richmond in the saddles chalking up their

second victory to win from Dance for Gold. Jockey Randolph Richmond was adjudged Champion jockey, while Yap Drepaul was adjudged runner up. The Simple Royal and Sooklall Stables, with two wins each, were the top stables. The champion horse was Battle Hymn of the Sooklall Stable for its double win. Dennis DeRoop and Sooklall were the top trainers. They received trophies and other rewards compliments of the Trophy Stall and the organizers. Over 65 horses took part in the day’s proceedings with over $6M being up for grabs in the incident free day of racing.

‘Superman’ flies into Guyana on talent spotting mission By Michael Benjamin He fought most of his professional boxing career as a light/welterweight, under the sobriquet ‘Superman,’ and has amassed a decent record of fights with 49 victories. Eighteen of his opponents failed to make it to the final round while he conceded 9 loses and 2 draws. I n d e e d , G a r y ‘Superman’ St Clair has really flown high during an illustrious boxing career and his most revered accolade was the International Boxing

Organization (IBO) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles, achieved a convincing points victory over South African, Cassius Baloyi, in his own backyard, in July 2006. He held on to those titles for a few months before surrendering them to B a l o y i ’s c o u n t r y m a n , Malcom Klassen. St Clair then went on to challenge Commonwealth Lightweight champion, Amir Khan, at the Excel arena in London but lost a 12 rounds by unanimous points verdict. Shortly afterwards,

in 2001, St Clair migrated to Australia where he currently resides. Known more for his slick movements than his knockout propensities, St Clair was immediately liked in his new home and he said that he has engaged in several successful bouts in Australia, the most recent against a fighter, Robert Owen, from the Philippines. The ‘Superman’ has recently flown into Guyana and spent some time reminiscing of a career that, despite its many challenges, has been good to him. He

said that he is currently in semi-retirement but had nurtured the hopes of entertaining local boxing fans with one last fight before he finally decides to call it a day. However, this idea now seems remote as he said the many constraints encountered have caused him to reconsider his options. He had sought the expert input of Head of the People’s Syndicate Promotions, Keith Bazilio, to assist in the promotion of the card and Bazlio had already identified a Brazilian pugilist with an impeccable 10-0 record to

match gloves on a card that was scheduled forAugust 30 next. Now that the card has been aborted St Clair said that he will be in the Forgotten Youth Foundation later this week and will be engaged in a sparring session with Simeon ‘Candyman’ Hardy who has also recently returned to Guyana after winning two fights in the USA. St Clair said he plans to be in Guyana for approximately three weeks during which time he will explore the possibility of recruiting a few young boxers who will join him in

Australia where he plans to nurture them to world title status. In fact, Sinclair is responsible for welterweight pugilist, Laured ‘The N i g h t m a r e ’ S t e w a r t ’s presence in Australia where he is scheduled to undergo a two year training stint. Even before that, the ‘Superman’ had opened a door for Lennox Allen who had also travelled to Australia for a short training stint. “I attempt to reach out to my fellow pugilists to create opportunities for them so (Continued on page 30)

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Tuesday August 05, 2014

Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships

Pepsi Hikers and Revelation claim Senior and Junior titles

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he PEPSI Hikers ripped the final curtain off the rod with a spectacular hockey performance to upstage arch-rivals GCC by 8 goals to 5 in the senior final of the annual Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships. While the Hikers fielded a star-studded line-up featuring several of the recent Bronze medallists form the Pan American Indoor Championships in Uruguay, Jamarj Assanah emerged once again as the standout in a performance that further cements his reputation of being one of the best in the game. With GCC starting the match on (+3) to the Hikers (0), the defending champs would need to bring their attacking brand of hockey from the opening whistle. The two only unbeaten sides in the competition had drawn their pool encounter 3-3 earlier in the week and the final was a difficult one to call. The game started at fever pitch as both sides

Revelation, junior division champions display their silverware. attacked with pace and defended tenaciously but in just the third minute a defensive error left Assanah free on the right to draw the goalkeeper and slip the ball to France on the far post to guide it in the open goal. Tw o m i n u t e s l a t e r Assanah pounced on a loose ball at right back and darted left, evading a pair of GCC

defenders before sending a reverse pass to France this time on the opposite post to finish in like fashion. GCC’s Stephen Xavier made a run of his own just one minute later and found Kevin Spencer in the circle who feinted the goalkeeper, drove right and executed a diving finish to signal game on. As the halftime break

drew near, goalpoacher France would latch onto a lose rebound to complete his hat-trick and send his team into the break trailing by only one goal at 4-3. Hikers produced an even more dominant second half as GCC would only manage one more goal through Mark

