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Kaieteur News
Thursday August 06, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Kaieteur News This discriminatory act and human rights 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
PERCEPTION HAS BECOME REALITY The formation of the APNU +AFC coalition in early 2015 and its narrow victory at the polls on May 11, 2015 would have seemed to most, especially political scientists, like a very good political strategy. It seems they would also have quickly recognized and understood that what they were witnessing was the ideal formula for success. If a leader puts together a number of opposition parties, real or imaginary, into a grand coalition which offers the perception of national unity, then that grand coalition would more than likely be expected to defeat the opponent. This is exactly what took place between APNU - a coalition of six parties - and the AFC on February 14, 2015. The victory of the coalition, of course, in all honesty owed nothing to a good political strategy but to the convergence of a number of quite specific circumstances which are useful to recall. First, the appointment of Retired Brigadier David Granger to lead the coalition was judicious in that he was not a seasoned politician and was viewed as a leader with integrity. His rise to the leadership of the PNC in 2011 was seen as a harbinger of potential political change not only in the PNC, but also in politics and the country in general. The population, by and large, was impressed in particular with his love for the country. The second factor was the pivotal role played by the AFC. The AFC had already demonstrated that it had major electoral support in the 2006 and 2011 general elections which for the first time led to a minority PPP government. In those elections, the AFC won five and seven parliamentary seats respectively and was seen as the party of change, especially by the youths. But more importantly than such support was the AFC’s standing as a reputable party of principles, which it got for the most part from its tireless leaders, Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, Nigel Hughes, Moses Nagamootoo and David Patterson. Actually, these leaders knew that joining with APNU was the vehicle for victory in the 2015 election. Further, it was their only choice of getting rid of the PPP which had held power for twenty-three years and had become nonchalant and complacent. After all, it was not a far-fetched idea. The other parties of the coalition, though small and without any significant electoral support, contributed important elements to the perception of a national and unified force. Each party assured the nation that they were patriotic and that they stood for national unity. The APNU+ AFC Coalition convinced the electorate that it would end corruption, reduce crime and would promote the interests of all and not a selected few. It also assured the nation of good governance, transparency and accountability. But, while all these factors were necessary to win the election, they were, by themselves, not enough. What clinched the deal was the people’s desire to break from the shackles of the PPP, especially its de facto leader, Jagdeo. However, the truth is the disintegration, both in fact and perception, of the PPP, had begun three years prior to the formation of the grand coalition. The PPP, under both Jagdeo and Ramotar, proved to be arguably the most corrupt and immoral government the nation has ever had. They demonstrated that whatever little principles they claimed to have, were essentially for sale. Everyone knew that for better or for worse, the PPP insisted that it was not interested in any coalition and would rise and fall alone. Rise it did in 1992, but fall alone it also did in May 2015. After losing the majority in 2011, the people sensed that the writing was on the wall for the PPP. The people eagerly awaited the last election because they sensed that this time around was not going to be for the PPP but for tangible change. Perception has become reality.
violation must be rectified expeditiously DEAR EDITOR, The dismissal of female employees of the city constabulary on the basis of pregnancy is a violation of Prevention of Discrimination of Act, the constitution, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and many other international human rights instruments signed and ratified by the government of Guyana. Successive governments have failed to remove such antiquated, discriminatory and illegal practices from the conditions of service that many women seeking employment in the disciplined services sector have been subjected to for years.
Sexual and reproductive health and rights and nondiscrimination based on sex and gender must guide and be enshrined in all Guyana’s labour laws and regulations, and be applicable to all disciplined services, including the City Constabulary, Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force, and all private security services. We w e l c o m e t h e statement by the Minister in the Ministry of Social Protection and Labour, Ms. Simona Broomes, and her direction to the Chief Labour Officer and the ministry’s legal officer to examine the ‘offending’ policy and advise how best to remove it and any others that may not be compliant with Guyana’s laws. We look forward to expeditious action to rectify this act of discrimination and
human rights violation and welcome the pending reinstatement of the dismissed city constabulary officers. We also call on the Ministry of Social Protection to ensure appropriate working conditions and safety measures for women working in the security sector, including access to day- and night-care services for women with dependent children as they go about their job of protecting Guyana’s citizens on a daily basis. We strongly recommend that continuous education programmes on gender equality, gender discrimination, gender-based and sexual violence, sexual and reproductive rights, human rights and other relevant laws be introduced immediately. As a grouping, we have over the years collectively
developed a wealth of knowledge and experience in areas of social protection, legal rights and access to justice, sexual & reproductive health and rights, women and poverty, and stand ready to work with the Ministry of Social Protection and other partners in the design, training and delivery of such programmes. Joy Marcus & Wintress White for Red Thread Simone Morris-Ramlall for Guyana Association of Women Lawyers Omattie Madray for ChildLink Inc Josephine Whitehead & Danuta Radzik for Help & Shelter Patricia SheerattanBisnauth & Renuka Anadjit for Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association Sadie Amin
BaiShanLin must welcome the new dispensation and level playing field in the forestry sector DEAR EDITOR, If Case Timbers Limited (CTL)/Unamco had received one-tenth of the understanding and kind consideration BaiShanLin (BSL) receives from GFC, today it would have been, by far, the premier value added p r o d u c e r i n G u y a n a ’s forestry sector. Given the extent of the G F C c o m m i s s i o n e r ’s defence of BSL’s value added non performance as detailed in KN’s article of 3 August captioned ‘BaiShanLin wood processing facility delayed due to “financial difficulties”’, it would seem that BSL enjoys a most favoured company status that locally owned timber concessions can only dream of. U n l i k e B S L , C T L / U n a m c o ’s U S $ 5 0 Million sawmill and plywood/veneer mill equipment arrived well ahead of schedule on the GNIC wharf in 1997 only three years after CTL/Unamco started operations and a mere two years after it built its 74-mile (118 km with 44 bridges and 79 culverts) forest access road and started logging operations in the Upper Berbice area. We were on the way to employing around 2,000 people in Region 10 benefiting a community in the region of 10,000 Guyanese. We had started
production of value added products produced at the sawmill and sold to both the domestic and overseas markets. Though CTL/Unamco was unaware of any infractions and innocent of breaking any commitments, rules, or promises made to the previous government, it was clear government was against the project and hostile to the investment. The Jagdeo government was so critical of the investment that at one stage we were even discouraged from paving the 60-mile connecting road between Linden and Kwakwani via Ituni, where part of our value added production base was located. The former Prime Minister was well aware of CTL/Unamco’s willingness t o p a v e t h e Linden/Kwakwani dirt road, with help at the time from Aroaima bauxite company, but there was no interest much less assistance from the Jagdeo government. It was never to be. When the Unamco 15year TSA expired in January 2007, Minister Robert Persaud took three long years to partially renew the lease while significantly reducing the forest size. A renewal process should take three days, even three weeks perhaps, but three years is unheard of. The American probe took two years to travel to Mars and return to Earth. Three years is an
awfully long time to make a routine decision. During this 36-month hiatus we had no access to the forest, so we had to stop logging and value added production which meant r e l u c t a n t l y l a y i n g o ff personnel. While we waited on Minister Persaud’s decision, organized crime stepped in and our heavy forest equipment including bulldozers, skidders, logging and dump trucks, front end loaders, 4x4 pickups, compactors, motor graders etc., were either stolen or cut up and removed for scrap metal. All our forest locations were systematically plundered, spare parts and tyres stolen and even zinc sheets removed from the roofs. It was a thorough job done over several days by heavily-armed bandits led by a known Lindener. Our security personnel were no
match for these AK47wielding desperados. Commissioner Greene shamelessly informed me that the police could do nothing as the Lindener was an untouchable. Last year we were able to sell what was left of the US$32 Million plymill to Barama for less than US$200,000 to be used as replacement parts. The sawmill still lives. Whereas BSL is being handled with kid gloves by the GFC, CTL/Unamco was hit on the head with a sledgehammer, and for no good reason. I am confident that the new coalition government will now create a level playing field in the forestry sector and BSL should embrace this development. What happened to the CTL/Unamco investment will not now happen to them. F. Hamley Case
No thanks, America DEAR EDITOR, This is the first time I am writing and I am hoping that my concern will be heard and read by fellow Guyanese. I am a Christian since 1985 when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord of my life. Before knowing Jesus I was a fool, involving myself in fornication, adultery, theft and drugs. Since I became a child of God, I now regard,
with great interest and love, the word of God who is now my Heavenly Father. I read carefully the address Mr. Bryan Hunt gave on his country’s Independence Day held on Thursday July 2, 2015 at the Marriott Hotel. America has always been at the forefront of almost everything, including Evangelism and preaching (Continued on page 23)
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
I cannot support revengeful politics GuySuCo will be ineffective Dear Editor, It is most unfortunate that Abel Seetaram in a response to my letter (KN Aug 5) supports and endorses the politics of ethnic and political revenge and ethnic and political cleansing. That kind of politics belongs to a bygone era and I have opposed it in the past and will do so now. We have to be forward thinking and have a government of inclusivity. I come from a different cultural background, family discipline, and educational training than Seetaram, and not surprisingly we hold different positions on politics and economics of ethnicity. I cannot support a politics and an employment code that targets people on account of race and party politics. Unlike him, I cannot bring myself to support revengeful politics. I essentially support a Gandhian, Jaganite philosophy of working together to build a nation, and not taking bread away from a family. Seetaram suggests that I ask the PPP about how many (Africans) it removed from office and how many PPP supporters it hired who were
not qualified. I do not need to ask the PPP for figures. If Seetaram has evidence of ethnic discrimination (figures), then it is his responsibility to present the number to the public. As best as I know, there was no witch-hunting under the PPP administration; at least there was hardly any data published in the free independent media after 1992. There was no politics of vengeance from Jagan who was severely criticized by party supporters for not cleansing the Augean stables. PPP supporters suffered for jobs when their party was in office, not to mention they were also victimized under the dictatorship. Supporters of the PNC were not on the breadlines under PPP tenure. Reports indicated that the PPP inherited a bureaucracy of 90% Africans/Mixed and it declined slightly when the PPP was removed from office in May 2015 – that can hardly be considered racial discrimination from a sociological perspective. If Seetaram has significantly different figures, he must present them to the reading public.
