Kaieteur News

Thursday Edition

Online readership yesterday 93,090

Price $80 August 08, 2013 - Vol. 6 No. 32 (VAT Inclusive) Online: http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Parliament paves way for Local Govt. elections after 19-year hiatus AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds locked in intense discussions during yesterday’s sitting of Parliament.

Five homeless after Uproar outside parliament… mystery fire ravages Police clash with Little Diamond house protesting vendors

High air fares… Govt. threatens to

revoke CAL flag carrier status

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 08, 2013

Thursday August 08, 2013

High air fares…

A

midst growing concerns over the high price of air fares, Government yesterday announced that it summoned senior executive of the Caribbean Airlines (CAL) to meet no later than tomorrow. Government has also threatened to review CAL's flag carrier status which was granted earlier this year, a statement from the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce said. “I have instructed the GTA (Guyana Tourism Authority) Director to call in the new CEO and Chairman of the Board to meet with us no later than next Friday (tomorrow). We are taking this issue very seriously and I have also advised my colleague Minister (of Transport) that my position

Govt. threatens to revoke CAL flag carrier status would be a re-examination of the status that was given to them, if the situation does not correct itself in a timely manner,” Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali is quoted as saying. Top of the agenda for the proposed meeting, Ali said, would be the “exorbitant ticket prices” levied on Guyanese passengers coming from New York, Toronto and Trinidad. It would not be the first time that Government has criticised CAL, a Trinidad and Tobago based-air carrier, which is currently facing financial problems. Earlier this year, in the absence of other carriers, Guyana granted the Trinidadowned airline flag-carrier status with the hopes that the prices for direct flights between Guyana and the

North American destinations would be kept down. Guyana lost Delta this year and two low-cost airlines- EZjet and RedJet- folded last year. Ali said the high air fares currently being charged to Guyanese is “unacceptable, atrocious and disgusting and against the spirit of agreement in terms of CAL being a flag carrier.” “I personally am aware of persons who would have bought tickets at enormous price to come to Guyana. If you compare this to the prices other persons are paying from Trinidad, I find this to be a situation of abusing the present monopoly that they have in Guyana, and they do have a monopoly. This is why they are taking us for granted, they are taking this market for granted and they are

Guyana has summoned senior executives of Caribbean Airlines to meet tomorrow in Guyana over complaints regarding high air fares. reaping in great profits, maybe to make up for the deficiency in other markets.” The Tourism Minister

Five homeless after mystery fire ravages Little Diamond house The burnt-out building

Five persons, including a one-year-old baby, are now homeless following a fire of so far unknown origin that

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ripped through their Lot 42 Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home yesterday afternoon.

The fire, which started about 4:30pm, quickly ravaged the upper flat of the two-storey building and left

only the four concrete walls at the bottom flat. Those without a place to call home are Odessa Williams, her husband, Othman Williams, their children, Mariah and Mark and one of their relatives, Meena Watson, who is also the owner of the property. Watson was occupying the upper flat of the property while the Williams lived in the lower flat. Ye s t e r d a y , w h e n Kaieteur News arrived at the scene, fire fighters had already put out the fire. According to Odessa Williams, the fire started in (continued on page 23)

also addressed the numerous complaints reaching his office over the treatment of Guyanese using the carrier, particularly when they are intransit in Trinidad and Tobago. Alluding to the most recent incident where a flight out of Piarco International Airport was delayed for close to half an hour, after a New York-based Guyana national was escorted off the aircraft for alleged abusive behaviour, Ali noted that to date CAL has not submitted an official statement on the matter. “We cannot accept this; this cannot be in the interest of their business and in the interest of them having flag carrier status for Guyana. I intend to pursue the matter

and the long, tedious harassment and delay that Guyanese go through as a result of CAL operation issues in Trinidad.” As to the impending entry of Fly Jamaica into the Guyana market and the possibility of this airline sharing flag carrier status, Minister Ali admitted this was the plan. He also said that Guyana will add a new airline very shortly. In June, Government announced that a new airline, Fly Guyana Airlines, is planning to start daily flights to the US from October. With a large number of Guyanese living in especially the New York area, that route has been one of the busiest for airlines serving Guyana over the years.

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

EDITORIAL

The common blight among us Guyana has been taking a close look at a number of factors over the past few years, some of them because of international pressure. These issues include suicide, domestic violence and human trafficking. A lot has been said about human trafficking but it is worthy to note that this is continuing largely because of poverty, a lack of academic education on the part of the victims and of course, poor parental practices. Someone once said that parenting does not come with a manual. Two people decide that they are going to share a union and children come along. In this day and age when single parenting seems to the common practice, it is often left to the woman to rear her child. The more intelligent would have a number of children that she could managemore often than not, one. However, there are others whose emotions overrule their innate wisdom. They are attracted to a man and do not practise safe sex so there are often unwanted pregnancies. The man moves away and the woman is left to rear these children almost singlehandedly. The result is that she cannot pay the requisite attention to all of them. Those children who are often left to their own devices are the ones who could eventually grow up to become the victims of human trafficking because they are seeking the attention that they lacked as little children and at the same time hope to make the kind of money they never had. And the parents wonder why the child is so recalcitrant. The international community has been looking at Guyana in this regard. The view is that the government has not been doing enough to curb human trafficking even as Guyana kept denying that there were no cases of human trafficking within its borders. Needless to say, there are cases, and a private organization is busy rescuing those girls who went to the interior in pursuit of fortune but became trapped in the sex trade. Suicide is the other issue that has been attracting the attention of the Guyana Government. Admittedly, there are not as many cases as there were not so long ago. A study found that suicides were predominant in the agricultural communities where weedicides and insecticides were readily available. The study also found that many of those who resorted to suicide were either alcoholics or people who suffered from severe depression, a condition that is not easily spotted in Guyana and certainly not treated. The Ministry of Health has set up units in some communities to deal with suspected cases and these must be working because as far as the public is concerned, the number of suicides has declined drastically. The other worrying factor in the society is domestic violence. Some believe that domestic violence is cultural; that children grow up in abusive situations which they accept as the norm and as adults, continue the tradition. Recently, the incidence of domestic violence has been worrying. In three days, two men either killed or severely maimed their spouses. Every year, no fewer than five women are killed or seriously wounded in cases of domestic violence. Last year, and again this year, we notice that children are caught up. Some years ago, a private entity with support from the government, offered shelter for abused women but that can never be a solution. It is here that parental guidance would come in. If parents train their children to abhor violence against their spouses then that should see an end to domestic violence or at least, a drastic reduction. We note that the pervasive message is for women to get out of abusive relationships and that is often the wisest message. However, it is likely to go unheeded because the abuser, like a chameleon, can appear in different guises. When the woman leaves he would turn up looking as penitent as ever and melt the heart of his victim-until she returns to the scene of the abuse. Counselling offers a solution but then again, not many Guyanese turn to psychiatrists or to counselors.

Thursday August 08, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

The hypocrisy of the Alliance For Change DEAR EDITOR, There is an old saying: ‘Whatever is done in the dark shall come to light.’ It doesn’t take a legal brain to figure that one out. But I must congratulate Kaieteur News for having the courage to expose the hypocrisy of the Alliance For Change (AFC) in their August 6 headline: ‘Nigel Hughes is Company Secretary of Amaila Hydro Inc’. For a while, I thought Hughes was untouchable to some at Kaieteur News. It now appears that I was wrong in making this assumption. This disclosure came as a surprise to everyone, despite claims by Hughes that his “appointment as secretary has been a matter of public record since the incorporation of the company (Amaila Falls Hydro Inc) in April 2009.” This legal jargon used in his press release announcing his resignation as chairman of the AFC was just splitting hairs. For, as Hughes must know, being a matter of public record does not necessarily translate to being public knowledge. The Amalia Hydro Project did not only just

emerge on the news. This project was controversial among opposition members and political pundits long before Nigel Hughes officially joined the AFC in July of 2011. Surely as a practicing lawyer he would have known the importance of discussing his association with Amaila Falls Hydro Inc. with Raphael Trotman and Khemraj Ramjattan as a matter of public disclosure at that time. So, for Nigel Hughes to say in his press release that: “When the issue of Amaila Falls Hydro project became a matter of public interest I immediately disclosed my interest (as Company Secretary of the Amaila Falls Hydro Inc.) to the Leadership of the Alliance for Change”, and for the AFC to echo this in a statement rejecting his resignation: “Mr. Hughes declared his professional association with Sithe Global at the commencement of the Amaila Fall Hydro Power Project coming into national focus”, is outrageous, misleading and downright dishonest. The hydro project was in the national focus long before that; anyone can research this on the Kaieteur

News website. But why would the AFC risk this potential backlash from its supporters? Isn’t this the same type of modus operandi they accuse the Administration of? AFC Executive Member/ Parliamentarian Cathy Hughes caused a similar stir when it was reported that she was the Public Relations Officer of Synergy Holdings Inc, which she categorically denied. Splitting hairs again, the wife of Nigel Hughes claimed that her company, Videomega Productions had only produced a PR documentary on behalf of the Fip Motilall’s company. Now she is identified as the Public Relations Consultant for Sithe Global, the company that is commissioned to build the Amalia Falls Hydroelectric Plant. Oddly enough, the AFC voted down legislation that would kill this project. Although there is nothing wrong with the appointments of Nigel and Cathy Hughes, it clearly demonstrates how easy it can be for opposition members to secure lucrative positions f r o m g o v e r n m e n t ’s development initiatives for themselves and families,

while accusing the Administration of cronyism. Let no one be fooled, They’re in it for the money. The interest of the Guyanese people is far removed from their own. I wonder how many opposition members and their families are benefitting from such lucrative deals? We may never know. Earlier, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan was accused of working on behalf of Fedders Lloyd Limited, the Indian Company that was denied the contract to build the Specialty Hospital. Responding to claims by Government officials that he had engineered the cut to the budgetary allocation for the Specialty Hospital for personal interest, reducing it from $1.25 billion to $0, Ramjattan said, “There is absolutely no truth about pecuniary interest... I have never collected one cent from them and I don’t think I ever will. So this talk about there being a personal interest is absolute nonsense.” But he also admitted that officials of Fedders Lloyd solicited his legal support after losing the contract to Surendra Engineering (Continued on page 26)

Getting out immediately from an abusive relationship is meaningless without support DEAR EDITOR, In the Kaieteur News of 5 August, 2013, it is reported that Minister Jennifer Webster has urged women to “Get out immediately from abusive relationships” There is a certain sickness in how the Government has failed to implement all of the actions in the National Domestic Violence policy which was launched in 2008. This failure is also evident in the inability of the Minister and her Government to convene and support a Domestic Violence Oversight Committee which was expected to monitor the implementation of the policy. There is also the related issue of the National Sexual Offences Task Force which has not been convened. Ms Bibi Houston has reported that she contacted the police, including that fatal afternoon. Calling the police is one part of the ‘Getting out’. Minister Webster has not indicated whether she and her colleague Minister Rohee will deal with the failure of sections of the Guyana Police Force to

respond to domestic violence and sexual violence. The National Domestic Violence Policy calls for the establishment of the Domestic Violence Units. It is surely beneficial, given the reality that some police seem not to be able to implement the ‘zero tolerance’ approach, to staff these Units with the police who are compassionate and skilled in dealing with domestic violence. Minister

Webster and her colleagues have not made any progress on ensuring that the Guyana Police Force provides a consistent service across the country, which is not based on the whims and desires of individual policy. It is unfortunate that the Minister is not aware that the risk of violence intensifies when the decision is made to get out of the relationship as Ms Houston’s experience has shown. Saying ‘Get out of the

relationship’is easy…but when the state cannot provide the services required to ensure that those who are victims of domestic violence are safe and that perpetrators are quickly brought to justice and exposed to rehabilitation and counselling; then saying ‘Get out’ seems like an insult to all of those who have attempted to get out but were still left alone and without resources to deal with the violence and its consequences. Vidyaratha Kissoon

Public record vs. public knowledge DEAR EDITOR, It is with much concern that I have read of the involvement of Mr. Nigel Hughes in the company that will be managing the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project. In recent years, the project has been one heavily debated and reported on in the press. Mr Hughes’ party, the Alliance For Change, has been criticizing the project and raising concerns over aspects of it including costs. At no point in time was it revealed publicly that Mr Hughes was the Secretary. He rightfully said that his involvement in the company

as Secretary was a matter of public record. Under the laws, companies are mandated to file details of the names of its principals at the registry. It then becomes public record. However, there is a distinction here about what is public record and public knowledge. Nobody knew. The second thing is that the AFC, according to Hughes, knew all along. Any responsible party would have known the implications of not publicly declaring this. It is irrelevant whether Mr Hughes has distanced or recused himself from the

party’s deliberations on Amaila. So then, the question to be asked is why the big secrecy by AFC and Mr Hughes on the role he played in the project and would he disclose how much he is being paid? Secondly, is there any other public project that Mr Hughes is involved in at this time?And is he also being paid? Mr Hughes, as a prominent lawyer and respected individual who was seen by many as a breath of fresh air, owes this nation some additional answers. Cobeer Persaud

