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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Misplaced priorities People living in Guyana would be understandably less than confident about this government’s handling of health issues. The current Chikungunya virus outbreak which has been detected here seems not to be treated with the level of seriousness a situation of this nature demands. There seems to be a very high degree of vacillation and evasion in official circles is certainly not helping matters, especially where the Guyanese people’s peace of mind is concerned. With almost two million cases of that mosquito-borne virus detected throughout parts of Asia since 2005 and with outbreaks in Africa and the Americas, it is to be expected that health authorities in countries even remotely likely to be affected, would develop and have in place the appropriate response capabilities. To be now scrambling to establish protocols to deal with what is a major viral infection is a clear indication of misplaced priorities. The posture of the local health ministry does not seem to reflect similar sentiments. Citizens are left in a state of life-threatening ignorance because of a proven lack of competence in the health sector to treat with similar outbreaks. The confusion reportedly surrounding patients seeking medical attention with the potential for misdiagnosis is not one which should be taken lightly. Confusion about whether people are affected by Chikungunya or Dengue will not do much to bolster sufferers’ faith in the health system. According to medical practitioners, a patient suffering with Dengue who is misdiagnosed as being infected with Chikungunya and treated for the former is at greater risk of dying. This can be avoided by having trained personnel in place to conduct the relevant tests; something which apparently we do not have. What is even more worrying is the fact that the conditions which breed the two ailments are one and the same, and parts of Guyana make for a convenient habitat. Another very obvious reality is that if these matters are not addressed sensibly we will be headed for the fate wished for by a former local government minister. This is the time when our politicians who are medical doctors should demonstrate a high sense of nationalism and maturity by putting their heads together to take us out of our misery. It might even be better if politicians of all shades could just take themselves out of our lives. Up to now there has been no definitive word from government, through its health ministry, to allay our fears and provide reassurance that this situation is under control. If anything they appear as clueless as the Abbot and Costello duo. The way the World Health Organization (WHO) is looking at the Ebola outbreak which has claimed more than 1,000 lives in West Africa will be instructive for local authorities. Tellingly that virus has been declared an international emergency. Although the significant difference between Chikungunya and Ebola, is that one is communicated by the female Aedes Aegypti mosquito while the latter virus is transmitted by human contact. Now fast forward to reality. Guyana is not known to be a country which exercises strict immigration controls whether at official points of entry or along its porous borders. This country has an amalgam of nationalities residing both officially and illegally within its various communities. There are in addition to Asians, whose home countries have been affected by the Chikungunya, people from Nigeria, which declared a national emergency in the face of Ebola having confirmed seven cases recently. Lax immigration controls in a virtual ‘whosoever will may come’ state, places us in an even more precarious predicament. The reasoning here is that if the government cannot organize and respond to episodic health hazards which befall the nation, there is definitely no guarantee that the proven life-threatening Ebola will be contained if it arrives on these shores. Does anyone in the quarantine section of our port health agency even know what signs and symptoms to look for; and is there any protocol established between that section
Saturday August 16, 2014
Letters... Where your views make the news
The wide disparity in academic performances in the country can be bridged, but… DEAR EDITOR, The recent grim news of unacceptably high failure rate at the GCSE and CXC examinations come as no surprise, this kind of unwelcoming news haunts parents and students, particularly from the poorer class, each year. Sadly, for many students, their dreams to a path for a better life are shattered by this news. Lawmakers seemed unfazed; they immediately dived into a celebratory mood, spinning the propaganda machine. They selfishly heaped praise on government, taking credit and posing for pictures with those that have passed these examinations, not caring about the lives that have been destroyed by their actions. Embedded in this disturbing news are two
enormously important messages. Firstly, it alerts us that our educational system is a failure and needs fixing, yet we refuse to remedy the situation or perhaps we are incapable of doing so, only piling the stakes higher for a country experiencing a brain drain. Secondly, it raises the question why students at Queens College and other e lite schools outperform students from poorer schools? The educational system like other entities in the country is destined to fail because of a lack of expertise or failure to engage such. We bluntly refuse to engage t h e r i g h t s k i l l s . We knowingly mill students through this failed system, year after year, lifting their hopes and then ultimately shattering them. Failure assaults the mind of these
youngsters, it inflicts emotional pain, it plays with their self-esteem, self-worth, self-confidence, as well as driving them deeper into poverty, suicide, substance abuse, and crime. Undoubtedly, we destroy lives. Our actions make us nothing but monsters. The evidence is clear that the majority of the students from Queens College outperform students from poorer schools. Why is this happening? To answer this, we need to appreciate the fact that it is widely accepted and is the current view within the scientific community that academic performance is shaped by and is a product of the relative contributions of genes (nature) and environment (nurture). The environment constitutes a
broad spectrum of factors ranging from quality of teachers or lack of teachers, parental educational levels and income brackets, nutrition, neighborhoods, crime , dysfunction and family support, to list a few. Most students of Queens College enjoy the privilege of a better environment than a lot of their secondary counterparts. They mostly hail from better neighbourhoods with better educated parents within higher income brackets than students of those less privileged schools. Law makers further enriched their environments, stacking the deck against their counterparts, by selecting the better quality teachers for Queens College students. It has been (Continued on page 24)
Poor sanitation and stunting in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, Research shows that poor sanitation accounts for 54% of international variation in child height or stunting. Much of the research material in this area focused on open defecation, but has nevertheless prompted me to write this letter on the possible need for a study in Guyana to determine whether poor sanitation - poor solid and wastewater management is impacting on growth and development and more specifically, on stunting and cognitive abilities. A child’s height is one of the most important indicators of their well-being. Height reflects the accumulated total of early-life health and diseases. Problems that prevent children from growing tall also prevent them from g r o w i n g i n t o h e a l t h y, productive, smart adults. Physical height is a significant economic variable that reflects health and human capital; in addition, it predicts adult economic outcomes. The height of a child is reflective of a combination of their genetic potential as well as the extent to which their early-life health and nutrition will allow them to achieve that potential. Generally, a stunted child is short for his or her age. In wealthier countries, genetics is a relatively more
important determinant of differences in heights; however, in poorer countries net nutrition and the disease environment matter. Research shows that countries where there is poor sanitation, specifically, where many people defecate in the open are the countries where most children are stunted and the average child is the shortest. It shows that cross-country differences in sanitation explain 54 percent of the variation in average child height. Open defecation introduces germs from feces into the environment; poor sanitation makes growing children sick. With specific reference to India, children are shorter on average, than children in Sub-Saharan Africa, even though Indians are richer on average. It should be noted that the association between sanitation and stunting is not driven by wealth, genetics, or other coincidental differences. Open defecation and a lack of sanitation in a household, along with country GDP, predict child height more than mother’s height or education; governance; or infrastructure. Stunting is also linked to lower scholastic achievement and intellectual function, reduced lifetime earnings, short adult stature, and in the case of women,
and immigration officers to deal with any suspected cases? From all indications, citizens are not being provided with the information which assures them that everything is being done to prevent and, if necessary, contain the spread of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
adverse pregnancy outcomes. It also reflects under-nutrition during infancy/early childhood which are critical periods of physical and cognitive growth. Therefore stunting is relevant to cognitive achievement and economic productivity. Research shows in India, that taller children are much more likely to be able to read and do mathematics. This correlation is partially determined by early-life exposure to proper sanitation. Based on the researched evidence on the impact of poor sanitation on stunting and the significant challenges Guyana has been experiencing over the years in solid waste and wastewater management, a study should be conducted to
determine to what extent stunting is a problem in Guyana. And the extent to which poor sanitation is a reason. Additionally, focus for such a study could examine whether stunting is affecting cognitive ability in Guyana. Guyanese students have been having challenges with Mathematics for many years. The report from the Ministry of Education on the 2014 results from the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) stated the overall performances in Mathematics and English ‘A’ were once again unsatisfactory. The Grades One to Three passes in Mathematics and English ‘A’ were less than 50%. In Mathematics, the Grades One to Three pass (Continued on page 24)
Is there a Chief Fire Officer? DEAR EDITOR, Just happened to catch a fairly lively TV discussion concerning the hazards of public fires ignited deliberately by various miscreants in different locations. The panel consisted of the head of a private security firm, a Station Officer, and one other uniformed contributor identified on screen as the Chief Fire Officer. The reason the last designation caught my attention was simply that there is no such position in the relevant section of the Estimates of 2014, presented
to, and debated by, the National Assembly. Indeed this omission is noted in the Estimates of 2012 and 2013, respectively. There appears to be a misnomer therefore when reference is made to Chief Fire Officer. One hopes that the current misnamed Officer has not been deluded, whether intentionally or otherwise. In the current environment he/she should insist upon appropriate ‘reparation’. Who then is the Deputy “Chief Fire Officer”? E.B. John
Saturday August 16, 2014
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Life is about GWI sludge dumping managing expectations in Irving Street canal
DEAR EDITOR, The human mind works in mysterious and unpredictable ways. At one time you are happy and on top of the world and then in an instant you experience a change of mood and you become tired and depressed. Different people react in different ways to situations and circumstances in life. In other words, our response mechanisms are not quite the same. Some people constitutionally are more capable of dealing with stress and depression than others, even though almost everyone at some point in their life and with varying l e v e l s o f s e v e r i t y, experiences stress and stressful situations. According to medical experts, some level of stress is actually good for our health but, like anything else, too much of it can be harmful. This is why some knowledge of stress management is a useful thing. We have to develop what is known as ‘coping skills’ since life by its very nature throws up challenges from time to time which, if not properly handled, could bring harm to us. These thoughts dawned upon me as I reflected on two recent deaths which took place recently. The first had to do with someone I knew from the Ministry of Health who committed suicide a few
weeks ago. He was full of energy and zest and performed his duties with much dedication and commitment. The last thing you would think of him was that he would take his own life. He was smart, ambitious and forward-looking and as far as I could remember of him, he never displayed any signs of depression or suicidal tendencies. I am still baffled as to why he took that ultimate decision to take his own life at the prime of his physical and professional life. I always thought that he had a far way to go in terms of his professional and academic life, given his drive and high energy levels. But as fate would have it, he literally kicked the bucket much to the surprise, disappointment and sorrow of those who knew him. The other death that has shocked the world is that of internationally acclaimed actor and comedian Robin Williams who from media reports also took his own life after experiencing bouts of depression. He was still relatively young and at age 63 had much more to offer to the entertainment industry. Here was a man who actually made it his duty to make others laugh and to end up taking his own life was something that most people found difficult to accept and come to terms with.
According to media reports, he hanged himself with a belt in his Northern California home after he had sought treatment for depression. It is said that there is a thin line between sanity and madness. We all have streaks of madness in our physical and psychological make-up and are therefore prone to behave at times irrationally and angrily. This is normal and could easily be treated with calm withdrawal and stress management techniques. If allowed to continue untreated for prolonged periods it could lead to severe depression and in some cases suicide. Depression, like so many other ailments, is treatable and ought not to lead to suicide if such treatment is sought on a timely basis. Mental health is an important element of total physical health and should be taken seriously by all. The Ministry of Health has a mental health unit where assistance can be rendered to those who are in need of help. Many people are depressed because of situations which they feel cannot be changed. But life is full of surprises and life can get much better than one could possibly dream of. There are some people who end their life because of the horrible things they did (Continued on page 24)
DEAR EDITOR, Since its inception, Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) water treatment plant at Shelter Belt has been dumping the back wash from its filters (sludge) into the Irving and Church Streets canals, thereby silting them and clogging the drainage system. This dumping by GWI only becomes a problem during the rainy season when the silted canals are unable to convey their design capacity of flood waters to the sluices/pumps and the back-up run-off inundates adjoining lowland properties in the City, causing extensive damage. A few days ago personnel from Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) met at the site for a photo-op in an attempt to assure the Citizenry that once again they will be examining the situation with the view of finding a lasting solution to a
recurring problem. Unfortunately over the years neither M&CC nor MLGRD has put forward any concrete proposal to resolve the problem in the long term, but only to pacify flooded victims in the short term by providing a dragline with two trucks to partially de-silt the canals when flooding occurs - a show that something is being done. As an affected citizen I wish to suggest the following proposal as a long term solution to this festering problem. There is a plot of M&CC land between Vlissengen Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and bordering Church Street on the north and North Road on the south. A compartmentalized settling pond could be dug on this site 5ft. below grade and
empoldered by a low dam built with the excavated soil. Two low level weirs constructed on the dam will allow sediment-free water from the pond to discharge safely into the Church Street and North Road Canals. The silt-laden back wash from the treatment plant could be pumped into the settling pond. Over time the pond will be silted, but its compartments could be selectively allowed to dry and the accumulated silt excavated and trucked away to a suitable dump site. The pond could also be used to rear tilapias and provide a recreational facility for anglers, if properly managed. In effect the settling pond will function as an enlarged septic tank with no smell. Charles Sohan
Saturday August 16, 2014
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Iraqi Sunnis say could join new Brazil’s Socialists to decide xt week next government, fight Islamic State on Silva candidacy ne (Reuters) - Tribal leaders and clerics from Iraq’s Sunni heartland offered their conditional backing yesterday for a new government that hopes to contain sectarian bloodshed and an offensive by Islamic State militants that threatens to tear the country apart. One of the most influential tribal leaders said he was willing to work with Shi’ite prime minister-designate Haider al-Abadi provided a new administration respected the rights of the Sunni Muslim minority that dominated Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Ali Hatem Suleiman left open a possibility that Sunnis would take up arms against the Islamic State fighters in the same way as he and others joined U.S. and Shi’ite-led government forces to thwart an al Qaeda insurgency in Iraq between 2006 and 2009. Yet amid the signs that political accords were possible in the fractious nation, some 80 members of Iraq’s Yazidi minority were “massacred” by Islamic State insurgents, a Yazidi lawmaker and two Kurdish officials said yesterday. Abadi faces the daunting
Ali Hatem Suleiman task of pacifying Iraq and particularly the vast desert province of Anbar. It forms much of the border with Syria, where the Islamist fighters also control swathes of territory. Sunni alienation under outgoing Shi’ite premier Nuri al-Maliki goaded some in Anbar to join an Islamic State revolt that is now drawing the United States and European allies back into varying degrees of military involvement in Iraq to contain what they see as a militant threat that goes well beyond its borders. The United Nations Security Council blacklisted the Islamic
State spokesman and five other militants yesterday and threatened sanctions against those backing the insurgents, giving U.N. experts 90 days to report on who those people are. Iraq has been plunged into its worst violence since the peak of a sectarian civil war in 2006-2007, with Sunni fighters led by the Islamic State overrunning large parts of the west and north, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee for their lives and threatening ethnic Kurds in their autonomous province.