And even if the PPP government had replaced PNC supporters with PPP supporters, it is not justification for the coalition to now remove PPP supporters from their jobs and replace them with PNC supporters. When will this cycle of political and ethnic victimization end? Seetaram missed the central point of my missive. In a small nation like ours, we cannot afford revengeful politics. Has Seetaram not learned anything from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rwanda, Burundi, Iraq, Syria, Libya, etc.? We cannot build a nation by excluding half of the population on account of their ethnicity and political affiliation. We need all hands on deck on a shaky ship that can sink at any time. We all must work together to lift the boat if we do love and care for our nation. What Seetaram is saying is he loves himself and his AFC party and to hell with the rest of the nation. That is not the Guyana that interests me. Vishnu Bisram
That $60 billion decision DEAR EDITOR, According to media reports, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has cautioned government not to withdraw some $60 billion from the commercial banking system. From the reports, no explanation was offered by the PSC for this position taken. However, one can infer that what the PSC seems to be saying is that our commercial banks are dependent on government deposits to maintain their successful operations. The economy is at a troublesome and worrying place currently, but I don’t see why the PSC would advise against government withdrawing its own money from the highly profitable commercial banks. If government deposits into a commercial bank, it is the same as any private individual or company doing
so: they can withdraw their deposits at any time. Commercial banks must cater for this reality at all times. Moreover, the central bank caters for this through the application of a statutory reserve requirement (a percentage of transaction deposits and other liabilities) for commercial banks. Worst-case scenario, government can act as a lender of last resort, through the central bank, to the commercial banks, if those banks face any threat of bankruptcy as a result of the large withdrawal. If the $60 billion figure is accurate, it then raises another question of the opportunity cost of government leaving all that
liquidity dormant. This money could have been invested into many different development programmes generating higher financial and social returns. The present government should use those funds to stimulate public investment and consumption and increase public demand. The more that money is out there, it means the private sector would have increased opportunities to access more available cash in the economy, thus improving their bottom-line. If the $60 billion stays dormant in commercial banks, I don’t see how that helps anyone but the rich banks. Clinton Urling
if production is scaled back
DEAR EDITOR, I am very appreciative of the efforts of the new administration to appoint Prof. Clive Thomas as the Chairman of the Committee of Inquiry on GuySuCo. I have never personally met Prof. Thomas, but I have only heard great things, fairness and a strong opinion, traits I hope to emulate. With reference to his opinions mentioned in the article “EU customer warns COI… GuySuCo must bring costs down to remain alive” (Kaieteur News – July 1, 2015), I do agree that GuySuCo can compete within the Caribbean and preferential European Markets (at least until 2017) at the moment. But I do not believe sugar production needs to be altered, in fact, if measures can be implemented to boost the production that can be very advantageous for the coming years. The reasons I say this are many fold. I understand the Commission is charged with “fixing” a broken system, but mending using “duct-tape” and scaling back is not the way forward. The Commission of Inquiry could have called on the Brazilians for guidance. A few days ago, his Excellency, David Granger was pictured in most of the dailies shaking
hands and greeting President Dilma Rousseff. Brazil is a superpower today because of the abundance of fertile land, natural resources, a skilled labour force, international collaborative research projects and frankly, a reduction in corruption. Guyana has much to learn, hence I am a little disappointed that the media choose to cover the story about Venezuela’s aggression and no mention was made on how the Brazilians can help us forge forward the sugar industry. Again, the same can be said when his Excellency met with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. It’s either his liaison team is doing a poor job of briefing the media outlets or no discussions or measures were put in place to assist Guyana with its Petroleum Development Programme. Nevertheless, I would like to add my two cents to the issue. GuySuCo cannot be profitable, survive, or even break even, with the preferential markets or if the production is scaled back . The production of sugar is one of the many streams of commodities that can be obtained from the sugar cane plant. The residue can be used for many purposes with values that are comparable
Why should E-Networks act so unfairly? DEAR EDITOR, I wish to draw your attention to the problem several clients of E-Networks are experiencing. To enjoy the services provided by the above Company a client is required to pay a monthly fee. As I write, it is the 4th August, 2015, and already the service is disconnected for failure to pay the monthly fee for August 2015. Whenever the full fee is paid the service is reconnected. However it
would again be disconnected by the 3rd of the next month. When questioned about the unfairness of the system the reply is that what is happening is the policy of the Company. I would like to get a proper explanation of why the Company should act so unfairly Late monthly payments mean you pay for a month but do not get a month’s service. M.F. Coddett Attorney-at-law
with the price of sugar or better. For example, a substantial portion of the crop is bagasse, a material that can be efficiently converted to biofuels such as ethanol. Five years ago, the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic residue (such as bagasse) was not competitive, but strides in technological improvements and cheap feedstock have resulted in the commissioning of many production facilities worldwide. Instead of plugging a leaking tap, the government should dispatch a team whose sole responsibility would be to add value to the stream of by-products from the industry. We can harness these technologies with the assistance of the United States of America government, the Brazilian expertise, and our local skilled labour force. The solution to GuySuCo demands short and long term goals. In the short term, there needs to be improved production and yields (better agronomy and solving the mystery to the Skeldon Factory) while in the long term (5 – 10 years), there needs to be diversification and implementation of technologies suited to our raw material and demand worldwide. In the end, I hope the Commission does consider some of the avenues that can create value while debating over how to reduce or stop the debt accumulation. Michael George
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Kaieteur News
Plaisance man shot dead “Akeem! Akeem! Akeem!” were the repeated calls of a 39-year-old mother last evening when she learnt that her first born was no more. Believing that her 23year-old son would have returned home, Natasha Yorrick clung to a blue and white tee-shirt calling for him as she stood on the verandah of their two-storey Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara home. According to reports, Akeem Yorrick was shot dead around 22:00 hrs while on his
Dead: Akeem Yorrick
Dead: Akeem Yorrick
way to visit his girlfriend in Plaisance Backdam. Reports are that he left his residence around 21:30 hrs. Speaking to Kaieteur News, his father, Frank Yorrick said that he learnt of his son’s death while he was at a shop in the area. The man said he heard that a group of men had surrounded the home of another villager at Plaisance Backdam, wanting to apprehend him in relation to a robbery. The man, known as ‘Kevin,’ was reportedly being sought concerning a robbery that occurred in the area on Sunday and it was his alleged victims who were paying him a visit. Frank Yorrick said that while the men surrounded
‘Kevin’s’ home, waiting for the police to arrive and arrest him, his (Yorrick’s) son was passing the house at the time. He said the alleged suspect opened fire, hitting Akeem Yorrick in the process. Yorrick was reportedly killed by a single bullet to the abdomen. He was apparently the only person hit, according to reports. As news of his death spread, neighbours and relatives flocked his residence, each questioning what had really happened to the young mason. Meanwhile, relatives who had gathered at the Georgetown Public Hospital following news of Yorrick’s shooting lamented “He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Thursday August 06, 2015
Rodney COI staffers complain about non-payment After enduring a series of excuses and delays, the technical and reporting staffers attached to the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (WRCOI) are calling on the relevant authorities to make good on outstanding payments. The complaints come on the heels of assurance offered by the Ministry of Presidency on July 24, last, that outstanding balances will be settled with WRCOI staffers entitled to payment. The WRCOI’s employees, by way of a statement to this newspaper, have explained, however, that upon the conclusion of the previous sitting of the Commission, in March 2015, their contracts were not renewed and they have not been paid since, despite turning up dutifully for work. Inquiries into nonpayment to the Secretary/ Administrator of the COI, Hugh Denbow, they said, have proved futile with their calls being unanswered and him being absent from work for long periods of time. They said they were assured that their contracts were with then Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon awaiting signature and that they should be paid soon. According to the staffers, in May, again, they were told not to worry because their contracts were being looked into and they would be paid from April 1 to May 31. During this time and throughout, the staff said they kept on reporting for work. They said they were given the same runaround in June, that led them to approaching Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, who reportedly had no
knowledge that they were unpaid, or that their contracts stipulated that once the life of the Commission was ongoing, they were not permitted to seek other employment. “There we were advised to not return to work until we were called and told otherwise to which we acquiesced. A few days later it was brought to our attention that our Administrator did not submit our unit’s name for renewal of contracts even though he had assured us time and again that he had done so,” the staffers stated. The staff is claiming that on July 23, last, calls were made for them to return to work on Monday (July 27) for the commencement of the WRCOI’s final sitting. They said they were asked to report on July 24, last, for a meeting with Minister of State Joseph Harmon, where they were subsequently assured that they would be paid. “On Monday, we all reported for work under the assumption that we were going to be paid, just to be met with changes to staff and a long drawn-out excuse about why we would not be paid that day,” they said. The Senior Editor, who had constantly inquired about the non-payment, and a Transcriber, were replaced without notice. “On Tuesday, we heard another cock-and-bull story about why we were not paid and as a unit we approached our Administrator and told him that we were not prepared to complete our report, because it seemed once again that we were going to be given a raw deal. He acquiesced and said that he totally understands and does not give us any wrong if that is our decision,” the statement noted.
They said that day they were informed that the Ministry of the Presidency was no longer handling their contracts, but the Ministry of Legal Affairs. The next day, a few of the staff visited the Ministry where they met two senior officials. At that meeting they learnt that their names were never submitted for renewal of contracts, despite numerous assurances by the Administrator that it was. “We were informed by the Ministry of Presidency that our names were not submitted because they were told and we assumed they were told by our Administrator that ‘we were not doing anything’ so we should not be paid,” they said. “Whilst we do not have a valid contract, we were never told by our Administrator or OP that our services were no longer required. We kept going to work because previously when our contracts expired, we usually still got paid, and assumed that the same was going to happen this time also,” they said. They said at the Ministry of Legal Affairs, they learnt that their names were only submitted for payment for July and not for the previous months. “We are simply appealing to the relevant authorities to look into this matter and see that this injustice stops,” they lamented. “We are all entitled to our pay because we were never told to stop coming to work by our Administrator. The unit comprises single parents and people who depend on their salaries to live. This is our last recourse, because so far no one has heeded our calls nor has anyone met with us. We are just being stonewalled.”
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
Colombia helicopter crash kills 16 police officers
Two police officers survived the crash, but suffered serious burns A police helicopter has crashed in a jungle area of north-west Colombia, killing at least 16 officers.The policemen were on an operation to try to arrest one of the leaders of the Usuga Clan, a powerful drug-smuggling gang that operates in the region.The Black Hawk helicopter crashed in a remote mountainous area of Antioquia.Colombian Defence Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said it probably "crashed against the side of the mountain, possibly due to
low cloud cover". Antioquia is 450km (280 miles) north-west of the capital, Bogota.An initial police investigation had blamed the loss of the aircraft on technical failure. 'No gunfire' The presence of criminal gangs and left-wing rebels in the area of the crash led to rumours that the helicopter had been shot at. But Mr Villegas said two other aircraft taking part in the operation didn't report any
gunfire.An earlier report from Colombian police said 15 officers had died and two injured.Last week, 11 air force personnel died in a helicopter crash near the Colombian Caribbean coast. The police operation was aimed at arresting Luis Orlando Padierna Pena, known as Inglaterra (England), El Tiempo newspaper reported.The alleged head of the clan is Dairo Antonio Usuga David, known as Otoniel.
Finance minister to respond Friday to PetroCaribe debt buy-back critics Jamaica’s finance minister has promised to detail tomorrow the government’s plan to save US$250m by early payment of PetroCaribe debt. Dr Peter Phillips’ promise is prompted by opposition criticism. The finance minister said he will be using a press briefing tomorrow to respond to criticisms from especially the opposition. Despite the Ministry of
Finance, on Monday, issuing a media release stating that the deal would save Jamaica US$250 million in debt payments, Opposition Spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw has said there is deception at hand. The leader of the Opposition, Andrew Holness, said the Government, in paying off the PetroCaribe debt, was putting itself under a cashflow threat as a result of liquidating the debt.
Dr Peter Phillips
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Thursday August 06, 2015
Brazil businessmen sentenced to 16 years over Petrobras scandal Two former executives of Brazilian construction giant OAS have been sentenced to 16 years in jail for corruption. A judge in Brazil said former OAS president Jose Aldemario Pinheiro and Agenor Medeiros were involved in a major corruption scandal at the state-owned oil company, Petrobras. Three other former OAS employees have been sentenced to shorter jail terms. The scandal broke last year, implicating senior politicians. Pinheiro and Medeiros were found guilty of bribing government officials, money laundering and conspiracy to commit crimes. OAS lawyer Edward Carvalho says the company will appeal on behalf of its former employees, O Globo newspaper reported. 'Systemic corruption' Investigators say more than a dozen building companies have paid bribes to corrupt officials and politicians in order to secure lucrative
contracts with Petrobras. Judge Sergio Moro said OAS should have come forward when the first allegations emerged last year to explain its involvement. However, he said, "when corruption is systemic, paying bribes become routine and that is seen as part of the game". Federal judge Sergio Moro, 3 July 2015 Federal Judge Sergio Moro said OAS should take responsibility for its mistakes and work to rebuild its reputation Several other businessmen and politicians have been arrested, charged and sentenced over the past year. Last week, a judge in the southern state of Parana ordered the arrest of Jose Dirceu, one of the founders of the governing Workers Party. He served as chief of staff during the government of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva between 2003
Petrobras is Brazil's largest company, but share prices have plummeted since the scandal broke out and 2005. Jose Dirceu, who was already under house arrest for alleged involvement in an-
other corruption scheme, denies the charges. He is the most senior member of the Worker's Party
to be arrested for alleged links with the Petrobras scandal. President Dilma Rousseff was president of Petrobras
when most of the corruption is alleged to have taken place, but she has not been implicated.
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
Former Telecoms Director hired to complete draft liberalization laws Key legislation to open up the telecoms sector, which has been delayed for a number of years, is now set to be tabled in the National Assembly as early as next month. On Tuesday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the hiring of two lawyers, Gita Raghubir and Janice Brenman, to complete a draft Telecommunications Bill. Raghubir is a former Director of Telecommunications in Guyana. The consultancy would be in the vicinity of $3M. The Bill is critical to allowing new operators to compete in the industry and also to move Guyana in line with the developed world when it comes to telecommunications. Currently, landline and international calls, under a two-decade agreement, is controlled by the Guyana Telephone and Telephone Company (GT&T). GT&T’s main competitor in the mobile business, another area the US-owned company is involved in, is Digicel. That company is preparing to land a submarine fibre-optic cable to bring data
to Guyana that opens a host of possibilities. The previous administration under Bharrat Jagdeo had moved to end GT&T’s monopoly by introducing the legislation, but GT&T had objected, saying that there is an agreement in place. Negotiations had started with the Bill in limbo in a special select committee in the 10th Parliament. A number of players in the industry have signaled intentions to invest. As a matter of fact, under the previous draft legislation, four companies with close ties to the former PPP administration had been earmarked for licences. Among them were ENetworks Inc., Quark Communications and Global Technology. It is likely that changes will be coming in new draft legislation. With the telecoms sector being a lucrative one and licences expected to be coveted, Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, yesterday said that the legislation is testimony to the commitment of the new administration for the
Dem boys seh ...