Thursday August 08, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

What the public should know about the Amaila Falls Project DEAR EDITOR, The handling of the access road to the controversial Amaila Hydro Project has already caused much concern and dismay amongst a wide cross section of Guyanese. Now the main project is in jeopardy because of a number of factors including financial, construction, civil and post-construction uncertainties. Harza Engineering and Synergy along with Kaehne Consulting Limited of Canada were the entities that designed the civil works of the project. Sithe Global group of the United States is an international energy company. The company’s presence in Guyana is for the sole purpose of developing, owning and operating the Amaila Hydro Project. The company has already spent millions on the project and intends to spend more during the construction period. Sithe Global will supervise and manage the construction. The construction would be done by China Railway, a world famous infrastructure

builder. Northwest Hydro Consulting Engineers (NHCE) of Xian, China would work along with China Railway. The project’s working drawings come in the English language, so NHCE’s task would be to interpret and translate the language to Chinese. Both companies have many workers. They plan to bring them along to do the work. There would not be any need for locals to be employed. On completion of the Project the Chinese would have completed a rock-filled dam of 60 feet high, 120 feet wide at the base and 24 feet wide at the top. Vehicular traffic would be possible on the dam. The dam begins from the hill on the right bank at the mouth of the Amaila River crosses the Amaila Falls and continues its course half a mile to the Kuribrong River. The dam crosses the Kuribrong to end at the foot of the hill on the left bank of the Kuribrong. The side of the dam facing the reservoir would be lined with cement 8 inches thick to prevent leaks. So the two rivers would be dammed

between two hills and a reservoir of 23 square kilometres formed. An airstrip would be made on the left side of the Kuribrong and vehicles could cross the dam to reach the power house or the access road. An underground tunnel of 33 feet wide, 24 feet high and three-quarter of a mile long would be built. It resembles the tunnel across the English Channel. The purpose of the tunnel is to convey water from the reservoir to the turbines in the power house which would be located at the bottom side of the Amaila Falls. The reservoir–tunnel construction resembles a wash sink with the drain pipe at the bottom. The tunnel will begin at the bottom of the reservoir then proceed in a horizontal direction until it comes out at the slope of the Amaila Falls. One-inch thick steel plates would line the inside of the tunnel. Four smaller branched tunnels, called penstocks, would be connected to the main tunnel at the side of the slope of the Amaila. Each of the small tunnels would be connected - one to

each of the four 25 MW turbines. But before this task is completed, the Chinese will have to blast away thousands of tons of rocks. Most of these rocks are the size of twostorey houses. An apparatus called a surge tank would be mounted about halfway on the topside of the tunnel. The main purpose of this system is to smooth out the violent pulsation and water shocking in the tunnel. It comprises a large bottleshaped concrete structure mounted on the top side of the tunnel and protrudes above ground to about 90 metres high. The mouth of this huge bottle-shaped structure, which measures about nine feet in diameter, would be connected to the top of tunnel. The section that protrudes above ground measures 38 feet in diameter. It would be a reinforced steel/concrete structure and 18 inches thick. One-inch steel plates would be used to line the inside. It would be well sealed and filled halfway with water and trapped air. On the intake side of the tunnel, known as the headrace, an elaborate

filtering system would be constructed. This is to prevent fallen trees, pieces of floating wood, and sediment from entering the tunnel. Around three shut-down valves would be incorporated there too. They would be automated. They serve the purpose of stopping the entire hydro at any given moment. The catchment area, referred to as the area where rain gathers before streaming down to the reservoir, is about 90 square miles. In case of heavy rainfall in the catchment area, a spillway is provided to prevent the reservoir from exceeding its storage capacity. Spillways are usually installed with hydraulicallyoperated steel sluice doors. But this one would be a natural spillway. The dam across the Amaila River would be constructed a little lower to allow the process to happen. The rivers, Kuribrong and Amaila, continue beyond the hydro site to about fifty miles until they reach the foot of the Ayanganna mountain where they were born. Both rivers beyond the site have no creeks or

swamps emptying into them. They depend entirely on the natural springs at the base of Raleigh and Ayanganna mountains as sources of water in the absence of rainfall. The reservoirs would contain 30 days of reserved water. If there is no rain in the catchment area for a little over one month, electricity could be produced for about 26 days on reserved water. Should the dry weather continue beyond this time, the reservoir becomes dried out and the turbines starve. The project is located only about 52 miles from where the two rivers were born at the foot of the Ayangana Mountain, and so only 9% of all the water contained in the whole of the Kuribrong River would be dispensable to it. The bulk of the water of the Kuribrong would run off to merge with the waters of the full length of the Potaro River to form real rugged rapids at the Tumatumari, where indeed the project should have happened in the first place. Weight for weight, the civil works when completed on the Amaila Hydro Project (Continued on page 26)

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Thursday August 08, 2013

UPROAR OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT…

Police clash with vendors protesting for Local Gov’t Elections, removal of Town Clerk - Three other groups stage demonstrations outside barriers

Members of the Progressive Youth Organization showing support for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project. Tension was high outside Parliament Building yesterday as police ranks, even with the use of force, were unable to place vendors, demanding the removal of Town Clerk, Carol Sooba and the passage of four Local Government Bills, behind barriers. In fact, even before the uproar, vendors, who were standing behind the barriers with three other groups protesting for different reasons, forced their way passed the police barricade and stood in front Parliament Building making their demands. Ranks demanded that the vendors return to their original location but with support from members of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement, they refused to relocate. As such, ranks were forced to place additional barricades in the Parliament building compound but that too failed. Even though A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Joan Baveghems urged the protesters not to breach the barriers, they maintained their positions. Their actions were based

on the premise that a Motion was passed in the National Assembly for the removal of barriers outside Parliament Building to allow for picketing, which is a constitutional right. Protesters armed with two purple teddy bears labeled “Sooba”, and placards, some with derogatory remarks, chanted while walking in circles demanding the Acting Town Clerk’s removal and the passage of the four Local Government Bills to allow for the holding of Local Government Elections. According to one vendor, they are fed up with Sooba and need her immediate removal. From all indications the town clerk is instrumental in the proposed removal of street vendors operating on Robb, Regent and Water Streets. The vendors, feeling threatened by the impending action, said that their livelihoods are dependent on vending. The vendors stressed that this is not a political stunt but serious business, especially at a time when children need certain items to return to school. “She tell me I must tek my wife and children and put thing round

them neck, let them walk and sell. She head could be good?” the vendor argued. But, their protest actions may go in vain since Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud said he will not remove Sooba. Even though, he is responsible for the appointment of the Town Clerk, Persaud said the vendors should talk to the Mayor and City Council. Meanwhile, wanting desperately to have the peaceful protestors behind the barriers, a senior Police Officer who appeared to be the commanding officer on the ground, ordered his ranks to arrest one of the protestors, who seemed to have been one of the ringleaders. This incensed the crowd who held onto the man, starting the physical struggle between the protestors and the police, even as media personnel zeroed in on the ugly scene. The commotion got uglier with ranks pushing, pulling and physically assaulting the vendors. This caused other APNU Members of Parliament to leave the comfort of Parliament Building and ventured onto the street to see what was happening. MPs Christopher Jones and Annette Ferguson joined the vendors in their protest, while Vanessa Kissoon tried to restore some order on the ground even as former Commissioner of Police now APNU MP Winston Felix spoke with the police Commanding Officer. Increasing the tension, the police mobilized a prisoners’ van on the scene and several ranks lined the front Parliament forming a barrier along a section. Seeing Members of Parliament in action, a group of Amerindians who were

Amerindians demanding that their rights be respected. also protesting for their rights to be respected and the revamping of the Amerindian Act, cheered from behind the barriers. They are demanding that Government honour their obligations to Guyana’s first citizens. “We want the restoration of our sacred lands. The trampling of our rights as a people must stop,” yelled the angry crowd. With placards held high above their heads, the large gathering of Amerindians, which included residents of some hinterland communities in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine chanted native spiritual songs, as they publicly, demonstrated their disapproval of treatment meted out to native Guyanese, especially in the area of land ownership. “Minister Sukhai, we don’t need you in a fancy chair. Get out into the fields and do your work, don’t send those cartoon characters. Our lands are sacred, respect the spirit of our ancestors. We ain’t giving up no mountains, we ain’t giving no trees, we ain’t giving up no rivers that

belong to we,” some of the strongly worded posters emphasized. “We have a right to clean air water and adequate lands…Our rights must not be trampled upon. We are speaking out highlighting the problems in our communities, our stories, our songs and our uniqueness as Guyanese and as first citizens of this country,” Laura George, a representative of the Amerindian People’s Association (APA). George said that although the activity was an initiative organized by the Inseneru Village Council in the Cuyuni/ Mazaruni District, Region 7, the periodic outcome of judicial cases between Amerindians and miners over lands has prompted the involvement of most indigenous protestors. Chants of “our land our life and keep our waters clean…” were most popular amongst the protestors. The demonstration also marks part of the International day of the world‘s Indigenous Peoples, observance, which is celebrated on August 9.

The picketers are expected to meet with representatives of indigenous bodies across Guyana. “We want our concerns to be heard by other Guyanese as well,” George added. Meanwhile, not too far away relatives and friends of four policemen who were recently jailed for assaulting businessman, Neezam Khan, were demanding justice. They claimed that the policemen were jailed wrongfully. They claimed that a businessman used his “powers” to influence a bias case. And less than 10 members of Region Four Progressive Youth Organization came out in support of the Amaila Falls Hydropower project. Sarwan Jagnarine said the youths want cleaner and better energy but declined to comment on the over pricing of the project. He said, “the technicalities of this project I wish not to discuss here, since we would be having a press conference, so right now, the youths want hydro we come out in solidarity.”

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force and vendors physically confront each other outside Parliament yesterday.

Thursday August 08, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Parliament paves way for Local Govt. elections after 19 year hiatus “…if we are sincere about Local Government Reform and elections soon under these reform then don’t bring back the barnacles of the past to the future,” Nagamootoo Nineteen years after the last Local Government Elections were held in Guyana, the National Assembly last evening approved a suite of legislation to pave the way for a fresh round of elections. The House approved the Fiscal Transfers Bill, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Bill, the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and the Local Government Commission Bill. This was after a 12 year period of attempting to reform the process. It was not smooth sailing in the House however, as Government had attempted to foist as a priority onto the Order Paper of the Assembly, debates surrounding the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Plant and the raising of the debt ceiling guarantee for public corporations before the Local Government Bills. The opposition Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) vehemently opposed a change in the order of business for the day and wanted to proceed with the legislation related to Local Government first. This led to government requesting a suspension in order to caucus. Two hours later, the House resumed and Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, reported that government was prepared to deal with the Local Government legislation prior to the Amaila related business. Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud, piloted all four of the Bills and while government supported the pieces of legislation, it attempted to amend at least two of the Bills. The Bills were presented to the House after it emerged from a Special Select Committee chaired by APNU’s Basil Williams and where the Opposition held a majority. Both Minister Persaud and Junior Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker lamented that the Opposition had hijacked the Bills at the Committee stage and included in the proposed legislation, aspects that had not even been submitted by the Local Government taskforce that was eventually disbanded. One of the contentious

issues that eventually found compromise on the floor of the Assembly was the number of persons to head up the Local Government Commission. It was successfully amended from seven to eight after the AFC voted in support of the change and according to the party Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, this is done “so we could move on.” He did urge that measures be put in place to ensure that there would not be gridlock in the future. APNU had voted against the move but with the AFC votes, Government managed to secure the amendment. In debating the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, the Junior Local Government Minister said that the work of the committee was hijacked by the opposition using its majority in order to miniaturize the role of the Minister. Speaking on behalf of APNU, Ronald Bulkan informed the House that the move was pursued in order to provide greater autonomy for the Local Government organs. Bulkan said that the current law in place is archaic in nature, given that it was a colonial inheritance and out of place in a modern society. He argued that some of the provisions were deliberately offensive by placing “imperial power in the hands of one official.” This he said was offensive to a constitution that speaks to local democracy. Vice Chair of the AFC, Moses Nagamootoo in his presentation to the debates last evening said that the various amendments “address a deficiency in the law.” According to Nagamootoo, the law in place speaks to things and facilities that don’t even exist. He suggested that the entire law should have been dumped and rewritten. In speaking to the Local Government Amendment Bill, Nagamootoo posited that a part of the corruption of the Neighborhood Democratic Councils is that contracts are all regulated by the “Region and given to cronies. Drains are not cleaned and garbage is not collected because the autonomy of these NDCs are not provided for.” He suggested to the Parliamentarians that “if we

APNU’s Basil Williams, Amna Ally and Opposition Leader David Granger discuss strategies with AFC’s Moses Nagamootoo (backing camera) in the National Assembly before the passing of Local Government Legislation. are sincere about Local Government Reform and elections soon under these reforms, then don’t bring back the barnacles of the past to the future.” On the matter of the Municipal and District Council (Amendment) Bill, Local Government Minister Ganga Persaud told the House that the general thrust of the amendments seeks to

bring it up to date with current circumstances such as with fines and penalties. He said that in many cases the cost of pursuing delinquents costs more than the actual fines to be imposed. Persaud suggested that it is also the hope of the administration that with the updated laws, the NDCs and Municipalities would seek to

enforce its by-laws. Under the fiscal Transfer Bill, the House heard that among the amendments outside of the subvention to be provided for by Central Government, NDCs and Municipalities will now be provided with avenues where they can raise revenue and

can even approach financing entities for support such as the European Union. Other speakers to last evening debate on the Suite of Local Government legislation included government Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira and APNU’s Basil Williams.

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Thursday August 08, 2013

Thursday August 08, 2013

Kaieteur News

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THE CONDITIONS DO NOT EXIST FOR POWER SHARING The issue of powersharing does not arise at the moment in Guyana. The opposition parties are not interested in power sharing; they want power, desperately. And they are using their one seat majority in the National Assembly to hijack the role of government. Not only have they arrogated to themselves the right to cut the Budget; not only also have they assumed control of key parliamentary committees, but they have blatantly encroached on the jurisdiction of the government to set policy by passing Bills without the consent of the Executive. Their latest foray has been to dilute the numerical representation of the government on the Local Government Commission. This cannot be allowed to pass muster. No selfrespecting government is ever going to allow a situation whereby it ends up being a minority in a Local Government Commission. This can effectively mean that organs which are said to exercise “delegated” authority are actually being made autonomous both administratively and politically.

There is nothing wrong with Local Government organs enjoying administrative autonomy, but this must be balanced with these organs being subject to government policy. Otherwise these bodies can pursue policies that are not the intention of the government. In other words, these bodies can become a parallel government. The government should not allow itself to be assigned a minority number of nominees on the Local Government Commission. The government must put a stop, once and for all, to this maneuver. They must also begin to tighten the screws on the Opposition so as to bring them to their senses and make them understand the nature of the political system under which they operate and the norms and traditions that govern this system. Until such time as greater respect is shown for the role of government, as defined by these norms and traditions, the government should not give in to any demands by the Opposition parties. The government should stand their ground and not yield.

Dem boys seh...

A planeload of tourists come Imagine that these days when de Americans want deport somebody dem got to find dem own plane. Guyana ain’t even got plane to carry out dem people who either want to go out for business or fuh carry back people from wheh dem come. Suh who expect dem fuh get plane to bring in people dem ain’t want? Imagine people does line up at de embassy fuh a visa because dem want to give dem children a break. Some of dem actually borrow money fuh buy de ticket. But something does happen to de children because is often not a bed of roses. Well de Americans decide to get rid of nearly two dozen of dem. De last time dat happen, dem just land de plane pun de airstrip and let off de deportees because Guyana was mekking styles. Was near madness because dem deportees run all over de place. Then another time dem did send a big plane wid some people who didn’t even know wha Guyana look like because dey lef small. Dem boys seh that de Americans gun be sending more plane soon because is nuff Guyanese do things in de States like if dem deh in Guyana wheh de police don’t ketch nobody. Dem boys look at de set dat come in de other day and dem see prison bar print pun dem face because dem been in jail suh lang. Of course dat ain’t a problem. Is when dey start up in Guyana dat de whole country got problems. Fuh one, dem people come and dem ain’t got wuk suh dem got to find wuk. Some of dem ain’t even got family suh is dem drug people. De thing that got de immigration people worried is that dem got a hard time processing all who come into de country. These people come without passport suh de immigration ain’t got nutten to stamp. When dem ask fuh forwarding address nobody ain’t know because de Americans didn’t notify anybody. Immigration had to put Eve Leary. Talk half and watch out fuh more crime.