(Reuters) - The party of the presidential candidate killed in a plane crash will meet on Wednesday to choose a replacement to run in the Oct. 5 election, most likely his running mate, Marina Silva, the leader of a party backing the ticket said yesterday. Eduardo Campos was running third in recent polls for the Brazilian Socialist Party, when the executive jet carrying him to a campaign stop in the port city of Santos crashed on Wednesday after an aborted landing in bad weather. The expected candidacy of Silva, an environmentalist who won almost 20 percent of the votes in a presidential bid in 2010, could upend the race just seven weeks before election day. “There appears to be consensus in the party that Marina should take Eduardo’s place. A meeting has been called for Wednesday Aug. 20,” Roberto Freire, leader of the Popular Socialist Party, told Reuters.
Eduardo Campos
Campos’ death has shaken up an election campaign in which leftist President Dilma Rousseff was favoured to defeat business-friendly centrist Aecio Neves to win a second-term. Silva’s candidacy is expected to deprive Rousseff of the votes she needs to avoid a bruising secondround run-off between the two best-placed candidates. A poll to be published on Monday will show whether Silva has more support than
Neves. A popular figure with young voters, Silva polled above Neves in April but was not able to register her party in time for the campaign. Campos invited her to join his ticket. Party members see her as the natural heir to Campos, though she will need to overcome the distrust of some PSB factions that frown upon her conservationist views and anti-establishment style.
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Protestors told “no legal grounds” to halt Bai Shan Lin’s operations The Environmental Community Health Organisation (ECHO) staged its second protest against Bai Shan Lin, this time taking it outside the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC)’s compound at Kingston yesterday. This call for an investigation into the logging activities of the Chineseowned company is grounded in the fact that the company appears to be posing environmental risks to Guyana with its exploitive logging activities. According to ECHO’s Executive Director, Royston King, Bai Shan Lin’s operations should be put to a “halt”, until proper investigations are carried out by the GFC, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and other relevant bodies. There are questions over the extent of the logging activities of the company across the country and how it acquired the many concessions. About one hour into the protest, officials of GFC invited members of ECHO to their conference room, to address the group’s
concerns. GFC’s Corporate Secretary and lawyer, Jaci Archibald; Head of Forest Monitoring Division, Tasreef Khan; Head of Plan and Development, Pradeepa Bholanauth and the Head of the Finance Division, Edward Goberdhan, were present. One concern raised by ECHO member, Eon Andrews, was the legality and details of GFC’s contract with Bai Shan Lin. Andrews made it clear that the contract should be made public by the Commission, so as to ensure the company is operating in accordance with “good governance of Guyana’s natural resources.” The details of the contract, he said, would produce enough information on the company’s operations, to clear any fears of illegal logging, exploitation, and unfair practices. In response to this issue, Archibald made it clear that the public can only have access to the requested information “writing to the Commissioner of Forestry” for its release. He said GFC will not release the agreement until that is done. ”GFC has nothing to hide with regards to Bai Shan Lin’s
Education minister denies UNICEF pressuring St. Lucia to scrap corporal punishment CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC - St Lucia’s Education Minister Robert Lewis has denied that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is pressuring the country to get rid of corporal punishment in schools. According to the Lewis,while his ministry is looking into the matter of corporal punishment, a decision must be made in consultation with the St Lucia Teachers Union (SLTU), the National Principals Association (NPA) and parents. The Education Minister
told reporters after Thursday’s sitting of Parliament that it would be difficult to get some people to “buy into” the idea of scrapping corporal punishment since it has been part of the education system for so long. Nevertheless Lewis felt that UNICEF’s move to create “Child-friendly Schools” in the Eastern Caribbean was “a legitimate request.” “I want to make it clear that I was a teacher for twenty-two years and I have never bought into the idea of corporal punishment,” the Education Minister said.
contract”, the lawyer insisted. “As a matter of fact, the company’s operations cannot be halted, since no legal grounds were established to do so.” Bai Shan Lin, he claimed, has maintained their “contractual legal limit”, in terms of extracting timber from Guyana. Another concern raised by ECHO member, Penda Guyan, was the level of local deforestation by Bai Shan Lin. She said the Chinese company is creating “dust bowls” which contribute to global warming. However, Archibald in his response said that audits by several international agencies found “no form of destruction” to Guyana’s forest. He said that Bai Shan Lin is bound by the system laid out in their contract - to conduct logging operations in a conservative manner. Commenting on the issue, Bholanauth explained that auditing takes place under Guyana’s Norwegian agreement. She said that annual reports must be submitted to Norwegian authorities concerning national levels of deforestation. She noted that GFC has invested in services from international satellites, to scan the amount of continuous blocks of one hectare of forest, and also compute the amount of broken hectares of forest present in Guyana. In the 2012 national report, Guyana recorded a loss of 240 hectares cleared out of the 21 million hectares of local forest. Bholanauth said that Norway deploys an independent auditor to Guyana to scrutinize GFC’s annual report. She noted that all reports were confirmed to be accurate, and the system purchased to continually monitor deforestation is legitimately correct and internationally credible. She also mentioned international field-based monitoring and audits from third parties which also take place. Khan in his address to ECHO said that the company has to act in accordance with GFC’s regulation of “selective logging.” The GFC officials noted that if any company were violating regulations, it would have been discovered, with the necessary actions taken. GFC said it knows of no recent violations.
Saturday August 16, 2014
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THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO WAIT ON THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE I do not see why the University of Guyana should have to close its doors unless the government provides loans to students. I do not see, also, why the government should continue to provide such funding. First of all, the Student Loan Facility operated by the Ministry of Finance is virtually bankrupt. This facility was intended to be a revolving one, but scores of students who have graduated from the
University of Guyana, have been delinquent in repaying their student loans, despite the very generous grace periods that they have been given. As a result, the student loan facility was not replenished by repayments but by grants made by the government each year. Unfortunately this year, the opposition parties in their attempt to derail certain activities by the Ministry of Finance were forced to cut the vote under which the student
Dem boys seh... Guyana is one big hustle Is who tricking who when dem talk ‘bout development? And when dem talk ‘bout development is who development dem talking ‘bout? Fuh a long time dem boys use to sit down and watch how de development thing was going. And it was easy. A man buy or rent a bulldozer and a hymac then he tender fuh a contract to build road. He ain’t got to know nutten bout road building. Then he tender and one look at he name gun mek he get de contract. The first thing he gun do is apply fuh ah advance then he gun scratch de road. After a while de man gun pack up and lef de road. It don’t matter if de road done or not, he gun mek some money and he guh get other contract. Sometimes he gun have to do slapdash wuk which gun bruck up after three weeks. But dem boys seh that de big ones know more about development suh dem does undertake big developmental programmes. That does involve nuff money. Dem ain’t got to do slipshod wuk. All dem got to do is price de project higher than de real price and walk away wid de extra money. Then dem gun share some money wid de contractor by giving he contract that he can’t fulfill. But de real big ones don’t have to worry. Special cheque does write out to dem and deposit in special account. De more dem get is de more dem does want. Dem boys watching Rob de Earth, Shaaty and all dem Bees wid four eyes now, because de ting getting more sweet. Is sheer wood dem studying. Long wood, short wood, fat wood, fine wood…any kinda wood could pass. Nobody don’t care. They allowing another bee, Bai Shaan, fuh rape de country, and all of dem now turning dey back because dem frock front full and running over. Dem boys want Donald and de Pee Pee Pee fuh stop talking ‘bout development. That is a old con word for looking fancy. Let dem just tell de people de truth. Guyana is just one big hustle Talk half and watch de hustle continue.
loan facility fell. The intention was not to cut that loan facility, but because it fell under a line item which they disapproved, the entire line item was disapproved. There is therefore no money for the Ministry of Finance to allocate for loans to students. The opposition parties have indicated that they will support a supplementary provision for the restoration of these funds if it is brought before them. Well, it could not have been brought before them, because they have rejected the right of the Minister to restore funds in his Budget which were not approved, even though in the minister’s estimation, the Constitution and the country’s financial laws allow him to do so within certain limits. In fact the opposition parties have gone as far as taking the Minister to the Privileges Committee. One opposition parliamentarian from APNU did indicate on public television that this was one of the steps taken to prevent unlawful spending by the Minister. He also indicated that APNU would
be approaching the Courts for a declaration on the issue. However, in typical opposition style, the cart has been placed before the horse. Instead of approaching the Court and then awaiting the verdict before referring the Minister to the Privileges Committee, the back-to-front opposition has taken the Minister to the Committee of Privileges, even as it is now saying that it will be approaching the Courts for a declaration as to whether the spending by the Minister was unlawful. It is hard to see how anyone can be asking the Minister to restore funding, unless this entire issue of the legality of the restoring of funds to the Budget is determined. I do not see how, in the face of this conundrum, the Minister of Finance can now be asked to bring a supplementary provision before the National Assembly so as to provide funding for the Student Loan Facility. For all intents and purposes, the government is facing an impending noconfidence motion because of how the opposition parties view certain spending by the
Minister. In other words, it is the opposition parties who hold the fate of the Student Loan Facility in their hands. It is for APNU to do as promised and to approach the Courts for a declaration on the issue of the Minister’s spending, and upon a determination of this issue, for the Minister to act. Even if the Minister wants to restore the funds immediately, he cannot do so without again being accused by the opposition of illegally restoring funds. In any event, the National Assembly is in recess and will not reconvene until October, by which time the semester for the University would have commenced. But there is no reason for the government to be continuing with this Student Loan Facility. It cannot be said to be prudently managing this fund if in the face of its present bankruptcy, it continues to pour hundreds of millions of dollars each year into a facility so that students, being charged the lowest university fees in the Caribbean, can pay for their tuition. The University of Guyana
recently increased fees to $210,000 per year for most programmes. This amounts to just $17,500 per month per student. There are some students whom I am sure are paying more than that sum on transportation by special hire cars to get to and from campus. There are students whom I am sure are spending in excess of that sum on phone calls every month. There are students I am sure who spend more than that on entertainment each month. And while finding such a sum may seem prohibitive, I do not see why these students cannot approach the banks for a loan to pay these fees. A few years ago, some commercial banks launched a promotion to lend monies to persons to equip themselves to attend Jamzone. Well, if persons can borrow to attend Jamzone, students can very well take a loan from a bank to finance their education.
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Bai Shan Lin refutes allegations of $500 pay, ignores claims of mistreatment, poor working conditions Region Ten Chairman stands by story Bai Shan Lin has sought to debunk allegations that it has an employment ratio of 70 percent Asians to 30 Percent Guyanese, and that the company has been paying the few locals it employs as little as $500 per day. The company sent out a statement which sought to explain that the salary scheme is divided into three parts: interior, office/clerical and contracted. According to the company, for interior, most of the Guyanese employed are paid based on performance, “the more you have worked, the more you will earn.” Below is an extract from the statement: “…Such as, truck drivers, the more trips a drive makes, a higher salary will be earned. For inventory staff, the higher amounts of inventory of blocks, a higher salary will be earned. For heavy machinery operators, the more cubic meter of logs skidded; a higher salary will be earned. However, most of Bai Shan Lin salaries for interior staff are more than 60,000 Guyana dollars per month. For office/ clerical, Bai Shan Lin has different categories; Cleaner, Supervisor, Manager, Deputy General Manager, Finance Controller, Managing Director etc. But the minimum salary for the above mentioned position is at least 60,000 Guyana dollars per month. For contracting, Bai Shan Lin has the consultant doing ESIA (Environmental Social Impact Assessment) for inventory blocks. However,
Region 10 Chairman, Sharma Solomon those who are working for the contractors, mostly the contractor is responsible for their salary, this also will be more than 60,000 Guyana dollars per month.” The company said that it has 51 non-Guyanese and 151 Guyanese employees. This will amount to 202 staff members employed with the company overall. But in January 2013, Bai Shan Lin Forest Development Inc. advertised for 700 Guyanese workers. In advertisements in the media, Bai Shan Lin said that it had vacancies for 220 factory construction workers, 80 skilled chain-saw operators, 80 semi-skilled chain-saw operators, 30 bulldozer operators, 35 loading truck drivers, 60 dump truck drivers, two excavator and grader operators, 60 logging truck drivers, 20 container truck drivers, 10 mechanics, 10 servicemen, 13 cooks and 80 inventory clerks.
Cleaner fined, jailed for trafficking cocaine A 61-year-old cleaner was yesterday jailed for three years after he pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge. Allan Roach appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to being in possession of nine grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
The court heard that yesterday Roach, a resident of Charlotte Street, Georgetown was busted by a party of police ranks with the illicit substance. He was moments after, whisked before the courts and sentenced. He was told that coupled with his sentence he will pay a fine of $30,000.
Kaieteur News was told that the company generally has a policy to give Asian nationals first preference at employment and from all indications, there are enough Asian nationals residing in Guyana to facilitate the elimination of Guyanese workers on any project the Asians embark upon. Bai Shan Lin has a known presence at Moblissa, Coomacka, Bamia, Kwakwani and Ituni. This newspaper has been able to verify that at the Coomacka and Bamia locations. Region Ten Chairman, Sharma Solomon, had said that some workers attached to Bai Shan Lin, have been frequenting the Office of the Regional Democratic Council complaining of the way the company has been violating their rights. The Chairman said that workers have been lamenting the conditions they work under. They have also been complaining of bad treatment and poor payment. Solomon said, Bai Shan Lin have workers on payroll who are being paid as little as $500 a day. He said these complaints have been coming mostly from those working at Coomacka and Bamia. When contacted yesterday, Solomon told this newspaper that he saw the statement and noticed that the company did not reject what he said. “I highlighted that the company has been paying locals as little as $500 a day. I spoke about the conditions under which my fellow Guyanese have to work and the treatment they are dealt. I spoke about the treatment towards communities such as Moblissa… there is nothing we said that they dispute. Solomon also pointed to the incomplete Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and said that Bai Shan Lin “nor those speaking on behalf of Bai Shan Lin, can say that the Region, on behalf of the people, is not making legitimate and objective concerns. And you know that we have every right to do so.” The Chairman said that all citizens should be concerned “and that they have every right to be” when Bi Shan Lin moves to disrupt the lives of people without notice. “Are we being told that we are not allowed to or shouldn’t raise legitimate concerns about the livelihood of our people? Are we without reason to do so?,” asked Solomon.