Some people spend before dem get back pay Ole people got a saying. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. But dem boys know people who does count and over count. Dem had de man who count he back pay before he get it. When he tek too long to get it he decide to pay heself. Dem boys see him pun de Fly Jamaica flight to Canada de other day. Wid all de money he woulda get from he pay dem boys woulda think that he coulda live life and travel first class. De man buy a ticket in de coach which is wha some people does call passenger class. Dem hear that he did promise to pay back de millions wha he pay heself. And dem still wondering why he ain’t get charge. At least he do better than Sean Hinds. He coulda lef de country but poor Sean, he get stop and drag back to town. De police seh that Sean was going backtrack. At least he teach dem Ministers to wait. Soulja Bai did tek a decision to give dem a pay hike. Rohee criticize de pay hike and Soulja Bai feel a kind of a way and change he mind. But some of dem Ministers did already start to spend de back pay. One of dem order a set of furniture from Courts. But de one who put heself in big expense is de man who decide to host a party. He order nuff drinks from Banks and de food from New Thriving. When he hear de news that he ain’t getting no back pay he send back de drinks. But de food was another matter. De same thing did happen wid Ed de Mad Man. He pack two containers and send dem to Jagdeo because he had plans to come home and enjoy all kind of things. He end up in de hands of de police suh he had to change he plans. Then de Feds tek way he property and now he wish he did keep dem containers because he coulda use de stuff inside to set up another house. Talk half and remember something ain’t you own till you get it in yuh hand.
industry to become competitive and for it to be liberalized. Speaking with reporters during the weekly postCabinet briefings, the Minister noted that legislation will come along with amendments to the Public Utilities Act which governs how the sector is regulated. According to Trotman, with technology changing by the hour, the changes in the law are being viewed as a priority for the new administration. In the coming days, stakeholders including GT&T, Digicel and other others are expected to make their input before the draft is presented to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval. Trotman called for the Opposition to become involved in the process. The Minister also warned that it is too early to say what will be part of the legislation, as the issue is evolving in the face of ongoing consultations. The Bill seeks to provide the establishment of a telecommunications agency and a regular, coordinated, open and competitive sector and other related matters. With smartphones, tablets and host of other tech gadgets, including smart TVs, changing the way the world operates, Guyana has not been far behind in terms of catching up. However, many persons are still without hi-speed internet to maximize their instruments. Streaming of videos and movies and voice calls are limited with the absence of Fourth Generation and even the more modern communications systems.
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WHAT IF…? Days before the May 11 elections in Guyana, the news broke that ExxonMobil had discovered a significant petroleum find in Guyana’s waters. This was music to the ears of the supporters of the PPPC; it meant that Guyana would soon be rich thanks to the investment made on petroleum exploration by the government. The supporters of the opposition APNU+AFC also reacted. They said it was a propaganda ploy intended to enhance the fortunes of the ruling party. It was in their estimation an election gimmick. That announcement did not cause the PPPC to win the election. It narrowly lost those elections to the APNU+AFC coalition which now inherits this claim to an oil-find in Guyana’s waters. The new government has been enthusiastic about the oil find. It is not questioning it. It has accepted what its supporters had originally denied. It has accepted that there is indeed oil in the waters in the Stabroek Block. But how is the government to be sure that what it is being told is true? Does the government have any experts in this area that would have studied the findings by ExxonMobil? Or is the government prepared to accept the word of a powerful multinational corporation? And is it accepting this word simply because it comes from an American company? In other words, how is the government to know for sure that what it is being told is credible and accurate? What if it is not true? What if the Americans are up to their dirty tricks and are playing the government of Guyana in order to stir trouble with Venezuela? What if this so-called discovery of oil is just a ploy by the Americans to promote problems between
Guyana and Venezuela so as to pursue American geostrategic objectives? I am not saying that it is. All I am saying is that Guyana has to consider all angles of this issue. And in order to rule out being used as a geopolitical pawn, Guyana has to ensure that there is indeed evidence to suggest that there is a discovery of oil in significant quantities. How is Guyana going to do this? I do not know. But what I do know is that if indeed ExxonMobil has stumbled on an oil find, then others may eventually do the same. If Guyana is it to be in position to get the best deal from these companies, it has to have the ability to be able to verify what these companies are saying. It has to have its petroleum experts to advise it, because it is important that there is a system to verify whatever a multinational says to the government. Guyana is hopping happy over the oil find. But should we? Will oil be a blessing or will it be a curse? Oil has brought untold riches to many countries. But it has also created problems. These countries have become materialistic; their peoples are accustomed to high subsidies and to having almost all social services free. Oil-producing countries often have to import labour because their people do not want to work, and when they do, they only work for a short period and they demand a lot of money. Oil may be good in one way, but it may be bad in another. The other frightening
question is the threat that Guyana could face from Venezuela if indeed there are significant reserves of oil. That country is going to feel that Guyana can take away its market in the United States, which is the largest buyer of oil from Venezuela. This is a factor that has to be considered. If it were a Chinese company that found the oil, then perhaps the oil could have been sold to that market. But ExxonMobil is anAmerican company, and one that is not liked by the Venezuelan government. So if we do find oil, a great deal of that oil money may end up having to be spent in establishing a stronger military. These are all things that need to be considered in the debate as to whether the discovery of oil is a blessing or a humbug. If there is oil, then no one should deny the Guyanese people the right to the riches that will flow from it. But Guyana has to look at the experience of other countries and ensure that it does not make the same mistakes those countries made. Before Guyana begins to plan for a future that involves oil wealth, it should first establish if indeed there is oil; how many barrels there are likely to be, and what it will take to get the best deal for the exploitation of these resources.
Page 10
Kaieteur News
Thursday August 06, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
All I ever wanted to do was serve, but so much ingratitude From the day we arrive on the planet And blinking, step into the sun There’s more to be seen, than can ever be seen More to do, than can ever be done Some say eat or be eaten Some say live and let live But all are agreed as they join the stampede You should never take more than you give” (Theme song from the musical, “The Lion King”) This column is not about Anil Nandlall but about psychology and politics. But it begins with a statement from him which forms the caption above.
In a recent press conference, Nandlall explained that he may leave politics, then went on to say his desire was to serve Guyana, but in politics he received so much ingratitude. This observation by Nandlall reminds me of what Lisaveta Ramotar, the daughter of then President, Donald Ramotar, told me many, many years ago. She said that her father served Guyana selflessly and deserves what has come his way. Human tragedy stems from the inherent flaws of Homo sapiens. They say in life if you live by the sword you will die by the sword.
Nandlall should not be derided for his statement that he wanted to serve his country. He was given an opportunity to serve. But Nandlall was not Ron Robinson who last week chalked up half a century of service to broadcasting in Guyana. Robinson and Nandlall gave to their country, but there is huge difference between these two Guyanese. Robinson was not part of a power situation where his authority made him so powerful he held people’s fate in his hand. Robinson was never part of a government that decreed who should live, who should die, who should be given, who shall not receive. Nandlall was in that power situation. If Nandlall received ingratitude, then even with a modicum of intelligence (and Nandlall has far more than a modicum of intelligence) he should know, he dished out ingratitude to others who did not deserve to be treated that way. It was the same with
Lisaveta Ramotar. She said her father’s long activism justified his acquisition of power. But the Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, and Enrico Woolford served the good of Guyana and justifiably expected to receive radio licences that they applied for. They never got them. Dave Television operates in New Amsterdam, which is the capital of Berbice, yet its signals never reached Skeldon which is in Berbice, and its application for an extension of its signal was never approved. Could Woolford and others say that the denial of the radio licences was a terrible ingratitude? It was. The deep, dangerous trouble with the psychology of maximum rulers is that they internalize one form of thinking for themselves and exclude the existence of other forms. They don’t even attempt to understand those other dimensions of psychology. This flaw in human existence was demonstrated with colossal vividness during the Nuremberg trial of Nazi war
criminals. These people had murdered more than eight million civilians (not soldiers but innocent, unharmed civilians) yet their onedimensional psychology was on show during their trial. They dismissed the trial as a circus without proper legal procedures and said that the victors of war were simply using the power of the conqueror. But didn’t the Nazis kill ten million people without a proper trial? Didn’t the Nazis use the power of the mighty over the helpless? So why were they fighting for their lives at the trial. Why didn’t they all plead guilty? In fact not one war criminal at the Nuremberg trial entered a guilty plea This column is not about Nandlall, but his statement tells us a lot about the psychology of authoritarian leaders and the politics of power under Presidents Jagdeo and Ramotar. If having been armed with enormous state authority in an autocratic environment, a politician says he was disappointed at the ingratitude he received from
Frederick Kissoon his country, then think of how his victims felt. But here is where weird psychology comes in. When deposed dictators are asked why they did so much wrong to the citizenry, they never admit to their violations. The onedimensional psychology prevents such an awareness of reality. We end with a fascinating example of when weird psychology meets nasty politics. Bharrat Jagdeo at a press conference days after the PPP lost the May 2015 elections, urged the press to investigate the wealth of former army head, Gary Best. But when the very press urged Jagdeo, when as President, to investigate the sudden wealth of many of his serving subordinates, Jagdeo in typical crass style responded with the language of the ignorant.
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
Baramita woman worried about grandson languishing in Juvenile Centre Almost four years ago at the age of 13, Ian Henry was arrested on suspicion of murder and remanded to the Juvenile Holding Centre at Sophia, Georgetown. Today at the age of 16, he remains an inmate there still awaiting a court hearing to ascertain his fate. This state of affairs is one that has become very worrying for his paternal grandmother, Joycelyn Henry, who resides at Baramita in the North West District. The woman during an interview with this publication yesterday disclosed that while her grandson is taken to the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrate’s Court every three months for a hearing, the absence of a prosecutor has caused the process to be constantly deferred. According to her, in February when the matter was called she was hopeful that a preliminary inquiry would have materialised, but the end result was again disheartening.
The purpose of a preliminary inquiry, commonly referred to as a PI, is conducted to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to allow for a matter to be taken to trial. Joycelyn Henry is however suspicious that ranks who investigated the case might not have garnered incriminating evidence against her grandson. Recounting the situation that led to her grandson’s arrest, the woman disclosed that based on reports he (Ian Henry) along with a 19-yearold cousin and other individuals might have been imbibing alcohol when a fight broke out. Ian Henry, who, according to Joycelyn Henry, sustained two stab wounds to the region of his chest, claimed he was unaware of how he sustained his injuries and seemed even more oblivious to what happened to his now dead cousin. “He said he remembered running and that some ‘double banking’ take place, (continued on page 21)
Page 11
“Amicable resolution” reached over CJIA expansion project - Trotman By Nicholas Peters The Guyana Government and the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) have come to agreeable resolutions over several contentious issues surrounding the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project. That state of affairs was revealed by Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, at the weekly postcabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, yesterday. Given the controversial financial history of the CJIA Expansion Project under the previous government, the David Granger-led administration had launched an investigation into the venture, headed by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson. According to Minister Trotman, a team from CHEC had lately visited Guyana where they met with the Public Infrastructure investigative team. “I can say that a team from the company visited Guyana quite recently and held
meetings with a team from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and it is my understanding that an amicable resolution has been found to some thorny issues,” the Minister disclosed when asked for updates on the investigation by media personnel. Trotman added that he expects that Minister Patterson will soon provide an official update on the investigations. The probe was initially launched in June, last, by the government after a technical team from the Public Infrastructure Ministry had revealed that the $150M identified for the project was grossly underestimated. According to the team the figure was underestimated by some US$65M. The reason for the investigation was cited as being to ascertain the state of affairs with various national developmental projects. When Minister of State Joseph Harmon originally announced the investigation, he said that based on the evidence uncovered by Minister Patterson and his
team, the figure outlined by the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) administration was far below the required amount for completion of the expansion project. Patterson, the State Minister said, highlighted several areas of expenditure which were not included in the original contract. Some of these included the new car park which was pegged at a cost of about US$2.7M; the equipment in the terminal for US$16M; the navigational aids which required being changed and upgraded for a cost of US$1.3M; the existing generating and pump house pegged at US$60 000; and the perimeter fence and security lights for US$565,000. Additionally, other notable expenditures included relocating the Guyana Defence Force electrical and mechanical department for an additional cost of US$250,000 and the relocation of the airport operators as well as other facilities around there at another US$510,000. According to Harmon,
Cabinet was advised that taxpayers had already spent US$30,000 on the project. When the value of the completed works were checked the Public Infrastructure Ministry experts recognised that not even six percent of the work was completed despite a larger percent of the project cost being spent. “Taking all this into consideration, Patterson was mandated to review the project and have a different model done, one which would see the expansion and extension of the runway satisfying the international standards for large-type aircraft,” the Minister of State said. Harmon noted that Cabinet was also briefed on the fact that the APNU+AFC government still has some financial obligations to meet based on the contract signed between the previous administration and the EXIM Bank of China. Under the provisions of the contract, CHEC was outlined as the contractor for the woefully behind schedule (continued on page 12)
Page 12
Kaieteur News
Heavily-armed bandits riddle police vehicle with bullets
Thursday August 06, 2015
The bandits used a chainsaw to cut a hole in the wall
…as cops respond to robbery call Police ranks were forced to take evasive action and miraculously escaped injury when they came under heavy gunfire in the wee hours of Wednesday, while responding to a home invasion at No.48 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. According to information, eight bandits armed with guns and cutlasses entered the home of 38-year-old rice farmer Tagraj Tulshi, around 01:20hrs. The bandits used a chainsaw to cut a hole in the wall through which they gained entry into the house. At the time six persons
were at home – Tulshi, his wife Indranie Takean, 32, their three children ages 12, 8 and 4, and Tulshi’s mother-in-law. Electricity had just been restored to the village when the men struck. As nearby residents attempted to peep through their windows, men on guard opened fire to send a message that they should keep their distance. According to eyewitnesses, the bandits were “well placed”, with two heavily-armed men keeping guard on the road, two located in the yard and four in the house. Those in the building began to ill-treat the
“Amicable resolution”... From page 11 project. Since the announcement of the investigation it was reported last month that the CJIA Expansion Project remained suspended as the Government and CHEC continued to review the
“controversial” contract. Head of CJIA, Ramesh Ghir had reportedly told media operatives that nothing had changed with regard to project, as the usually busy runway expansion spot remained empty without equipment or personnel on site.