Standing firm must not be construed as an unwillingness of the government to share power. There is already a great deal of sharing of power within the existing system. The present Local Government system allows for the Opposition to share in local administration. In several Regions, there are Opposition controlled councils with responsibility for administering Local Government policies set by the government. This is a form of power sharing but it seems as if the Opposition is no longer content with being part of administering government policy. By relegating the government to minority representation on the proposed Local Government Commission, the Opposition is on course to now take over the entire management of Local Government affairs. They already have the government hamstrung by

the Budget cuts, something that is now being challenged before the Courts. And as we know, they were attempting to dictate who the President should have as his Minister of Home Affairs. This is an Opposition that has to be tamed of its wild instincts. The government is within its right to resist the actions of the Opposition. No self respecting government is going to allow an Opposition to act as it did in Parliament recently when it tried to determine when the government should bring a matter before the House. Such a determination has always been the prerogative of the government and it was downright presumptuous and barefaced for the Opposition to move a motion to rearrange the Order Paper and thus decide when the government should bring a Bill before the House. The government did the right thing by remaining silent throughout

the ensuing debate. That sort of attitude by the Opposition does not lend towards the conditions that would be necessary for political cooperation. How can there be any thought about power sharing when the Opposition is behaving in such a presumptuous manner? And why, given this attitude of the Opposition, should the government want to share power? But the government may well have another reason for not wanting to share power. The government may be of the view that it was robbed of a majority in the National Assembly and that once new elections are held it should be easily able to return to its majority. It was recently revealed by a Commissioner of GECOM, that one month after the election, an officer went in and reported that seven pages of results were not tabulated in a Region that the PPP won comfortably.

These seven pages that were left out involved nineteen polling stations and it needs to be asked how did the IT Department miss this development in the tabulation of the results? In fact how did all the observers, including the EAB miss this? How in the first place can nineteen polling stations be left out of the tabulation of a Division? Was this really an oversight or was it a conspiracy against the PPPC? There must be an investigation into this matter. If the PPPC feels that it was robbed of a majority because of the non-inclusion of these nineteen polling stations, if in facts it knows that had the votes for these nineteen polling been included in the result it would have emerged not just with a one seat majority but possibly a two-seat lead, then why would the PPPC want to share power?

US carriers challenge applications by regional airlines for additional Guyana flights By Ray Chickrie Caribbean News Now contributor WASHINGTON, USA (Caribbean News Now) Airlines for America (A4A), an advocate group that claims to represent major US scheduled passenger and cargo airlines, on July 31 urged the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to oppose the July 16, 2013, application of Fly Jamaica Airways and the July 18, 2013, application of Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) for “an exemption from 49 USC/ 40301 (7th Freedom) to operate scheduled service between New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport and Georgetown, Guyana.” Members of A4A include Delta Airlines, US Airways, American Airlines, Jet Blue and United, among others. Delta Airlines recently pulled out of Guyana and could very well be behind this move to

block additional flights by Fly Jamaica and CAL to Guyana from New York. JetBlue, according to the government of Guyana, is also interesting in flying to Guyana. Delta abruptly pulled out of Guyana in May, leaving CAL to dominate the skies over Guyana. CAL flies an average of five flights daily in and out of Guyana and has faced hurdles to add additional flights out of JFK to Guyana. This led to the government of Guyana granting CAL flag carrier status to get around US DOT hurdles. A4A said, “Both of these applications raise serious and troubling issues for consumers, A4A members and their employees.” The group also stated, “This is not beneficial to US consumers. The Department, instead of granting extrabilateral exemptions for 7th Freedom operators, should focus on righting the

commercial aviation business climate in the region.” Excessive taxes and fees were also cited for discouraging passengers from flying to certain markets in the region. The group squarely blamed Caribbean Airlines’ fuel subsidy for “forcing the cancellation of US flag service to certain markets” and cited JFK-Georgetown, Guyana, as an example. “Member airlines have reported significant impact from Caribbean Air’s seven freedom operations and from alleged fuel subsidies from Trinidad and Tobago received by Caribbean Air, which makes it extremely challenging for US carriers to compete,” A4A told the US Department of Transportation. The US airline advocacy

group urged the DOT not to grant CAL and Fly Jamaica “such extra-bilateral authority” because “is not the right instrument to invigorate the market,” the group claimed. “The overall business climate needs to be improved. In its current state, competition is suffering,” A4A added. This development now adds credence to what inside sources in Georgetown are saying, namely, that “The United States is giving Fly Jamaica a hard time. They are also going after CAL.”

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=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

President Ramotar will demit office without his dream fulfilled No leader wants to consciously say things that would make his nation laugh at him. A president has to be careful not to say outlandish things about his/her country’s achievements when the average citizen knows that the country hasn’t reached that stage as yet. While at Albion to open the Berbice Exhibition, President Ramotar took excessive semantic liberty, and “shocking” is not the

adjective to use but honestly I believe the right word is “comical”. I taught Mr. Ramotar at UG and one would like to think that in his four years spent at UG, even though UG was not in the best of health when he attended, Mr. Ramotar would be educated enough to understand a little bit of the political economy of Guyana. No one, I repeat, no one in this country that has economics at the CXC level

would take the remarks of Mr. Ramotar seriously. But I believe you don’t have to be trained at the CXC level to understand that what Mr. Ramotar is hoping for in the next three years of his presidency will not happen for decades and decades to come, long after this writer and Mr. Ramotar leave this world. In other words, Mr. Ramotar was joking. The President told his audience as quoted in this

newspaper (July 30) that in the remaining three years of his presidency, he will ensure that Guyana becomes a developed country. There are serious castigations to make at the beginning of one’s analysis of this incredible task Mr. Ramotar has set himself. One is that Mr. Ramotar does not know what GDP ranking it takes for a country to reach the stage of being developed. In 2012, with infinitesimal

variations between the statistics of the World Bank and the IMF, here are the GDPs (in millions of US dollars) of four of the smallest developed nations with one of them (Singapore) being classified as a microstate. Holland, 772, 227; Belgium, 483, 709; Ireland, 210, 331 and Singapore, 274, 701. Now, Guyana’s is 2,788. Commonsense can tell us that if in three year’s time Guyana becomes a developed state then that 2 million US has to overtake the lowest in the above named list which is Ireland at 210, 331 million American dollars as the GDP. What I left out are the dozens and dozens of poor states whose GDP is higher than Guyana. By what miracle a poor country with a GDP of 2 million US can attain the status of a developed country in twenty years much less three? Let us move away from GDP and look at life in Guyana at present and the miracle that Mr. Ramotar dreams will come to Guyana in 2016. I was part of a very intense discussion that was outside my training so all I did was listen. Using statistics, it was shown to the group that to bring back UG to an acceptable level (mind you not a second rate or third campus but an acceptable level) it will take dozens of billions of dollars and the target date will be at the end of ten years. This is tertiary education you are talking about which is the main vehicle that European nations used to become what they are today. The Americans copied the Europeans (remember Silicone Valley?) and India

Frederick Kissoon copied both. In India today, universities dot the landscape. The greatest weakness in Mr. Ramotar’s dream will be exposed when you ask him of the five years presidency, how much of that period has been used to advance the journey towards developed status. It is possible to argue that under Ramotar, since the start of 2012, we have been in reverse gear, meaning simply that we are moving in the wrong direction to catch up with Ireland etc. It is under Mr. Ramotar that UG cannot pay the NIS and tax contribution of its employees. It is under Mr. Ramotar that sugar did worse in 2012 than in previous years. It is under Mr. Ramotar that I see the spread of garbage in the city of Georgetown. If in the next three years Mr. Ramotar is going to take Guyana right up there with Singapore, outstripping the great Jamaica, Barbados etc, then thank God, Georgetown will once again become the garden city as it was in the fifties. Surely, Mr. Ramotar must know that a developed nation cannot have a capital that looks like a war-ravished city after a tsunami destroyed it. I guess we have to wish Mr. Ramotar well in his dreams. All of us must dream. I suggest Mr. Ramotar listen to the Dionne Warwick hit; “Do you know the way to San Jose.”

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Mahaica farmer’s murder could have been prevented, if… - detectives By Dale Andrews The murder of Supply, Mahaica farmer Omadat Persaud could have been prevented had the police been properly equipped to respond. Persaud was shot dead when bandits invaded his home and robbed his overseas visiting relatives in a brazen attack one month ago. So far the police have no real clue as to who the perpetrators really are. Some ranks have admitted that the police must take some of the blame for what took place that night. The Mahaica Police Station is less than five minutes’ drive from the scene of the crime but the absence of mobility and adequate ranks put paid to any effective response. “The people even bring vehicle to take police but there was only one rank there and it was a female,” a source told this newspaper. The first police response to the Mahaica murder was from a mobile patrol based at the Vigilance Police Station, some 12 miles away.

“Could you imagine people getting murder two minutes from station and they can’t get help from the police?”

Omadat persaud

What has become of all these police vehicles? The patrol unit from Cove and John eight miles from Mahaica arrived after, and even then the ranks were delayed by the rain since the vehicle’s wiper was malfunctioning. Incidentally, the bandits spent about 15 minutes terrorizing their victims. “Could you imagine people getting murder two

minutes from station and they can’t get help from the police?” one of the ranks lamented. Even the residents were not too complimentary of the police, claiming that ranks are often too slow to respond to reports of crime in the community. “In de nights is only one or two police does deh in deh.

Dey use to gat patrol, now dem hardly gat police. Is only when people play loud music, and beat up dem wife, de police coming quick,” a Mahaica resident declared. “The Minister would jump on television and tell the nation that they are providing the tools for the police to do the job, but in fact the police are badly ill equipped to deal with crime,” the rank added. With their seeming inability to effectively deal with the majority of violent crimes under the spotlight, Police Detectives on the East Coast of Demerara have not taken lightly to reports in the press that they have been failing to solve some recent murders which seem to be heading for the cold case file. The detectives in an exclusive interview with this newspaper said that while they are working diligently on the murders, there are several factors that are working against their effective handling of the numerous cases they have to deal with from day to day. This newspaper had published that police on the East Coast of Demerara are stumped on a number of murders that attracted the attention of the country, with their brutality and brazenness.

But blaming the police might be a bit unfair given what they have to work with. For one, the lack of manpower is a big issue that impacts negatively on the force’s inability to effectively tackle the rising crime situation. One detective on the East Coast of Demerara informed that just as one sits down to deal with one crime another pops up and their attention has to quickly shift. “No crime is more important than the other, really,” he said. In Guyana’s case, except for the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters and the main A Division, Detectives in the outer Divisions have to deal with all serious crimes. There is no separation from murder, robbery, fraud and break and enter. We have to do all,” the detective told this newspaper. His assertion was backed up by some of his colleagues. “Even if we are working hard on a murder and a robbery occurs, we have to put everything down and deal with the robbery. And then two more break and enter might come up, all of them we have to deal with,” another detective stated. Kaieteur News

understands that on most days, there are no more than two detectives per police station on the East Coast. The situation is even worse at nights, with one detective serving an entire district (three stations). But that is only one piece of the manpower puzzle; the mobile patrols are also understaffed. And this brings in another inhibiting factor, vehicles. According to reliable sources, patrolling the East Coast of Demerara is hampered by the lack of mobility; there are simply not enough vehicles to serve the division. Presently, the East Coast of Demerara is served by only two patrols at a time to cover an area from Turkeyen to Mahaicony. Even the criminals appear to know this fact. “They would even come into the station and make frivolous reports just to see how much police on duty,” a rank explained. Effectively responding to criminal activities on the east coast also has to cater for the terrain and layout of the area. Most of the roads in the district are in a deplorable condition and this invariably leads to damage to police vehicles pursuing criminals. “The criminals are very smart. That is why they are a high number of bicycle robberies. These guys could get away at will after committing their robberies,” a detective told this newspaper. He said that it would appear that not much thought goes into the difficulties they have to endure so that they can provide an acceptable service to Guyana. The detective said that although they perform a very important function, they are often the ones to be maligned whenever crimes are not solved. “If I resign and go away, 15 cases including murder will go overboard. That’s how bad this situation is,” the detective said.

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Kaieteur News

Local Govt. Ministry calls in police in 'Town Clerk vs. Mayor' issue

Mayor Hamilton Green

Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba

In defense of Acting Town Clerk, Carol Sooba and her staff, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has consulted the Guyana Police Force. This move comes after the woman was physically blocked from entering her office at City Hall on Tuesday last, by Mayor Hamilton Green, former Mayor Mr. Ranwell Jordan, and other Councilors, and vendors of Georgetown. Kaieteur News understands that Sooba was also verbally abused by the vendors, who, on Monday night last, also staged a protest in front of her Durban Street residence, threatening to shut down the city until the woman demits office. The vendors have vowed to further pressurize Sooba and prohibit her from reaching to her office on a daily basis. Briefly addressing the

issue at a press conference on Tuesday, Junior Minister of Local Government, Norman Whittaker declared that he is satisfied with the work of the Acting Town Clerk, noting that she has been helpful in trying to establish transparency and accountability at City Hall. Whittaker said that despite what the Mayor and his Councilors do, it is Minister Ganga Persaud who has the final say. Meanwhile, Minster Ganga Persaud noted that the Mayor and Councilors can find themselves in trouble for harassing Sooba and blocking her from her office, since this is illegal. He further said that he finds it unfortunate that the Mayor resorted to turning himself into a human barricade in order to get his way. Persaud said that the actions of the Council (continued on page 18)

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Chinese company accused of damaging street with trucks

R

esidents of Shamrock Gardens, Ogle, East Coast Demerara are frustrated and peeved at the destruction of their street by heavy duty trucks and machinery owned by Chinese wood processing company, Bai Shan Lin Forest Development Inc. According to residents, two months ago, complains were made directly to the company and officials assured them that they would have

repaired the street. However, to date nothing has been done. “Government never assists with the road. Self help with builder's waste h e l p s w i t h t h e maintenance of the roadway and now the Chinese company, which has lots of heavy duty vehicles, would normally traverse the street regularly and the builders waste is turned to powder when these trucks are using the road,” one

resident explained. “Sometimes these people bring several trucks and park them up in the area at one time.” Other residents noted that the area is a residential area and on one occasion the company was washing their vehicles “on a Sunday from 8(AM) to 6(PM) and we have to endure the noise without care.” Another issue that is affecting residents of the community pertains to a utility pole which has fallen

onto a fence. Occupants of the building where the fence was damaged related that several telephone calls to the Guyana Power & Light Inc. (GPL) proved futile. “When we call, they even say that the pole placed to stabilize it was not even registered in their system and they don't know anything about the pole falling previously in the street. We are just reporting the matter out of safety, but nothing is being done.”

The entrance to Shamrock Gardens which is used daily by Bai Shan Lin Forest Development Inc.