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Kaieteur News
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Use of Facilities Fee will be Diabetic Foot Clinic reduces transparent - UG officials limb amputations by 50% The $50,000 Facilities Fee which will be required of students by the University of Guyana (UG) from this academic year, is intended to do just what it suggests - enhance the University’s facilities. This was the assertion of Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, in response to questions on the purpose of the fee that was recently introduced. T h e U n i v e r s i t y ’s administration in adjusting its fees last month, discontinued the payment of various miscellaneous fees which have been replaced with the Facilities Fee. And according to the Vice Chancellor, the Facilities Fee is one that must be paid by both local and foreign students. He disclosed during a press conference on Wednesday; that the Fee will be managed by Four Committees including one which will see input from student representatives, a measure that is expected to cater to accountability. In speaking on the subject on Wednesday too, Registrar of the University, Mr. Vincent Alexander, noted that transparency will be readily permitted on an individual basis as each student will be able to see online, as well as on his/her invoice, the specifics of the Facilities Fee. “It is broken down item by item on the invoice and online so that they (students) can see it,” said Alexander as he pointed out that there are a number of areas that Committees will oversee. One committee, according to him, will cover the General Facilities Fee which will cater to classroom resources among other programme delivery needs. Other Committees
UG Vice Chancellor, Jacob Opadeyi will direct focus to a Sports Fee, Library Deposit and the University’s Student Society dues, all of which are included in the Facilities Fee, Alexander said. The latter Fee will understandably gain attention from the student body members. Alexander went on to amplify that “students can pay their Fee, at large, bisemester.” In fact this method of payment will be accepted for the payment of tuition fee as well, he added. However, Professor Opadeyi cautioned that the University will not accept smaller payments. “They can pay $25,000 for each semester but nothing less than that,” he asserted. The deliberations on the Facilities Fee were forthcoming even as the possibility of a total but
temporary shutdown of the University was being threatened by the Vice Chancellor. This course of action was being considered on Wednesday in light of the fact that the University’s administration has not been able to receive word from the Ministry of Finance about the disbursement of Student Loans. Currently the University is faced with a cash-strapped operation, a state of affairs that prompted an adjustment to the US$1000 tuition fee. Prior to this year the fee translated to $127,000, per academic year. But according to the University’s Bursar, Ms. Holda Poonai, based on the decision and approval of the Council at its last meeting, the tuition fee will be increased to $160,000 for new students per academic year, while the continuing students will be required to pay $130,000. Last year about 40 per cent of the student population accessed loans from the Student Loan Agency while the remainder p a i d c a s h . H o w e v e r, Professor Opadeyi informed that even with the majority paying upfront, it would not be feasible for the University to function effectively. The University currently has an estimated debt of $450 million.
Local diabetic related amputations have been reduced by 50 percent, thanks to the multi-disciplinary approach to patient care at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Diabetic Foot Clinic. Diabetes, a chronic noncommunicable disease, is not only a problem in Guyana but worldwide. And, to effectively reduce amputations of limbs, in February 2008, GPHC was awarded a $97,460 grant from the Canadian-Caribbean Cooperation Fund, as the Canadian government’s contribution towards the setting up of the Diabetic Foot Clinic (DFC). According to Dr. Kumar Sukhraj, Head of the Clinic, the facility deals with all foot complications caused by peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy. Dr. Sukhraj said that from its inception the main aim of the clinic was to reduce the percentage of amputations
Dr. Kumar Sukhraj caused by foot ulcers of diabetic patients. Within the first year, the Diabetic Foot Clinic was able to do so by 43 percent. Amputating limbs
is a last resort, since some persons find difficulty in accepting or adjusting to a life without a limb, mainly a foot. As such, all efforts are made to care for patients with foot ulcers. The clinic practices a multidisciplinary approach of counseling and education on exercise, diet and lifestyle change. Therefore, in most amputation cases, the patient would have joined the clinic late. He said that major amputations are done by the hospital’s surgical service with follow-up care provided by the clinic. Meanwhile, minor amputations such as removing a toe are done by the clinic. This helps to prevent major amputations.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday August 16, 2014
Police nab 75, seize firearms during early morning raids Police have responded to the recent rise in violent crime with a cordon and search operation that resulted in the arrest of at least 75 people suspected of a r m e d r o b b e r y, d r u g
trafficking and other offences. A police release stated that the operation was carried out yesterday in A, B and C Divisions . In “A” Division, police
searched 26 buildings in Sophia and Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, while arresting 50 men and six women, pending investigations into robbery under arms, trafficking in
narcotics and break and enter and larceny. Police said that an unlicensed 16 gauge sawnoff shot gun, 695 grammes of cannabis sativa and nine grams of cocaine were found during this operation. In “B” Division (Berbice) six buildings were searched in the Alness, Limlair, Nurney and Salton area, Corentyne, during which an air rifle was recovered. Seven men have been arrested pending investigations into robbery under arms and break and enter and larceny. In “C” Division (East Coast Demerara) police searched 26 buildings in Sophia, Vryheid’s Lust, Cummings Lodge, Turkeyen and Better Hope South areas. Nine men and three women were arrested pending investigations into robbery under arms and break and
Marvin Cumbermack
Mark Drexel London
enter and larceny. Two motor cycles that are suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained have been seized, police said. Recently released police statistics reveal that 80 people were murdered between January and July of this year, in comparison to 73 for the same period last year. The police statistics also show a 27 percent increase in the use of firearms during robberies within the past seven months. The trend appears to be continuing in August. On Emancipation Day, Anderson Garnett, 30, was
shot in the face while fighting with a gunman who had attacked him in ‘C’ Field, Sophia. On Monday, a bandit shot 29-year-old Marvin Cumbermack dead in South Sophia and escaped with his motorcycle. On that same night, Kwame Smith of Eping Avenue, Bel Air, was shot in the neck during an attempted robbery. And on Thursday, 24year-old carpenter Drexel London was shot dead in Second Field, Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, by a man who was trying to steal his gold chain and phone.
Saturday August 16, 2014
Kaieteur News
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3 Guyanese jailed 34 years for importing cocaine into Ghana Ghana -Three Guyanese who imported 414 kilogrammes of cocaine into the country were on Thursday sentenced to a total of 34 years’ imprisonment with hard labour by the Fast Track High Court in Accra. Percival Junior Court, an engineer; Samuel Monty and Singh Princhad, both seamen, were found guilty on three counts of engaging in criminal conspiracy, importation of narcotic drug without lawful authority and possession of narcotic a drug. Court, 53, and Monty, 47, were sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment on each count, while Princhad was slapped with a 10-year jail term. The presiding judge, Mr. Justice Clemence J. Honyenuga, ordered that the vessel which was used to cart the drugs to Ghana on November 19, 2013 be confiscated to the state. The vessel is the MV Atiyah Ex-Alisam, with registration number 000471. According to the trial judge, the prosecution, which was led by a Chief State Attorney, Mr. Asiamah Sampong, was able to lead evidence to prove that the convicts had conspired, illegally imported and had possession of the narcotic drug. The convicts, who wore white shirts, looked on pensively as the trial judge read the judgement, which
Percival Junior (left), Samuel Monty and Singh Princhad leaving the courtroom. lasted two hours. The drug had a street value of $60 million as of the time the convicts were apprehended. THE SENTENCE The court took into consideration Princhad’s health status before sentencing him. His lawyer had prayed it to deal leniently with him because he was suffering from hypertension, diabetes and an ear infection. In passing sentence, Mr. Justice Honyenuga said the court took into consideration the plea for mitigation from the lawyers of the convicts,
the number of months they had been on remand, the sentences passed on to their co-conspirators, the nature and gravity of the offence and the value of the narcotic drug. PREVIOUS SENTENCE The court, on January 7, 2014, sentenced two accomplices of the convicts to a total of 35 years’ imprisonment on the same charges. They were Miller Ronald O’Neil, the captain of the vessel, and Seth Grant, a Ghanaian based in Brazil. O’Neil had a 20-year jail term, while Grant would spend the next 15 years in prison.
JUDGEMENT In its two-hour judgement, the court held that the prosecution was able to prove that the convicts had a “co-ordinated and wellcalculated travel arrangement to carry the cocaine to Ghana”. It said the convicts knew the nature and quality of the drug they possessed. Dismissing the defence put up by the convicts, it held that issues bordering on narcotic drugs bounded on possession and not ownership. The trial judge said the convicts had confessed to committing the crime in their statements to the police and
noted that those statements could have been relied on by the court without any evidence being adduced. That notwithstanding, he held that the position of the convicts in court contradicted their statements. H e , a c c o r d i n g l y, described the defence put up by the convicts in court as an “afterthought”. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE Touching on the court’s explanation of acting on the orders of someone without knowing the exact nature of the goods carted into the vessel, the court held that ignorance was not an excuse. Citing legal authorities to reinforce its decision, the court held that “not all orders are legal” and maintained that obeying illegal orders from a superior officer did not absolve one from an offence. It said the statements of the accused persons were proven to have been given voluntarily. According to the court, the prosecution led “overwhelming evidence” to prove the guilt of the convicts beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution, it noted, led incontrovertible evidence to prove that each of the convicts dealt directly with the owner of the cocaine, nicknamed Fatman, who had since absconded. It said there was
evidence to the effect that the convicts stopped on the high seas to offload the 414 slabs of cocaine into the vessel. FACTS OF THE CASE During the third week of November 2013, the Narcotics Control Board received information concerning the suspicious movement of the MV Atiyah Ex-Alisam, which was heading towards Ghana. According to the said information, the vessel was from British Guyana George Town. As a result, the security agencies, including the Ghana Navy, the Police Service and the National Security were alerted. The vessel was eventually intercepted by the Western Naval Command in Takoradi on November 19, 2013. A search on the vessel revealed 21 fertiliser sacks smeared with engine oil containing 414 slabs of a compressed substance. A field test conducted indicated that the substance was cocaine. At the time of the arrest, O’Neil, the captain, said the drug was to be delivered in Ghana but could not mention the name of the recipient. According to him, the drug was to be delivered on the high seas for a fee of $50,000, while the rest of the crew was to take various sums of money. (http://graphic. com.gh/news)
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Kaieteur News
Saturday August 16, 2014
Voluntarism is the bedrock of community policing -Rohee - as inaugural award ceremony for CPGs is held
Community Policing Organisation awardees with Minister Clement Rohee and other officials
T
he Home Affairs M i n i s t r y yesterday hosted the first ever award ceremony to recognise outstanding members of Community Policing Groups (CPGs) and of the business community which have significantly assisted those groups
(monetary and otherwise) to conduct patrols and other policing activities in communities across the various police divisions. Plaques and trophies were handed out to 12 CPGs, 17 members of individual groups, five businesses and two officers who performed creditably in liaising with the
groups in their respective divisions and the National Community Policing Executive body, and by extension, the Ministry of Home Affairs. This inaugural event is the brainchild of Taajnauth Jadunauth and Major General (Rtd) Norman McLean who are honorary
members of the Community Policing Organisation of Guyana (CPOG). These awards were given out for outstanding performance in 2012. The 2013 list is being refined. Jadunauth commended the leadership and commitment of Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee in ensuring that the necessary resources are made available to CPG members to execute their functions. The process by which the awardees were selected was transparent; whereby questionnaires were sent out to the various divisions for the identification of persons deemed fit to be recipients. Jadunauth said that on the next occasion, the appraisal
forms will be sent directly to the individual groups. Meanwhile, Minister Rohee expressed the hope that this recognition will serve as an incentive for members. Unlike traffic wardens, rural constables and neighbourhood police, CPG members offer their services voluntarily. The Minister said that this spirit of voluntarism is the bedrock of community policing. ”This voluntary aspect where people are prepared to give back something to their communities and their country is what really matters,” the Minister said. He explained that if citizens are prepared to give their services for one hour; it can make a tremendous difference because in many instances, crimes are committed and innocent people are robbed and killed in a matter of seconds. “So one hour of commitment and dedication manifested through the ranks of community policing is precious…I believe that community policing in this country has come a very far way from when we first started,” the Home Affairs Minister stated. He informed too, that Guyana is the only country in the Caribbean that has such a vibrant, functional
and well-organised community policing organisation. This he said, was made possible as a result of firstly, the political will from the part of the Government of Guyana and secondly, the commitment, dedication and passion from citizens themselves. The 17 CPG members were drawn from the following areas : Festival City, South Ruimveldt Gardens, Bath-WaterlooExperiment, Shieldstown, Bush Lot, Vigilance-Bladen Hall, Vryheid’s Lust North, Lusignan Pasture, Good Hope-Supenaam, Anna Regina North, and Sarah, Belle Plaine, and Eastern Wakenaam. CPGs are tasked with keeping vigilant watch by patrolling in and around their respective communities, working with religious leaders and other NGOs to promote the development of moral values in communities, engaging youths in meaningful activities and equipping women to assist in crime fight and detection. The CPOG currently has a membership of 4424 citizens across the country; making it the largest volunteer-driven body in Guyana. In March this year, this body celebrated its 38th anniversary.