family as they demanded money, jewellery and other valuables. The victims were slow to respond and threats were made. The man’s motherin-law was doused with kerosene oil by one of the bandits, and he threatened to light her afire. The bandits collected $100,000 and were in the process of continuing their rampage when the police
arrived in the area, forcing them to abort their mission. The men left the house, but not before issuing threats that they would return. The ordeal lasted about twenty minutes. The police were in No. 53 village when they received the call and responded immediately. As they approached the area they came under heavy gunfire from the bandits outside. The cops took evasive action and returned fire. There was a heavy exchange before the thieves escaped into the darkness. Those in the house and in the yard were forced to join
Bullet holes in the police vehicle their cohorts and fled down a dam into the backlands. The police vehicle was damaged with two holes which appeared to be caused by a
high-powered weapon. Back up police patrols were dispatched to the area, but their efforts to apprehend anyone proved futile.
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 21
Infections driving up neonatal deaths – Health Minister ...Ministry working on reducing numbers By Desilon Daniels As the number of neonatal deaths in Guyana continues to alarm the nation, the Ministry of Public Health is working stridently on reducing the figures, Head of the Ministry, Dr. George Norton has said. The Minister made the declaration during a recent interview with Kaieteur News. According to Dr. Norton, the neonatal sector is just one area under review by the new administration. He said that while strides had been made in the past with regards to neonatal
deaths, further developments are underway. He opined that the high incidence of neonatal deaths in Guyana is an area which needed dire attention. He said too that the high incidence was largely attributed to cases of infection. “The amounts of babies that die per month are alarmingly high and most cases are because of infection, so we’ve got a lot of work to do in that area,” Dr. Norton said. He explained that the Ministry needs to use all of its efforts to prevent and reduce infections in the
neonatal units across Guyana. “It is not only to identify where you have the infections taking place, but to find the bug that is actually causing the infection,” the Minister said. He elaborated that this would entail taking conducting swabs before analysing them and eventually identifying the cultures and their sensitivities. “So, you would know what the bugs growing there are and what antibiotics they are sensitive to,” he said. “To do that, you need for instance special cultures, special little
We want to level the playing field ... From page 16 so we believe that based on what we see from the posturing of the opposition that we are likely to have an opposition in the Assembly quite shortly so that that the formal and legal process of identifying the commissioners for the commission can take place.” He added, “The window is still open for us to go the approved, constitutional route of having the PAC appoint the Commission…We don't see a need right now to introduce any kind of extra constitutional measures.” Trotman said that while this is part of the APNU+AFC 100-day plan, it expected that the PPP would have accepted its place in the opposition camp and its role in the National Assembly so as to facilitate the establishment of the Commission by this time. But this is certainly not playing out as they had hoped. Over the years, the coalition parties, when in opposition, had spoken against the award of billion-dollar drug contracts in favour of the New GPC. They also spoken about the manner in which the previous administration changed
the laws to ensure that Ramroop's company would be used for the sole sourcing of drugs. When it served in the opposition, the current administration had lashed out at the PPP/C for granting billions of dollars worth in contracts to New GPC during the lead up to the May 11 National and Regional Elections. On May 8, last, New GPC uplifted the entire billion-dollar cheque for a drug contract awarded to that company. That was the last working day before General and Regional Elections. The payment arrangement was also contrary to all the country's procurement procedures. Traditionally, 25 per cent of the contract is paid up front. AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, had said that the situation surrounding the health contracts and New GPC was nothing but “kick-downthe door banditry.” Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, had said that he found the actions of the previous Government in the lead up to the May 11 polls, to be evidence of how “evil, cor-
rupt, greedy and ruthless” it could be. Greenidge had said that the PPP/C has given so much to Dr. Ramroop by breaking the laws that it has made him a king in his country. “Another critical point we need to pay attention to, and that is the fact, that Ramroop was given the opportunity to supply almost 85 percent of the country's drugs for nearly 20 years. Considering the empire he has been able to build through the sole sourcing of drugs, we see clearly, too, for how long value for money in the health sector has been evaded.” Greenidge had said that the control Jagdeo gave Ramroop over the health sector is not only unhealthy for the competitive market, but it also mars attempts at transparency and accountability. The politician had reiterated that through the sole sourcing of drugs, “Jagdeo and his government did not only ruthlessly rob the nation, but invited his best friend to help to further corrupt the system and to rob the poor people at the same time.”
Baramita woman worried about ... From page 11 but he said he didn’t remember exactly what happened,” said the woman of her grandson. However, police arrested him on suspicion of murdering his cousin, the elder woman said. According to the woman, reports suggest that either because he was intoxicated or because of his physical injuries, her grandson had lost consciousness. His limp body was found near the corpse of his cousin the following day, by which time the matter had gained the attention of police in the
North West District who arrested him. While Joycelyn Henry believes that justice should be served, she is adamant that no child should be left confined to a facility such as the Juvenile Centre for such a prolonged period. “What if they investigate and find that he didn’t do it?” the woman asked, as she expressed concern that her grandson’s future could very well be in jeopardy. In fact she has called to attention the possibility that other youths could be in the same predicament as her grandson.
The Juvenile Holding Centre was officially opened in April 2011 as a facility to detain juvenile offenders. Under the former ruling administration it was decided that as a matter of policy, youths aged 10 and older, but under the age of 17, who have come into conflict with the law, would not be detained in the same environment with adult offenders. While it was not expected to serve as a substitute for the home environment, it was being touted as a facility that could provide needed care and attention for the young offenders.
materials to do that. We have to start concentrating on that,” he added. Fortunately, he said, a Canadian-based paediatric organisation has been working along with the Guyana government to help in this area. Dr. Norton explained that the organisation, Guyana Help the Kids (GHTK), not only fosters postgraduate training in paediatrics, but also trains nurses in the neonatality units. “I am impressed with what they’re doing and the plan is not only to have it there in the Georgetown Public Hospital but also in West Demerara, Suddie, Linden and New Amsterdam.”
Meanwhile, Minister Norton indicated that while changes are being made, the availability of trained personnel remained a huge impediment. “That is why, for instance, in the West Demerara Hospital while you have incubators there, they are not being utilised because you don’t have the persons there to properly use them,” Norton said. In Guyana, neonatal deaths account for about 50% of under-five mortality. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Guyana has already met the target of reducing under-five mortality rates by two-thirds by 2015,
as part of the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG). UNDP data shows that the under-five mortality rate in Guyana dropped from 120 per 1000 live births in 1991 to 15 per 1000 live births in 2008, resulting in early achievement of the MDG target. This achievement was due to successful implementation of nutrition and maternal and child care initiatives, including programmes for comprehensive child immunization coverage, an integrated approach to child health and development and in HIV/AIDS, the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme, the UNDP said.
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Kaieteur News
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Thursday August 06, 2015
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Vreed- En-Hoop Junction: Storage Bond, office, lessons place, games shop, other –Call: 680-9905 Offices- $50,000 @ 220 South Road –Call: 227-0711, 6846571 40x10 Space located on Public Road for bond, business, and office purposes –Call: 6130448, 672-8625 1-320 CL excavator –Call: 6098989 1 Bedroom bottom flat @ Austin Street, parking space available –Call: 628-7953 Two bedrooms house at Zeelught –Call: 682-8920 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE- CALL: 6750767, 627-5098
One Toyota Allion (TV, Reverse Camera) PNN Series –Call: 690-9730, 604-4054 Instock subject to being unsold; 1,000 - 10,000 watts; Complete Solar Units- Mr. Beepat – 600 - 5253 One Tohatsu 40 outboard engine in excellent conditionCall: 680-6192, 225-5447, 2255427 Bobcat, air compressor, cement mixer, John Deer, Diesel Engine –Call: 694-0535
One Complete land Dredge with two Perkins engine for sale - $ 1.5M -Call: 684-6048 or 689-0217 Apartment for rent at Parfaite Dell desktop & laptop Harmonie –Call: 601-5058 computers from $55,000. Free games & educational Hair & nail station: qualified software- call FutureTech: technician @ Alyssa Beauty 231-2206 Salon & Tattoo Parlour, 103 Regent & Wellington Sts. Moving sale – all household (Multi Complex Mall) –Call: items on sale –Call: 656-7133 684-1062 One AT170 Carina PFF One bedroom apartment for Series in working order – working couple only with no Price $300,000 negotiable – Tel: 667-7337 kids –Call: 664-2861 Property for rent at #2 Canal Used XBOX 360, PS Vita, PS3 I-pad & I-pods, XBOX one Polder- Tel: 613-1860 & games –Tel:621-7497; 603Three bedrooms house @ 8643; 649-3277 Diamond 2nd Avenue $600USD, 2 Bedrooms Toyota 212, new model PPP apartment @ Sophia- Series –Tel: 684-5402 $45,000- Contact Raul: 655- 1 Complete music set (qsc 8361 amps, drive rack, bass boxes Rooms! Students are etc), also Yamaha 6000 watt welcome! Semi-furnished generator –Tel: 623-2923 with stove, fridge, One welding machine- Call: microwave, internet service- 687-7725 Call: 223-1757 One 1320CC Caterpillar 1 Two bedrooms bottom flat; Excavator –Call: 658-4450 to rent, West Ruimveldt - XBOX 360 with 40 games$40,000 per mouth –Call: 692- $70,000 and new Nintendo 7377; 672-7194 Wii U $60,000 –Tel: 694-9810 New spacious 2 bedroom 52ft complete cabin cruiser. In apartments with kitchen, excellent condition- Tel: 592bath, camera, grill, fenced, 654-2817, 592-622-2958 secured yard, Vreed-enHoop – Call: 682-5230; 6289596
2002 Yamaha R6 in excellent condition – 27,000 mileage $995,000 –Call: 650-5500,661-2953 Cheapest: Manual/ Automatic super GL buses, Canter, Hilux. Property in Bougainvillea Park for rent/ sale –Call: 616-7635 Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Fielder, Carina 212, Bluebird –Call: 652-3820; 6654529
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One pair mature German shepherd dogs, excellent for guarding and breedingContact: 654-6355 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc Call: 225-9032, 647-2943
TO LET ACCOMODATION Specials on room! Free breakfast, Wi-Fi luxuriously & comfortably @ Signature Inn, 82 Laluni Street, Georgetown –Tel: 226-2145; 227-5037
FOR OVERSEAS VISITORS: FULLY FURNISHED 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS (FRIDGE, STOVE, MICROWAVE, ETC) US $40 DAILY –TEL: 609-8132/672-8569 (MAX) Continued on page 23
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news
There is a place for youth in nation-building and development DEAR EDITOR, A recently released Caribbean Development Bank study pegs youth unemployment in Guyana at approximately 40 percent. With approximately 60-65 percent of the population 40 years and younger this situation raises eyebrows. It says too that the Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar governments did not have a Youth Policy to address this crisis. This level of unemployment can give rise to social diseases such as crime, increased poverty, poor health, attraction to the drug trade and reduction in life expectancy. Another factor is that unemployment contributes to brain drain, further depleting the nation of its most vital resource for development and sustainability. Young people desire to make their own history. They want to build Guyana and cooperate with their elders in doing so. The young have ideas on how things can be done, and since ideas in driving the nation’s agenda and programme take place at
the policy-making phase, having a seat at the table will make a difference. Yes, youth can. The general outlook of youth, especially those who are engaged, is to make a positive difference, to push new limits, set new boundaries, do things a little differently in order to realise new outcomes and growth. This engagement comes with love for fellow citizens and dedication of energies towards the happiness and prosperity of Guyana. Though the young may have been told about or listened to the ‘bad’ stories of 30-plus years ago, they are not necessarily wedded to or interested in these stories in an unholy manner, because they have not experienced them personally. History through the lens of youth is revisited with the desire to understand what made earlier leaders do what they did and usually devoid of deepseated rancour. Though some see youthful zeal as impatience, it is not. Or if this is so construed, it may be
impatience with having to be tied to and burdened by a political past you were not responsible for, had no control over, played no part in, was in your infancy, or when you were not even born. Or having to feel that your entire life will be wasted, tied down to marking time and settling old scores. Youth do not want to be shackled by the past; they want to learn from the past; correct the mistakes of the past and adopt the positives of the past. Youth can see benefits in and learn from the mistakes from all leaders of the past and do not want to have to feel forced to choose one over the other, or see good only in one and bad only in the other. The dead cannot be raised and there is no interest in jumbie politics. Young people are also not looking for handouts and sympathy. They believe a country is allowed to grow and always better off utilising fresh ideas and young blood. It is understandable Bharrat Jagdeo’s bad governance, voracious appetite and un-