Local Govt. Ministry ... From page 15 members only reaffirm the need for Local Government Elections. Ever since Sooba took up office in 2012, she has been faced with three noconfidence motions, and many problems with fellow workers of City Hall. The Councilors are of the view that Sooba's doings are not in the best interest of the M&CC, and that she should resign or be removed. They described Sooba as an imposition on City Hall, noting that the woman is not qualified for her post as Town Clerk. Sooba was identified for the post of Town Clerk by Minister Ganga Persaud, after a few senior officers were dismissed, following a number of financial irregularities within the Council. A vacancy for the position was advertised but according to reports, none of the applicants met the requirements. This ongoing feud between Sooba and members of the Council has resulted in many works beneficial to the city being stalled. This includes the beautification of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. It was noted that whenever the Town Clerk grants permission for infrastructural or other works to be carried out in the city, she does not consult the Mayor, but rather, claims it is a directive from the Minister. Meanwhile, The People's Progressive Party condemned what it termed the continuation of a vile campaign of vilification, slander and spite against the acting Town Clerk of the

Georgetown Municipality. The party noted that the sustained campaign, “which has a nasty tinge of racism and gender discrimination,” took a turn for the worse when persons were sent to issue threats in the guise of protest action at the home of Ms Sooba.” “The courage of the acting To w n C l e r k m u s t b e recognized by all as she has so far resisted such despicable efforts to intimidate and bully her out of the Municipality,” the PPP stated. According to the ruling party, the sinister agenda against Ms Sooba only commenced when she began to uncover gross financial irregularities within the Hamilton Green led M&CC. “For too long the growth and development of our Capital City has been hindered by the decaying remnants of a bygone era, whose legacy is one of destruction and degradation and whose modus operandi is based on a campaign of fear and violence to achieve their ends.” “Thus, it is easy to understand that while all around us there are countless signs of progress in Georgetown, City Hall has been in a permanent state of decline under the leadership of Mayor Green and the PNC/APNU; whose only effective legacy is their ability to readily find a scapegoat to blame for their incompetence.” The PPP along with its Councilors have offered their full support to the acting Town Clerk, and encouraged her to continue executing her duties in a professional and efficient manner.

Thursday August 08, 2013

Kaieteur News

Murder accused in Mandela shooting remanded Britton hides his face as he was being hoisted in a chair and taken to the holding cell

T

wenty year old Lloyd Britton of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara maintained that he is being framed after the indictable charge of murder was read to him yesterday by Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court. He is charged with the murder of Elvis Fernandes, who was shot dead on Mandela Avenue on July 26. The young man was not required to plead. Britton, who is still recovering from the gunshot wound he too sustained on that day, was unable to stand on his own two feet and had to be assisted into the courtroom by a Police rank after he made several outcries for pain in his left side chest and lower abdomen. The facts of the case were not read in open court as Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt disclosed that investigations are still ongoing. Representing the defendant was Attorney at Law Peter Hugh. He said that his client was forced late Tuesday afternoon to place his right thumb on a document alleged to be a caution statement, the contents of which his client had no knowledge of. Britton told the court, “I don't know what the paper was saying. They are trying to frame me Your Worship. The officer sitting behind me is the one that force my hand on an ink pad and then place my thumb on the paper.” The Magistrate then asked Britton to identify the officer that forced him to place his thumb on the paper. Britton then said, “It is the officer in the cream shirt, Your Worship.”

Magistrate Latchman then asked the officer to stand and he was identified as Detective 17982 Constable Marshall. This time, Britton broke down in tears as he stated, “Your Worship, I was simply a passenger in a bus. I don't know anything about this shooting.” Counsel Hugh interjected at this point and said that there are still remnants of the ink stain on his client's right thumb. In the company of the prosecutor and the court orderly, the Magistrate was escorted to the prisoner where she examined his thumb but expressed that she did not notice any remains of the alleged ink stain. Prosecutor Hunt said that based on the papers attached to the case file, there is no caution statement (CS), and to his knowledge, no CS was taken nor was the defendant made to attach his thumb print to one. However, the Prosecutor indicated that when the accused was taken to the station, it was required that he sign the prisoner's charge sheet, and that may be the document in question. The Magistrate then asked a female Constable who had sworn to the information on the charge if any CS was taken and she said, “No Your Worship.” The Attorney then told the court that his client is a father of one dependent child and only has one matter before the Cove and John Magistrate's Court, which is for a different offence. Britton's case was subsequently transferred to the court of Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry for report and fixture on September 5.

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Role of Teachers' Unions being downplayed by int'l funding agencies

T

he 36th Biennial Conference of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) is gearing to slam a Report of the World Bank which essentially seeks to discredit the role of Teachers' Union in the education of children.

General Secretary of the Caribbean Union of Teachers, Adolph Cameron The content of the Report was highlighted by President of the Education International Organisation, Ms Susan Hopgood, during a keynote addressed she presented at the Princess International Hotel on Tuesday. And according to General Secretary of CUT, Adolph Cameron, the revelation will certainly be one that will be deliberated on at length over the next few days. The conference commenced on Sunday and will come to an end tomorrow. “We are calling the attack on the Teachers' Unions,” said Cameron, who condemned the fact that the Wo r l d B a n k , a s a n organisation, “does not believe that Teachers' Unions have any worthwhile contributions to quality education for our children, and that is shocking.” However, he emphasised that all of the countries that have been highlighted by the World Bank as models of quality education, are known to have strong Teachers' Unions that are recognised by their Governments. “When we think about Singapore and Finland, they have strong Teachers' Unions and we are making the point based on those experiences that wherever there are strong Teachers' Unions, it is better for education.” Cameron premised this notion on the fact that Teachers' Unions are made up of practitioners who are in the field and understand the issues that are impacting themselves, students as well as parents. “They can bring prolific experiences to the policymakers so that they develop policies that really reflect the realities, and they can also suggest solutions,”

insisted the CUT General Secretary. Moreover, he insisted that there is no way that an education system can effectively operate without Teachers' Unions because “in saying that the unions are useless, you are saying that teachers are not valuable.” The conference therefore, will see delegates from the 21 countries represented seeking to scrutinise the World Bank Report, since according to Cameron, “it is an eyeopener.” He contended that some of the facts that have already been revealed from the damning Report are contrary to what are being played out in many Caribbean territories. But the World Bank is certainly not alone in condemning the operations of Teachers' Unions, as according to Cameron, even in Jamaica where he has taught for some 47 years the Government is being forced to disregard these bodies. He disclosed that not so long ago Jamaica inked an agreement with the International Monetary Fund following which a similar daunting observation was made. “We realised that a lot of the indications, in terms of the letter of intent, prepared by our Government in order to get that agreement, dealt with the removal of a lot of the negotiating benefits of teachers.” “That is what the IMF is requiring of Governments to do that are facing economic challenges or need support from them,” lamented Cameron. He amplified that “they are saying they must impose austerity measures that impact the education system on teachers in particular, and I am really very angry.”

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Bust to honour BACIF's founder unveiled

I

t began as a four-man operation in 1959, but its founder Claude Leslie Geddes had a dream which was to make it bigger and successful and even though he is no longer around, having departed this life in 2005, no one could dispute the fact that his dream has come true. Today, Brass Aluminium and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF) which has its location in West Ruimveldt has evolved into one of the most successful foundries in Guyana and an essential link for the sugar industry, one of its biggest business associates. Yesterday, during a simple ceremony at the Company's location, a Bronze Bust in his memory was unveiled in the presence of Directors of the entity, staffers, children of employees attached to the Company and those from West Ruimveldt Primary School who were recipients of the annual Bursary Awards, parents and well wishers. Managing Director Peter Pompey speaking at the occasion, gave a brief history about the Company and how it was founded and even recognised the vision of the

late founder and the efforts he made to ensure that the business which started from humble beginnings was placed on a footing that has enabled it to remain a viable entity until today. Also present were Directors Waveney Allen, Brinmore Phaul, Yolanda Geddes-Kendall, Accountant Gangamattie Singh, Company Secretary Marilyn Kyte and renowned sculptor Ivor Thom, who played a pivotal role in the construction of the Bust. The ceremony also saw the successful students from the last Grade Six Assessment receive bursary awards in memory of the late Geddes, who was instrumental in implementing the reward for children of employees of the Company, before it was e x t e n d e d t o t h e We s t Ruimveldt Primary School. Those who received awards were from BACIF: Keyane Williams, Kelar Azore, Daniel Eastman, Malachi Wharton, Rachel Atkins, Romario Shortt, Shaquille Souvenir and Janessa Collier, and from West Ruimveldt Primary: Lennox Hopkinson, Aquila Scott, Shaldeen Hinds and Deleon Lowe.

Dead Guyanese sailor ….

Family insists on “proper” post mortem

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elatives of 48y e a r - o l d Guyanese sailor Orlando Allen, who died on a vessel last week in Curacao have informed that the shipping company has once again contacted the family. But the dead man's wife Debra Allen told Kaieteur News that relatives in Guyana are still not satisfied with the initial reason given for his death and are maintaining that a “proper” post mortem examination be done. The shipping company had related that the Guyanese seaman died of natural causes. The woman said that she was told by the company via email that if she wanted to do another post mortem, it would cost the family US$600. The woman agreed to pay the money which she suggested to be subtracted from an initial $1000US which was part of a

contractual agreement in case of this instance. Allen's family was also promised that they will receive a copy of the post mortem report but it will take another six weeks since it was in Dutch and needed to be translated. The woman said that the company also confirmed that her husband's body will be in Suriname by today Thursday and then transported to Guyana on Saturday morning. In addition to that, the woman told Kaieteur News that the company transferred almost $1500US to her bank account for expenses the family has incurred and to facilitate the burial. Allen had told Kaieteur News that her husband left Guyana on July 23rd. She was told that the man was employed with the PrichardGordon Tankers Limited, a London-based Company. This was Allen's third trip with the company.

Staffers and bursary awardees surround the bust of Claude Geddes that was unveiled yesterday.

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CITITECH: Computer/ printer repairs (Mac & PC) IT consultation & Network installation: 125 Light St. Alberttown, G/TownCall:226-0085/693-1259

2 A/C- (sizes 12 & 15), solar system 45 gallon (hot & cold) Call:691-9071/674-1231

We repair LCD, Plasma, LED TV, Microwave, Washer & Dryer, Amp etc. Call:6472276/693-3277

Wall dividers, Cabinets, Sofas, Beds & WardrobeCall:219-3732 (After 5pm)

We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699 TransponderTV: No Monthly Fees, No Hidden Fees, No Additional Charges: 250 Channels + 50 HD Channels- Call: 675-3201 Are you interested in learning to sew? Are you free from 8-5?- Call Roxie’s Fashion 622-4386 Do you need someone to cut for you, to sew for yourselfCall Roxie’s Fashion 6224386 Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove repaired and serviceCall:601-0595/220-4073/2205785

1 Male English Mastiff Dog $150,000- Call:678-2814/6992322

S & N Mining Inc. Large Quantity Of Virgin Mining Mercury: Best In Guyana: $14,500LB, Wholesale Negotiable- Contact Carol: 649-8505 One Honda Honmel 1000 CBR, condition usedCall:610-7005/219-1342 WE HAVE ANY SIZE AND AMOUNT OF PALMS: #1 PLANT SHOP, 70 SHERIFF ST. CALL:227-8094 One 3 Tons Bedford dump truck, 3 and 4" water pumpCall:270-4485 Guyana Brakes & Clutch Company, 27 Coldingen, E.C.D 1 Gillotine: Wohlenberg 45" cut size: bindprintservice @gmail.com- Call:1-868-2227097 Dell laptops & desktops complete computers from $55,000 Futuretech call: 231-2206 Rottweiler pup – Contact:619-6086/699-7077

LAND FOR SALE At Soesdyke Linden Highway- Call:678-7355 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at Parika. Call 226-7968 House lot for sale: Friendship, D i a m o n d EBD & drafting of house plans. Call:223-0733, 2230730, 692-8513 Parfaite Harmonie $1.2M, $1.3M, $1.4M- Call:675-7292 House lots 50’×118’ New Hope, E.B.D: Serious enquires only. No prices on phone- Call:266-2711/609-4594

Thursday August 08, 2013

1-Hilux Vigo, single cab; PMM Series – Tele:626-7040 Pro Care adults pull ups ( large), assorted linen table cloths, linen chair covers, flowers – Call:771-5388/ 7,680-1198 1 used electric paint sprayer, 1- 25HP Evinrude Outboard motor, a quantity of costume jewellry, perfume, ladies hair etc. Call:680-9040

Tibetian Pups, 6 weeks & 1 year- Call:645-1208 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Fully vaccinated Pitbull Pups- Contact Johnny @ 628-9884 Ducklings and PigletsCall:688-7291/618-2708 1 Wadkin Circular Saw & 1 Dunlop CompressorCall:254-0209 Pure Bred Rottweiler pupsCall:650-8496 Sale! Thursday- Saturday (10am-6pm): Weeding Machine, household items, printers, scanners, computers & much moreCall:600-0036/223-1719 Pure Rottweiler Pups. Call 220-6879 Timber Harvester Sawmill just arrived from U.S.A with setter, sharpener and extended frame- Call:2612553/625-4393 Mix breed pups, Rottweiler and German Shepherd: Both male and female- Call:222-0410 2-320 excavator , 1 - Fiat Tractor, 4 wheel drive, 3-engine, (2) - 6- Cylinder complete workshop - Call: 695-5427 Asphalt Roofing Shingles, pig feed, duck feed & shrimp meal- Call:266-2711/609-4594 Electric Snow Cone machinesCall:266-2711/609-4594

Raum 04, Nav $2.4M: Fielder Nav, SP $2.5M: Spacio 03 $2.4M- Call: 609-8989/616-5595

VEHICLE FOR SALE Fielder Wagon- Call:6913812

VACANCY One Upholster & two JoinersCall:219-1342/610-7005

Sale! Axio: TV, DVD $3.1M Neg: Pre-order Premio $2.5M Neg- Call: 655-3400

One Hilux Surf- Call:617-3001

Ray’s Motor Spares & Auto Sales: For best price, wholesale & retail dealer in Japanese automobiles & partsCall:233-5151/ 231-7839

New ATVs: Introductory price $1,450,000 (Duty Free)Call:691-0234

24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant- Call:6889611/684-2838

2 Ford F150: Price $4.5M & $3.5M- Call: 643-5249 / 2654979 1 BMW 318i PNN series $3.2M, 1 Toyota Raum PKK series $1.250M: Both in immaculate condition- Call: 613-5308 Sale! Sale! Toyota Premio (unregistered), fully loaded $2.5M-Call:617-2891/220-2345 1 Toyota RZ $650,000Call:265-4164 New Raum, Premio, Fielder, Alex and Vitz: Never registered- call: 269-0432/ 686-0323

3Y Surf $1.6M, Toyota Wills $1.6M- Call Shawn 618-7483

Cheapest- Premio, Spacio, Hilux, Stick Gear Buses- Call: 616-7635 2008 White Tacoma Auto, lift kit, off road tyre, GRR series, 31,000 miles: Excellent condition- Call:610-5370 Toyota Tercel PGG series: A/ C, alarm, mag rim, music: Excellent condition $650,000Call:690-3995 Honda Civic $200,000 negotiable- call:604-6973 L-Touring Wagon HB $850,000- Call:674-8982 1 Hiab Truck- Call:618-1967