Sargeant, while Hikers swarmed their opposition with five more securing the runaway victory. Division top goalscorer France registered two more goals to his name, while Assanah deservedly added a double and Leon Bacchus a single for the Hikers. In the junior division final, Revelation took on newcomers the Under-19 mix in a game that went the distance. With the teams even on 9-9 at full time, it would take a penalty shootout to separate them. With Revelation enjoying a (+8) handicap to the (+7) Under-19 Mix, they would quickly fall behind as Unzie Copeland managed a quick double in the first 10 minutes of play to put the under-21 ahead. It would take until the middle of the second half for Revelation to draw the scores through a Kenisha Wills breakaway which would leave the teams dead even at the final whistle and

facing a penalty shootout. The under-19 Mix had won their semi-final through a shootout and must have gained some degree of confidence from that experience, but Revelation goalkeeper Annesa Permaul was up to the challenge. Permaul managed to keep a clean sheet in the penalty shootout denying all three under-19 efforts, while Maria Munroe with a swift reverse drag scored the winning goal for Revelation. The Emerging Female Player Award went to Minsodia Culpepper of the Old Fort Shooting Stars while the male award went to Deheron Wilkinson of the under-19 Mix. Ashley DeGroot of the Spartans received the Most Goals Award for the junior division with an unmatched 18-goal haul, while PEPSI Hikers Captain Robert France, with 14 goals, received the accolade for the senior division.

Overseas-based Guyanese continues to assist countrymen

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verseas based Guyanese cyclist and former member of the Flying Ace Cycling Club (FACC) of New Amsterdam, Franco Crawford, who is back home on holiday, continues to remember his former club in his continued benevolence drive. Crawford, who has been coming home on a regular basis, always remembers his former club as he doles out numerous gifts and other forms of assistance to the members and others in the community. He recently presented a set of boxing gear to the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym. Crawford, who is now a community activist and is also spreading the word of GOD, does not only assist cycling, but gives to other sports and community activities as well. The latest to benefit from his helping hand were FACC cyclists Ray Millington and Steffon Reece. Crawford who is based in London, England presented shoes, TShirts and other cycling apparels to the two young and upcoming cyclists to help them in their quest to become top class riders. Millington, who was one

Ray Millington receives his package from Franko Crawford as Steffon Reece (left) and coach Randolph Roberts (centre) savors the moment. of the top riders for the FACC, has been having an in an out season due to him not having proper riding gear. He has since recommenced serious training and has been improving with every race. The young Reece has started peddling a few months now and looks to have good potential. According to Crawford, the two young athletes seem to have good potential and he want to give them a change to make full use of their ability. He stated, “I would not like these young men to give up on the sport due to the lack

of equipment. You have the potential to be good riders in the future. As you progress and become more competitive, I would be willing to assist you more,” he noted, reminding of his time when things were not so nice. The cyclists were loud in praise and express heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Crawford for the gifts and promised to try their best to make all proud. Founder and Coach of the FACC, Randolph Roberts who was instrumental in the donation becoming a reality (Continued on page 29)

Tuesday August 05, 2014

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England return to Hetmeyer joins illustrious company scene of 10-ball Test

Shivnarine and Tagenarine Chanderpaul Statistician Charwayne Wa l k e r l o o k s a t t h e illustrious company Guyanese teenager Shimron Hetmeyer has joined when he scored a century for Guyana during the recent Under-19 3-day campaign here. When Shimron Hetmeyer reached three figures against the Windward Islands at Everest he emulated his elder sibling Seon, who scored a stroke filled 108 vs. Trinidad and Tobago during the 2008 Regional Under-19 Championship in Barbados. The Hetmeyers now join two other Guyanese brothers that achieved the feat at the Regional Under-19 level. There are the Harpers - Mark and Roger, and the Jackmans - Colin and Andrew. Mark Harper scored consecutive centuries

against the Windward Islands, 140 at Gilbert Park and 102 against Trinidad and Tobago at the same venue during the 1975 Benson and Hedges Under-19 Championship, while Roger scored an unbeaten 102 vs. Barbados at the (Mecca) Kensington Oval in 1980. Colin Jackman stroked a magnificent 125 against the Combined Islands at Victoria Park, Castries, St. Lucia in 1973. His younger sibling Andrew scored a 151 against Barbados at the Kensington Oval 1980. He put the Bajans to the sword again the following year 1981 with an even hundred, this at Camp Ayanganna. Please find below brothers that represented Guyana at the Regional Under-19 Level: Stanley, Alvin and Deryck Kallicharran