Saturday August 16, 2014
Kaieteur News
VACANCY
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Spares for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 New American made Werner, aluminum ladder: 17 feet$28,000; 24 feet- $38,000, 32 feet- $55,000 – Tel: 609-7257, 602-5794 German shepherd and Doberman mixed pups – Contact: 615-0513 Dressed and mill cut lumber: Kabukalli, silverballi, greenheart, crab wood etc – Call: 688-6579 22RB Dragline, CAT 428 Back-hoe, 10-Tons compactor, CAT 320 BL Excavator, CAT 120G-MotorGrader. All in working condition – Contact: 6604021; 275-0538 Big Blow out sales! 5/8" Steel Rod $1,260 Each, Must Go- Tel:657-4072, 681-9477 One stall at Stabroek Market, One 45X26 Two storey concrete house, La Grange Public Road – Tel:679-1151 / 629-2381 Dell/Hp computers complete with LCD’s 49,000, Laptop from $50,000, I-phone 3GS $30,000 @ Future Tech: 2312206 Mini bus (pit-bull) Sliding glass – Price: $23,000 – Contact: 628-0909 One Slate Pools table almost new comes with cue sticks, balls & coins – Call: 676-0931 Bath robes, hand towels, bath rags, white cotton, slightly used, in excellent condition – Tel: 626-6335 Cooler used - $70,000, stove - $10,000, refrigerator $10,000 and other used products – Contact:6017132, 691-7690 Maytag 2000 series glass door dryer - $195,000, GE stainless steel glass top electric stoves - $195,000 – Tel: 664-0366; 231-5930 Yamaha Ridgid 7125 Watts generator - $299,000 roper (whirlpool) washer $120,000, Roper dryer$120,000. Contact: 664-0366; 231-5930 One 1200lbs ice machine $250,000 negotiable – Call: 231-0655, 683-8734 One used 320CL bucket – Tel: 648-0121
FOR SALE 270 Amps Portable Honda Welders – Tel: 611-5114 Fully equipped 5 Acre Poultry farm with trees at Pearl E.B.D- Contact Pearl Realty: 689-9991 Cosmetics: lip gloss, Mascara, lipstick, powder, wrinkle & age defying lotions by Revlon, Maybelline & Cover Girl. Wholesale & Retail – Contact: 626-6335 1 Whirlpool fridge –ice maker & water dispenser - $199, 000, 1- 19" Flat Screen TV/PC/ Security monitor led - $42,000 – Tel: 664-0366; 231-5930 One Lincoln generator welder 250amps, 1 Lister generator welder 230amps – Tel: 609-3028 I have some nice Greenheart Logs and Green heart piles for sale @ the best prices guaranteed – Tel: 639-3450 One Dyna Canter Truck, excellent condition - $1M – Cal: 684-8231 2MF Tractor 390 (4 wheel drive), 1MF Tractor 399 (4 wheel drive), 1 Hose machine with fittings & hose, 1 Toyota 3 Ton forklift – Contact: 2580100 American bully purely bred razor edge bloodline – Contact Harry: 667-4875, 2207933 Pure Bred German shepherd Puppies – European Line, father is black & mother is Black & tan – Tel:619-9643; 694-7210; 222-3560
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Gated community @ Lot 7 Ruimzeight Ocean View Gardens, W.C.D, 2 bedrooms, garage, water, land for garden - G$60,000/ US$300- Call:6093197
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 669-4755/ 695-9880 1 Experienced female private tutor – Call: 681-3812 between 8:00am to 4pm Counter Staff needed; apply with written application at Bettencourt’s Diner: 22zz Durban Street W/Ville. Driver and Salesman for Gas Trucks on East Coast, West Coast and East Bank Demerara. 266 4427 One live in housekeeper between 35-45yrs – Tel: 6561284 Two pastry makers, apply at Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd, 38 Ketley & Sussex Street CharlestownTel: 225-7864 or 227-8607
LAND FOR SALE 100FTX50Ft Prime residential area in Parfaite Harmonie (next to Dairy Bridge) - $2.6M – Tel: 6757292 Land of Canaan 21 Acres of transported land from Public Road to Conservancies – Contact Vish Realty: 612-7377 La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M, Grove (with foundation) $2.3M, Herstelling (110ftX60ft) - $3M – Contact: 675-7292 1500 Acres Transported Land near Bartica Essequibo River Front to Potaro Road – Contact Mark Hack: 6031266 or 704-465-2222
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
Self contained rooms in Prashad Nagar weekly & monthly rates – Call: 2272993 or 629-2424
CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com
Newly constructed house / apartment furnished & unfurnished in Healthy and safe environment – Call: 6986496
Progressive Auto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 219-3900 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com
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WANTED Salesgirls & porters apply with written application @ Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1E Dennis & Milton Sts Campbellville. Live in waitress and domestic must know to cook. Salary $50,000 $70,000. Boarding and lodging free – Tel: 610-5043 One male or female to work in shop in the Interior, must have experienced – Tel:6696030 One male or female to look after layer birds – Tel:669-6030 One live in maid for home in Georgetown – Tel: 681-6044 Land to buy in La Parfaite Harmonie, Schoonord, Eccles, Providence, Uitvlugt, all legal fees paid – Tel: 675-7292 Experienced Roti/Puri cooks, curry cooks, counter servers, cleaners. Apply @ Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Street. Four able bodied labours and one female clerk – contact: 265-3586 Female waitress (24-30years) Handyman, Barman, apply @ Fortune House Restaurant, 98 Sheriff Street 3-5pm Driver (mini-bus) @ West Coast area must have police clearance and reference; apply in person or Call Jonny- 600-5975 One salesgirl or sales boy – Tel: 627-9225 Experienced drivers with minibus & hire car License – Call: 645-0025 One cook for East Bank area, 4 days per week – Call: 6144358 Salesperson/ Cashiers for general & cosmetics store on East Coast, Age25-45, salary plus commission – Tel: 603-4954 Waitresses Wanted! Contact: 642-6022 One experienced welder, one clerk, four able bodied labours, one Secretary- Call: 265-3586 Work from home & earn $5,000-$20,000 daily Contact Jobfairworld - Tel:233-6517/ 6 2 2 - 1 9 5 7 , www.jobfairworld.com, free training available One live in Driver/ Mechanic, good accommodation and rates – Tel:227-1830 ACCOMODATION Harmony Inn Apartments and car rental, furnished & air conditioned apartments for local & overseas guest – Tel: 668-0306, 218-1400, 694-7817 VEHICLE FOR SALE Fielder Wagon, PNN Series, in excellent condition – Tel:646-8748 One Honda CRV PHH Series, price- $1.2M negotiable – Contact: 602-1499
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Professional hairdresser needed urgently at Misikko Salon & Spa, Lot 68 Sandy Babb Street Kitty – Contact Bonita: 675-1667
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Repairs, sales & spares, air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045 For low cost: Repairs to fridge, freezer, A/C unit, microwaves, TV & washing machine – Call: 629-4946 or 225-4822 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655,683-8734 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Signs, banners, event decorating, cakes, body/face painting, make-up floral etc – Call Sameer :690-7801,Sameerartists17@hotmail.com Repairs to washers, dryers, stoves, deep fryers, control system, etc – Call: 619-0793, 699-8802 Need a document typed or proof read for $1 Guyana dollar per word? – Contact Liz at 616-6011 DRESSMAKING Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, curtains, floral arrangements, cake decoration @ 153 Barr St Kitty – Tel:670-2653, 618-1706
VEHICLE FOR SALE One RZ Minibus for sale, Colour: Blue & White, Number – BLL 7002 – Contact: 616-0739; 698-3486 Mercedes Benz C180 Kompressor Wagon, good condition, all weather mats, car cover, 18" AMG Rims – Call: 690-0998 1 -V.V.T.I RZ bus for sale & serious enquiries only. Owner leaving country – Tel:255-0909; 679-9350 or 651-0435 or 664-0709 Unregistered Premio, Noah, Spacio – PRR 738 – Tel: 697-0297 Rav 4 2004 Model PMM Series – Call: 685-1302 or 6524283 2006 Premio - $2.6M, 2003 Spacio - $2.1M, New Model 212 - $1.9M, All Vehicles are fully loaded & unregistered – Tel: 6427295 One new model Toyota Spacio fully loaded, newly registered – Contact: 6704484 One Corona 170 for sale – Tel: 614-8282 170 Corona car - $800,000 – Call: 673-7934 Special sale on new model Spacio, with camera, TV, DVD, Spoiler, unregistered $2.1M – Tel: 617-2891 One Mitsubishi Canter 3½ Tons – Tel:626-9254, 264-2582 1- AT192 Toyota Carina in excellent condition, never worked hire, recently sprayed over - $875,000 – Call: 6191047 1- Hyundai Tuscan Jeep, PMM Series - $3.5M Negotiable – Call: 671-6051; 609-6890 Toyota Voxy - $1.8M, Toyota Premio - $2.3M, Toyota Spacio $2.1M, all vehicle are fully loaded – Tel: 617-2891 Tractor Massey Ferguson from Canada MF135- $1.2M, MF165 -$1.8M, MF285 $2.4M, Ranger Pickup - $1.5M – Tel: 682-5230; 628-9596 Mazda RX8 PRR Series, 79Km, owner leaving country – Tel:667-8896 Toyota Noah and Voxy (unregistered) - $1.9M – Tel: 603-9700 1 RZ BMM Series EFI engine, CD player, AC, Mags, fully loaded, in excellent condition – Tel: 642-4843
Unregistered new Model Raum – Tel: 670-4190. Toyota AT212, AT192, AT170, EDUCATION AE110, Corolla, NZE, Fun IAE (Secondary Educational) cargo, Raum, Hilux Pickup 194 Camp Street, register for Vigo, EP71- starlet – Tel:644Forms 1-5, Lessons, CXC Adult 5096, 697-1453 Classes for repeaters & beginners – Tel:223-0604; 683- Unregistered Spacio 2003, TV, Navigator, dark interior, rims, 5742 rear spoiler, fog lamp – Tel: Earn a Certificate in Cosmetology 617-5536 or nail s alone – Call: 226(Continued on page 24) 5904, 225-5360,687-7566
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Kaieteur News
Bosai employee on bail for bodybuilder’s death in East Bank crash A man who was reportedly behind the wheel of a car that killed a renowned bodybuilder was released on $400,000 bail yesterday. Dexter Phil, 24, of Wisroc Housing Scheme, Linden, appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Phil, a plant operator of Bosai, is accused of driving in a manner dangerous to the public while piloting motor car PPP-2299 on Tuesday (August 12) at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, thereby causing the death of Delon Michael Harlequin, a resident of Grand Scheme, Craig, East Bank Demerara. According to information
From page 23
PROPERTY FOR SALE For sale by owner: 1 wooden & concrete 2 strorey building @ 3rd Street, East Meten –Meer- Zorg, Vacant property- contact Mr. Basant : 277-3743; 626-0150 1 – 2storey wooden & Concrete house with 5 bedrooms upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $34M – Tel:642-7898 Agriculture Road, 2 Storey 3 bedrooms property $16.5M – Tel: 612-2522 Wooden & concrete house n excellent condition on double lot in D’Aguiar’s Park – Tel: 686-1368 Property @ Good Hope E.C.D – Tel: 621-1722 One three bedroom flat house at Lot 669 Golden Grove, New Housing Scheme – Contact: 616-1690
TO LET Fully furnished two bedrooms apartment with TV, Air-condition, hot & cold, cable @ South– Tel: 689-5877 One 2 bedrooms house at Unity East Coast Demerara – Call: 259-3299
received, Harlequin was heading north along the East Bank Demerara Public Road on his motor cycle, when Phil’s vehicle made a U-turn at the gas station in Friendship and struck him. Reports are that Harlequin was flung into a trench opposite the gas station. The 32-year-old was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where he later succumbed. In court yesterday, Phil’s attorney, Leslie Sobers applied for reasonable bail, stating that he was not a flight-risk.
Sobers challenged the charge instituted against his client, stating that it was improperly brought since the accident occurred at the gas station and not on the road. The Prosecution, represented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Deneashwar Maindranauth, did not object to bail. The Magistrate granted bail and ordered Phil to lodge his passport and report to the McKenzie Police Station every Monday until the completion of the matter. The case will be called again on October 22 for statements.
Alleged sheep thief granted bail A labourer from Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara was yesterday taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for stealing two sheep. Richard De Cunha, 20, of Lot 59 Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded not guilty to the simple larceny charge.
De Cunha is charged with stealing two ewes belonging to B.T. Hariprashad, valued at $80,000, on August 13, last at Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara. The Prosecution did not reveal the details of the theft and Magistrate McLennan granted bail in the sum of $25,000. The case is set to be called in the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrates’ Court on October 10.