New 2013 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabs- Call: 691-0234

One Mitsubishi Canter GRR 5201: 15ft tray- Call:613-2150/ 254-0247 RZ minibus BKK seriesCall:685-2101 2006 Silver Toyota Tacoma 4WD, automatic transmission, low kilometers. With accessories G$5.5M Neg- Call:624-6008

MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979 For that relaxing and sensual happy ending- Call for appointment @ tele 699-3519 American Style massage services- Call:678-7499

Is your child hyperactive or has a disability and needs individual teaching? For best results- Call:683-3887

PEN PAL 53 year old female seeking male companion, age 54-62Call:683-4331 (No texting)

2006 Black Toyota Tacoma: 4 Cylinders/2WD/ manual transmission, low kilometers. With accessories G$3.8M Neg- Call:624-6008 First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Spacio, IST, Axio, 212, Fielder, Verossa & AllexCall:609-8188/602-6307

One person to build chairs in work shop- Call:610-7005/ 219-1342 Vacancy exists for one Manager to work at an out of town Hotel/ ClubCall:226-9768/642-7963 Senior Accounts Clerk: Minimum 5 subjects CXC, CAT/ACCA, knowledge of Quickbooks Accounting (3yrs experience)- Call:231-4069

One live in general domestic: Must be over 45 years & must know to cookCall:627-5378 One professional seamstress, sewing girls, surgers: Great wages & added benefits- Call Roxie’s Fashion 622-4386 Can you cut, can you sew? Either way- Call Roxie’s Fashion 622-4386 One experienced female shop assistant preferably from West Bank Demerara – Call:690-2952

One NZE Toyota CorollaCall:614-9060 EDUCATIONAL I.A.E (Camp street): Register for full- time, lessons & adults CXC classes: Maths, English, Business & ScienceCall:223-0604/683-5742

Refrigeration, A/C Technician. Call 231-0655/ 683-8734 Vacancy exists for 1 Parts Sales Clerk: Sound Secondary education with knowledge in Japanese vehicles spare partsCall:231-7839

Cashier/ customer service Rep: Minimum 5 subjects CXC, knowledge of Point of Sale- Call:231-4069- email: jimmy@nvtech computers.com

One Mitsubishi Canter; late GPP series – Call:662-8743

Axio Special- 2007, TV/DVD & Reverse Camera $2.950MCall:617-2891

1 – Front end loader, 1 – D6D CAT bulldozer, 1-22RB dragline –Contact :695-5427 9 months old salon equipment and furniture, barber chair and station – call:225-2303 or 681-61563

R1 new condition, colour red: 2005 Ford F150 fully loaded $1.8M Neg- Call:623-4045/ 689-3846

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

Unregistered Mitsubishi long canter $3,350,000Call:615-7526/653-4560

Natural beauty salon & spa: Grove Market Street EBD tele:265-4138,652-5800 specialized in everything for women & children

One black Titan (2005) 4 wheel drive, fully loaded: $4.2M negotiable- Call:6782814/699-2322

Nails & Things : Get any nail service for $1,000 this Friday 9th to Sunday 11th August Tele:619-2220/600-2220

Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Premio, Allion, IST, Fielder- Call:652-3820/ 665-4529

FOR SALE/RENT American Pool TableCall:277-0578

R.A. Soda Factory: Driver – Good Hope bond; T.K Bedford truck - Call:3332399/623-5920 R.A. Soda Factory: Driver ;Albion - canter ; live in quarter – call:33-2399/6235920 R.A. Soda Factory: Driver R/ Nol – Accountant & Checkers – Call:333-2399, 623-5920 DRESSMAKING Classes in Designing and Sewing. Call Sharmela (Canadian-Trained) @ 6410784/626-2629 (Continued on page 23)

Thursday August 08, 2013

Kaieteur News

Guyana, Venezuela cancel US$190M debts under rice-for-oil deals Guyana rice being exported.

Page 23

(From page 22)

PROPERTY FOR SALE Campbellville $30M, Kitty $30M, Section ‘K’ $40M, AA Eccles- Call Diana @ 2272256/626-9382 Houses on East Coast & East Bank for sale- Call:2238479/647-3768/ www.space seek.gy House and Land @ D’Edward, W.C.B.- Call: 6892973/698-3703 Prashad Nagar $65M, Diamond front, Atlantic gardens, Atlanticville, South $15M, La Penitance & W.C.D, W.B.D- Call:2317805/ 618-7483

Guyana and neighbouring Venezuela, in an ongoing ricefor-oil deal, has cancelled US$190M in debts between the two countries as part of a compensation agreement. Under what is known as the PetroCaribe deal, Venezuela, one of the biggest oil producers in the world, had hammered out a 2005 agreement between a number of Caribbean and Latin American countries, including Guyana and Suriname. Under the then President Hugo Chavez, Venezuela in compliance of the energy cooperation agreement, would supply crude oil, refined products and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) under a financing scheme which would contemplate deferred payments. The agreement allowed for beneficiary countries like Guyana to pay

for the oil with goods. Countries would pay as low as between 1-2% interest with a two-year grace period. Yesterday, the Ministry of Finance which is serving at the intermediary for the ricefor-oil deal, tabled the compensation agreement. According to the agreement, between October 2011 and April 2013, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), supplied US$188M in rice and paddy. The Ministry paid GRDB which then paid farmers who are participating in the program. During that period, Guyana would have owed Venezuela US$190M for the oil it received, inclusive of interest. In May, Guyana and Venezuela signed a new agreement which will see 140,000 tonnes of paddy and 70,000 tonnes of white rice

being exported to the latter country. Since the first deal signed in October 2009, at least another five agreements to supply rice and paddy in exchange for oil have been inked. Initially, farmers were cautious about the deal and despite invitations they were slow to export directly. However, as the logistics of having a market close by and a stable one at that became more apparent, there was a rush of applications. Traditionally, Guyana’s main markets for rice were Europe and the US. Almost 75% of its rice went to Europe, a situation that is gradually changing. With the rice crops breaking production records in recent years, the Venezuelan market had been seen as a boon.

living at the now destroyed property for the past six year, said that she only save the clothes on her body, “nothing else. Everything just burn to ashes.” The owner of the property told this newspaper that she was at the Providence Magistrate's Court since yesterday morning and only leant about the fire when she reached in front of her yard. “While I was walking in, I hear people talking about a fire but I had no idea that it was my home.” “When I reach close by, then I realized it was my house. I didn't leave any lights on, nothing at all. In the morning when I wake up, I does make sure all the lights are off so I really can't say how the fire started,” the elderly woman stressed. Fire fighters are investigating the cause of the fire.

Property for sale in Enterprise E. C. Demerara Call: 627-5416/611-7437 1 Charlestown, Corner property with business potential; $40M – Tele: 6735882

Mineral Property @ Cuyuni, Mazaruni, Upper Demerara, Berbice, Upper Kurupukari – call:614-1669/682-0365

CAR RENTAL Progressive Auto Rental - cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email www. progressive autorental. com

Newly constructed apartments, with & without A/C; Parking & security available, LBI East Coast. Call 628-8008/603-0000

Premio, Vitz call: 679-7139

3 Bedrooms unfurnished house to rent US$2200 per month: Located in Lamaha Gardens- Call:616-5415 Apartments from $60,000$160,000- Call:675-7292

Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964 B & C Driving School: Lot 5 Hadfield Lodge- call:2250150,229-7258,680-6826

Receptionist, room attendant, bar attendants, washer & presser , cook & helper– Contact: Hick’s Ville Hotel @ 231-0951/231-0953 Old Guyana Currencies $1,$5,$10 bills and stampsCall:653-5696 1 whole day domesticCall:650-4761/667-5717 Workers for land dredgeCall:667-5717

Subryanville- furnished US$1000, Turkeyen house US$1200, Farm 5 bedrooms, Lusignan, Courida Park sea side, Alberttown- bondCall:231-2199/626-4890 2- Two bedrooms apartments @ Queenstown & 1 two storey building @ Bel-Air park- Call:225-2562/660-4481

WANTED One live-in domestic. Call 617-1679 One three bedrooms apartment anywhere around town- Call:617-7865 Secret Villa apartments: now hiring general workers to work 8 hrs shift and one handy boy – Tele :225-6337 One experienced shop assistant to work in InteriorCall: 666-6836 Domestic & Handyman to clean yard. Call 227-5500/ 227-2027 One Handy Boy to work around yard in InteriorCall:666-6836 Experienced counter servers, roti/puri cooks, pastry makers & cashiers: Apply @ Hacks Halaal 5 Commerce St. Do you need excavator operator for the Interior? 12 years experience in miningCall:254-0624/655-4440 Wanted – House lot in Diamond – Call 677 -6620 Sailors/ Welders- Call:6893846/227-2027

TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments @ Eccles call: 679-7139 Harmony Inn: Apartments fully furnished, airconditioned apartments: $5000 per night- Call:6680306/602-8769/694-7817

Apartments & Houses in Ogle, Kitty, Prashad Nagar, Queenstown, Republic Park, Bel-Air, Campbellville & Diamond- Call:223-8479/6473768/ www.spaceseek.gy

LEARN TO DRIVE

Driver, salesperson, merchandiser & porter needed, bring resume ( include reference) & passport photo at Vegetarian Gardens - Tele:227-7714/2233448

2-Storey transported property on land measuring approximately 66"x200" ; Cove – and – John Ashram; $15M - Call Mr. Ramdhani: 656-8400/665-3712

FOR RENT

Five homeless after... From page 3 the front room of the upper flat. “I was downstairs, in front with my fan, and my baby was in the bedroom. I hear something fall from upstairs, so I say to myself that it was some rat but shortly after, I hear something going like fireworks, so I go out and peep. The GPL (Guyana Power and Light Company) meter was right on the wall by the window upstairs, so I am not sure if it was that (meter) that caused the fire,” a devastated Williams recalled. She explained that shortly after she heard the “strange” sounds, “I see smoke in the room upstairs so I shout for my son and tell him to bring out his sister. I tried to go upstairs but the door was locked and then the smoke started big upstairs.” Williams, who has been

For sale by owner: Lot 4 La Bagatelle, Leguan. Land 100’×200’, house 40’×25’ $8M NegCall:231-5508/628-2166

WANTED Carpenters and Labourers to work in the Georgetown areas: Carpenters $6000, Labourers $3,500- Contact 646-9087

Fully furnished Vacation home with all amenitiesCall during working hours227-1218 120ft×42ft Space suitable for manufacturing or warehousing- Call:270-4485 Guyana Brakes & Clutch Company, 27 Coldingen, E.C.D Campbellville $120,000, BelAir US$1200, Lamaha Gardens US$2500, Queenstown US$1000- Call Diana @ 227-2256/626-9382 House to rent @ 655 Arcadia Mocha- Call:699-2596/6960718 Small business space – Tele :231-2619/691-7164 Two bedrooms apartmentCall: 617-3001 Two bedrooms furnished apartment US$50 per dayCall:665-2548 CAR RENTAL Aidan’s Car Rental & PickupCall: 645-7981/ 698-7807

One live-in or live out maidcall:668-3985/264-3355/6837936 House Keepers to work 8 hours shift & Handy boy 17-19 years @ Land of Canaan- Call:266-5243-5 One Live in domesticCall:614-6053/600-6053 One maid to work in Bel Air area- call:227-5585 Men to work in sea food plant, required ID, NIS & police clearance: contact Mr. James 680-5200/6120374 Urgently needed 1 plot of land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie- Call:675-7292 Handy boy and salesgirl – Tele:227-8529 Live in experienced domestic & waiters; must be honest, boarding & lodging free; $50,000 monthly – Tele:698-7172 Experienced salesgirl – Call:680-0866/225-4997 Experienced workers for land dredge – Call:672-8566 One maid; must be able to cook and iron; age 40-50 – Tele:668-0306 One girl to work in snackette in Friendship, E.B.D (Monday to Saturday)Call:266-0163

Page 24

Seven years have passed… Today, August 8, marks seven years since a gang of vicious youths stormed the Kaieteur News printery at Eccles, East Bank Demerara and slaughtered five workers. On that fateful day in 2006, Chetram Persaud called “Boyo’, 46, of 76 CC Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD); Eion Wegman, 47, of 51 Fourth Street, Alberttown; Richard Stewart, 24, of 239 Lamaha Park East La Penitence; Mark Maikoo

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 08, 2013

KN’s heroic pressmen remembered

Eion Wegman

Chetram Persaud

Shazeem Mohamed

Mark Maikoo

Richard Stewart

called ‘Marko’, 22, of 5 Yarrow Dam and Shazeem Mohamed of 267 BB Eccles, EBD, were all placed to lie face down and shot at point blank range to the back of their heads. A sixth man, Wordsworth Grey, 32, of 31 Norton Street, Bagotstown, was also shot dead shortly before gunmen invaded the printery. A senior pressman, Ramchand Harripersaud called ‘Harry’ and a security guard, Julian De Grace, 66, were the only survivors of the gratuitous massacre. It was in the height of a crime wave that had begun four years prior. Six pressmen had secured themselves in a toilet when the gang stormed the facility. The lone survivor among them was the only one who remained inside when the gunmen ordered them out. He had related that the others had complied with the gunmen’s request thinking that they were only going to be robbed and then left alone. They were wrong.

The surviving pressman, Harripersaud, said that he watched helplessly through a crease in the door and saw his colleagues’ “feet jumping”, with each passing gunshot as the life was snuffed out of them. After the intruders left, he emerged to see his five workmates lying mortally wounded only a few feet from where he had been hiding. One of the alleged killers turned out to be no more than 13 years old, while none of those said to be responsible was above 18. Three were eventually committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murders. The reported gang leader Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles was killed after his short-lived escape from lawful custody. For the publisher of the Kaieteur News, nothing will erase the memories of that tragic night. His poignant reflections two years ago when asked about the loss of his dedicated staffers are

worth repeating in this brief tribute to the fallen pressmen. “I never got over it and I don’t think that anyone who experienced what I experienced could forget such a tragedy. It will be a lasting sore within me. Every now and again I remember, but particularly when August 8 comes around. These were not employees, they were more like family; the Kaieteur News family. “My heart goes out to their loved ones, and whenever we meet I would offer them words of comfort. It is sad and hard for their loved ones and I hope they are holding up, they should always take comfort that their relatives did not die in vain.” Today, the entire staff of Kaieteur News as well as those former staff members who had shared that painful moment seven years ago, will remember those who paid the ultimate price during a terrifying night of uninhibited madness.