gentlemanlike attitude left a bad taste in people’s mouth, and gave youth a bad rap. Jagdeo who came to the presidency at age 35 is an exception, not the norm. In looking within and outside of Guyana, there are numerous persons who have shaped this world and have done so in their youth. Some are Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, all of whom were in their 20s and 30s when they became involved in national issues and held the reins of government. Yes, youth can. In relation to the high level of youth unemployment, in addition to the urgent need for a Job Creation Plan that would aggressively pursue employment opportunities, and an examination of the education system to ensure needed training for a competitive job market, it may be opportune to examine the establishment of a National Service. A National Service along the line where Guyanese are
engaged in personal growth and nation-building through skills acquisition and application, populating the hinterland and reinforcing border security, may be just what Guyana needs at this time. I am advised that the military component in the Guyana National Service (GNS) was guided by a policy to have Guyanese equipped to deal with border threats and that the Service was also a mechanism for satisfying employment needs. There are many who were in the GNS and are leading successful lives. I am aware of an ugly perception of the Service and the unfortunate experiences shared. These can be examined and remedial policies put in place, but they do not give rise to throwing out the baby with the bath water. Venezuela’s ongoing agitation also makes it pressing to review the necessity of such an institution which can simultaneously provide employment opportunities and reinforcement of our borders. Sharma Solomon
From page 22
TO LET For foreigners fully furnished two bedrooms apartment in South. Hot & cold, cable, washing machine & internet- Tel: 6895877 Furnished 2 bedroom apartments in Nandy Park, parking available. For further information – Call: 619-4824 Business place located on Robb Street, next to Bourda Market –Call: 623-7731; 6290636 Newly built 2 bedrooms apartment: bath, toilet, kitchen, sitting area on High Road Greenwich Park, Parka –Tel: 649-6202/664-3508
Frederick Kissoon is a true Guyanese hero DEAR EDITOR, This is to express tremendous gratitude to an unsung hero in the fight for Guyana and Guyanese...Mr. Frederick Kissoon. My brother Junior/ Mahesh Sahadeo, used to buy the newspapers just so that he could read Freddie’s columns and letters. We are amazed at his fearlessness. I have spoken to many who would criticize him, yet
none of his critics would do what he has been doing....endangering his and his near and dear ones’ lives, to give voice to the voiceless; fight for the rights of the downtrodden, the forgotten masses. And for what gains? None materialistic, as we can see from how he lives his life. He is a humble guy with a huge heart. My sister and I ran into Freddie shortly after the
No thanks, America... From page 4 the word to all nations worldwide. In fact, I first heard the gospel by American teachers at Parishara Village where I was born. Mr. Hunt’s democratic right allows him to speak whatever he wishes, but not everything is accepted. For example, his recent invitation on his country’s behalf for Guyana to join the legalising of gay marriages. I think that same-sex marriage is an act that all religions condemn. Why? Because their focus is centred on the eternal and just God. America has changed the truth of God into a lie and more than that they are also inviting others to join them in their folly. Romans 1:26-28 clearly speaks about such. When Almighty God created humans, he created man and woman. Man has proven to have changed the genital
but will never change the sex. I personally thank God that Guyana has a God-fearing president and in my opinion will never approve such a foolish act and say it is human rights. I urge all God-fearing and decent people in Guyana to denounce and take a firm stance against such an act that brings curse and death to a nation. Perry Da Silva
passing of our brother J u n i o r. F r e d d i e w a s s o shocked to hear the news and he expressed words of comfort to us and then said that we should not hesitate to call on him at anytime for help. This is a man we had just known in a short while and apart from gaffing, did not have much interaction with him. He cares for people even without much contact with them.
I can tell you, he is a vast difference from many who, under the guise of God/ Religion, use and abuse people.....those who remember you when in need and disappear when you are of no use any longer. Freddie has been fighting incessantly and I pray that he continues to have the strength to continue this fight for those who need his help. When you want to see
how remarkable this soul is....he has not stopped his vigilance for atrocities, even while we have the Government that he fought for. Yes...he does not condone or support the evil of abuse. Frederick Kissoon is a true Guyanese hero and I pray that he gets his due with a National Award very soon. Keep on fighting and writing, my brother. Thank you so very much. Nanda Sahadeo
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale, Grove $20M. Tel: 625-5461. 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete. Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 629-4017 2-Two storey concrete & timber properties on single plot @ Newtown Kitty Sale by owner $75M (GYD) – Call: 643-7061/ 673-8721 2 Storey concrete property for sale at 2nd Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, E.B.D- Tel: 674-9266 or 686-9248
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Kaieteur News
Thursday August 06, 2015
Man gets six months for failing Pregnant City to pay $1.5M in child support Constables reinstated
“Ah willing fuh give she my house and car, yuh worship,” a desperate father beseeched after Magistrate Leron Daly informed him that he would be jailed for not paying child support. The man, Roshan Butters, of Craig, East Bank Demerara, had incurred arrears of $1.5M. Somehow, he was managing to evade the police after several arrests warrants were issued for his arrest. But his luck ran out after lawman hunted him down and brought him to face the consequences of being an irresponsible father at the Providence Magistrate’s Court. Butters was handcuffed to a fellow prison inmate on a wooden bench in the packed courtroom, while the mother
of his children was seated to his far right on the other side of the room. Upon hearing his name called loudly by the orderly, Butters sprang from his seat and stood before the Magistrate. The Magistrate spoke to him in a business-like tone. She inquired why he had failed to pay the monies. To this, Butters responded and said he had no money. At this point, the Magistrate informed him that she would be imposing a jail sentence on him. However, after hearing this, Butters started to beg hysterically.” I willing fuh gave she my house and car, yuh worship. Yuh gon send me back deh? Don’t send me to jail.”
Butters continued, “I can only afford to pay $30,000 right now.” He also told the court that he had two daughters, who were staying at a neighbour. He also said that he had not heard from the children in awhile. But his desperate pleas did not persuade the Magistrate. She jailed him for six months. When Butters heard the verdict, he appeared startled. He began looking around the courtroom with his eyes bulging. He then turned to the Magistrate and exclaimed, “Six months! Six months!”, in an unbelievable tone. It took a few seconds for Butters to realize that he would not experience freedom for at least the remainder of the year.
The three City Constables who were sacked for becoming pregnant during their two-year probation period have been reinstated. When Kaieteur News contacted Chief Constabulary Officer Andrew Foo yesterday, he confirmed the development and said that the decision to reinstate the women was made between himself and the Town Clerk, Royston King. He said the specific details would be provided by the Town Clerk. Attempts to contact Mr. King were futile. In the past few days there has been widespread condemnation over the sacking of the three women. Their dismissal was as a result of a policy used by the organization which prohibits female officers from becoming pregnant within two years in accordance with the City Constabulary Standing Order section 4:11 (Para) J 11. At a press conference held at City Hall on Tuesday, last, Superintendent attached to the training department of the Georgetown City
Constabulary, Laurel Gittens, had explained the requirements to be upheld by applicants. She had stated that by being lenient on this particular policy it would put a tremendous burden on the organization since they do not have the manpower capacity like the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force to facilitate such a cause. “It would put a burden on the organization if we allow women to become impregnated during probation… The pregnancy constitutes a clear violation of the City Constabulary Standing Order section 4:11 (Para) J 11,” Gittens said. She emphasised that any change in the policy would ultimately have to be made by parliament. “This can only be done if it is introduced to the legal affairs of the city’s constabulary who would later introduce it to the City Council, who then would further take it to parliament for review, and only then can the policy be changed.” Although both the
constitution and the Prevention of Discrimination Act expressly prohibit discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy, Gittens said that they do not see it as discrimination, but just implementing a policy which the women were fully aware of before being enlisted. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Debra Lewis asserted that the policy is also looking out for the benefit of the women citing that a two-year period would give them enough time to have National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions which would eventually qualify them to have maternity leave. Superintendent Gittens had explained that even though the pregnancies are a violation of a department policy, the authorities are tolerant to the point where ranks can go to their heads and explain the situation. After which they are given the option to resign and return at a suitable time after having the baby, and the person would be reinstated to their position.
Govt. touts broad-based, tougher ... From page 14 services from the government. The report, regarding Guyana, said the country is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour. Women and children from Guyana, Venezuela, Suriname, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic are subjected to sex trafficking in mining communities in the interior and in urban areas, the report said. Victims are subjected to forced labour in the mining, agriculture, and forestry sectors, as well as in domestic service and shops. Children are particularly vulnerable to sex trafficking and forced labour. According to the report, limited government presence in the interior masks the full scope of trafficking crimes. “Some police officers are complicit in trafficking crimes, and corruption impedes anti-
trafficking efforts.” It had said that the Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. In its recommendations, the US called for Guyana to vigorously investigate and prosecute sex and labour trafficking cases and hold convicted traffickers accountable with time in prison that is commensurate with the severity of the crime. The country is also expected to provide increased funding for NGOs to identify and assist victims; investigate, prosecute, and convict government officials complicit in trafficking; make additional efforts to enable victims to appear in court and testify against traffickers in a way that does not further endanger victims; develop child-sensitive investigation procedures and
court procedures that protect the privacy of children and minimize their re-traumatization. Also, in partnership with NGOs, it is expected that the authorities will develop and publicize written standard operating procedures to guide and encourage front-line officials—including police, health, immigration, labour, mining, and forestry personnel—to identify and protect victims of forced labour and forced prostitution; not punish victims for crimes committed as a result of being subjected to human trafficking. It was stressed that increased protection and assistance for victims near mining communities must be provided. The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is the U.S. Government's principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking.
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Thursday August 06, 2015
Economic empowerment needed to increase trade with more African countries, says Trinidad minister
Minister Vasant Bharath (3rd left) shake hands with Dr Julius Garvey (right) as Khafra Kambon, Chairman of the Emancipation Support Committee (2nd left) as Tracy Wilson, Director ESCTT (left) look on PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Senator Vasant Bharath, minister of trade, industry, investment and communications and minister in the ministry of finance and the economy in Trinidad and Tobago has called for greater economic empowerment to increase trade relations with African countries. Bharath made this appeal during the launch of the fifteenth annual Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium hosted by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago
(ESCTT) last Friday in Port of Spain. In his address, Bharath stated that “the theme of the symposium ‘Reinventing the Triangle’ calls to mind the need for us to shift the archetype from one which was driven by colonialism and exploitation, to a reality focused on mutually beneficial trade between our regions, which has the ability to harness positive economic circumstances for all. It is essentially a call for intensified trade and economic cooperation between
the Caribbean and Africa’. “There is tremendous value in further improving economic collaborations between the private and public sectors as well as the Caribbean and African region. With the international community expected to inject 73.5 billion US dollars in foreign direct investment in 2015 as reported by the African Development Bank, it is evident that there is strong business confidence in the region and our discussions should also look at ways and means in which Africa and the Diaspora can leverage its combined strength, expertise, experiences and resources to drive further growth in their respective and collective economies,” he added. The trade minister noted that the African economic reality has progressively changed over the years and that Trinidad and Tobago can gain valuable knowledge from exploring the Nigerian experience. He cited the improved economic performance of Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa’s largest oil exporter, which amidst uncertain economic times in 2014 achieved an impressive growth of 6.3% as stated by the International Monetary Fund. This he believed was achieved through “sound macroeconomic policies, collective determination and resilience”. In delivering remarks at the launch, Khafra Kambon, chairman of the Emancipation Support Committee said that “the African continent now has five of the fastest growing economies, which signals Africa as a place for investment”. He encouraged the participants to “use the symposium to form partnerships and to foster mutually beneficial relationships”.