Saturday August 16, 2014
Letters... Where your views make the news
Life is about managing... From page 5 to their fellow men and fear the consequences of their actions when they are captured or boxed into a corner where escape is no longer possible. The most notorious case in recent memory involved Adolf Hitler who opted to take his own life rather than being captured at the hands of the victorious Soviet forces. Not only did he shoot himself but his loyal disciple and information czar followed suit by killing his wife and children rather than surrendering to the advancing Soviet troops. These are extraordinary situations, but we must
not forget that right here in Guyana we had a situation of mass murder and suicide at a place called Jonestown in Region One, where hundreds of lives were lost because of a fanatic power drunk leader. All of this is somewhat peripheral to the main thrust of this article which essentially posits that behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining. Or to put it in another way, the darkest hour is nearest to dawn. This is why it is important to resist any temptation to give up and do silly things during times when everything may seem gloomy, because the
dynamics of life can change in an instant and good times begin to roll. Being happy is something that is within our grasp. And it has nothing to do with money or fame, but with our inner sense of being at peace with ourselves and our station in life. Many people set too high expectations in life which are unattainable and therefore lead to tension and frustrations. Life is about managing expectations and maintaining a healthy balance between being goal-oriented and realistic at the same time. Hydar Ally
The wide disparity in... From page 4 communicated that some of these other secondary students do not even have teachers for many subjects, for long lengths of time. Naturally talented students from Queens College will academically shine because they enjoy an environment conducive to the unfolding of their academic abilities, whereas their less fortunate secondary counterparts are in an environment suppressing rather than en-
hancing the unfolding of their academic abilities. Similar arguments have been made in similar situations for the role of nurture on the unfolding of academic abilities or otherwise. A popularly discussed example demonstrates that Albert Einstein was able to shine academically because his environment was nurturing. Likewise, Wolfang Amadeus Mozart’s gifted musical ability would have never shone were he raised in an environment without a piano. Similarly, Michael Jordan’s sporting abilities would have never shone had he not been in a nurturing environment. The seventeenth century British Philosopher, John Locke and the twentieth century American Behaviorist Psychologist, Burrhus
Frederic Skinner and many others have also subscribed to this school of thought. All in all, this letter spotlights several issues within the educational system, entailing that students fail because the educational system itself is failed due to a lack of expertise. The wide disparity between academic performances in the country can be bridged by providing nurturing environments for all, not just a privileged few. This means that at the very least giving the same quality teachers to all. I know enough to make this statement that all students can learn if coached properly. Some are slower learners than others but they will learn, so do not deny them or give up on them. Annie Baliram
Poor sanitation... From page 4 rate is 38.7%. Mathematics recorded about 39% pass rate which is reported to be the highest Guyana has ever seen. Similarly, the results for English ‘A’ could be significantly improved. The Grade One to Three performances in English A was 46.98% in 2014. Is stunting affecting cognitive ability, specifically in Mathematics and English ‘A’ (reading)? Are taller children performing better in Mathematics and English ‘A’ than shorter children? Is stunting the reason for low percentages in passes in Mathematics and English ‘A’? Are children who live in areas in Guyana where sanitation is poorer, such as Georgetown, shorter than children in relatively cleaner areas? Are children in areas where the sanitation is poorer performing at a lower level in Mathematics and English ‘A’ than children who live under better sanitary conditions and in cleaner communities? Are children in other Caribbean countries where per-
centages in Mathematics and English ‘A’ are higher, living in better sanitary conditions than children in Guyana who perform poorer in Mathematics and English ‘A’? This research could examine the period from 1984 to 2014, a 30year period. If it is found that sanitation has a significant impact on stunting in Guyana, this could then become a policy consideration and perhaps a post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target for Guyana under the Sanitation Goal. It will also create the opportunity for a more strategic approach to better wastewater and solid waste management in Guyana and for funding support to accelerate a programme to reduce and address stunting. A recommended research document for further information on Sanitation and Stunting is the World Bank 2013 study on ‘How much international variation in child height can sanitation explain?’ by Dean Spears. Audreyanna Thomas
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Kiev says forces destroyed Palestinians accuse Israel Russian armour inside Ukraine of violating Gaza truce
An armed pro-Russian separatist looks as flames erupt from a gas pipeline after a shelling in Donetsk, yesterday. EUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (Reuters) - Ukraine said its artillery destroyed part of a Russian armoured column that entered its territory overnight and said its forces came under shellfire from Russia yesterday in what appeared to be a major military escalation between the ex-Soviet states. Russia’s government denied its forces had crossed into Ukraine, calling the Ukrainian report “some kind of fantasy”, and in turn raised its own serious concerns about activity by the U.S.-led NATO defence alliance near its borders. Moscow accused Kiev of trying to sabotage aid deliveries to eastern areas torn by fighting between proRussian separatists and the Western-backed government of Moscow’s former satellite. In a call to U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, as reported by Russia’s state news agency RIA, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow was “seriously concerned” by increased NATO activity and called for a ceasefire to get aid into Ukraine. The agency did not specify what Western military movements he meant. NATO said there had been a Russian incursion into Ukraine, which is not a member of its mutual defence pact, but it avoiding calling it an invasion. Other European capitals accused the Kremlin of escalating a conflict that has revived Cold War-era animosities and chilled the region’s struggling economies. The United Nations said it could not verify the reports from the Ukrainian border but called for an immediate deescalation. Kiev and its Western allies have repeatedly accused Russia of arming proMoscow separatist rebels in
eastern Ukraine, and of sending undercover military units onto Ukrainian soil. They have also expressed concern Russia may use an aid convoy it has assembled on the border as a pretext for stoking the conflict. It was not clear whether the armoured column was officially part of the Russian army on active service. But evidence of Russian military vehicles captured or destroyed on Ukrainian territory would give extra force to Kiev’s allegations and possibly spark a new round of sanctions against the Kremlin. Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military, told a news briefing that Kiev’s forces had picked up a Russian military column crossing the border under cover of darkness. “Appropriate actions were undertaken and a part of it no longer exists,” Lysenko said. The situation in the conflict zone was becoming increasingly tense, he said, with Ukrainian forces which are fighting pro-Russian separatists also coming under artillery attack from Russian territory. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko briefed British Prime Minister David Cameron on the incident and told him a “significant” part of the Russian column had been destroyed, according to statement from Poroshenko’s office. But Russia’s Defence Ministry said no such military force had crossed the border into eastern Ukraine. State news agency RIA quoted a ministry statement saying: “There was no Russian military column that crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border either at night or during the day.” It called the Ukrainian report “some kind of fantasy”.
Britain summoned Russia’s ambassador to ask him to clarify reports of a military incursion into Ukraine, and European Union foreign ministers said any unilateral military actions by Russia in Ukraine would be a blatant violation of international law. In a sign of efforts to unwind the crisis, the Kremlin said the Ukrainian and Russian chiefs of presidential staff met in Russia yesterday and the Ukrainian foreign minister said he would meet his Russian counterpart in Berlin tomorrow. Yesterday, responding to reports that a Russian column had entered Ukraine overnight, NATO SecretaryGeneral Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance had seen what he called a Russian incursion into Ukraine. “It just confirms the fact that we see a continuous flow of weapons and fighters from Russia into eastern Ukraine and it is a clear demonstration of continued Russian involvement in the destabilisation of eastern Ukraine,” the NATO chief said. A spokesman for Russia’s border guard service was also quoted by Russian news agencies as denying that any Russian military units had entered Ukraine. In a statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry, Moscow accused Ukrainian forces of intensifying the fighting against pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to sabotage Russian efforts to get aid into rebel-held areas. A caravan of 280 trucks taking Russian aid to eastern Ukraine was parked on the Russian side of the border yesterday.
GAZA (Reuters) - The Palestinian Interior Ministry in Gaza accused Israel yesterday of a cross-border shooting in violation of a truce that has largely held since getting off to a shaky start on Thursday. An Israeli military spokeswoman said: “We have no knowledge of such an incident.” The Palestinian ministry in the coastal territory dominated by Hamas Islamists said Israeli troops shot at houses east of the town of Khan Younis. The ceasefire, renewed on Thursday for five days after a previous truce expired, has largely halted more than a month of fighting in which 1,945 Palestinians, many of them civilians, 64 Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel were killed. The truce got off to a rocky start with Israel launching an air raid early on Thursday in response to rocket fire from Gaza in violation of the earlier truce. There were no reported casualties in any of these incidents. The latest ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, gave the parties an additional five days, until late on Monday to come up with a
Unexploded shells that have been disarmed, which Palestinians say were fired by Israeli troops, are placed by worshippers near themselves as they perform Friday prayers, yesterday. (REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa) comprehensive agreement to end the war in Gaza. Negotiations hosted in Cairo were expected to reconvene on Sunday. Prime Minister B e n j a m i n N e t a n y a h u ’s security cabinet debated the emerging deal at a meeting held behind closed-doors on Friday, after a protest by 10,000 Israelis in Tel Aviv, angry
at the war’s inconclusive results and the prospect of facing more rocket fire from Gaza once the truce comes to an end. An Israeli official said after Friday’s meeting that any deal struck in Egypt had to “provide clearly for security arrangements” for Israel. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declined to elaborate.
Ebola-hit states plead for more help, WHO rebuked for slow response (Reuters) - Two West African nations and a medical charity fighting the world’s worst Ebola epidemic chided the World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday for its slow response, saying more action was needed to save victims threatened by the disease and hunger. With the death toll over 1,000 and still climbing, the U.N. health agency is facing questions over whether it moved quickly enough to declare the months-old outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”, which it did on Aug 8. Medical charity MSF (Doctors Without Borders), which has been one of the most active groups in fighting the outbreak, said its spread had created a “wartime” situation in the worst-affected states of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Nigeria is also facing a smaller separate outbreak. Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma said his nation’s only two treatment centres were “overwhelmed”. In neighbouring Liberia, Information Minister Lewis
Brown said Ebola-affected rural areas quarantined by troops faced serious food shortages. “We need a more robust response to the nature of the disease and the way it is affecting us,” Koroma said in Freetown, adding he had delivered this message to the WHO, which is coordinating international efforts to try to control the outbreak. The WHO said yesterday the death toll from this epidemic, first declared in Guinea in March, had risen to 1,145, as 76 new deaths were reported in the two days to Aug. 13 in the four nations affected so far. “If our people are dying, the response should be an extraordinary
response because it is an extraordinary situation,” Koroma told a news conference, saying his country needed more Ebola treatment centres and medics to staff them. “Time is of the essence,” he added, saying he had seen the world respond to major humanitarian crises, such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and West Africa needed similar help. Fear of the virus, which causes fever, vomiting and, in its advanced form, severe haemorrhaging and organ failure, is curbing business in Africa and threatening to taint the continent’s image as a rising economic star.
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T&T continues economic growth Fear of crime affecting the Trinidad Express - The Howai: 2014/2015 Budget will ensure... national budget nation’s psyche - Derrick Smith upcoming economic impacts as well as 2014/2015 in September will
Jamaica Observer Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith says while he is happy with the reductions in major crimes especially murders, several heinous crimes are increasing the ‘fear of crime’ factor in the country making citizens uncomfortable and in many instances distressed. Speaking with OBSERVER ONLINE a
short while ago Smith said: “I am truly happy with the efforts of the Police Force and all the other agencies who have worked hard in reducing major crimes in the country especially murders during 2014. It is an achievement that should buttressed by continued vigilance and even more hard and dedicated work.” While applauding the work of the Security Forces,
Smith who is the Member of Parliament for North West St Andrew is of the opinion that several recent events have conspired to damage and hurt the psyche of citizens; building what he termed the ‘fear of crime’ factor in the country. “The recent murder of the businessman in Manchester, the Mario Dean saga, other recent injudicious police interventions, the mercilessly killings of several children in western Jamaica and other such crimes have had a telling impact on the minds of Jamaicans. People are in fear despite what the statistics say and we should take note of this fear factor and its effects on society,” Smith said. The JLP crime spokesman is of the view that the police and the other agencies involved with crime fighting should significantly increase their personal interactions with citizens through meetings, specially designed tours in as many areas as possible along with other initiatives.
be one that will ensure the country continues on a path of growth, says Finance Minister Larry Howai. Speaking at the postCabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair Thursday, Howai — when asked if the budget will be one with a general election in mind next year — said: “The thing is for the budget as a whole we will certainly try to maintain the position of continuing the growth momentum of the economy, we certainly want to ensure that whatever we do can be sustainable over a period of time.” He said: “We want to ensure that the m a c r o e c o n o m i c fundamentals that we have will continue into the future.” With respect to the country’s billion-dollar fuel subsidy, Howai said while this
Larry Howai remained a concern, it must be dealt with to minimise any dislocation within the economy. Howai said it was not just an arithmetic issue of removing the subsidy from the equation as its removal had commercial and
a social impact, in particular on lower income groups. He said a CNG solution was in place to lower the impact and give businesses time to adjust. Howai also announced that on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s request, he asked the chief personnel officer (CPO) to come up with a schedule of negotiations for the protective services over the next two weeks so these matters can be concluded in the soonest time. He said negotiations for 2008 to 2011 were concluded last year and the CPO immediately started on the 2012 to 2014 period and there would have been discussions and proposals. He said the CPO has agreed and will start negotiations with the protective services on a phased basis.
St Vincent government dismisses allegations of trading endangered parrots for aid KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent - CMC – The St. Vincent and the Grenadines government has denied that it is engaged in trading a number of the endangered local Amazona guildingii parrots for vehicles from Germany. Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar dismissed the allegations made by Lauron Baptiste, a candidate for the opposition New Democratic Party, (NDP) in the next general elections, saying the government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Berlin-based Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots (ACTP) so as to ensure the survival of the parrots in case of a
natural disaster. Baptiste had announced during the opposition-led protest march in the capital last month that the Ministry of Agriculture had already received three vehicles as part of the arrangement. “There are three vehicles right now for three officials at the Ministry of Agriculture, they ‘fraid to clear them. You know why? Because they were supposed to trade off our parrots again for three vehicles…” said Baptiste, a former employee at the ministry. “Thirteen pairs of parrots were supposed to go to Germany again and the vehicles are at the wharf for three officials, and they have been sitting
there for quite a while. You will hear more about this,” Baptiste said, adding that he would like the media to investigate the allegation. But Caesar told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the government had an agreement with the Berlin-based “just in case we have a very bad natural disaster, where the wildlife is significantly impacted in a negative way. “Pursuant to the agreement, they are to work with the conservation of the National Bird. … They are contributing by giving technical assistance and equipment to protect the parrot in the wild and also to protect those in activity,” he said of the ACTP.
Govt. awaits Attorney General’s response on joining Tommy Lee’s deportation case at CCJ Jamaica Gleaner - The Jamaican Government says it’s awaiting a decision from the Attorney General on whether to take entertainer Tommy Lee’s Dominica deportation matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The Government response follows an August 8 letter from the entertainer’s attorney, Bert Samuels, demanding an update on Jamaica’s intention. Bert Samuels had written to the Foreign Affairs Ministry in May, asking that it investigates Dominica’s refusal to allow his client entry on February 23.
Later that month the Government wrote to the Dominican authorities about the circumstances that led to the deportations of Tommy Lee and three others. However, while Dominica acknowledged receiving the letter, it is yet to respond. In his letter to the Foreign Affairs Ministry last week, Samuels noted that there has been a lapse in time and the perceived inability of Dominica to deal with the matter. He says Jamaica should decide whether it will join the case at the CCJ, adding that if not, he and his clients will proceed.
Samuels says he can go ahead with the case because of CCJ rules that make allowances when contracted parties fail to elect to institute proceedings within a reasonable time. According to the lawyer, the deportation case is of great national and regional interest to ensure that liberties of citizens are respected and protected. In a response today, David Prendergast, writing on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said the matter has been referred to the Attorney General for consideration and decision.
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Boyce/Jefford Classic relevant... Major players onboard for... From page 34 officials.The Organisers have been meticulous in their planning and with the support of quite a few big corporate e n t i t i e s w i t h i n G u y a n a ’s c o n t e x t , a n d w i t h a n u m b e r o f the Caribbean’s elite athletes enjoying lucrative sponsorship contracts with some, who knows, next year Guyanese fans could very well witness the presence of some of them, providing the Classic does not clash with their schedule. Colin Boyce, one of the Co-founders of the Classic is a former President of the Athletic Association of Guyana and he must have made a few connections during his tenure, while Edison Jefford, the other partner in the group is a Sports Journalist, who through his work would have formed relationships with athletes and administrators along the
way so the combination is a good one that could guarantee the presence of high profile athletes in the near future. As the fans head down today to support the Classic and view the future of athletics in Guyana at a place where so many exciting races were recorded, one cannot help but reminisce on the intense rivalry that to o k p l a c e r i g h t o n t h a t ground including a few between the man that the entire event was c o n c e p t u a l i s e d t o h o n o u r, E l t o n Jefford, who many felt was perhaps the best locally bred sprinter. The Classic aims to be just that, a classic so fans all across Guyana are being urged to get to the MSC to witness Guyana take on athletes from Suriname, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA.