Keith and Julian Aaron Gopie and Vinoo Beasmonie Nabbie and Mirza Hussien Errol, Colin and Andrew Jackman Mark and Roger Harper Gregory and Kevin Edwards Robert and David Fingall Anil and Vinoo Solomon Ravindranauth and Shivnauth Seeram Garfield and Roger Charles Zaheer and Azeemul Haniff Barrington and Robin Browne Peter and Paul Persaud Seon and Shimon Hetmeyer Royston and Esaun Crandon M a h e n d r a a n d Vi s h a l Nagamooto Calvin and Cleon Belgrave Rovendra and Shivanandan Madholall Eugene and Joemal LaFluer Stanley, Michael and Andy Chinsammy Ferose Khan and Imran Khan Hussien Hemnarine, Sewnarine, Ramnarine and Harrinarine Chattergoon Assad and Abdel Fudadin Ty ro n e a n d R e g i n a l d Etwaroo Norwayne and Royan Federicks The Chanderpauls are the only Guyanese father and son with centuries for the Land of Many Waters at the Regional Under-19 Level. Please note, Shimron Hetmeyer also scored a century in the 50 overs version at the Regional Under-19 Level in 2012 against the Windward Islands in Barbados.

England’s last Test at the Sir Vivian Richard’s Stadium was abandoned after just 10 balls © Getty Images

ESPNcricinfo - England will return to the scene of the 10-ball Test match when they play in Antigua on their tour of the West Indies next April. The schedule for the t h r e e Te s t s e r i e s w a s revealed following some political wrangling - an England Test is extremely valuable to Caribbean islands heavily reliant on tourism - with Barbados and Grenada the other venues. In 2009 the Antigua Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was abandoned after only 1.4 overs with the sandy outfield deemed a safety risk to the players. A replacement match at the Antigua Recreation Ground

Serena announces return to form with Stanford win Serena Williams

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Reuters) - Serena Williams showed she has made a full recovery from recent health issues by beating Angelique Kerber 7-6(1) 6-3 in the final of the Stanford Classic on Sunday.

Williams, playing in her first tournament since being forced to retire from a Wimbledon doubles match because of a viral infection, took the Stanford crown for a third time and won her fourth title overall this season.

Her return to fitness has come at just the right time with the US Open set to start on Aug 25. “I have a lot of confidence going but every week is a new week and hopefully I can just try to improve,” Williams, who also took the title in 2011 and 2012, told reporters. Her latest victory was far from easy as Williams had her service broken twice in the opening set and fell behind 5-1. The 17-times grand slam champion rallied to tie the score and eventually dominate the tiebreaker 7-1. “I blinked my eye and I

was down 1-5 and Angelique was playing so well,” the 32year-old said. “I tried to relax and just think about making my shots.” Williams claimed a 2-0 lead in the second set and h e l d o ff h e r G e r m a n opponent the rest of the way. She fired six aces and did not face a break point in the final set. Kerber was looking for her first singles crown of the season but instead lost her fourth final of 2014. “I gave everything I could out there,” Kerber said. “When she was down she started hitting the ball better. It’s a special thing she has.”

was hastily arranged which was thrillingly drawn with West Indies nine wickets down. England returned to North Sound earlier this year during their limited-overs tour. Meanwhile, Grenada will stage its first Test since 2009. The National Cricket Stadium in St George’s took over from the old Queen’s Park ground as Grenada’s international venue in 1999 but since then has only staged two Tests - against New Zealand in 2002 and Bangladesh in 2009. The ground has also staged 19 ODIs but England have never played on the island, meaning Grenada will welcome an influx of England supporters for the first time next April. England will also return to the Kensingston Oval in Barbados, a traditional favourite with the travelling supporters, where England were West Indies’ first opponents in 1930. The teams played three T20s on the ground in March. “We know the venues will prove extremely popular with the thousands of cricket

lovers who follow England to the Caribbean,” Paul Downton, Managing Director England Cricket, said. “It will also be exciting for many to visit the new venue of Grenada for the first time.” The West Indies tour is part of a packed 2015 for England which is likely to see them playing in every month of the year. They will be in Australia and New Zealand from January to March for the World Cup and a warm-up triangular series, then after visiting West Indies they host New Zealand at home before an Ashes series. Later in the year they are scheduled to play Pakistan in the UAE before a tour of South Africa. A further indication of England’s heavy workload is that three days after the final West Indies Test finishes they are set to play Ireland in an ODI in Dublin on May 8. England in West Indies 2014-15 schedule: April 13-17, 1st Test, Antigua April 21-25, 2nd Test, Grenada May 1-5, 3rd Test, Barbados