Thursday August 08, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday August 08, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

Parliament exposing how Govt. does business DEAR EDITOR, There are many positives to be taken from the current configuration of Guyana’s Parliament. In addition to the effort to improve transparency, inclusive planning and governance, this current configuration of Parliament is exposing how the Government does business. This is a Government that does not want to engage other stakeholders in the budget preparation process, or only finds it necessary to seek public input after raising the debt ceiling was not approved by Parliament. Much worse, we have crucial amendments and legislation to pass that aligns our local

framework to international standards of countering money laundering the finance of terrorism. The government clearly has contempt and disregard for the majority of the country and their combined actions are seen by many as unpatriotic. Kudos to the combined Opposition and the people of Guyana for remaining steadfast and not allowing this Government to make themselves and a few selfish others wealthy, while the masses continue to struggle to make ends meet and be engaged only when the Government wants to complain of see support for some plan that didn’t have the input of

the people in the first place. Guyana continues to slide backwards and remain underdeveloped because of nasty, unpatriotic and immature politics. Guyanese must realize that our struggle is not against any political party, the struggle is for a better life for us all. If the Government of the day does not see it fit to engage all stakeholders in the development of our nation, regardless of which side of the political spectrum one falls or which community one resides, then clearly we are dealing with an immature, uncaring and contemptuous Government that needs to change or be changed. Mike Archer

The hypocrisy of the Alliance For... From page 4 Corporation. As such, he perused the tender document that they had submitted to the procurement body. Khemraj Ramjattan is a lawyer and Parliamentarian. It is highly unlikely that he would have provided this professional service pro bono for a foreign company worth US$500 million. Who is he trying to fool? Having not received “one

cent” from Fedders Lloyd as he claims is irrelevant to the fact that he represented them in a legal capacity. The question must now be asked, what prompted Nigel Hughes’ hasty resignation from the AFC chairmanship? As suspected all along, all is not well on the home front. This development (exposure if you will) may very well reveal serious conflicts. Hughes’ political momentum

may be threatening to the leadership of the party. Perhaps Nigel Hughes has just gotten too big for his britches in a party that must win over PPP supporters for its survival. Whatever the reason, the Alliance For Change has an obligation to this country and to their supporters to put Guyana first. It is not too late! Harry Gill

What the public should know about... From page 5 would equal to nearly half the size of the civil works done on the Guri Hydro Dam in Venezuela. The Guri Hydro Dam, the third largest in the world, produces 10,500MW from 20 large Frances turbines with just about double the size of civil works to be done at Amaila. The Amaila would produce only 100MW from four 25MW Frances miniturbines. Much too low compared to the size of civil works to be done. The power weight ratio of the Amaila project is daunting, since the annual tariff paid by GPL for the capacity provided by the project increases as the capital cost increases with dam length and dam height/reserve size and installed turbine capacity. The contractor needs to be cautious, because the general idea of hydro dam installations is to locate a site where there is less demand for too big and costly civil works and an abundance of water. The power/weight ratio must always be 80% to 90% ratings so that in the end the general public could enjoy cheap and reliable electricity. The high cost of electricity would also chase away investors. The engineering world today tends to produce products much smaller but with more performance and capacity. It’s a trend. The question is why the only possible site for a hydro dam installation in the Potaro area has been more than once neglected - the Tumatumari Falls. British Consolidated Gold mining company installed two small Kaplan turbines at the Tumatumari Falls. The facility produced more than enough to power the company’s two giant bucket dredges plus provided energy for the camp sites at Tumatumari and Konawaruk, nine miles away. With only servicing those two turbines, folks at Mahdia, just 9 miles away

could have enjoyed 24-hour electricity supply. Instead, two fuel-guzzling diesels were installed to provide electricity only at nights. A reverse process indeed. It would be very inaccurate to say that the Tumatumari Falls was not chosen for the project because of fear of flooding the area. The Tumatumari Falls has a catchment area of nearly 680 square miles, compared to the meagre 90 square miles of the Amaila Falls. It is sufficient to erect a 40-feet high dam to maintain a reservoir of only 35 feet deep. All the water flow of the entire length of the Amaila River plus the water flow of the entire length of the Potaro River merge into one powerful flow before reaching the Tumatumari Falls. A regular and steady supply of water is guaranteed to maintain the level of the reservoir even through the dry period. So there is no necessity to have an oversized reservoir. The hydraulic potential of the Tumatumari Falls make it possible to install 5 Kaplan or Frances turbines each of 78MW summing a total of 390MW. That’s power enough to energize 150 largesize alumina smelting pots, similar to those used in Alcasa of Venezuela - enough to lure investors over a 30-year period or more. Investors go where there is plentiful, cheap and reliable electricity. An experienced engineer, with more than 15 years in the field of estimating cost of hydro dams, estimated that a hydro project at Tumatumari would cost no more than US$498,000 give or take a few thousand. He estimated the Amaila project to cost nearly US$1.2 billion plus or minus, on completion, because of its oversized civil works. It would not be capable of meeting the demands of development over the next 25 years. Delgado5 (Name and address provided)

Thursday August 08, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Obama calls off Putin summit PM says Britain supports amid Snowden tensions Dominica’s move to CCJ LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a rare diplomatic rebuke, President Barack Obama called off an upcoming Moscow summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, sending a stern message of disapproval over Russia’s harboring of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. Although U.S. frustration with Moscow has been growing over other key issues such as missile defense and human rights, it was Russia’s decision to grant Snowden asylum in defiance of Obama’s repeated requests that dealt the latest blow to uneasy U.S. relations with a former Cold War foe. Y e s t e r d a y ’ s announcement is likely to further strain the relationship, even as the U.S. seeks Russia’s cooperation on Syria and other pressing issues. Canceling the meeting, scheduled for early September, denies Putin a prominent moment just as global attention will be turning to a major economic summit that Russia will be hosting. Airing its own disappointment, Russia’s government said Obama’s decision showed the U.S. is unable to develop relations with Moscow on an “equal basis.” Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, played down the Kremlin’s role in the

The June 17, 2013 the file shows President Barack Obama meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Northern Ireland. (AP Photo) Snowden controversy, describing the American’s status as a situation that “hasn’t been created by us.” “Russian representatives are ready to continue working together with American partners on all key issues,” Ushakov said, adding that the invitation to Obama to visit Moscow next month still stands. Obama will still attend the Group of 20 economic summit in St. Petersburg, but a top White House official said the president has no plans to hold one-on-one talks with Putin while there. Instead of visiting Putin in Moscow, the president is adding a stop in Sweden to his earlySeptember itinerary. Obama, traveling in California, said Tuesday that Russia’s decision to grant

Snowden asylum for one year reflected the “underlying challenges” the U.S. faces in dealing with Moscow. “There have been times where they slip back into Cold War thinking and a Cold War mentality,” Obama said in an interview on NBC’s “The Tonight Show.” White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said it was the “unanimous view” of Obama and his national security team that a summit didn’t make sense in the current environment, which he described as a troubled relationship. He said the Snowden decision exacerbated those tensions and that the U.S. saw few signs that progress would be made during the Moscow summit on other agenda items.

Egypt at ‘dangerous stalemate’ in political crisis CAIRO (Reuters) Egypt’s political crisis entered a tense new phase yesterday after international mediation efforts collapsed and the army-installed government repeated its threat to take action against supporters of deposed President Mohamed Mursi. Both sides called their supporters on to the streets today, while Mursi supporters in two protest camps in Cairo strengthened sandbag-and-brick barricades in readiness for any action by security forces. Acting President Adli Mansour, in a message on the eve of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday, said Egypt was now in critical circumstances. The interim government would press on with its own plan to hold new elections in nine months time, he said. “The train of the future has departed, and everyone must realize the moment and catch up with it, and whoever fails to realize this moment must

take responsibility for their decision,” he said. U.S. envoy Nicholas Burns made his way home after days of trying to broker a compromise between the government and Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood. European Union envoy Bernardino Leon stayed on in the capital in the slim hope of reviving the effort. But Brussels and Washington said they were very concerned that the Egyptian parties had not found a way to break what they called a dangerous stalemate. “This remains a very fragile situation, which holds not only the risk of more bloodshed and polarization in Egypt, but also impedes the economic recovery which is so essential for Egypt’s successful transition,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a joint statement. The army ousted the

Islamist Mursi, Egypt’s first freely elected leader, on July 3 after huge street demonstrations against his rule. Mursi and leaders of his Muslim Brotherhood have been rounded up and detained. But thousands of their supporters have demonstrated to demand his reinstatement. Almost 300 people have been killed in political violence since the overthrow, including 80 Mursi supporters shot dead by security forces in a single incident on July 27. Mansour earlier yesterday blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for the breakdown of the international mediation effort, and for any violence that might result. Interim Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi said the government’s decision to dismantle the protest camps was final and its patience had nearly expired.

ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – Britain does not regard Dominica’s move to join the appellate jurisdiction of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as an act of “anti Privy Council”, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said yesterday. Skerrit said that his administration would be sending an official letter to London “by the end of this week” outlining his administration’s desire to join the CCJ, which was established in 2001 to replace the Privy Council as the region’s final court. While most of the 15member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are signatories to the original jurisdiction of the court, only Barbados, Belize and Guyana have signed on to the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ, which also acts as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that

Roosevelt Skerrit governs the regional integration movement. “The British government will receive the letter from the government of Dominica this week. Before the end of the week we would have dispatched a formal official letter with the government’s seal...indicating Dominica’s decision to join the CCJ in its appellate jurisdiction and requesting the support and

understanding of the British government in that regard to allow us to move the process,” Skerrit said on the state-owned DBS radio. He said indications are that London would support the initiative, adding “they have indicated to me they have no difficulty with our position, they understand, they respect it.” He said Britain regards it as part of the region’s move to create its own court “: and it is not anti-Privy Council decisions. Member states have taken a deliberate decision to create their own court and they understand that. “Once we get the response from the British government we shall set the timetable as provided for in the constitution to move towards the recognition of the CCJ in its appellate jurisdiction”. Last month, St Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony told the Caribbean Media

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UG Council to be in place before start of Academic year - Education Minister Having been without a functional Council since June 30, last, moves are currently apace to furnish the University of Guyana with a new Council. And according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, the Council should be in place within the upcoming week. She disclosed during an invited comment that the

appointment of members to the Council is not done in isolation but rather requires the input of a number of stakeholders. “I cannot sit down and just appoint people because I feel like it...We need recommendations from various groups and we are awaiting those answers. We already have some but we will leave room for the others,”

asserted the Minister yesterday. There have been recent concerns emanating from the University of Guyana about the lack of a focal body in the form of the Council. In fact, the unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association and the University of Guyana Workers Union – have

MUSLIMS END RAMADAN FASTING TODAY Today marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and many of them celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, the end of fasting and great sacrifice. It is an occasion for rejoicing and an opportunity for Muslims to gather in joy, as well as in remembrance of those less fortunate. It is a Day of Graduation for all those who have faithfully observed the commands of God Almighty and an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves not only to achieving spiritual growth, but also to the cause of peace between all people of the earth. According to President General of Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) Hakeem Khan, as the appearance of the new moon brings to a close the holy month of Ramadan, “we extend to all our Muslims a blessed celebration of the Eid Al-Fitr and peace, health, and prosperity in the year ahead. May peace be with you and your families.” He explained that Muslims need to create an inner environment of peace and faith, of tranquility, non-violence and security. Adding that Muslims today represent an increasingly important element in the tapestry of human society, Khan said because of the growth of Islam, people of all faiths are coming to appreciate the significance of these great Islamic Festivals and Observances. Muslims the world over, he noted are also united in their commitment to being an integral part of the human family and building a society, rich in diversity and grounded in mutual respect. “It is our sincere hope and prayer that we are able to affirm the unity possible among Muslims, and between Muslims and other religions. We face the challenges of living in a

globalized world where there is greater alienation and distance between classes of individuals based on economics and education. We must work hand in hand with people who have faith in the essential goodness of humankind.” According to Chairman of the orphanage board Badruddin Hassan, Eid ul Fitr, the greatest festival of Muslims, is being observed by over one and a half billion people worldwide. He emphasized that fasting is a trial of physical endurance and also a way of developing empathy for the poor and destitute. It is a bridge by which Muslims can reach out to the needy in all communities. “Muslims today represent an increasingly important element in the tapestry of human society. Civilization was made stronger by the core values of Islam, we must not allow anyone, within or without of us, to destroy that.”

together stated their disappointment over the failure on the part of the Minister to appoint a Council. In fact they had highlighted that the ad hoc, unplanned approach to the University’s governance has had a negative impact on the functioning of the University.” It was disclosed that even the University’s Negotiating Team cannot be convened without at least two Council members so as to enable the recommencement of salary negotiations. Moreover, they highlighted that the effective functioning of the University is dependent upon the appointment of a new Council or the extension of the life of the former one. The lack of the Council had also caused the cancellation of an Appointment Committee meeting since there is a requirement for adequate Council members. As such, the unions had lamented the fact that new appointments, renewals and extensions of contracts are still to be completed even as the start of the new academic

year nears. The unions had issued an appeal for the Minister to appoint persons to the Council who are competent and who possess the necessary skills to transform Guyana’s sole national University into an outstanding, creditable tertiary institution. However, the Minister assured yesterday that Council members will be appointed long before the start of the new academic year. The appointment of the University’s Council is bounded by Chapter 39:02 of the Constitution. Based on this Act, “the Council has the power to do or provide for any act or thing in relation to the University which it considers necessary or expedient in its capacity as the governing body of the University....” The Act outlines too that the Council shall consist of 26 members including the Chancellor, the ProChancellor and the Principal and Vice Chancellor. Also one individual is nominated by the Committee of Deans, the Academic Board, the Guild of Graduates,

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand the Students’ Society, the University of Guyana Workers Union, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance. A representative is also nominated by Government, the Opposition Leader, and four other persons are nominated by nongovernmental organisations that represent the interests of women, farmers, Amerindians and business. One person shall also be nominated by the Guyana Trades Union Congress and three shall be appointed by the Minister, who in her opinion, can contribute significantly to the University in the field of medicine and law while six others are nominated by the Chancellor.

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AFC meets with Chinese Lone survivor fearful husband Ambassador on large projects will return to “finish her off” Zeelugt horror slaying…

Bibi Nazarena Houston, the lone survivor of the vicious attack at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) two Wednesdays ago, said she is positive that her husband will return to harm her once he remains at large. With her right arm severed and three of the fingers from her left hand missing, the woman is begging the Guyana Police Force to capture her attacker, Richard Lord as soon as possible. The police have issued a wanted bulletin for the 26 year old suspect. Houston said lord once told her that he will “damage” her if he cannot have her. Remembering her husband’s threat, Houston, who was discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) three days ago, said she is scared to leave the facility because she knows that Lord is somewhere around, waiting to harm her. Lord, a cane-cutter went berserk, hacking to death his two children, five-year-old Kimberly Houston and two-year-old Tariff Lord and maiming the 21-year-old Bibi Houston on July 31st last at their Lot 867 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo home. On Tuesday while lying on her hospital bed, Houston told this newspaper, “I am really scared because he know that I am not dead and he gon come back to kill me.” The woman said that her reputed husband is no stranger to the interior and there is a

Bibi Nazarena Houston

strong possibility that he could go there to hide while there is also the possibility that his father, who lives in Wales, West Bank Demerara, is protecting him. “He use to go there (interior) steady.” Houston’s mother, Bibi Khairool told Kaieteur News that she will not take her daughter to the house where her young children were murdered. “He (Lord) knows that we don’t have any man in that house and he gon come to hurt her.” The older Houston recalled that the night when her son-in-law slaughtered his children, he did not leave the yard immediately after. “He was still at the back of the house, listening to everything, because the morning when we went at the back of the house, you could clearly see how he cut the grass and was sitting.” “He even went inside the house after the police remove the bodies because the side window break and the bag with his clothes that his daughter had packed for him just disappeared. The bloody pants he had on when he chopped them been back in the house and his boots disappeared,” the dead children’s grandmother noted. “I hear that some man name Salim catch him this morning (Tuesday) in Wales and beat him but he runaway, I don’t know how true that is,’ the older Khairool added. Investigations are ongoing.