From page 35 trophy.The Two year old event for West Indies Bred horses which has its first prize tagged at $1.5M and trophy will be run over 1000M. The E class and lower 1400M event will see the winner racing away with the $800,000 top prize and trophy. The G1 and lower race is a 1200M event where the winning horse will run away with $600,000 and trophy. The second two year old event is for Guyana bred horses and has a $600,000 price tag along with trophy for the top runner over 1000M. The H& lower 1000M race guarantees the winning horse a purse of $450,000 and tro-
phy. The ‘I’ and lower race also goes over 1000M with the pole position takings being tagged at $350,000 and trophy. The final race has $250,000 plus trophy at stake for the winner of the J and event in another 1200M affair. The top Jockey along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the organizers. Entries closed on Saturday August 16th. The organisers have also put together some interesting incentives for lucky patrons and participants that will be unveiled.
Apart from the riveting horseracing action expected on the track there will also be a lot of added attractions for both adults and kids. There will also be giveaways for the lucky and early patrons and horse owners. The event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. For further information contact can be made with Chandu Ramkissoon (6249063 or 232-0633), Kris Jagdeo (624-6123; 322-0369), Rajendra (Jim –Jo) 618-7278, Ramnauth 337-5311, Romel Jagroop (624-1798) and Campton Sancho 690-0569. The coordinator is Nazrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed. Race time is 12:00 hrs.
Police Sports Club defeats Rose... Saturday August 16, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This is a great day to start new enterprises with others, Aries. Gatherings with friends or group activities could lead to ideas for new projects that fire your energy and enthusiasm. New immediate and long-term goals should be set.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you might wake up feeling that you can move mountains - and this might be exactly what you set out to do, figuratively speaking. Your physical energy, enthusiasm, and selfconfidence are very high, Libra.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Activities of some kind could put you in the public eye today, Taurus.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you could recapture the joy in life that you had as a child, Scorpio. You're serious by nature, and feelings of joy are to be lived and treasured.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may have been looking forward to a social event, group activity, or perhaps a get-together with a lover today, but circumstances beyond your control throw some unexpected obstacles in your way. CANCER (June 21–July 22) A sum of money above and beyond your usual income could come your way. This could be a bonus, settlement, or even a gift of some kind. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Some vast changes in your community could take place, Leo. They're positive, for the most part. Today the news should spread widely, and you could be hearing about it from all sides - local newspapers, neighbors, and conversations on the street. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Vi rg o , y o u m i g h t choose to do some volunteer work today or help a friend. This could make you aware of a talent you didn't know you had. It could pave the way to more income.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Projects involving a group, perhaps your entire community, could take up a lot of your time, Sagittarius. Interesting n e w s a n d stimulating conversations could come your way. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you might read a book on exercise or nutrition that seems a bit unsettling, Capricorn. According to the book, you're doing everything wrong! AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) New ideas for your career could be on your mind, Capricorn. You might be thinking not only about getting a new job but also entering an entirely new field. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Don't be surprised if sometime during the day you feel angry for no apparent reason, Pisces. It's probably rooted in the past, from a situation that wasn't resolved long ago. Take a good look at what's going on today.
From page 35 plunder 19 runs from the last over to tie the scores and end with 125 for 5 off their allotment of 16 overs. Bowling for Police Andel Doris was the main wicket take r w i t h 3 - 3 7 runs, while Carl Campbell and Ray Hutson snatched one each. The cops were superior in the super over as they restricted Rose Hall Town to 6 runs, leaving Police with a meager requirement of 7 runs to win the match. Police quick slapped the ball about the field and cleared off the required 7 runs after the third delivery. At the presentation ceremony, trophies and prizes were presented. Among the trophies presented were to the winning and runner up teams and outstanding players by Commander Brian Joseph and Deputy Commander ‘B’ Division, Senior Superintendent Marlon Chapman and other senior officers of the Division. Commander Joseph also took the opportunity
to make a special presentation of a trophy to Police ‘B’ Division cricketer and U-15 Captain, and national U-15 all rounder Kevin
Sinclair, for his outstanding performance at the rec e n t l y c o n c l u d e d We s t Indies Cricket Board Under-15 Tournament.
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Guyana take Regional double crown as 50-over U-19 Final washed out Guyana was crowned Regional 50-over champions after their Final against the Windward Islands was washed out without a ball yesterday at Everest after the outfield remained waterlogged all day despite glorious sunshine almost all day. The players remained at the ground almost all day and played softball cricket between themselves before the game was called off at 14:30hrs, the latest time the match could have started to facilitate a 20 overs contest. Guyana, who won the Three-day title last month, reached yesterday’s Final with an unblemished record of six consecutive victories in preliminary rounds and like in
the first ever Final in Trinidad in 1998, Guyana won the tournament by virtue of finishing with the most points, much like Jamaica did when their 1998 final against Barbados was washed with Barbados having the opportunity to bat. West Indies U-19 opener Shemron Hetymer collected three Awards, taking the Awards for Most runs (321), the Highest Individual score and the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Jamaican Wicket-Keeper Romaine Morris took the Award for the most successful Wicketkeeper, while T&T pacer Akil Seetal had 15 wickets to cop the Award for most wickets in the
50-over version of this year’s competition. Kemo Paul, who scored four half-centuries in five innings and bowled with genuine pace on occasions, took home the Best AllRounder Award which was put up by the National Sports Commission (NSC). Brian Sattaur became the first Guyana Captain to win both three-day and one-day titles in the same year bettering the feat of Steven Jacobs, who lead Guyana to the three-day title in 2007 in St. Kitts before losing to Jamaica in the 50over final the same year when Horace Miller decimated the Guyana bowling attack with an explosive 133. (Sean Devers)
Goodwill Promotions to hold inaugural t20 cricket in W/B’ce Goodwill Promotions in collaboration with the West Berbice Cricket Association will be holding its inaugural t20 cricket festival for all cricket clubs in West Berbice starting in October, 2014. The festival will be played on a knock-out basis and all games will be played under the t20 rules of the WBCA. According to the organizers all games will be played on
weekends at various venues and added attractions will be available for fans. There will be over $200,000 in cash and trophies up for grabs as well as prizes for the winner, runner-up and third placed team; individual prizes will be given to the best bowler, best batsman, man of series and man of match in each game. The festival will be played
with coloured clothes and white balls. There will be gate prizes up for grabs and the semifinals and finals of the festival are expected to be played under flood lights. Interested teams or clubs are asked to make contact with the West Berbice Cricket Association as early as possible in getting their team registered.
Saturday August 16, 2014
‘Chanders’ could become 9th 40-year-old to play Test cricket Shivnarine Chanderpaul is likely to become the ninth West Indies over-40 player to play in a Test Match if he plays against Bangladesh in the two Test series next month. The indomitable lefthander, who has played more Test matches than any other West Indian, turns 40 today. Barbadian Gordon Greenidge was the last over40 to play a Test match when he played against Australia in Antigua in April, 1991while George Headley, who played against England in his native Jamaica in January 1954, was the oldest at 44. The only person from the Caribbean to play over 150 Tests and second only to the Brian Lara as West Indians to reach 11, 000 Test runs, that fighting quality and value for his wicket is still the hallmark of Chanderpaul’s stellar career. The Guyanese run machine has played for West Indies, Derbyshire, Durham, Guyana, Khulna Royal Bengals, Lancashire, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Stanford Superstars, Uva Next, Warwickshire and Warwickshire 2nd XI during his illustrious career which began in 1991 when he first
Shivnarine Chanderpaul played for Guyana at the under-19 level. The son of a fisherman and father of National under19 opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, ‘Tiger’ has an amazing average of over 50, not the easiest thing to achieve when you have played so many Tests. His record 46 not outs have in some measure contributed to him sustaining such a healthy average for so long but that fact is, his 29 centuries and 62 fifties in Tests make him one of the most successful batsmen of all time. His latest ‘ton’ puts him level with the great Sir Donald Bradman, and only behind Lara’s 34 on the list of West Indians.
Today, as he celebrates his birthday he will tell you they say life beings at 40 and the dogged Guyanese is still as fit as most present player in regional cricket and like good wine seems to be getting better with age. His 14,414 is testimony to his determination to continue playing at the highest level for so long. And with former West Indies Captain Clive Lloyd, who played his last Test against Australia at Sydney in December 1984 at 40, being appointed as Chairman of WICB selectors, he will know that age is just a number and allow Chanderpaul to retire when he wants to, providing that he is make a meaningful contribution to the team. Chanderpaul could join CA Wiles who played against England in Manchester in July 1933 at 40, fellow Guyanese LR Gibbs, who played against Australia at Melbourne in January 1976 at 41 and N Betancourt, who played against England in Port of Spain in February 1930 at 42. Wilfred Rhodes was the oldest man to play Test cricket. He was 52 years, 165 days when he represented England in West Indies in 1929-30. (Sean Devers)
Letter to the Sports Editor
STEPHNEY RESPONDS TO Serena Williams beats Jelena Jankovic to reach Cincinnati semis THE GUYANA CRICKET BOARD B B C S p o r t - Wo r l d number one Serena Williams remains on track for a first Cincinnati title with victory over eighth seed Jelena Jankovic in the last eight. The American won 6-1 6-3 to set up a semi-final against Caroline Wozniacki, who beat fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 7-6 (7-5). World number two Simona Halep takes on Maria Sharapova in a rematch of the French Open final later on Friday.
Andy Murray faces third seed Roger Federer in the men’s quarter-finals. Federer’s fellow Swiss, Stan Wawrinka, suffered a shock 1-6 6-1 6-2 defeat by Julien Benneteau earlier on Friday. The Frenchman won 12 of the last 15 games to reach the first Masters semi-final of his career, where he was joined by Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic, who c r u s h e d I t a l y ’s F a b i o Fognini 6-1 6-0 in just 57 minutes.
Serena Williams (Getty Images)
Athletics-Steeplechase winner... From page 33 evening will finish.” Kowal said: “What Mahiedine did with his vest was not disturbing or anything, nothing important.” Mekhissi-Benabbad has been involved in controversy in the past and was once suspended along with team mate Mehdi Baala after they traded blows following the 1,500 metres at a Diamond League meeting in Monaco. At one point Baala head-butted
Mekhissi who responded by swinging his arms wildly as he threw a series of punches, some of which missed their intended target. Elsewhere, double Olympic champion and former world champion Barbora Spotakova won her first European gold medal in the javelin, throwing 64.41 metres with her fifth effort. Anzhelika Sidorova of Russia won the women’s pole vault in dramatic style as she
cleared 4.65 metres on her third and final attempt to move above Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece, who had finished her competition with a best of 4.60 but was ahead on countback. Frenchman Benjamin Compaore’s opening effort of 17.46 metres was enough to win the triple jump and Russia’s Sergey Shubenkov retained his title in the 110 metres hurdles as he won in 13.19 seconds.
DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to the GCB’S letter dated 2014-08-12 in the Kaieteur newspaper under the caption ‘GCB RESPONDS TO ELROY STEPHNEY’S LETTER’. It was never my intention to easily score against the Guyana Cricket Board following the publishing of my letter on the same date that the GCB responded. Instead I was merely exposing what was a piece of misleading and inaccurate information that was posted. In fact there is other incorrect information such as having the Gunners, Young Achievers and Lima Sports clubs as members of Central Essequibo; instead these clubs are from North Essequibo. The GCB responded by denying my claims and posted its website a s www.guyanacricketboard.com which indeed has updated information and other relevant statistics of the GCB. I wish to publicly congratulate the national under-15 and under-19 teams for securing regional titles. However the Essequibo
Cricket Board does not have an official web site. Therefore, information regarding the county, including the Board’s constitution is available and I presume that it is compliments of the GCB’S web site. If someone were to browse the site, a brief history about the ECB and the listing of the eight area committees can be found. Information regarding the North Essequibo Cricket Committee can conversely be found at www.guyanacricket.com/ no r t h e s s e q u i b o c ricketc ommittee. com. This site has all the relevant information regarding the Guyana Cricket Board and includes headings such as Home, Clubs, Govern, Articles, Players and Scorecards which comprehensively contains the history of the GCB including the names of current and past players that would have represented their respective counties. Surprisingly my name was not featured on Essequibo’s list despite having captained my county at all levels. It is the very site that contains the misleading information regarding the executives of
North Essequibo which officially conducted its AGM for 2011 on January 31st, 2011 at the ECB Hostel, with Mr. Prince Holder securing the Presidency. The site instead has Mr. Anand Azad heading the Committee, naming Sparta as the venue and elections held on February, 13th, 2011. If the site is not being operated by the GCB then I may wish to know who would have posted such voluminous information and which has official news of the Board? The data includes updated news on the CPL and the Regional under-19 tournament. The NECC will not allow the rights of the Committee to be trampled upon, especially if there is a sinister motive to discredit the true executives of the NECC who continues to diligently serve under the Presidency of Mr. Prince Holder. I would have detected a wrong which I thrust the GCB may wish to correct, liable to acknowledging ownership of the particular site which I was told, was created and hosted by the GCB before 2014. Yours Faithfully, Elroy Stephney.
Kaieteur News
Saturday August 16, 2014
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Robredo ends Djokovic bid for elusive Cincinnati title (Reuters) - Spain’s Tommy Robredo shocked world number one Novak Djokovic 7-6(6) 7-5 on Thursday to move into the quarter-finals of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. For the 16th seeded Robredo the victory was his first over Djokovic since their first meeting in 2005, the Serb sweeping their next six meetings. The loss brought a temporary halt to Djokovic’s bid to become the first player to win all nine ATP World Tour Masters events during his career. It was also another setback in the Serb’s buildup to the U.S. Open later this month after falling to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the third round last week in Toronto. “Many, many, many things are not clicking these two weeks on hard courts,” said Djokovic. “It’s unfortunate but it’s more than obvious I’m not playing even close to what I’m supposed to play.