17th Hearts of... From page 34 general sportsmanship and have a better human relationship with others and improve their discipline generally. Some of the personnel and coaches that will be involved in the sessions are former national players Adrian Forde, Kendrick Bowry, Neil Humphrey and other

including Randy Sears, Nigel Felix. Interested persons can still make contact with Humphrey on 333 5525 or 687-8764 or Secretary Kenrick Bowry on number 333-4451 or any member of the club on turn up at the All Saints Scott Church ground. (Samuel Whyte)

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GUYANA WINS FIRST STAGE OF INTER-GUIANA GAMES

Tuesday August 05, 2014

CULT/EBFA U-17 League...

Dick nets 5 in Grove Hi Tech’s win - Local girls lose basketball title, males stumble over KK Warriors

Despite the absence of French Guiana from the Athletics competition of the first leg of the 2014 InterGuiana Games (IGG), which deflated the event that Guyana hosted over last weekend, the ‘Land of Many Wa t e r s ’ w a s h e d i t s opposition away. Again, athletics was the catalyst for Guyana being declared winner in the first stage of the IGG event, which was hosted at the Guyana Defence Force (Athletics), National Aquatics Centre for Swimming and the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Guyana won the truncated athletics event, placed second in male and female basketball and third in swimming, to take the

overall lead in the tri-nation competition. Suriname is currently second with French Guiana third after their non-participation in athletics. Suriname won the male basketball title, dashing Guyana’s hope of reclaiming history, while the national junior girls, who won last year, lost to French Guiana Sunday night. Both French Guiana and Suriname were also dominant in the swimming competition. Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Alfred King, who was the representative of the Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, officially closed the event with the Director of Sport, Neil Kumar chairing the

Closing Ceremony. Kumar believes that Guyana successfully hosted the first stage because of the re-entrance of the French Guiana contingent, which did not participate last year, to the games. Kumar commended his “hard working” committee for putting together a “successful programme”. “This first stage of InterGuiana Games was indeed a success. It was highly successful because we got all three countries participating in the Games, I want to say to French Guiana once again thank you for participating this year,” Kumar observed. Suriname’s Director of Sports, Ismanto Tiana shared K u m a r ’s s e n t i m e n t s , reiterating that IGG was

successfully hosted. The second stage of the Games will be held in Suriname. According to Tiana, athletic stardom for the ‘Guianas’ begin with the Games. “No matter what your target is, you can only reach it step by step, so you got to make sure that in your own country first, you are the best. If you are the best in your own country then you can [be the best] in the region,” Tiana said. “When you are the best it in the region then you can be the best in the world. So the Inter-Guiana Games is that step in showing that you can compete in the region and compete in the world. I can tell you that the future of the Inter-Guiana Games looks good,” Tiana added.

UDFA suspension to be revisited

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ffiliates/Associa tions of the GFF are of the view t h a t t h e suspension of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) is wrong and should be revisited. In a release the concerned bodies noted, Associations and affiliates of the GFF, after meeting with members and affiliates of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) are

convinced that something fundamental was wrong with the procedures employed to suspend members of the UDFA following the GT Beer tournament final that was held on January 1, 2014. Following intense and wide ranging discussions with the members of the UDFA membership with a view of finding a way forward for the development of the game in the Bauxite M i n i n g To w n , i t w a s

recognized that the suspension of the top executives not only brought the game into disrepute but struck at the heart and life out o f U D F A’ s f o o t b a l l administration, a key component necessary for the g a m e ’s d e v e l o p m e n t anywhere in the world. The associations/ affiliates are keen that with a properly constituted GFF Executive and with the establishment of all

Two female referees depart today for Cayman Islands

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The two female referees (from left) Maureese Skeete and Nicola Joseph pose for a photo op recently.

uyanese referees Maureese Skeete and Nicola Joseph are scheduled to depart today for the Cayman Islands to officiate in the CONCACAF Under-15 Development Programme. The two officials, who are FIFA Accredited, follow closely in the footsteps of six other local referees who departed these shores recently to officiate in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Men’s Under-20 Group 5 Tournament which is being played in Curacao. Those officials are: Rollin Tappin, Dion Inniss, Sherwin Johnson, Sherwin Moore, Venton Mars and Stanley Lancaster.

constitutional committees, steps would be taken almost immediately to ensure that this issue is given priority attention in keeping with the process to ensure a fair outcome. That aside, is it the belief of the associations/affiliates that once this matter is given due attention by the General Council of the GFF, the suspensions of the executives of the UDFA is more than likely to be reversed. The GFF is mandated to hold a Congress shortly and this and other matters pertaining to the development of the sport are expected to be addressed.

