Thursday Edition
Online readership yesterday 99,269
Price $80 August 22, 2013 - Vol. 6 No. 34 (VAT Inclusive) Online: http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Ambassador looking out for America’s business interest in Amaila - GTUC Cocaine found in PetroCaribe rice shipment from Guyana Controversy brews over beachfront resort
Former AG Doodnauth Singh dies
Battered wife wants husband to face the full force of the law
R. Kelly concert postponed!
Greenidge to PSC: Invest in Amaila if it’s that good
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Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Local authorities probe origin of cocaine in PetroCaribe rice shipment
A
20 ton shipment of Guyanese grown rice that was destined for Venezuela as part of the two countries' PetroCaribe rice deal has been confiscated by antinarcotics officials of the Dominican Republic who say that more than 70 kilogrammes of cocaine was found stashed in the bulk consignment. The drug discovery onboard the in-transit vessel has tasked local and foreign authorities with ascertaining the origin of the illegal substance. Ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are therefore collaborating with their foreign counterparts in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic (DR) to determine whether the narcotic was placed in the rice bags before or after it left Guyana. Head of CANU, James Singh told Kaieteur News yesterday that a shipment of rice was intercepted in the Spanish-speaking nation on August 13, onboard the MV Azuria. The drug was contained
The confiscated drugs in 69 packages, weighing a total of 73.34 kilograms. The vessel is said to be a Liberian-flagged cargo ship. The rice shipment had departed Guyana on August 2nd and docked in Jamaica before moving on to the Dominica Republic where the narcotic was found and laboratory tested. Investigators say that the
drug could have been sneaked on board what has been confirmed as a legitimate shipment of rice from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) at any of the three ports mentioned. Declining to go in-depth on the ongoing probe, Singh said however, that the agency is yet to discover
whether the drugs came from Guyana and whether the necessary security checks were made on exit. Head of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Kurshud Sattur said he could not comment on the issue, since he has been away from the office and will be returning to work today. The GRA head posited however
that it would be easy to follow the shipment's paper trail from the agency's records. He noted that once the rice shipment was legitimate, then records of its movement would be documented along with the route to its final destination. As it relates to GRA's security, Sattaur said, “It is
mandatory that all relevant security checks are made.� He noted that the agency's Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) would have been responsible for this, while assuring that checks will be made to ensure that GRA procedures were followed. General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers' (continued on page 19)
Thursday August 22, 2013
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Kaieteur News
Amaila feasibility study shows payments outweighing savings
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In the short run, annual fixed payment for Amaila's output may outweigh the direct savings in operating costs and capital expenditures in new thermal generators.” This was reported in the findings of an economic feasibility study undertaken by Mercados Energeticos Consultores, on the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project. The Argentine-based consultants reported in its study that “it's worth noting that Amaila Falls benefits are mainly concentrated in the medium to long term, while Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is evenly distributed
during 20 years.” According to the 2009 study, which was done at behest of Sithe Global and the Guyana Government, the project is also heavily dependent on the need to have Linden and self generators back onto the national grid. The study concluded “that future scenarios of high crude oil prices contribute to increase the competitiveness of Amaila Falls vis a vis the t h e r m a l expansion…Conversely, scenarios of low crude oil prices are a downside for the project.” The company said that in the early years of the project,
GPL's total generating expenses, including the Power Purchase Agreement, will be almost 10 per cent higher. According to the report, the design of the Amaila Falls Project encountered several problems arising from the lack of hydrologic data. The company said that with the lack of hydrology data “the best techniques available were applied to cope with the lack of information but even so, several questions remained unanswered.” The group did not actually undertake a review of the Kuribrong River and
Controversy brews over beachfront resort …investor wants Law changed to aid Tourism drive
The entrance to the 'G-Dock' beach-front resort at the Georgetown Seawall
Wi t h m o r e c r i t i c s coming out voicing concerns over the erection of another building, north of the Sea Wall, just East of the Celina's Resort, its business associates believe that if Guyana is serious about developing its tourism potential, then laws such as the Sea Defences Act should be amended. 'G Dock' as it is called, is nestled among the mangrove growth on the Kitty seawall and critics such as Engineer, Malcolm Alli, have been citing the fact that the building is in contravention of the Sea Defences Act. Alli in his observations had publicly stated that in accordance with the Sea Defence Act, it is illegal for the owners of the Celina Resort to be granted a lease