“I have to keep on working and trying to get better for U.S. Open. “I just don’t feel comfortable. “It’s disappointing that I’m finishing Cincinnati again with a tough loss but it’s sport. I didn’t play well in Toronto; didn’t play well here. “Hopefully it’s going to be different in New York.” While Djokovic has hoisted the Canada trophy three times he has not felt the same comfort level on the Ohio hard courts, reaching the finals four times in 10 visits to Cincinnati and losing all four. The Serb appeared out of his normal rhythm, particularly in the second set when he failed to gain even a single break chance. Robredo managed three break opportunities and only needed to capitalise on one to secure the upset. “When I finish my career and when I will be sitting at home and talking with friends, I will remember days like this,” Robredo said. The win marked his second win over a world
number one for the 32-yearold Robredo, who also beat Lleyton Hewitt in 2003. FEDERER ADVANCES Former world number one Roger Federer avoided tasting an upset of his own as he held off Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-4 4-6 6-3. A five-time winner at Cincinnati, Federer will now face Andy Murray in the quarter-finals after the Briton had to overcome a stern test against American John Isner. Third seeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka rallied past 14th seed Marin Cilic 3-6 6-0 6-1 to book his place in the last eight. The Australian Open champion got off to a sluggish start losing the opening set to the big-hitting Croatian but then could do little wrong, blazing through the next two sets dropping just a single game along the way. Unable to register even a single break chance in the first, Wawrinka broke Cilic five times over the next two sets to seal the win. Eighth seed Murray, twice a Cincinnati champion,
Novak Djokovic returns the ball from Tommy Robredo on day four of the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Linder Family Tennis Center. (Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports) also need three sets and two and a half hours to tame Isner 6-7(3) 6-4 7-6(2). The 11th seeded Isner, a Cincinnati finalist a year ago, blasted 21 aces past his Scottish opponent but could not manage a break the entire match. In the women’s draw, the world number one Serena
Williams cruised into the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-2 win against Flavia Pennetta. Williams served eight aces and broke the Italian five times in their hour-long match. French Open champion Maria Sharapova also advanced with a victory against Anastasia
Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 7-6 (2). Sharapova’s win sets up a match against Simona Halep, who she beat in the Roland Garros final after the Romanian beat Lucie Safarova 6-4 7-5 to advance. Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic also advanced with straight set victories.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday August 16, 2014
DCB invites 37 players for CARIBBEAN REGIONAL BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS 2014 senior inter-county trials Guyana secure two Bronze, battled The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) has called up 37 players to prepare for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board senior inter-county tournament. The players will be involved in two 3-Day trial matches; the first will be held at DCC from Monday 18th August to Wednesday 20th August, while the second will be played at Everest from Saturday 22nd August to Monday 24th August.
All players are asked to be at DCC at 09:00hrs on Monday. The players invited are Trevon Griffith, Rajendra Chandrika, Leon Johnson, Chris Barnwell, Derwin Christian, Chris Pattadin , Steven Jacobs , A m i r K h a n , To t a r a m Bishun, Trevor Garraway, Randolph Knight, Paul Wintz, Ryan Ramdass, Robin Bacchus, Vishal S i n g h , K e l l o n Carmichael, Zaheer
Mohamed, Joseph Perry, Gavin Moriah, Shaquille Williams, Shemroy Barrington, Jeetendra Sukdeo, Yatesh Dhanpaul, Andre Stoll, Shivram Persaud, Daniel Seegobin, Irshad Ali, Mark Robe, Seon Daniels, Dexter Solomon, Raj Nanan, Sherfene Rutherford, Arvin Seepersaud, K a m e s h Ya d r a m , Chanderpaul Hemraj, Antonell Atwell and Joshua Wade.
Boyce/Jefford Classic starts at noon today At midday today, the 5 t h A n n u a l Boyce/Jefford Classic is expected to get off to a blazing start, at the MacKenzie Sports Club ground. Identified as the track and field event on the Athletic Association of Guyana’s calendar, the event will have the n a t i o n ’s t o p a t h l e t e s m a t c hing strides with overseas runners for a stake in the $2M prize money. Co-founder of the Classic, Edison Jefford in an invited comment said the Organisers were extremely excited about t h i s w e e k e n d ’s e v e n t which is being staged over two days. “We have our biggest i n t e r n a t i o n a l participation since the inception of the meet in
2010. With Trinidad here with two athletes, Mark London and Tonya Nero, US collegiate Surinamese sprinter, Danielle Clarke, US based Alita Moore and Brenessa Thompson, three athletes from Grenada arriving tonight and Josh Hamilton from St. Vincent, as an emerging event we can’t ask for better. I know our local athletes Winston George, Akeem Stewart and Tirana Mitchell will put on a show also,” Jefford mentioned. Jefford added that, “The excitement this weekend will come from the competition as we celebrate this fifth milestone in a grand way.” In addition to the local rivalry, six international events will be staged: Long jump (male) Triple jump
(female), 1500m (female), 200m (female), 400m (male) and the 800m (male). The top three finishers of each of the above events will be awarded cash prizes, with the winner being rewarded with $50,000. The winning club will pocket $600,000 with the runners up taking home $400,000, $250,000 and $150,000.Notes: Tomorrow, athletes will g e t i n the blocks at 14:00hrs. Admission is $500. Entertainment will be provided by the Boom DJs. A s c u s t o m a r y, t h e champion male and female athlete will receive $50,000 and trophy. Athletes are allowed to enter a maximum of three events.
Warriors look to blunt Tridents to claim first CPL title The Guyana Amazon Warriors stormed into a second consecutive CPL final with a thumping tenwicket win over defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs in St Kitts on Thursday and they will look to blunt the Barbados Tridents and take their first title after faltering at the final hurdle last year. The two teams clash at Warner Park in St Kitts from 4:00pm today. Thursday’s triumph was sweet revenge for the Warriors after they lost the title to Jamaica last year and were beaten in the preliminary stages in a close contest between the two sides. The Guyana franchise team has shown excellent
form throughout the tournament, suffering close losses in the games they did lose. Thursday the Amazon Warriors’ victory was the first instance of a team winning with a ten-wicket margin in the CPL. The ominous form of Martin Guptill and Lendl Simmons who took less than 15 overs to overhaul a target of 135, must be cause for worry for the Tridents. With the likes of Skipper Denesh Ramdin also good with the bat, Christopher Barnwell, Jimmy Neesham and Mohammed Hafeez all offer excellent support in the batting. Led by the mystery man, Sunil Narine in the bowling department,
Ronsford Beaton, Neesham, Hafeez and Kishmar Santokie could prove formidable as they did Thursday, limiting the Tallawahs to 138. However, it is not all c u t a n d dried for the Warriors as the Barbados Tridents will also want to claim the crown. Led by Kieron Pollard and his all round impressive showing, the Tridents will get support from Dwayne Smith at the top with the bat, Jeevan Mendis, Jonathan Carter along with Jason Holder, Ravi Rampaul and Rayad Emrit will carry the team’s challenge against the rampaging Warriors. An exciting game is anticipated.
for several gold medals yesterday
The Caribbean Regional Badminton Championships (CAREBACO) currently being played in Jamaica August 9-16, 2014 continued on Thursday August 14, 2014 with the Individual Singles Events at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium University of Technology Kingston. Guyana secured two bronze and were to play for 6-Gold or Silver medals yesterday as the players advanced to the finals. The Guyanese Players who were into the Finals are: Priyanna RamdhaniUnder-13 Girls Singles & Under-15 Girls Doubles Abosaide CadoganUnder-13 Girls Doubles Narayan RamdhaniUnder 17 Boys Singles & Doubles Jonathan MangraUnder-17 Boys Doubles The Semi-Final Matches Played on Day 3 were: Under-13 Girls Singles: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Mackenzie Howard of Barbados: 21-9, 21-5 Under-13 Mix Doubles: Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) & Zane Reid (JAM) lost to Adam Taylor &
Priyanna Ramdhani
Narayan Ramdhani
Shezelle Mctyson of Jamaica: 21-16, 21-19 in one of the most exciting matches of the day which was termed the Finals as the 4 best Under-13 players all ended up in one half of the Draw, while the other half had the weaker players. Priyanna had to settle for a Bronze in this event.Under-15 Girls Doubles: Priyanna Ramdhani (GUY) & Amanda Haywood (BAR) defeated Karie Dawson &
Ta l i a h R i c h a r d s o n o f Jamaica: 21-13, 21-8 Under-17 Boys Singles: Narayan Ramdhani was maintaining his top form and with the crowd behind him he defeated Jamaica’s No.2 Seed Dejon Wright: 21-8, 21-10 Under-17 Boys Doubles: Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra seeded No. 1 defeated Jerome Charles & Renaldo Sinanan of Trinidad: 21-18, 21-19.
Fifa’s Sepp Blatter reiterates call for video challenges BBC Sport - Fifa president Sepp Blatter has renewed his call for the use of video challenges during matches. In Fifa magazine The Weekly, the head of world football’s governing body wrote how managers could have two “calls” per match to contest decisions. However, the calls could only be used once play had come to a halt and would “barely disturb the flow of the game”. Blatter first made his surprise move for video challenges at Fifa’s annual congress in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in June. It was at a time when Fifa was receiving negative coverage surrounding the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. His position opposes that of Uefa president Michel Platini, his possible rival candidate in next year’s Fifa presidential election, when the Swiss will be standing for a fifth term. Platini has, in
Sepp Blatter (Getty Images)
the past, been opposed to technological advances, such as goal-line technology, but has now softened his and Uefa’s stance. Goal-line technology was used introduced in the Premier League for the 2013-14 season and was also used at the Fifa 2014 World Cup this summer, along with vanishing spray. Blatter now believes the time is right for another change.“I too rejected
technological aids in the past. But there is no use sticking to entrenched positions and clinging to principles for the sake of it. Our objective must be to make football more transparent and credible and to support referees in their difficult task.” Any change would require agreement from the International Football Association Board (IFAB), who serve as guardians of the game’s rules.
Saturday August 16, 2014
Kaieteur News
Sergeant guides Regal into Rafman Ali softball semis
West Indies go back to India in October
A fine all round performance by Rickey Sergeant guided Regal to a five-wicket victory over Farm when the Rafman Ali softball tournament continued recently with quarterfinal action. Playing in the open category Farm batted first and managed 143-4 in 15 overs. Safraz Esau claimed 3-20 and Sergeant 2-17. Regal replied with 144-5 in 12 overs. Sergeant slammed 44 and Richard Latiff 20. Wo l f ’s Wa r r i o r s thumped KK Warriors by three wickets, KK Warriors were bowled out for 119 with Roy Persaud scoring 78. Wolf’s Warriors responded
with 125-7. Amrit Rai led with 52. Speed Boat overcame Builders Lumber Yard by 47 runs. Speed Boat scored 175-9 in 15 overs, batting first. Builders Lumber Yard were restricted for 128-7 in reply. Trophy Stall thumped Country Side by five wickets. Country Side managed 161-7in 15 overs after taking first strike. Trophy Stall replied with 164-5. Fazal Rafiek made 42. In the over 40 division, Park Rangers beat Fazal Khayume XI by nine runs, Uitvlugt Masters lost to Sundies Masters by four runs, Industry Super Kings
went down to Regal Masters by 20 runs and Parika Defenders trounced Andrew Arts by 46 runs. Regal will play Speed Boat and Wolf’s Warriors will tackle Trophy Stall in the open semifinals while Regal Masters will face Sundies Masters and Park Rangers will take on Parika Defenders in the over 40 semis at Everest on Sunday. The competition is being sponsored by Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Trophy Stall, Andrew Arts, H. Singh Trucking Service, Memorex, Guyana Rice Development Board, Ramees’ Electrical and David Poultry Farm.
LCPL announces top prize for the man of the tournament 2014 The Limacol Caribbean Premier League announced details of its Man of the Tournament prize which will see the winner walking away with a piece of land in Beaumont Park, St. Kitts, worth over US$400,000. Beaumont Park is a 350 acre property located on the slopes of a mountain with lush tropical vegetation in the northwest of the island, only 30 minutes from the international airport. This prize will see the winner take ownership of a piece of land in one of the most exclusive developments in the region, which includes one and two bedroom apartments as well and two and three bedroom villas and boasts unique amenities such as a racing track, polo club, spa, casino, a boutique hotel and
restaurants. Speaking on the announcement, Limacol Caribbean Premier League CEO, Damien O’Donohoe, said; “This is a most amazing prize for the Man of the Tournament and testament to the support of the people and businesses across St. Kitts and Nevis for CPL, for which, on behalf of the entire CPL family, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks.” Vice President of Beaumont Park, Arthur Sharpe, said; “We are thrilled to welcome the Limacol CPL to St. Kitts and be able to showcase our beautiful island to the rest of the world. We are proud to be offering this top prize to the Man of the Tournament, a chance to be part of the one of the most exclusive developments on the island
and with that, a chance to enjoy St. Kitts for many more years to come.” Mr. Sharpe will present the prize to the winner during the post-match presentation following the Limacol CPL final game today, Saturday 16th August 2014. The Man of the Tournament winner is decided by a closed voting system by each of the six team mentors, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Andy Roberts, Courtney Walsh, Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge. Originally rebuilt for the 2007 ICC World Cup, Warner Park has gone undergone a major renovation including stateof-the-art lighting facilities, making it the perfect venue to host the final of the 2014 Caribbean Premier League.
Trinidad Express - Port of Spain, Trinidad - West Indies cricket tour of India is set to begin October 8, the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India announced Thursday. The West Indies are due to play India in four One Day Internationals, one T20 and three Test matches, BCCI said in a statement containing the dates. The BCCI has
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confirmed that the tour will begin with an ODI in Kochi October 8. “There is an ODI every third day after that, ending with the fifth one in Dharamshala on October 20,” said the BCCI statement. “The one-dayers will be followed by a Twenty20 in Delhi on the 22nd, before the three-Test series begins on October 30 in Hyderabad”.