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
Venezuela prepares for elections, opposition could win majority
Shortages of basic goods, including food and medicine. File Photo by Gary I. Rothstein/UPI License Photo The influence on Venezuela’s politics by former President Hugo Chávez’s party is waning. CARACAS, Venezuela (UPI) — As candidate nominations begin nationwide, Venezuela is setting the stage for parliamentary elections scheduled for Dec. 6, when President Nicolás Maduro’s ruling party could see a significant loss. After years of dominating Venezuelan politics, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) may lose its congressional majority. Nominations for candidates will extend until tomorrow for the December elections to chose 167 National Assembly members. Venezuela has the fastest annual inflation rate in the world, estimated at 108 percent, and one of the highest homicide rates. Shortages of basic goods, such as food, toilet paper and medicine have eaten away at Maduro’s approval rating, which in May was at about 25 percent. Maduro’s approval rating is expected to deteriorate further as Venezuela’s economy worsens. A recent poll put opposition candidates winning the December elections with about 56 percent of votes, whereas the ruling PSUV would only get about 30 percent.The PSUV’s predecessor, Movimiento Quinta República (MVR), was founded in 1997 by Hugo Chávez, who went on to win Venezuela’s 1998 presidential election with about 56 percent of votes.MVR was dissolved in 2007 and transformed into the PSUV in an attempt to unite all political parties loyal
to former President Chávez, who died from cancer in 2013. Under the Venezuelan constitution, a new election was called after Chávez’s death, which Maduro, who was then vice president, won by a narrow margin of about 1.6 percent. Chávez won the election over the same candidate, Henrique Capriles Radonski, with about 11 percent of votes just six months
prior. Voter turnout for both elections was about 80 percent.Venezuela’s government under Chávez and Maduro has been accused of corruption and inefficacy that have worsened the country’s problems. Nationwide political dissonance also leads into accusations of electoral fraud, including of voter suppression and ballot destruction or invalidation.
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Thursday August 06, 2015
Obama defends Iran nuclear Greece’s Tsipras says deal as U.S. diplomacy over war loan deal with lenders close Barack Obama
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama defended the U.S.-led international nuclear deal with Iran yesterday against a furious lobbying effort by political opponents and Israel and said abandoning the agreement would open up the prospect of war. Invoking the Cold War peacemaking initiatives of former U.S. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, Obama said if Congress blocked the deal it would accelerate Tehran’s path to a bomb and severely damage America’s credibility.
Obama said “alternatives to military actions will have been exhausted once we reject a hard-won diplomatic solution that the world almost unanimously supports.” He added: “Let’s not mince words. The choice we face is ultimately between diplomacy or some form of war. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not three months from now, but soon.”Obama’s speech was part of a push to promote the July 14 agreement between Iran and six world powers put together over 18 months of negotiations. The
six agreed to lift economic sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program, which Tehran said was for peaceful energy purposes only.The White House has pressured Congress to support the deal as they return home for an August recess. To counter an opposition effort that has spent millions on advertisements, Obama asked the audience to contact their representatives and ask them to support the pact. Congress has until Sept. 17 to vote on the deal. If it passes and survives a presidential veto, a resolution rejecting it would cripple the agreement by eliminating Obama’s ability to waive many sanctions. The leaders of the Senate said they had agreed to begin their recess yesterday, but start debate on a resolution of disapproval on the Iran deal as soon as they return to Washington on Sept. 8.Republicans in Congress overwhelmingly oppose the nuclear agreement, saying it does not go far enough to ensure Iran will never be able to develop a nuclear weapon.
ATHENS (Reuters) - Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said yesterday that Greece was close to concluding a deal with lenders on a multi-billion-euro bailout, which he said would end doubts over its place in the euro zone. The comments were the latest in a series of unusually upbeat assessments by Greek and European officials of progress in talks towards up to 86 billion euros ($93.6 billion) in fresh loans to stave off the country’s financial ruin and economic collapse. “We are in the final stretch,” Tsipras said. “Despite the difficulties we are facing we hope this agreement can end uncertainty on the future of Greece.” An accord must be settled - or a bridge loan agreed - by Aug. 20, when a 3.5 billion euro debt payment to the European Central Bank falls due. Both sides have said such a deal is possible, although the European Commission described the target as ambitious, suggesting much remains to be done.
Discussions between Greece and representatives from the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, European Commission and the euro zone’s bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, started in the last week of July. Tsipras, who was visiting the agriculture ministry, said the process should also potentially include the European Parliament, indirectly alluding to past complaints over the legitimacy of demands from lenders. “It should at some point be under the control and monitoring of the European Parliament, a democratic institution which has accountability,” Tsipras said. Over the next two weeks Greece must conclude the bailout, or at least secure a bridge loan such as the one last month to cover its immediate financing needs. Greek officials say the country wants a full bailout immediately rather than a bridge loan. “We will not accept new
prior actions (reform conditions in place) in order to have a small bridge loan,” said Nikos Filis, parliamentary spokesman for Tsipras’s Syriza party. “We want one final deal to be signed and then we will see what is needed to have a disbursement of 25 billion euros as the first instalment.” Agreements have already been reached on pensions, including only changing conditions for those eligible after last June. Talks on privatizations have been held up over what Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos says is a minor issue, essentially over whether a new or existing agency should deal with tenders already agreed. On one of the trickier questions, that of bank recapitalization, Tsakalotos said yesterday that Greece and its international lenders both wanted it agreed before year-end, a move that would avoid new rules forcing large depositors to pay for some of
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
One year out: Notable athletes to watch in Rio NBC Sport - If you read this space, you’re already very familiar with the likes of Michael Phelps, Usain B o l t , M i s s y Franklin and Ryan Lochte. Here are 10 more gold-medal contenders we’ve been tracking on the road to Rio: Simone Biles, Gymnastics: The two-time reigning World all-around champion is also known for being chased off a medal podium by a pesky bee Oct. 10 in Nanning, China. She’s certainly not been scared by any other gymnasts, going unbeaten in all-around competitions the last two years. The 18-year-old, homeschooled Texan could be favored to win five medals in Rio (tying a U.S. women’s gymnastics record for a single Games) and extend the U.S. streak of Olympic all-around champions to four (Carly
Patterson, Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas). David Boudia, Diving: In 2012, Boudia headlined an American diving team that captured four medals, the first U.S. Olympic diving medals since Sydney 2000. Boudia, the Olympic platform champion, was the only American to earn a World Championships diving medal in 2013. He’s in a similar position now as he was four years ago, chasing the mighty Chinese after earning a third straight Worlds platform silver on Sunday. Boudia could become the first U.S. diver since Greg Louganis to win gold in back-to-back Olympics. Jordan Burroughs, Wrestling: Since winning 74kg freestyle gold at London 2012, Burroughs nearly saw his sport booted from the Olympic program, became a
father and tasted defeat for the first time in more than four years. He hopes to become the third American to win back-to-back Olympic wrestling titles, but he may run into a Russian with whom he compares his rivalry to that of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Ashton Eaton, Track and Field: The reigning Olympic decathlon champion and world’s greatest athlete is still considered the world’s best over 10 events, even though he hasn’t completed a decathlon in two years. Eaton took 2014 off and tried his hand at the 400m hurdles instead. He’s back to his signature two-day event, and in Rio he will also be rooting for his wife, Canadian heptathlete Brianne Theisen-Eaton, who owns the world’s best score this year. They may both wear ice hats.
Thursday August 06, 2015 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) You will accomplish the most through orderly activities. Opportunities to make advancements through good business sense are apparent.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Exaggeration or deception coupled with overindulgence might be a problem. Tempers will mount if you're too pushy at work or at home.
TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) A long discussion is in order if you wish to clear the air. Let your boss know your goals. Dig deep, ferret out any hidden concerns before you sign your life away
SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) You may have a problem with someone you live with if you don't include them in your gathering.
GEMINI (MAY22-JUNE 21) Any contributions you make to organizations will enhance your reputation and bring you offers. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) Be careful not to push your luck or take too much for granted when dealing on either a personal or professional level. Children may cause limitations. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Passion is about the best way for you to relieve tension. Finish projects that have been hanging over your head. Abrupt changes concerning your professional position are evident. VIRGO (AUG. 23 SEPT. 23) Join a club to work off that excess energy; but consider ways of doing that without spending the money. Get them to pitch in, if you need help.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Check into art objects or precious stones. You can do well in group endeavors. You may have major blowups with someone you love if you don't back down. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) You can ask for favors but don't take them for granted. Your words will be taken out of context if you're evasive with coworkers or employers. Stay mellow. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Find out exactly what's expected of you and you'll be surprised to find out how capable you are. If you can get away for a vacation, do so. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) You should be setting up interviews or sending out your resume today. Mishaps due to preoccupation will be upsetting.
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Trinidad CC supports RHT Gizmos... From page 33 the donation, stated that the Trinidad based club was very impressed with the work of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, especially its Youth Development Programmes directed to youths in Region 5 and 6. He stated that he and the Trinidad Club have followed the activities of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club with great interest as one of its overseas players was from the Area “H” Ground Club. Eon Hooper, a Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club First Division player, played for Calcutta Sports Club and Mohamed described him as a
remarkable sport ambassador and outstanding cricketer on and off the cricket field. Mohamed, a long serving cricket official in the Tw i n I s l a n d R e p u b l i c , pledged his club’s continued assistance to the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and expressed an interest about learning more of the Club’s highly successful Say No To Drugs, Crime and Suicide and Say Ye s t o E d u c a t i o n a n d Sports Programme. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster accepting the financial donation expressed gratitude to Mohamed and his Club. The donation
would be used to purchase school bags and footwear for less fortunate students in Region 6. He also congratulated Eon Hooper for his positive representation of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club while being on his overseas stint and for seeking assistance for the outreach campaign, which was coordinated by the different cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club. Foster also announced that the Club would be assisting several clubs with sport gears in the 4th quarter in 2015 under a joint project with the Guyana Police Force.
Persaud satisfied with performance... From page 34 results because that’s how it goes. I thought I shot well over the three days, I handled the wind pretty well and was getting off decent shots, which was most important.” Persaud who shot the only possible among the trio that represented the West Indies; the others being Lennox Braithwaite and Norris Gomez; said he is confident that the three will combine well for the West Indies in the America match which will see the Caribbean represented by the best eight shooters, tomorrow. “Lennox, Norris and I who would have shot in the US National Individuals would do pretty good in the team match. The other guys are going into this game without a practice session and that’s the only worry I have but we will have to work hard, put our best foot
Local Instructors/ Assessors... From page 35 Football Federation’s (GFF) Head of Refereeing Department, said that the plan now is to host a similar course locally to bring the Guyanese referees and local instructors/ assessors abreast with the laws of the game. This he said will be done later this month.
GCB mourns...
From page 31 pleasant person, always trying to cheer others. He was also very devoted and passionate about his work. During his years as a book scorer and statistician, he tried to get others onboard with him; especially the youths. He even made himself available to train them. The GCB offers warmest condolences to his family, relatives and friends, our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time, the release concluded.
forward and I think we will get some good results.” Persaud who has been named Vice Captain of the West Indies team believes that the equipment that his colleagues have acquired is on par with those of the best shooters in the world. “It boils down to knowing the ranges competing against
the others. All of us, I think it is our first time here and even for the Americans and the British who have been here many times, the conditions have been a bit difficult. For us to have performed how we did over the past three days, I think it is s feather in our caps.”