Richard Lord

Members of AFC and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana H.E Zhang Limin (third from right). Members of the Alliance For Change (AFC) met with Chinese Ambassador to Guyana H.E Zhang Limin yesterday. According to a press statement, “The AFC took the opportunity to express its highest regards for the Government and people of China and for the continued support provided by China to the people of Guyana. The AFC noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, China has demonstrated that it is a true friend of Guyana.” The AFC Delegation was led by Party Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and included General Secretary David Patterson, Vice-Chairman Moses Nagamootoo MP, Chairman of the Party’s Region Four Management Committee Daniel Fraser and Communications Manager Beverley Alert. According to the release, a number of issues of concern to both sides were discussed including the future of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, the Cheddi Jagan

International Airport Expansion Project and the 2013 National Budget. It was noted that on the matter of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, the AFC assured Ambassador Zhang of the Party’s unequivocal support for the exploration and development of sustainable energy in Guyana. “The Party reiterated its position that it is awaiting the

report on the feasibility study being done by the InterAmerican Development Bank. The AFC also shared its concerns regarding the project including, the end cost to the Guyanese people, the interest rates on loan provided by China Development Bank and the capacity of GPL to efficiently manage electricity provided by the project,” the release said.

Woman found hanging at Immigration Detention Centre Trinidad (Trinidad Express) - DETECTIVES are investigating the death of a female detainee at the Immigration Detention Centre yesterday. According to police reports, 42-year-old Indira Joseph, of Guyana, was found hanging inside a cell at the centre, located along the Eastern Main Road in Aripo, Arima, around 4.30 a.m. yesterday. PC Modeste of the Arima Police Station is continuing investigations.

The centre operates only as a means of short-term detention of non-nationals, and will neither be facilitated as a prison nor correctional facility, nor does it intend to replace or act as one, the Ministry of Justice’s website states. The centre, which is managed and operated by the Immigration Division, has a holding capacity of 110 and houses both male and female detainees, segregated according to sex.

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ANDY MURRAY BEATS MARCEL GRANOLLERS AT ROGERS CUP BBC Sport - Britain’s Andy Murray made a winning return to action by beating Marcel Granollers 6-4 7-6 (7-2) in the second round of the Rogers Cup in Montreal. Murray, 26, broke Granollers twice in the first set to lead 4-1 before a run of unforced errors saw his rival break back and close to within a game at 5-4. But the Scot served out the set and came from 4-1 down to force a second-set tie-break which he won comfortably. The world number two was playing his first match since winning

Wimbledon. And beating Granollers extended his run of successive victories to 13, his last defeat coming when he pulled out of a match against

Andy Murray the same opponent at the Rome Masters in May, with the back injury that forced him to miss the French Open. Murray, who will face world number 38 Ernests Gulbis next, showed flashes of the form that saw him become

the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years, but there were more unforced errors than he would like, something he blamed on the conditions. “It was tricky. It is extremely windy here and the balls here are quick so it felt like it was flying around,” he told Sky Sports. After Murray took the first set, the 27-year-old Spaniard, victorious on clay in Kitzbuhel last week and a 6-4 6-4 winner over Grigor Dimitrov in the first round here, raced ahead in the

second. But the Briton broke back with Granollers serving at 5-3. He kept his nerve to hold his own serve and, after falling 2-0 behind in the tiebreak, won seven successive points to progress. “I didn’t feel that I had

Thursday August 08, 2013 Stop your pondering over something and do it, Aries. This is a day to be spontaneous and adventurous. Although this may feel a bit foreign and against your usual grounded nature, it would be a good idea to take this time to do something on a whim and see where it takes you. ******************** This may be a climactic day for you, Taurus, especially when it comes to your emotions. You could find that people try to wield some sort of power over you. ******************** Instead of turning all your burning questions inward today, Gemini, you might want to consider broadcasting them outward. Engage in discussions and extend your queries to the group. ******************** There's a great wind under your wings today, Cancer, and you may find the day's energy quite transforming. You now have the opportunity to make great strides in whatever you wish to accomplish. ******************** Try not to weigh everything down. Don't pick things apart to the point that all that's left are the tiny details of the situation, Leo. Deal with it as a whole. ******************** As you work to keep things in balance today, Virgo, remember that one of the key things is to have fun. Happiness is an extremely important element of the cosmic equation, especially on a day like this.

Don't get too emotional about a situation today, Libra. You could feel a sinking feeling, but if you go that route you may end up in a pit of emotional quicksand that's hard to escape. ******************** This is a terrific day for you, Scorpio. You should easily feel its power coming together in an upbeat, positive way. Others are apt to fall into place by your side as they realize the wisdom in your way of doing things. ******************** Your normal steady pace usually wins the race, Sagittarius, but today you might need to take some shortcuts. Jump on opportunities that seem to come out of nowhere, but don't feel like you need to commit to anything now. ******************** Don't deny your emotions today, Capricorn. They will be of great use to you. There's an intensity about your feelings that's helping you stay strong in just about every situation. ******************** Indecisiveness may plague you today, Aquarius. Be careful that you don't avoid doing something simply because you don't know which way to go. ******************** Take things to the limit today, Pisces, and then go beyond. This is one of those days in which people may go to extremes, especially emotionally.

my timing and got pushed behind the baseline. He had a very good win over Dimitrov yesterday, won last week and is one of the best doubles

players in the world, so he is tough,” Murray said. The US Open champion was given a first-round bye in Montreal along with the

rest of the top eight seeds, with world number one Novak Djokovic beating Florian Mayer 6-2 6-1 in his opening match.

ICC dismisses silicone - tape claims From page 35 with both teams and umpires to see how we can best use the DRS and the available technology going forward in the next two Test matches. It has nothing to do with any players.” Both teams have been frustrated by decision reviews during the series, especially regarding edges behind. Batsmen sometimes use fibreglass tape to help with the longevity of their bats, but the Australia captain Michael Clarke said he did not know of any Australian batsman using silicone-tape or any other method of attempting to reduce the effect of Hot Spot. “It’s hard for me to talk for other players, but I’ve never heard any type of conversation

like that in the Australian change room,” Clarke said. “I didn’t know there was such a thing you could do to hide nicking the ball on Hot Spot. I wouldn’t have thought that a bit of tape would have made any difference anyway. “I think I would know. I’m

Jamaica beat Guyana by 102 runs Jamaica defeated Guyana by 102 runs as play in the Regional Women’s Super 50 tournament continued yesterday in Grenada. Jamaica batted first and scored 233 all out. De Andrea Dottin stroked 100 while Pamela Lavine made 55. Guyana in replied with 131-9 in 50 overs. Tremaine Smartt made 29 as Stephanie Taylor claimed 3-12. Dominica beat St. Lucia by 1 wicket. St. Lucia managed 169 all out in 39.1 overs, batting first. Dominica responded with 172-9 in 42.3 overs. Etienne made 52 and Eloi 45. Barbados trounced Grenada by 236 runs. Barbados batted first and rattled up 303-9 in 50 overs before routing Grenada for 67 in 26.1 overs. Trinidad and Tobago registered an 8 wicket win over St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). SVG were bowled out for 123 in 41.4 overs after they took first strike. Trinidad and Tobago replied with 125-2 in 31.2 overs.

a bat nuffy, I pick up everyone’s bats. I go through everyone’s cricket bats. I find the accusation quite funny, to be honest. I can’t talk for everyone but if that’s the case and we’re talking about cheating, I can guarantee you there’s not one person in the Australian change room who will cheat. It’s not the way we play cricket.” During this series, several edges have failed to appear on Hot Spot but have shown up on the Snickometer, which is not part of the technology used by the third umpire. Kevin Pietersen’s edge on the final day at Old Trafford was mentioned by Channel Nine, but there have been a number of other occasions when edges have failed to show up. Pietersen tweeted about the matter, rubbishing the claims: “My name brought up in Hot Spot crisis suggesting I use silicon to prevent nicks showing! Such hurtful lies. I

am never afraid of getting out! If I nick it, I’ll walk. To suggest I cheat by covering my bat with silicon infuriates me. How stupid would I be to try and hide a nick when it could save me on an lbw appeal, like in first innings where Hot Spot showed I nicked it.” Graham Onions, the England seamer, was equalling damning about the claims. “It’s a huge accusation, and it’s outrageous really,’’ he said. “It seems completely blown out of proportion really; it doesn’t seem right. “I know the England players would never put anything on their bats. Tape has been used to mend cracks or to get our favourite bats to last as long as possible, but it sounds completely silly to even think th at people are putting things on their bat to try and help them to cover up decisions. “I can say that we don’t put anything on our bats. We play the game as fair as you can, as I’m sure the Australians do as well.’’

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Looknauth grabs 5 as Demerara hammer ESC of T&T by 8 wkts By Zaheer Mohamed Off-spinner Richie Looknauth grabbed 5 wickets for 7 runs off 7 overs as Demerara U-15 team defeated the touring Esmeralda Coaching School (ESC) U-15 team of Trinidad and Tobago by 8 wickets in a limited overs match played yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club. Looknauth proved unplayable as he triggered a middle order collapse to send the tourist packing for a paltry 50 in 28 overs. The home then reached their target with little hiccups as they finished on 51-2 in 12 overs. ESC decision to bat after winning the toss backfired when pacer Ronaldo Mohamed uprooted the stumps of opener

Darren Ramkhalawan without scoring in the first over with out a run on the board. Nicholai Kissoon and Nathaniel Ramcharitar attempted to repair the early damage with a second wicket stand of 23 before Kelvin Shewprashad bowled Ramcharitar for 11. Thereafter it was an all Looknauth show, he bowled with good control and variation and got lots of assistance from the pitch as no other batsman with the exception of Kissoon 19 managed to reach double Shewprashad figures. supported Looknauth with 2-17 from 4 overs, while Ashmead Nedd and Mohamed had one each in a spirited bowling performance by the host. Bhaskar Yadram and

Raymond Perez gave the home team a fine start by adding 35 for the opening

stand with Yadram striking three fours before he was taken off Kissoon for 24. Kissoon then removed Darshan Persaud (00) with out addition to the total, but Perez who ended unbeaten on 10 and Timothy Mc Almont 09 not out saw their team home with an unbroken third wicket stand of 16. Kissoon had 2-14 from 4 overs. Yadram and Looknauth received prizes for being the most outstanding batsman and bowler respectively, while the Demerara team was given a trophy, compliments of the Esmeralda Coaching School who will take on Albion in another game today in Berbice. Manager of the victorious Demerara team Dhanpaul (only name) in an invited comment said he was satisfied with the victory, he stated that the team played according to the game plan and acknowledged the performance of Looknauth. Manager of the visiting team Prakash Sookhai stated that the tour is part of their developmental programme. “The school was formed only one year ago and this is part of our development. The game was a one sided affair, the opposition had a number of national players as comp ared to us which is a coaching school, but the players welcomed the experience which will serve them well”, he added. Sookhai informed that three of their previous matches were cancelled due to the rain. M eanwhile, the ESC

had earlier defeated an East Coast Demerara team and

The victorious Demerara U15 team with coach Gavin Nedd (left) and manager Dhanpaul (right).

The touring Esmeralda Coaching School U-15 team of Trinidad and Tobago, manager Prakash Sookhai is standing second from left. by 67 runs before losing to a Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Academy XI by 9 wickets. On Monday at the said venue ESC batted first and scored 164-3 after the game

was reduced to 40 overs.

Darion Ramkhalawan led with 78 (7x4, 2x6) while Nathaniel Ramcharitar supported with 35 (2x4). East Coast were routed for 97 in 26 overs in reply. Andy Dowlatram 13 and Bhaskar Deodat 10 were the only

batsmen that offered resistance. Denzel Taylor captured 3-6 from 4 overs while 16 year old Alyssa Manoo, the lone female player in the team claimed 3-12 from 5 overs. On Tuesday, ESC took

first strike ad were skittled for 33 in 20.3 overs with Sagar Hethermani picking up 4-5 off 4.3 overs and Ashmead Nedd 2-1 from 3 overs for DCC Academy XI who responded with 33-1 in 5 overs. Romain Maniram made 11.

Anti-doping Q&A explains how the cheats are caught Jamaica Observer - The IAAF World Championships Moscow 2013 will be held in the Russian capital between 10 to 18 August and will witness the most comprehensive anti-doping programme in the history of the 30-year-old event. Below is a brief Q-and-A to explain the far-reaching strategy designed to catch the cheats. Q: What is the IAAF’s approach to testing during the World Championships? A: The IAAF order the tests, supervise the tests and check that they carried out in the proper way both for incompetition tests at the World Championships and out-ofcompetition tests for athletes on the IAAF’s registered testing programme. At the World Championships the IAAF are involved with the practical and field aspects of the

implementation of the doping tests. Q: Can you explain the anti-doping strategy for the World Championships? A: As far as testing is concerned it is three-fold. The first part is the outof-competition testing programme, which takes place in the period up to two months preceding the World Championships. The IAAF work with local agencies and ask national teams to notify us of their whereabouts before the event and commit to between 150-250 tests. Training camps and some teams will be targeted. Q: Okay, so what about blood-testing? A: This second part of the IAAF’s approach will be a large-scale pre-competition blood tests implemented for an athlete’s biological passport. This was first carried out at the 2011 World

Championships in Daegu a few days before the event. This will be done on site at the athletes’ hotels in Moscow. If any athletes show any abnormal blood values then the IAAF will carry out a follow up urine test. This will allow the testers the possibility to detect for substances such as EPO. Q: What is the purpose of blood testing? A: In the context of the passport, the IAAF adopt both a vertical and horizontal approach. The vertical allows the IAAF to collect as much data as possible on athletes’ baseline values per gender, per discipline, per nation, which later helps with the evaluation of individual profiles. The IAAF will then have the evidence to contradict any statements made by athletes, such as: “ I am an

elite athlete and therefore different, or I live or train at altitude which explains the values of my profile.” By contrast, the horizontal approach of more regular testing builds up an athlete’s individual profile. The point of the passport is regular testing over a period of time, which allows for monitoring the variation and values over a period of time. A one-off test means nothing in terms of the passport. Q: What of the IAAF’s incompetition anti-doping programme? A: This is the third strand to the IAAF’s anti-doping strategy at the World Championships. In-competition urine tests will be carried out for the top three finishers in each event immediately after the race. In addition, some athletes will be tested by a random draw and some target testing will

be done. A total of between 450-500 urine tests will be carried out during the Championships. Q: Very few athletes test positive at World Championships, so what is the purpose of the incompetition programme? A: The in-competition tests act as a deterrent. They are done to protect the integrity of the competition. Q: What is the difference between blood and urine testing? A: They are completely different. The blood test – in the context of the passport – is a measurement or screening of biomarkers; whereas urine tests are carried out to detect a possible prohibited substance. Urine tests are either positive or negative; blood tests are just a series of measurements which are added to other measurements to monitor the valuation.