and allowed to build the resort over an existing grouted boulder slope seawall. The G Dock building is currently rented from its owners, who also own the Celina's Resort and there are plans in train to develop the beach front area further, to cater for family oriented activities and beach sports such as volleyball. Kaieteur News visited the resort-styled, beachfront bar and spoke with one of the business associates, Sharon Karim, who believes that it is time the government seriously looks at changing the laws to allow entrepreneurs with vision to capitalize on ventures such as theirs. The initiative has been (continued on page 18)
Amaila Falls but instead used data available from the nearby Kaieteur Falls Station and juxtaposed it with the Amaila site. The company concedes “this may cause some uncertainty regarding the expected power generation.” It was reported also that the data used to determine the feasibility of the Amaila Falls project assumes that there would be no deforestation or mining exploitation. “Any modification of the basin in such respect will have an impact on the increase in the maximum value
considered.” T h e r e p o r t recommended that “In order to obtain more accurate information, it would be desirable to install a hydrometeorological station in a section of the river that is representative.” Mercados Energéticos Consultores was retained by Government and Sithe Global to perform a comprehensive study to ensure that Amaila Falls project is, among other things, financially viable. The consultants were mandated determine whether the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project is
consistent with the least cost generation expansion option to assure the economic profitability of the hydro power plant project and is compatible with the medium and long-term demand projections. A point to note is that the feasibility study undertaken was for the development of a 154MW plant as against the 165MW project being pursued by Government. The Amaila Falls was reviewed as a stand-alone project as against the development of a cluster of hydro power plants that have been touted by A Partnership for National Unity.
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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
When necessity displaces arrogance Some time back we commented on the apparent inability of the political parties to talk to each other. For as long as we could remember there has always been rancor between the parties. Indeed, they had always operated as though each knew what was best for the people although the parties rarely took time to discuss the issue with the people. This has been the case ever since Guyana abolished the ‘first-past-the-post electoral system. This was a system that mandated those elected to office to meet with the people who vote with them. It further mandated that those elected always represent the interest of the voter. Way back in 1964, in a move to ensure that the simple race vote would not continue, a certain political party in perpetuity with the consent of the British, facilitated a change in the electoral system. People began to vote for a political party and not an individual. They sacrificed their power for the good of the party. This was the first step in the present state of communication between the political parties. From the days of Forbes Burnham in 1968 to today, there has been arrogance on the part of the political parties. In fact, things reached the stage where the politician in the ruling party has become even more powerful than the law enforcement officer. Just a few days ago a young man drives a car and hits a pedestrian. He stops and his companion, rather than being sympathetic with the victim, accuses this victim and his friends of failing to watch where they walk. The police are called in and the parties all end up at the police station. Things then moved to the stage where one sees the effect of the politician, who is now arrogant with power. It turns out that the father of the driver of the car is a Member of Parliament who accuses the victim of being a ‘junkie’, the derogatory term for a drug addict. The issue at hand is that the driver happened to have hit a drug crazed derelict. The police inexplicably put the victim in the role of the person in the wrong and place him on bail while they released the driver, who people say was in the wrong. This is the kind of power that the people sacrificed when they opted for the electoral system of proportional representation. There have been other cases of abuses of naked political power. People caught in the act of law-breaking have been able to get the police to remain neutral. For example, a politician who shot at a young man was not even questioned until the next day because the police refused to apprehend him. This very politician knocks a man down and fails to stop. Again the police take little or no action even though the victim was one of their own. There has never been any attempt to prosecute the politician. These are just some of the cases that suggest that politicians in the ruling party may be above the law. Recently, there was the case of the vote on the Chief Elections Officer. So divided were the political parties on the Elections Commission that it needed the vote of the Chairman of the Commission to cast the deciding vote. Notes of Commission meetings revealed many problems with the Chief Elections Officer but the Commissioners, who always try to hold out that they are independent, actually took the position of the political parties they represent. In parliament, this situation is only revealed when serious issues are played out in the National Assembly. The divisive nature of the country came to the fore on the recent Amaila Falls hydroelectric project issue. There has been the accusation that the government was not prepared to discuss the issue with the political parties in parliament. Initially there was arrogance. Information was not forthcoming and this continued until the insistence of the political parties to receive information led to the halting of the project. Now things that were never told are being told. Once more we wonder what happened to the ability of politicians to talk to each other.