Joel Dick is flanked by Trevor Jones (right) and Mervin Squires

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rove Hi Tech, led by five goals from National Under-17 forward Joel Dick thumped Kuru Kururu Warriors 8-0 to maintain their unbeaten record when play in the CULT sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) league continued on Saturday last at the Grove Playfield. After opening the scoring in the 9th minute compliments of a Mervin Squires effort, Dick took over proceedings netting in the 30th, 39th, 42nd, 51st, and 64th minute. The Linden Soesdyke Highway based Warriors did their utmost to keep the Hi

Tech boys at bay but were not able to for any long period. To add to their woes, Warriors netted an own goal in the 67th minute. Mervin Squires put the icing on the cake when he converted in the 80th minute to seal a huge win for the home team. Meanwhile, Agricola Red Triangle were down to oppose Diamond United in the day’s other encounter but the Diamond boys were a no show which meant that Agricola took full points without breaking a sweat via the walk over route. Matches are set to continue on Saturday at the same venue.

17th Hearts of Oak Masters football camp underway

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he 17th edition of the Annual Hearts of Oak Masters Football Club “Teach Them Young” football holiday camp is underway. The camp begun on Monday 21th July and is expected to last until Friday 22nd August. It is being held at the Scot Church ground, Princess Elizabeth Road New Amsterdam and the nearby Prison Officers Sports Club and the All Saints Primary School. The programme is being held five days weekly from Mondays to Fridays except holidays from 09:00hrs -13:00hrs. During the camp the youths are being taught the finer points of the game which includes both theory and practical. The programme also caters for the developing of

their interpersonal skills and relationship. The practical sessions entail showing the youngsters the various ways in receiving, passing, shooting, dribbling, Goalkeeping and throwing the football among other points. The youths are also expected to be schooled in discipline, etiquette, good table manners and general education which will also include session on HIV and AIDS. Physical fitness is also expected to be an integral part of the sessions. According to coordinator, Neil ‘Grizzly’ Humphrey, the main aim of the programme is to have the youths better able to appreciate the rules and regulation of the game, improve their knowledge and skills and understand (Continued on page 33)

Tuesday August 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

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= Regional U-19 50-over tourney =

Alpha United Smith, Parchment guide Jamaica tackle Deportivo to 8-wkt win over Barbados Olimpia tonight T&T trounce ICC Americas

hamar Springer and wicketkeeper Akil Greenidge successfully appeal for an LBW decision against Leroy Lugg. By Zaheer Mohamed Odean Smith grabbed 427 off nine overs and Mark Parchment stroked an unbeaten 45 to lead Jamaica to a convincing eight-wicket victory over Barbados when the Regional U-19 50-over tournament commenced yesterday. Barbados’ decision to bat at the Georgetown Cricket Club backfired as they were bowled out for 97 in 37 overs. Joshua Drakes fought bravely for a top score of 33, but apart from Jafari Toppin (13), Nicholas Kirton (12) and Akil Greenidge (10), no other batsman managed to reach double figures. The Jamaicans hardly

encountered any difficulty in reply, reaching their target in 31.3 overs for the lost of two wickets. Skipper Ramaal Lewis put Barbados on the back foot early on with the wicket of Lee-Germon Gaskin (03). Kirton and Greenidge added 24 for the second wicket, but their dismissal, with the score on 25, triggered a collapse which was somewhat aided by poor running between the wickets that resulted in three victims. Barbados could take at least one positive from the game, the fact that Smith carried his bat. He shared in a 19-run fourth wicket stand with Toppin and 26 for the eight