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Kaieteur News
Thursday August 06, 2015
NRA US Fullbore National Individual Championships
Persaud ends 83rd, Braithwaite 208th, Gomez 289th of 362 shooters By Franklin Wilson at Camp Perry, Ohio, USA compliments of NAMILCO, Ringbang, Crown Mining Supply, Fazias Collection and Queensway Challenging conditions and a few hiccups with the marking saw National Fullbore Captain Mahendra finishing 83rd overall when the curtains came down on the 2015 National Rifle Association of America (NRA) US Fullbore National Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio, yesterday. Matching shots with the best practitioners in the world, Persaud, one of three West Indians competing in the championships, placed 83rd out of 362 competitors following three intense days of shooting. He ended with a total of 584-46Vs with fellow countryman and reigning Caribbean Individual Champion Lennox Braithwaite placing 208th with a score of 572-51 while West Indies Fullbore Shooting Council President Norris Gomez of Trinidad and Tobago ended 289 with 554-29. Following the final two ranges yesterday which was 600 and 1000 yards, the top 10 shooters went into a shoot off where Australian
Matthew Pozzebon emerged as the 2015 NRA US Fullbore Individual champion with a score of 669-79. The top 10 shooters were allowed to take their scores from the three days of competition into the final showdown. David Luckman of Great Britain came a close second with 668-79 while another Australian, Jim Bailey placed third with 667-72. Yesterday, Persaud started off very well with an almost perfect score dropping a single point at the 600 yards range; 74-5. Braithwaite was close behind on 73-9 while Gomez managed 70-6. But even with their good performances it left the West Indian trio at 185th, 198th and 302nd in the battle for the top 10. Conditions were not going to get any better with all the leading shots in the world aiming and firing with precision at the targets on another sunny, windy and chilly day. Paul Prinsloo of South Africa won the 600 shoot with a perfect score of 75-14 the same score recorded by Jon underwood and Steven Thomas, both of Great Britain. The final range, save and except for the top 10 shots was the 1000 yards where Persaud could only manage 70-3, Gomez 69-4 and Braithwaite, 68-5. At this level, losing a single point can make
Mahendra Persaud and Lennox Braithwaite discusses after the 1000 yards shoot on the final day at the NRA US Individuals. the difference between winning and losing or placing 10th and 100th. This range again saw perfect scores being recorded as had been the norm at every single range throughout the championship. Great Britain’s David Calvert won on Vs (12) from fellow countryman Chris Fitzpatrick and Australian Ben Emms who had 11 each, the trio recording perfect scores of 75 each. For the Day 3 Aggregate, Persaudhad 144-8, Braithwaite 141-14 and Gomez139-10. It was won by Emms (150-23) who was followed by Paul Savage of Australia 150-20, Okker De Klerk of South Africa 150-19, Matthew Griffin Overall Aggregate Name MahendraPersaud Lennox Braithwaite Norris Gomez Top 10 Matthew Pozzebon David Luckman Jim Bailey Parag Patel Norman Houle Matthew Ensor Ed Jeens Jon Underwood Matthew Griffin Colin Cole
of the USA 150-17 and Tom G. Rylands of Great Britain 15015. At each range including the top 10 shoot off, competitors were given 15 shots and 2 sighting shots worth 5 points each. The maximum points that could have been awarded were 75 along with the Vs that were shot. On day 1 (Monday), competitors shot at 300, 600 and 900 yards. Day 2 the ranges were 300, 900 and 1000 while yesterday’s final day it was from the 600 and 900 yards ranges. The top 10 shooters then competed from the 1000 yards range to decide the overall top 10 places.
Score 584-46 572-51 554-29
Placing 83rd 208th 289th
Country Guyana Guyana T&T
669-79 668-79 667-72 666-73 666-71 665-70 665-68 663-72 663-69 663-69
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Australia Great Britain Australia Great Britain USA Great Britain Great Britain Great Britain USA Australia
LABA U-23, Division I tournaments for this month The Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) will be hosting an Under-23 tournament, during August 9-15 and a Division I round-robin championships scheduled during August 19September 19 at the MSC Hardcourt, Linden. According to a release from the LABA, teams will be seeded from 1-8 on the conclusion of the tournament, since that was an absent feature of the LABA structure in previous years. LABA President, Lawrence Simon also took the opportunity to apologise to
basketball officials in Linden for expressing his views on the state of officiating in the community. Simon had said that the depletion of referees and table officials remains to be a plague and thus have a bottle neck effect on the sport. Kaieteur Sport had carried that comment. “I mentioned that of the few referees who are active, they do not do it for the love and development of the game we all so love, but for the financial gains. I retract this part of my comment,” Simon said.
Wasim Akram safe after being shot at in Karachi
Wasim Akram gives his statement to a police officer at the National Stadium © AFP ESPNcricinfo - Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram is safe after being involved in a road-rage shooting incident in Karachi. He was on his way to the National Stadium for a fastbowling camp when the attack occurred. Akram told Express News, a Pakistan television channel, that was he was “in shock” and that he had noted the car number and given it to the police. “Wasim was driving himself, and the car next to him tried to jam his car to one side and opened fire. He did not get hit, he is now at the
National Stadium, dealing with police formalities,” Arsalan Hyder, Akram’s manager, told ESPNcricinfo. Deputy Inspector General of Karachi East, Munir Sheikh, said it was a case of road rage. “According to preliminary investigation, the incident appears to be a case of road rage. But we cannot say clearly what the motive behind the attack on Wasim Akram was,” Sheikh told reporters outside the National Stadium. “We have identified the car from CCTV footage and will have the suspect in custody in a couple of hours.”
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 31
Police B Division assists young ELECTRA SC OVERCOME West Indies U15 selectee ST. LEONARD’S
Members of both teams share a moment after the game. Electra Sports Club of East Bank Demerara defeated St. Leonard’s Secondary School of Barbados by 11 runs in a 20-over tapeball match played at Diamond tarmac recently. Batting first Electra SC posted 76 off their
Commander B Division Assistant Commissioner B Division Christopher Griffith presents the gear to Sinclair in the presence of Deputy Superintendent Persaud and Sinclair’s mother. The police force is not only about solving crimes, executing charges and prosecuting cases but about helping people do good in whatever way possible and more. In that light, Police B Division (Berbice) Commander, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith and Sports Officer of the Division Deputy Superintendent and Officer In charge of Traffic Boodnarine Persaud recently took time out from their busy schedule to make a significant donation of some cricket gear to West Indies U15 selectee Kevin Sinclair. The presentation was done in the office of the Commander at B Division police headquarters, Couburg Street and Strand, New Amsterdam, Berbice. Sinclair is one of three Guyanese and the only Berbician elected to represent the West Indies against England in an U15 tournament in England over the August holidays. Assistant Commissioner of police Christopher Griffith expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the officers and ranks of Police B Division. He stated that the force is extremely pleased to be in a position to hand over the set of gear to young Kevin Sinclair. He said that Sinclair has shown tremendous dedication, talent and promise to what he is doing over the years. As such the Police Force has no
hesitation is continuing to assist him. The commander stated that the youths are our future and the Police force will endeavor in every way possible to assist them in their development, in whatever career they choose, as long as it is beneficial to the society. He congratulated Sinclair being selected to represent the West Indies and wished him well. He encouraged him to make the best use of the opportunity given and to make all proud. ”You are in a privileged position at an early age and you should go forward and become a role model,” he asserted. He stated that, “I know how difficult it is at times for young athletes to make it to the top. So it is our desire to always assist persons, especially youths, who are willing to make a positive contribution to society.” He said that the gear donated should go a far way in helping Sinclair achieving his goal. He further went on to urge him to “inculcate good discipline, be smart, listen and think before you act…..and it will take you a far way in your development.” Deputy Superintendent Persaud in remarks stated that the set of gear is a token from Commander Griffith and the other members of the Administration of Berbice to assist young Sinclair as he ventures to represent the West Indies in England later in August.
He said that Sinclair who represented Guyana in the Regional U15 cricket tournament with much success has been a member of the Police cricket team since at the age of 13. Sinclair is an all-round player who bats up the order and also bowls off spin. In responding, Sinclair who was accompanied by his mother expressed his heartfelt thanks to Commander Griffith, Deputy Superintendent Persaud, Captain and Coach of the Police team Inspector Michael Newland and the rest of the members of the Police force for assisting him with the much needed gear. He said that he is very thankful for the assistance which will go a far way in helping him in his sojourn. He will endeavor to do his best and to make all those who support him, his country and the West Indies proud. His mother, Jonell Sinclair in expressing her appreciation, thanked all those who supported and stood in the gap for him. She said that without the tangible support it would have been very difficult for them to make it since the family hadn’t all the necessary resources to finance his needs. She wished Commander Griffith and his team God’s blessing and every success in their future endeavor. Sinclair received a suit case a pair of batting gloves, a thigh pad and a helmet from the police officers. (Samuel Whyte)
allotted overs. Jonathan William led with 41, while Toney John made 29 and Mark Prince 26. St. Leonard’s were restricted for 65 in reply. S. Ward made 41.
Group 1 drivers to compete for $200,000 in prize monies Competitors assigned o the Group 1 category for Sunday’s Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club ‘National Race of Champions’ Meet has every motivation to provide fans with some thrilling races. The Meet which will be held at the South Dakota Circuit will see competitors in the Group 1 Division race for prize monies totalling $200,000 to be shared to the top three drivers with the most points accumulated over the three races scheduled for the group. Two entities A&R
GCB mourns Ronald Legall death In a release the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) informed that it mourns the loss of Ronald Legall who passed away on August 3, 2015 at the age of 72 due to a terminal illness. He was not a stranger to the cricket fraternity as he was one of the persons approached for accurate cricket records; something he took pride in compiling. His contribution to cricket in Guyana was instrumental and will always be remembered. He was a dedicated cricket scorer for the radio during regional and international tournaments in Guyana, and an efficient statistician, the release informed. He was courteous, helpful, humorous and a (Continued on page 29)
Jiwanram Printery and A n s a Mc Al under its Febreeze brand have combined to put up the prize for the outstanding performers of the day. According to a release, the drives with the most accumulated points will receive $100,000, runner-up $60,000 and 3rd place $40,000.
There is one important request being made by the sponsors, all drivers listed to compete in the category must contact Paul Jiwanram on tele# 603-1250 for the VISOR. If the Competitors don’t comply with the VISOR requirement on the car, they will not be eligible to enter the competition.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday August 06, 2015
Respect the Game Charity Basketball … Hathiramani, Nedd spearhead DCC TO EASY VICTORY Team Bond and Team Toney
ready to ignite Linden
James Bond
Rawle Toney Sherfene Rutherford plays an attacking shot
Ashmead Nedd (right) and Sagar Hathiramani Outstanding bowling performances by spinners Sagar Hathiramani and Ashmead Nedd spearheaded host Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) to a comprehensive sixwicket victory over St.
Leonard’s Secondary School of Barbados in a 50-over contest yesterday. Hathiramani finished with 4-6 off 7.2 overs, while Nedd grabbed 4-16 from eight as St. Leonard’s who recently won
the Sir Garfield Sobers international schools’ tournament were bowled out for 89 in 40 overs after they elected to bat. Sadrian Ward was the only batsman that offered any resistance with a top score of 26 which contained three fours and one six. DCC lost Raymond Perez (08), Sachin Singh (05) and Joshua Persaud (09) early on but Sherfene Rutherford took the host within sights of victory before he was dismissed for 36. He smashed four fours and two maximums. Alphius Bookie and Timothy Mc Almont were unbeaten on 10 and seven respectively when victory was achieved; DCC ended on 90-4 in 36.2 overs. Camani Boyce took 2-19.
Medicine Chest Pharmacy donates to Boyce/Jefford Classic VI Medicine Chest Pharmacy has joined the list of sponsors for the upcoming Boyce/ Jefford Track and Field Classic VI, which will be held at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, Linden, August 15-16 with athletes from the Caribbean taking on Guyana.
Manager at the Pharmacy, located on Middle Street, Amanda Doodnauth made the contribution on behalf of the proprietors. One of the Coordinators of the athletics competition, Edison Jefford thanked Medicine Chest for their support.
Floodlights to play Paradise Sports of Trinidad tomorrow @ DCC The GFSCA will host the visiting Paradise Sports and Cultural Organisation from Chaguanas, Trinidad to a feature 20/20 cricket match tomorrow at the Demerara Cricket Club ground starting 6:30pm under lights. The versatile men from “Floodlights”, Guyana Softball Cup 4 and 2015 New York Independence Cup champions will put on pads, batting gloves, helmets as
they switch to Hardball cricket. Paradise Sports was first hosted in 1972 by the then famous Ogle Cricket Club and followed up this inaugural tour with several others up to the mid-eighties where they played various Clubs on the East Coast. Some members from that 1972 trip will be in attendance at DCC tomorrow. Meanwhile, Floodlights have announced their squad to
take on the Trini’s. The team reads Ricky Deonarain capt., Reyaz Hussein, Wayne Jones, Uniss Yusuf, Khalid Baksh, Richard Persaud, Dharam Persaud, Aravinda Gainda, Romeo Deonarain, Steve Narine, Rahaman Khan, Surendra Nauth, Rakesh Goverdhan, Rohan Boj-Raj Manager. Admission is free, with lots on sale to eat drink and live entertainment.