Q: Can you explain the process of the blood and urine testing? A: The blood tests are taken in three tubes. One tube will be taken to a WADA accredited laboratory in Moscow for screening of the haematological parameters (indicating blood manipulation or EPO doping). The other two tubes will be taken and frozen at the Moscow laboratory and then transported after the World Championships to a specialist lab in Lausanne for other screening parameters, including testosterone levels and growth hormone markers. The urine tests will be transported to the Moscow laboratory to look for prohibited substances. The results should be available within 48 hours – although results can take longer for special analyses (e.g. EPO, IRMS).

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FIA President Jean Todt arrives today for 2-day visit President of the FédérationInternationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Mr. Jean Todt is expected to arrive in Guyana this afternoon on a private jet to commence a two-day visit. In a release it was stated that, the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) will be privileged with a visit from the FIA Boss which commences today and ends tomorrow following meetings with Government officials and the executive of the GMR&SC. Mr. Todt, a French motor sport executive, had a successful career as a rally codriver and made his reputation in motor sport management, first with Peugeot Talbot Sport, then with Scuderia Ferrari, before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari from 2004 to 2008. Since October 23, 2009 he has been President of the FIA. Todt’s mission on his visit is to advise and assist in moving motorsport and mobility forward in Guyana and also to assist in implementing effective initiatives to tackle road

non-profit association founded in 1904, brings together over than 230 national motoring and sporting organisations from more than 135 countries on five continents. Its member clubs represent millions of motorists and their families. The FIA administers the rules and regulations for all international four-wheel motor sport including the FIA Formula One World Championship, FIA World Rally Championship, FIA World Touring Car Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship. The FIA also has a long and distinguished history in promoting road safety. For many years the Federation has lobbied for improved legislation, infrastructure and vehicle safety technologies on an

(Flashback) - FIA President Jean Todt (3rd left front row) seen at a campaign to advocate action for Road Safety. safety. This visit is recognition of Guyana’s significant contribution to the world of motor sport and has long been the centre of motor sport in the eastern Caribbean. The Government of Guyana through the

Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport has accorded official recognition to Mr. Todt’s visit. Mr. Todt and his distinguished delegation will be meeting with His Excellency, Mr. Donald Ramotar, Hon. Minister of

Culture, Youth & Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony, Hon. Minister of Tourism, Mr. Irfaan Ali, and Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee. GMRSC has scheduled an official dinner in honor of Mr. Todt’s official

visit in which the aforementioned will be in attendance. The FIA is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation of the world’s leading motoring organizations. The FIA, a

international scale. On May 11, 2011 the FIA launched its Action for Road Safety in support of the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety. The FIA’s initiative aims to lower the alarming figures associated with global road accidents and to spread the safer motoring message.

NSC 37th ‘Teach Them Bank of Guyana captures Young’ Cycling progressing GAPSO Team Shoot …GDF edges GPF in Joint Service category

A THREE man team comprising Shawn Austin, Joshua Ramlakhan and William London representing the Security Department of the Bank of Guyana, did their organisation proud in the recently held Guyana Association of Private Security Organization (GAPSO) Team Hand Gun Shooting competition which was held at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Tactical Services Unit (TSU) headquarters. On the same day and for the first time in years, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) turned back a strong challenge from the hosts of the day’s activities to take the top spot in the Joint Services Team Shoot category. The Annual competition was held in commemoration of Mr. George Melville, a former Warrant Officer within the GDF and one of the first to be trained in Skill-in-Arms in England, and who later joined COPS (Guyana) Incorporated, now re-named Sentinel Security Services, where he worked tirelessly to improve the proficiency of Security Officers as it relates to the use of hand guns. Federal Management Systems Incorporated (FMS)

Members of the victorious Bank of Guyana hand gun team, from left; William London, Joshua Ramlakhan and Shawn Austin accept their prize from sister of the late George Melville, Ms. Corletta Melville. (Photo courtesy of GAPSO) placed second to Bank of Guyana in the Team Shoot, while Austin carted off the GAPSO Best Shots prize ahead of Ramlakhan and Lieutenant Commander R. Nurse doing the same for the Joint Services ahead of Lieutenant Colonel J. Persaud. Prizes won during the event were presented by Ms. Corletta Melville, the sister of the late George Melville, who in her brief remarks thanked GAPSO for the preservation

of her brother’s memory through the hosting of the event. GAPSO also took the opportunity to thank Acting Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Admiral Gary Best, the Officer in Charge and ranks of TSU, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and Guyana Oil Company, for their support in making the event a success.

- largest turn out this year – Hassan Mohamed It has been the longest surviving coaching programme for any sport in Guyana over the years. We’re talking of the National Sports Commission sponsored ‘Teach Them Young’ cycling programme that is conducted by National Coach, Hassan Mohamed. This year marks the 37th consecutive year that this programme has been in existence and one can safely say that it is the main reason for the continued dominance of Guyana in the cycling arena in the Caribbean especially at the junior and juvenile levels. Presently, Guyana holds the distinction of having both the junior and juvenile Caribbean champions in Paul De Nobrega and Michael Anthony and while Anthony is Linden based his constant rise in the cycling ranks can be attributed to the many cycling programmes that are a spinoff of the annual July/ August programme. This year, the man that can be best described as ‘Mr. Cycling’ Hassan Mohamed said that this would have been the largest turn out of cyclists for the annual activity, numbering 59

Hassan Mohamed inclusive of eight (8) 5-yearold riders. He disclosed that some of them did not even know to rides a bicycle while a few others were using training wheels but in a few days they were taught how to ride and have been doing well ever since. Mohamed noted that he is receiving admirable assistance from Mr. Arnold Sookraj with the youngsters. This year’s programme got underway on July 8 and will conclude on August 30. It is being held at the Inner Circuit of the National Park with sessions running Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 11:00hrs.

The participants are being taught the fundamentals of the sport which includes first and foremost, discipline. Other areas of focus are setting a bike; bike control and how to pedal among others. Mohamed extended gratitude to Director of Sport Neil Kumar and the National Sports Commission for their continued partnership in making the programme a consistent success. Kudos was also extended to the National Parks Commission and workers at that entity. This annual ‘Teach Them Young’ programme Mohamed said w ill continue to be around for many more years to come and as long as God wills, he will continue to be associated with it. “This is what I love doing, teach and coa ching these

young riders, I have been doing it ever since the start of the programme and will continue to do so. As I said before, every top cyclist that Guyana has produced would have passed through this programme at some juncture and that is satisfaction enough for me and I’m sure the NSC”. (Franklin Wilson)

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Thursday August 08, 2013

Dravid wants fixing to be criminal offence

Inter Guiana Games Cycling 2013

Guyana aiming for another sweep By Franklin Wilson

A file photo of alleged suspects in the IPL spot-fixing case being produced in court. Rahul Dravid said that classifying fixing as a criminal offence could be an effective deterrent © AFP ESPNcricinfo -Rahul Dravid has called for matchfixing and spot-fixing to be made criminal offences, adding that the fear of the law would be a huge deterrent to potential fixers. Dravid also wanted more education of players in the junior levels about the problem of fixing. The latest episode of onfield cricket corruption surfaced in May when three of Dravid’s Rajasthan Royals’ team-mates were arrested for alleged spot-fixing. “My personal belief is that education and counselling at a junior level is really important,” Dravid said in an extensive interview to ESPNcricinfo. “I think we’ve got to start early, we’ve got to start young but … that

part of it is already being done. I know that India has its own ACSU and even for Ranji Trophy teams this education is given.” Along with awareness problems, Dravid emphasised the need for stringent laws. “I don’t think only education can work, policing it and having the right laws and ensuring that people when they indulge in this kind of activities are actually punished. People must see that there are consequences to your actions. That will create fear for people.” Dravid referred to cycling, a sport that has seen many of its leading stars admit to taking performanceenhancing drugs in recent

years, to highlight why awareness programs alone were not sufficient. “Everyone knows it’s wrong, and it’s frightening, having read a little bit about it and the number of cyclists who were doing it. Surely all know it’s wrong. “So the only people those cyclists were scared of was not the testers, not the authority, they were scared of the police. You read all the articles, the only guys they were scared of was the police and going to jail. So the only way that people are going to get that fear is if they know the consequences to these actions and the law that will come into play. It’s got to be a criminal offence.” The three Royals players

arrested on allegations of spot-fixing - Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila - have all been charged under the strict Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), a special law passed by the Maharashtra state government to tackle organised crime syndicates and terrorism. “The case is still on and I don’t want to make any judgement on whether people are guilty or not and I think everyone has a right to be innocent until he’s proven guilty and I’m glad the police is going ahead and doing what needs to be done and taking it to its logical conclusion.”

Coaches upbeat about Guyana’s chances Determined to defend home turf, the three assigned coaches of the national junior table tennis squad currently undergoing preparations for the 8th Pre-Cadet Caribbean Table Tennis Championships, all echoed similar sentiments pertaining to Guyana’s chances of doing well at the regional event which runs from August 10-15, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Head Coach Linden Johnson and his assistants Idi Lewis and Melissa Dow were seen taking their junior charges through a rigorous training session yesterday, at the designated venue for the championships. Speaking with Lewis, he said that the team’s preparations have been going great and with the event just three

days away from commencement, the focus of their preparations have now shifted to tactical aspects of the game. He added that with Guyana being the defending champions and playing at home, the team is fully focused on doing well before their home fans and to make this possible the coaching staff have intensified preparations with sessions being held twice daily from 10:00 hrs12:00 hrs and that is followed by another one from 15:30 hrs - 17:30 hrs. Lewis, an experienced campaigner who has represented Guyana at the highest level both regionally and internationally stated that the principal goal is to retain the overall title, while he also gave some of the players’ solid

chances of winning individual titles. “The team is a strong one and we expect many of them to do well,” Dow said when questioned about the composition of the squad and to rate its chances. She pointed out that even though the other teams will no doubt be bringing their strongest squads, she is optimistic that Guyana will do well against them. Dow reckoned that with some of the players returning from the last championships it has boosted Guyana’s chances of doing even better than previous years. She said the first timers have an excellent opportunity to feel what it is like to play in such an atmosphere and even rated their chances of doing well as high.

Players such as Selena Jackman, Kristie Lopes, Jeremy Singh, Khalil Ninvalle, Kaysan Ninvalle, Naveah Clarkston as among a group of players who they expect to shine. Johnson, who has been at the helm of many national teams in the past, echoed the same sentiments as those expressed by Lewis and Dow. Meanwhile, those called are: Boys 11 Years and Under from Tyriq Saunders, Terrence Rouche, Kaysan Ninvalle, Niron Bissu, Yeudistir Persaud, Brandon Jaikarran, Navendra Persaud, Isaiah Layne. Boys 13 and Under: Miguel Wong, Jeremy Singh, Khalil Ninvalle, Jordan Conway, Sandor Kanhai, Vincent Henry, Khalid

Defending Inter Guiana Games Cycling Champions Guyana will be going all out to retain both male and female crowns when they take on their Surinamese counterparts in the 2013 edition of the competition slated to be contested tomorrow. The Team Time Trials will be contested at the Inner Circuit of the National Park from 08:00hrs while the Road Race is set for the West Demerara at 14:00hrs beginning at Nismes on the West Bank, proceeding to Vergenoegen before returning to the starting line for the finish; female competitors will turn back at Leonora. In terms of the Time Trials, the Males will cover a distance of 10km while the females will cover 6km. The Road R ace will see the

males battling over 60km while on the distaff side, they will cover 40km. This year, the male Guyana team is made up of seasoned campaigner Paul De Nobrega and Michael Anthony both returning from last year, they will be joined by Hamza Eastman and Akeem Arthur. Raynauth Jeffrey is eligible but is currently out of the jurisdiction on holiday

while the other member from last year who would have also been eligible, Raul Leal was involved in a vehicular accident a few months ago and is still recovering. The two new male members are able and capable riders who have been turning in some encouraging performances in this new season. Eastman, in particular, a multi talented athlete, has been impressive so far this year. The female team comprises of Marica Dick and Toshwanna Doris both returning from last year. This duo will be aiming to stamp their authority once again and have been competing consistently so far this year. In terms of competitive hours, the entire six-member Guyana team is not short in that regard and will start as

favourites to retain their titles. Fans are being encouraged to come out in their numbers to support. Meanwhile, last year the males won the Team Trials 12 Minutes 17.20 Seconds, while the females covered the distance in 8 Minutes 04.81 Seconds. Raynauth Jeffrey and Raul Leal crossed the finish line together to win the road race, while Marica Dick and Toshwanna Doris finished first and second respectively for females.

Kudos is in order for... From back page round technical knockout before dropping a 5-0 points decision to Cuban, Juan Hernandez. Had he won that bout, he would have been propelled into the finals for a shot at the coveted gold medal; a loss would have netted him a silver medal. He eventually won a bronze medal. The feat was regarded as highly meritorious especially since no other Guyanese athlete at those games emulated or eclipsed it. With the internet, not even in its embryonic stages and the communication process frustratingly slow, local sports fans were made to stew in anxiety and frustration but were eventually informed that Paris had lost his quarterfinals bout but had nonetheless won the lone medal at the Games. As anticipated, Parris became an instant hero and upon his return to Guyana, was given a fitting welcome. The Minister of Sports, the late,

Shirley Field Ridley and a delegation of sports officials met the champion at the airport and witnessed by a huge welcoming party of excited Guyanese, garlanded Parris before he was taken on a grand motorcade around Georgetown and its environs. The Government of the day then bequeathed a house to the boxing champion and he was subsequently regarded as a valued citizen and a true son of the soil. Today, thirty three years later, that accomplishment still stands firm as the only medal this country has won at that prestigious forum. Sadly, the powers that be are either reluctant or unwilling to acknowledge this meritorious feat. Nevertheless, Kaieteur Sport wishes to be among the first, and hopefully not the only organization, to heap kudos on Michael Anthony Parris as we solemnly reminisce on that day when he lifted Guyana to great heights.