West Indies’ visit will be India’s only full series at home this season. ODIs: 8 Oct - Kochi, 11 Oct - Vishakhapatnam, 14 Oct - Cuttack, 17 Oct - Kolkata, 20 Oct - Dharamshala T20: 22 Oct - Delhi Tests: 30 Oct-3 Nov Hyderabad, 7-11 Nov Bangalore, 15-19 Nov – Ahmedabad.
Athletics-Steeplechase winner disqualified for shirtless celebration ZURICH (Reuters) Mahiedine MekhissiBenabbad was stripped of the 3,000 metres steeplechase gold medal after performing a shirtless celebration down the final straight at the European Athletics championships on Thursday. The Frenchman, well clear of the rest of the field, pulled off his vest as he came around the final bend, put it in his mouth as he waved to the crowd. He then held it in his hand as he sprinted down the final straight for what appeared to be his third successive European gold in the event but turned out to be a premature celebration. He initially received a yellow card from a track official for “acting in an unsporting or improper manner” before he started his lap of honour. But he was later disqualified after Spain, whose athletes finished fourth and fifth, made an official protest citing rules on “clothing, shoes and bibs”, organisers said. Mekhissi-Benabbad’s compatriot Yoann Kowal, who had moved from fourth to second in the final 200 metres, took gold instead, ahead of
Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of France crosses the finish line with his vest in his hand, to win the men’s 3000 metres steeplechase final during the European Athletics Championships at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich August 14, 2014. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann) Krystian Zalewski (Poland) and Spain’s Angel Mullera. “When I took off my vest on the last metres, it was because of my joy, of course,” he told the championship’s official website before the disqualification was announced. “It was the pleasure of winning. I was so
happy to defend my title. “The main thing was to win. I did not know that I was going to get a yellow card for that.”“But this yellow card, this is nothing. It was just the emotion. Today I will enjoy my victory and we have to see how this (Continued on page 26)
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Saturday August 16, 2014
Unity for the Nation football gets Jamaican promoters laud ‘Contender’ initiative; preparation commences for next year sponsorship as over 20 teams expected Boxing promoters around the Caribbean have been inundated with challenges as they battle to procure worthwhile activity for the pugilists in their charge while at the same time attracting adequate crowd and corporate support. It was this very challenge that President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, aspired to address when he launched ‘Guyana Fight Night (GFN),’ an 8 bout card of 4 professionals and a similar amount of amateur bouts. W h i l e M r. A b d o o l sought to positively affect the fortunes of his charges with the introduction of the GFN initiative, boxing officials in sister Caricom State, Jamaica, attempted a similar ploy with the introduction of ‘The Contender.’ That initiative got underway in 2 0 11 a s against the local GFN v e r s i o n w h i c h c o m m e n ced one year earlier. It seems that the GFN cards are briefly on hold while ‘The Contender’ has gained some traction, to the extent that those promoters have extended invitations to their Caricom counterparts
in several territories to participate in the 2014 edition of the tournament. Consequently, a team of local pugilists left Guyana in March for a 16 weeks sojourn in Jamaica for the 4th edition of the now famous Contender Series. With the exception of former European Middleweight Champion, Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman, who progressed to the semifinals stage before losing out to fellow Jamaican, Tsetsi Davis, the entire Guyanese contingent of Derek Richmond, Revlon Lake, Gladwyn Dorway and Gardiel Roberts all suffered defeats early in the championships. Executive Producer of Wray and Nephew Contender, Mark Kenny, referred to the tournament as an amazing and special journey. He promised to continue with the promotion and revealed that next year activities will see middleweights battle for the prestigious accolade. This revelation has galvanized local boxing administrators into action and already, they have identified a team of local pugilists to commence training for the tournament in March next year. The 8 man contingent
will be led by former International Boxing Organization (IBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) world champion, Gary ‘Superman’ St Clair, who is currently in Guyana on a s hort holiday from his Australia base. The other local boxers are USA based, Jermaine King, Suriname based, Winston Pompey, and Trinidad based Joel McRae. The team also includes Guyana jnr/middleweight champion, Mark Austin, K e l s e y G e o rg e , l o c a l light/heavyweight champion, Kwesi Jones, super/middleweight champion, Derick Richmond, and CABOFE middleweight champion, Edmond DeClou. Jamaica has also identified a potential squad and Tsetsi Davis has already signaled his intention to move up the two divisions in order to participate. Devon Moncreif, another 2014 ‘Contender’ will also compete for honours in next year’s event. The Jamaican squad will also include Ramal Lewis, Richard Holmes, Kevin Hylton, Kemahl Russell and Miguel Raye. Canadian based Jamaican, Richard Rettey, has also confirmed his participation.
Legend Classic Basketball Tournament
Black Sharks defeat Knights after fierce battle After a bruising encounter with many attacks, traps and counterattacks, the much improved Fyrish Black Sharks were able to prevail in their thrilling encounter with arch rivals East Canje Knights as they edged home 60-58 when play in the Legend Classic Basketball Tournament continued in Berbice on Sunday last at the Fyrish Basketball court. From the start of the game, both sides seemed well prepared for the match up. But in the end it was the underdogs Fyrish Black Sharks that were just a bit quicker as they eventually blanked the swords of The Knights. The Sharks were out fast and raced to an 18-12 lead in the first quarter. Knights bounced back in the second quarter with s o m e g o o d counterattacks and rallies
to lock the second segment at 38 apiece as they retired for the half time break. The Knights opened the scoring in the third quarter, but were quickly caught by the Sharks as the battle continued in the third quarter which ended with the Sharks in the ascendancy 48-46. The fourth segment continued much the same way and with less than two minutes to go the Sharks had a three point lead which was tied with a three pointer from Steve Roopnarine with less than a minute to go and the scores tied. The Knights went ahead with a Cledwin Cort basket. Joseph pulled it back immediately for the Sharks and with seconds remaining Franklyn scoring for the Sharks as they run the clock down for the eventual 60-58 win.
Linden Joseph with a game high 21 points led the way for the Black Sharks with support from James Franklyn with 10. For the Knights leading scorer Steve Roopnarine was good from down town with four-three pointers in his 16 points, while support came from Cleveland Hunt 15 and Cedwin Cort with 11 points. The tournament continues tomorrow at the Ithaca basketball court West Bank Berbice with New Amsterdam Warriors travelling to meet the Ithaca Hardliners from 16:00hrs. The competition is being played on a round robin basis and is being s p o n s o r e d b y P o n a i ’s Pharmacy and Nand Persaud Group of Companies. The coordinator is Vibert Garrett. (Samuel Whyte)
The Unity for the Nation Organisation 3-A-Side Small Goal Knockout Road Side Football Competition has received some sponsorship. The month long competition which is set to kick off tomorrow is billed to be played on the lawns of Fordy’s Subletta Catering at the Junction of Winkle Road and Tucber Park, New Amsterdam, Berbice beginning at 14:00hrs. The final is slated for September 14th. On Thursday last the principals of the Ramnarace Construction Company of 61 Bristol Scheme, Vryheid Village, West Canje, Berbice presented some trophies for the successful staging of the competition. Hazel also received a number of footballs from the Children of Promise Orphanage in Smythfield New Amsterdam among other sponsors. The activity is being coordinated by Physical Fitness Trainer Community
Dhansar Singh Ramnarace (left) donates one of the trophies to Eli Hazel at the Company’s office. Leader, Activist and sports enthusiast Eli Hazel who is the founder of the group. So far over 20 teams drawn from areas of West Berbice, Corentyne, East and West Canje, New Amsterdam and East Bank Berbice have all indicated their interest in being part of the activity. Teams are expected to consist of five players each with three playing at a time.
Attractive monetary and other prizes will be available for the top three teams as well as the outstanding individual performers. The winning team will receive $50,000; second place $25,000 while third collects $13,000. Contact can be made contact with Hazel on telephone numbers 3333309 or 618-8500 for further details. (Samuel Whyte)
Boyce/Jefford Classic relevant to local athletes’ advancement By Rawle Welch Many folks associated with athletics both now and in the past unanimously agreed with the general assertion that not since the Annual Guymine/Guystac Games, which was held during the 70s’ and early 80s’, there has been so much chatter about athletics in this country. Athletes and fans have been exposed to a lot of debate and boast about the Boyce/Jefford Athletics Classic over the past three weeks so today which marks the start of competition over the next two days is where the battle for individual and overall supremacy begins, at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Many young athletes who would have only heard about the fierce rivalry that existed between the two dominant athletic regions of that era, Linden and the entities that came under the umbrella of Guystac, now have the opportunity to experience what it is like to compete in an atmosphere where the competition is of a high quality and doing so in front of an anticipated large crowd. The Boyce/Jefford Classic over the past five years have been able to provide local athletes with
Edison Jefford
Colin Boyce invaluable preparations both from psychological and competitive standpoints as compared to any other Meet locally. The relevance of the Classic cannot be overstated since it has been able to present a clear picture of the
Elton Jefford real standard of our athletes when placed alongside our regional counterparts, while at the same time the quality of organisation that is usually on display shows our readiness to host meets of a higher level. There is no doubt that the Classic in the short period of its existence has made irrefutable advancement and whie, the Organisers have already signalled their intentions to remain loyal to the bulk of their support base, the blueprint that they possess could be easily transferred to accommodate elite athletes and competitions, especially since they normally retain IAAF accredited (Continued on page 25)
Kaieteur News
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Sebert Blake pursues level three Stag Beer/EBFA Division One League continues tomorrow star coach accolade in Cuba Two more potentially exciting matches are slated for tomorrow in the Stag Beer sponsored East Bank Football Association division one league which will continue at the Grove Community Centre ground, Grove, East Bank, Demerara. Opening action at 13:30hrs, Soesdyke Falcons, second in the point’s standings, will lock horns with the fifth placed Kuru Kururu Warriors. Both teams
have been hard at work and will be eyeing full points as the battle for supremacy and top honours continues. The day’s feature clash will see party crashers Herstelling coming up against Mocha Champs, the whipping boys of the league so far. Mocha did look solid in their last game which they narrowly lost to the Warriors and will be aiming to secure their first points come tomorrow. They will have to get past
the Herstelling lads who will be a confident unit featuring some rising under-17 players the likes of National goalie, Quazim Yusuf and forward, Seon Alfred.
Smiles all round as President of the GOA, Juman Yassin (L) hands over the sponsorship package to Blake in the presence of GBA President, Steve Ninvalle He has earned a Diploma in Sports when he travelled to Hungary under the auspices of the Guyana Olympic Association and ever since, Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) boxing coach, Sebert Blake, has been an asset to the boxers under his care. Now he is set to strengthen his position as a formidable boxing coach when he departs Guyana next Tuesday morning to participate in a one week Extraordinary APB/WSB Certification Course from August 20-27 in Havana, Cuba.Once successful, Blake, a level two star coach, would be elevated to a level three star coach, the highest level of the ruling boxing association, which qualifies him to a position where he will be qualified to coach and second boxers at all levels of competitions under the auspices of the International Amateur Boxing Association (IABA).
This is also important for local boxing since currently only Terrence Poole is so qualified, locally and in the Caribbean, which meant that only he could have seconded boxers in IABA competitions. Three entities, the Guyana Olympic Association, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the National Sports Commission, have donated towards the expenses and yesterday morning Mr. Blake visited the Carmichael Street office of President of the GOA, K A Juman Yassin, where he received a cheque to offset the expenses associated with his accommodation while in the Spanish speaking country. Mr. Yassin congratulated Blake and noted that he had been successful in the course in Hungary just about two years ago, and he (Yassin) feels that it is only fitting that Blake receive the necessary
support to advance in the sport. Mr. Steve Ninvalle uttered similar congratulations even as he voiced his appreciation to the GOA boss and his other benefactors for the timely support. Ninvalle said that the GOA has been very supportive of the programmes of the GBA and always reaches out to assist. He acknowledged Mr. Yassin’s ‘soft spot’ for boxing and went on to point out that he (Yassin) had offered similar support in the past, specifically the TriNation boxing card at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, in February. Mr. Blake thanked his benefactors while promising to do his best at the impending course. He said that his primary objective is to assist in the development of the sport and to assist young amateur boxers to impact on the impending 2016 Brazil Olympics.
Police Sports Club defeats Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club at cricket Police ‘B’ Division Cricket Club created a major upset when they defeated the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Cricket team in a specially arranged 20/20 cricket match which was played last Sunday at the Area H ground in Rose Hall Town. In fact the game went down to the wire with a super over being the deciding factor. The game, which was played as part of the Police Force community outreach and sporting activities, saw the cops winning the toss and electing to take first strike with the first ball being bowled by Commander Police ‘B’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph. Joseph then challenged a few of those gathered on the field to a
sprint to the pavilion to show his athleticism; embarrassing some of those on the field. The match was reduced to 16 overs a side. At the end of their turn the lawmen had chalked up a challenging 125 with Constable Andrew Woolford blasting 57 runs and Constable Gordon Wilburg contributing 28, being the principal scorers. Bowling or Rose Hall Town, Brandon Persaud led the way with 4 for 8, while Eon Hooper and Delbert Hicks snared two apiece. Rose Hall Town in their reply at first found runs hard to come by. However a late rally by Eon Hooper and Clinton Pestano with 25 runs each brought them within striking distance. The batsmen were able to plunder
19 runs from the last over to tie the scores and end with 125 for 5 off their allotment of 16 overs. Bowling for Police Andel Doris was the main wicket taker with 3-37 runs, while Carl Campbell and Ray Hutson snatched one each. The cops were superior in the super over as they restricted Rose Hall Town to 6 runs, leaving Police with a meager requirement of 7 runs to win the match. Police quick slapped the ball about the field and cleared off the required 7 runs after the third delivery. At the presentation ceremony, trophies and prizes were presented. Among the trophies presented were to the winning and runner up teams (Continued on page 29)
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Guyana take Regional double crown as 50-over U-19 Final washed out P.30
Double trouble! Guyana followed up their success in the 3-day format by winning the 50-over tournament.
Warriors look to blunt P.32 Boyce/Jefford Classic Tridents to claim first CPL title starts at noon today P.34
Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Denesh Ramdin and Barbados Tridents’ Kieron Pollard spar ahead of the CPL 2014 final © Caribbean Premier League
Trinidadian Coach, Vincent Nero (left) with Tonya Nero and Mark London after arriving in Guyana yesterday to compete at the fifth Boyce/Jefford Classic which begins today in Linden.
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