Respect the Game Inc, the only ‘Sportainment’ Charitable Company in Guyana, is taking their Charity Basketball to Linden tomorrow with a triple header at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court. Attorney-At-Law James Bond will lead his ‘Team Bond’ along with Georgetown clubs Ravens, Pacesetters and Colts against Sport Journalist and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Communications Director Rawle Toney’s Amelia’s Ward Jets, Half Mile Bulls and Victory Valley Royals. The ‘Team Bond’ versus ‘Team Toney’ concept was birthed last year when a group of friends (Herman Liverpool, Toney, Bond, Edison Jefford,
Campton Bobb and Surika Danraj) came together and used the sport of basketball, their players and celebrities, to help give back to the less fortunate. “We started the ‘Respect the Game’ movement last year when we had a celebrity event at the Sports Hall and now, we’re taking it to Linden,” said Toney. He further added, “I’m from Linden so ‘Team Toney’ will be bringing the best team from the town (Linden) and I know James’ ‘Team Bond’ will be very strong. The idea though, is to first help in giving back to basketball, making sure the players benefit, as well as using all the funds to support those in
need in Linden.” The event in Linden was made possible through sponsorship from ENetworks, Gravity Lounge, Sleep Inn International Hotel, Buddy’s Pool Hall and Fitness Express. “Linden is a basketball community and it’s been a while since they’ve actually seen some good basketball. This event will reignite that Linden versus Georgetown rivalry, while doing so for a good cause,” Toney said. Meanwhile, according to Toney, Respect the Game Inc is presently doing a Schools Supplies Drive for the month of August to assist 200 children when school reopens in September.
Palm Court supports $25M Guyana Cup 2015 event They are set to come from all walks of life and true to promises sponsors are wasting no time in speeding forward to be amongst the privileged for the ninth annual Guyana Cup 2015. The event which is by far the biggest horserace meet of the racing calendar and the most lucrative sporting event of the year in Guyana have $25M in prizes on offer. The event, which is organized by the Jumbo Jet Business and friends, is being staged in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club with support from the Government of Guyana and the blessing of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) is slated for Sunday August 16 at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne Berbice. With business heavyweight Banks DIH Limited and Digicel playing
major parts of the activity, the latest business entity to swing into action for a spot on the roller coaster event is entertainment giant Palm Court of Camp Street Georgetown. On Wednesday Manager of Palm Court Sasha Lewis made good on their promise as she presented a cheque for a hefty sum to Rovin De Souza of the Guyana Cup Organising Committee. So far Electronics giant Electronics City, Poonai Pharmacy and Hand In Hand Insurance are some of the Major sponsors on board so far. With ten races on the day’s card the organizers have catered for everyone as all the horses will have an opportunity to take part. The A class event is expected to be a who is who in the horse racing circle in Guyana as all the top runners are hitting top gear at
practice. With the likes of Score’s Even, C.P Got Even, Spit Fire, Jack in MY Style, Princess She Not, Diplomatic Cat and Curfew Tower all set to be a part of the action. Word is also out that the once feared Treacle will also be back after a long layoff due to injury to add excitement to the days meet. The winner will race away with $3M and the Guyana Cup Trophy over 1800M. The top Jockey along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the organizers. The event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. Race time is 12:30 hrs. The coordinator is Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed. Race time is 12:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
Kaieteur News
Thursday August 06, 2015
Page 33
Two Essequibo businesses back Clive Gobin Memorial tourney
Members of the female team share a moment with clerk Ashie Singh of Thakur Hardware Store
Z
org Commemoration Committee has continued to attract sponsors for its Clive Gobin Memorial cricket competition which is set to commence on August 9 on the Essequibo Coast. Nandkishore Singh of Lumber Yard and Processing Establishment of Airy Hall and Thakur Persaud Hardware Store of Golden Fleece have thrown their weight behind the tournament. Singh recently presented a cheque of an undisclosed sum to the organization which
will aid in the construction of a permanent shed at the Zorg ground that will be used to accommodate cricketers, while Persaud has donated other materials for the said purpose. Chairman of the Committee, Raoul Ruplal expressed gratitude to both individuals. The competition is being sponsored by Dereck Gobin Agri Spares and will culminate on August 9 with a village day hosted by the organization. The tournament will be contested by U15 teams from North, South and Central Essequibo as well as an open female team.
Silver Jubilee Anniversary 1990 - 2015...
Trinidad CC supports RHT Gizmos & Gadgets Youth Development Programmes
Mr. Naushad Mohamed (left) hands over cheque to Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club captain Shawn Pereira while Eon Hooper looks on. The outstanding work of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club received a massive boost with a financial contribution from the Calcutta Sports Club of Freeport, Central Trinidad. The Vice President of the Trinidad based
National League Two teams Mr. Naushad Mohamed paid a surprise visit to the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Area “H” Office handed over a donation to the Club’s youth development programmes. Vice President Mohamed in handing over (Continued on page 29)
Nandkishore Singh of Lumber Yard and Processing Establishment (center) presents the cheque to Zorg CC chairman, Raoul Ruplal in the presence of Coach Forbes Daniels.
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Kaieteur News
RHTY&SC Pepsi and Bakewell Cricket teams assist Football and Volleyball Clubs
T
he Rose Hall Town Youth & S p o r t s C l u b ’s Pepsi Under-19 and Bakewell Under-17 Cricket Teams on Monday last assisted the Heart of Oaks Football Team of New Amsterdam Region 6 and the Kewdana Village Volleyball Club of Region 1. The teams, as part of their personal development programme and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Silver Jubilee Anniversary Celebration, donated several football trophies, a carton of food boxes and fifty copies of the Club’s Youth Information to the football club for its Annual Teach them Young Football Camp. The cricket teams also donated a volleyball and volleyball net to the youths of the Region 1 club after a request was made to the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club. Twelve copies of the Information booklet were also handed over to the Kewbana youths to assist them in their development. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster praised the club for being agents of positive change and noted that the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club was the
Joel Pike and Clement Brusche Jnr of the RHT Pepsi Under-19 team hand over the donations to representatives of the two organisations. only cricket club in Guyana who actively involves its members to reach out and touch the lives of others. Each year, the eight cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club undertake a total of 160 activities with the main aim of making a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate. These activities are undertaken under the sub-headings of sports, charity, educational, antidrugs, youth development a n d c o m m u n i t y development among others. The long serving Club
Secretary/CEO hailed the work of the Heart of Oaks Football Club under the leadership of Neil Humphrey as a role model organisation and expressed pleasure at assisting them to successfully host the 2015 Camp which has attracted over 80 youths in the New Amsterdam/Canje area. The Kewbana area requested assistance to get the volleyball gears, so that the youths can use sports as a safe avenue away from drugs and crime. Foster urged the two organisations to redouble their efforts and to always strive for excellence.
He also committed the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and the cricket teams to assisting in the future with sport gears and trophies. He also promised to obtain sponsorship for a Youth Football Tournament as part of the Club’s “Say No To Drugs Campaign”. Neil Humphrey of Hearts of Oak Football Club and Stanley Alexander who received the volleyball equipment on behalf of the youths of Kewbana expressed gratitude to the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and its cricket teams.
Thursday August 06, 2015
NRA US Fullbore National Individual C/ships
Persaud satisfied with performance, looking forward to America Team Match
Norris Gomez with fellow Pilot and Ex Military Officer JJ Jackson of the USA exchanging ideas at the 1000 yards range. By Franklin Wilson at Camp Perry, Ohio, USA compliments of NAMILCO, Ringbang, Fazias Collection, Crown Mining Supply and Queensway National Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud says he is satisfied with his 83rd place finish out of 362 of the best competitors in the world at the NRA US Fullbore National Individual Championships which ended a t C a m p P e r r y, O h i o yesterday. Having entered
the final day placed at 41st, Persaud had a good shoot at the penultimate 600 yards range of 74-5 but at the final range, 1000 yards, did not fear that well as he recorded a score of 70-3 which resulted in his bid to finish in the top 50, wiped out. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Persaud noted that he felt he did well given that it was his first time shooting at Camp Perry like many of the other West Indian shooters in Ohio. “I think it was a decent performance, I was hoping to do better but as fate would have it, I have to live with the (Continued on page 29)
Mahendra Persaud
Thursday August 06, 2015
Kaieteur News
National Junior Men’s Hockey Team continues winning streak in Trinidad The national junior m e n ’s h o c k e y t e a m continued their good showing at the Player Tournament in Trinidad & Tobago. Fresh off their late comeback against Trinidad’s National Under-21 team on Monday evening, Guyana t o o k o n a n U n d e r- 2 1 Training Squad selection on Tuesday. Choosing to rest two of their senior national players, Aroydy Banford and Andrew Stewart, meant that Guyana’s young brigade would have to step up. The youngsters struggled to maintain possession in midfield and wasted several goal scoring opportunities in the first quarter which ended scoreless. In the second quarter Guyana’s goalkeeper Medroy Scotland made a vital reflex save to prevent his side from conceding the first goal for the fourth time
Keon McKenzie
Rosario Ramsammy
in five games. That close call seemed to trigger a sense of urgency in the Guyanese and they increased their work rate which forced the Trinidadians into several mistakes. In the final minute of the second quarter, some high pressure on the Trinidadian central defender
by forward Keon McKenzie forced him into a wayward pass which was intercepted by Rosario Ramsammy and the counterattack was on. Ramsammy sprinted towards the goal and played a through pass to McKenzie, who’s initial shot was well saved only for rebound to be put in by Ramsammy.
Guyana started the second half with a stifling full court press and the tactic paid off just three minutes into the quarter when Keon McKenzie intercepted a pass from a Trinidadian free hit then laid off to Deheron Wilkinson before finishing the return pass. Despite several more goal scoring opportunities the score would remain 2-0 until full time. Guyana were to face the tournament leaders Malvern Sports Club who defeated them 5-3 on the opening night, before completing the round robin phase of the tournament today against Queens Park. This tournament is the second phase of the team’s preparations for the Pan American junior championships which take place next year in Toronto, Canada.
Local Instructors/Assessors return from FIFA Futuro 111 Course in J’ca
L
ocal FIFA Instructors/Assessors Stanley Lancaster, Abdullah Hamid and Trevor Beckles returned this week from participating at the FIFA Futuro 111 Course in Montego Bay Jamaica for officials in the CONCACAF Region. The Course which ran from July 28 – August 2, allowed for the sport’s governing body to be updated on the progress for the officials from their Member Associations within CONCACAF, go through the amended laws and also plan the way forward, catering for the expansion of referees in the regions. According to Lancaster, there were no adjustments to the laws of the game, but an inclusion of ‘Return Substitution’ and the use of Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS). The ‘Return Substitution’ rule, which also provides for an unlimited amount of substitution, is only applicable and permitted in the lowest levels (grassroots and recreational) of football, subject to the agreement of the member association concerned. Lancaster, who also holds the portfolio of being Guyana (Continued on page 29)
Abdullah Hamid (left), Stanley Lancaster (2nd left) and Trevor Beckles (right) with one of the officials during the programme.
Page 35
Ex GBC Cricket scorer Ron Legall passes away at 72 Ron Legall
Seventy-two-year old Insurance agent Ronald Legall died early Monday morning at the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital after an illness which was only discovered recently. Legall worked with Demerara Mutual Life Assurance and for a number of years he was employed as the Statistician of the Guyana Cricket Board and his name could be seen at the GCC pavilion on the various boards with cricket records. He was the brother of the late former Guyana pacer Pat Legall, Guyana most successful under-19 manager, winning an unprecedented six consecutive three-day cricket titles. Legall joined Demerara Mutual in May, 1966 and eventually became an Agency Manager. After he
retired, he continued in the business as an Independent Agent. He was also cricket scorer whenever regional and international matches were played in Guyana in the 1970s, 80’s and early 90’s, would be the radio scorer for the then Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). He later was used as a trainer for cricket scorers until the advent of electronic scoring on lap tops. He came from a sports loving family and his niece was a member of the Guyana female team in the 1970s and 80s while his nephew Andre was one of the better swing bowlers in Guyana playing for DCC, although he never played for Guyana. His other brother played football at the club level. Among those he leaves to mourn is his wife Avril. (Sean Devers)
t r o Sp NRA US FULLBORE NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Persaud ends 83rd, Braithwaite 208th, Gomez 289th of 362 shooters The top 10 shooters during the Shoot Off yesterday at the Camp Perry Ranges.
BY FRANKLIN WILSON IN OHIO, USA COMPLIMENTS OF NAMILCO, RINGBANG, CROWN MINING SUPPLY, FAZIAS COLLECTION, QUEENSWAY
Palm Court supports $25M Medicine Chest Pharmacy DONATES TO BOYCE/ Guyana Cup 2015 event JEFFORD CLASSIC VI
Manager of Palm Court Sasha Lewis presents the cheque to Rovin De Souza of the Guyana Cup Organising Committee.
Medicine Chest Pharmacy Manager, Amanda Doodnauth (left) hands over their contribution to Edison Jefford yesterday at the Middle Street location of the Pharmacy.
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