Mark Parchment off drives. wicket with Chad Williams (05) which was the best of the innings. When Jamaica began their reply, Tariq Shorey (124) trapped Odaine Mc Catty (00) in front to give his team some hope, but that quickly faded by a third wicket stand of 49 between Leroy Lugg and Parchment. Lugg showed glimpses of his class, he on-drive Shorey and punched him off the back foot for consecutive boundaries before he missed a full toss from Shamar Springer (1-18) and was LBW for 31. Parchment stroked four fours and along with Shahid Crooks (12*) ensured no further hiccups with a third

wicket partnership of 46. Jamaica pocketed 6.5 points and Barbados 0.2. At Demerara Cricket Club, Trinidad and Tobago overcame ICC Americas by 164 runs. Batting first Trinidad and Tobago scored 254 all out in 48.3 overs. Amir Gangoo stroked 95, Jemeel Maniram scored 43, Brian Christmas supported with 30 and Camillo Carimbocas 23. O. Bascome captured 3-35, N. Dutta 2-34, K. Phill 2-39 and F. Malik 2-47. ICC Americas were skittled for 91 in 40.1 overs. Dutta top scored with 22. Akil Seetal snared 4-21, Justin Joseph 3-15 and Samuel Roopnarine 2-11.

Already venerated as the best team in Guyana and one of the best regionally, ALPHA United will put those two approbations on the line when they face Honduras’ Deportivo Olimpia in the CONCACAF Champions League this evening, at the National Stadium. At stake is a spot at the FIFA Club World Cup, but t h e C O N C A C A F Champions League which is the confederation’s equal to t h e U E FA C h a m p i o n s League is their first assignment. This will be Alpha United’s second outing at the CONCACAF showpiece, having first competed in 2011 with limited success. Tonight, the Guyana National Stadium will host Alpha United’s first game of the 2014/2015 CONCACAF Champions League when they face Deportivo Olimpia of Honduras with kick-off time set at 20:00hrs. The game will be televised around the world through Fox Sport and with Guyana on show; it would be interesting to see how Alpha United measure up against one of Honduras’ top professional clubs. While the composition of Alpha United’s club is unknown, their roster is filled with players who have had some amount of success at the CONCACAF Champions League while playing for other clubs.

The game also presents an opportunity for Gregory Richardson to seek revenge against an opposition that had defeated his former Club, Joe Public United, during their historic run in the 2008/2009 CONCACAF Champions League. Richardson’s team lost fell 3-1 and 4-0 to the Honduran club during the year when he found form and was the Caribbean’s top striker. It was Richardson’s form in the 2008/2009 Champions League that landed him in the USA’s Major League Soccer (MLS) having been signed with the Colorado Rapids. Nicknamed ‘Jackie Chan’, Richardson is by far Guyana’s top forward and probably one of the most skilful, given the fact that he can also fall back and play as an attacking midfielder. Kithson Bain, Grenada’s most prolific striker will (Continued on page 29)

Paul powers Guyana to victory over Leewards By Sean Devers at Enmore A wonderfully constructed 85 from 104 balls with six fours and a six from Essequibian Kemo Paul spurred Guyana to 76run win against the Leeward Islands in the agriculture setting of Enmore yesterday as the 2014 Regional under19 one-day cricket competition got under the way with three matches. Paul registered his maiden 50-over fifty and shared in useful lower order partnerships with Sharaz Ramcharran (23), Daimon Waldron (5) and Steven Sankar (13) as Guyana recovered from a top order

Despite useful all round showing from Louis

Sharaz Ramcharran cover-drives for four at Enmore yesterday. wobble which left them on 60-5, to reach 202 all out in 49.2 overs.

Skipper Jeremiah Louis captured 4-23 and was supported by West Indies

under-19 pacer Alzarri Joseph (2-46) and Asharn Hodge (2-32) for the

Leewards who fell for 126 in 42.2 overs, despite 29 from Louis and 26 from Mohit

Hingorani. Off-spinner Balchand Baldeo, who shared the new ball with debutant pacer Niall Smith, had figures of 10-4-15-3 and got support from leading wicket-takers in the three-day format, legspinner Steven Sankar, who captured 2-29 and offspinner Ramcharran who had 2-13. Guyana won the toss and opted to bat on a typical flat and low Enmore track on a scorching hot day on the East Coast of Demerara. Watched by a small but noisy crowd, the home team lost their first two wickets in the fifth over with the score on 24. Shemron Hetymer (Continued on page 29)

t r o Sp Regional 50-over U-19 cricket ‘Superman’ flies Paul powers Guyana to into Guyana on spotting victory over Leewards talent mission Despite useful all round showing from Louis Gary St Clair shows off his two world title belts he won in South Africa.

Kemo Paul batted magnificently yesterday to rescue Guyana with an entertaining 85.

Noble House Goals Galore Indoor Hockey Championships

PEPSI HIKERS AND REVELATION CLAIM SENIOR AND JUNIOR TITLES

PEPSI Hikers, senior division champions receives their trophy.

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