Thursday August 22, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
People disagree but then they must move on DEAR EDITOR, I called Mark Benschop last week to tell him that I didn’t have anything personal against him after our torrid exchange of public letters. I did this because I was urged by scores and scores of persons who expressed regret that Benschop and I may have fallen out. I can tell readers that many persons, some of them very respected names in politics, asked me what went wrong and my answer was that I did not know; it was for Benschop to explain it. Only APNU Parliamentarian, James Bond said to me on Emancipation Day in the National Park, “Man, Freddie, you can quote me as asking you for an explanation.” I wanted those people to know that I bore no animosity to Benschop and so I called him to tell him that. Here is the sequence of events in print. These words of Benschop are in print with dates provided so people who enquired of me could do the same with Benschop: 1. I wrote a torrid review of David Casavis book on Thomas Carroll –July 14. 2. Mark Benschop in KN the next day, responded to my review and wrote the following: “Unlike Freddie Kissoon’s personal ramblings, I’d like to
congratulate Mr. Casavis…when someone’s objectivity is clouded with emotions, bitterness and gripe readers can determine what’s nonsense from what’s not…you can contact me for your copy.” 3. Out of respect for our friendship, I called him on the phone, since in his KN letter it appeared that he knew Casavis, because after all he was assisting in selling the book. I wanted to tell him that there was too much Casavis left out in the book. Out of my friendship for him, I was concerned that he was promoting a book that was weak. My intention was honest and I am glad he quoted me correctly as telling him. “I hope the guy is not using you.” Why would I say that if I didn’t have Benschop’s interest at heart? I admit I should have showed him Carroll’s cooperation statement to the district attorney, but looking back I am not sure it would have changed his mind. Benschop thinks Casavis has written a giant of a book. I respect his right to that opinion. I think Mr. Casavis’s book was necessary, but too much was left out. I apologize most sincerely for calling the book, nonsense. 4. I ignored his letter even though it
was clear in his letter that he implied I had a gripe and was bitter with Casavis. I never heard the name Casavis before and merely reviewed a book of events of which I was familiar with and found the research inadequate. 5. On July 17 in KN, Benschop attacked me again on the Casavis book in a letter captioned; “Freddie Kissoon and Beyond Redemption.” In this letter, instead of dealing with my weaknesses if any in my review, he described for readers, the commotion I was making in the Brickdam remand facility when we spent three days, arrested for two traffic offences. The letter went on to say all kinds of personal things about me. What was the relevance of those insults? 6. On July 18, one day after Benschop attacked me again, I wrote a letter in KN praising him. Here are my words; “People like Lincoln Lewis, Mark Benschop, Ramon Gaskin… are committed, multi-racial Guyanese that I know and believe have important roles to play…” 7. On July 22 came another attack which space would not allow for extensive quotes. But here are some (A) “I am confident that Guyanese are intelligent enough to identify a (Continued on page 5)
Guyana is not ready for tertiary education DEAR EDITOR, Isn’t it a shame that UG will open in a few days and grades for last semester as well as registration confirmations have not been completed? I submitted my documents for verification to Turkeyen since June and did a change of registration as well and nothing has been changed on my application on the university’s website! Isn’t it shameful that the place has a new Vice Chancellor and things are
getting worse? What bothers me is that students applied since May and June and performed document verifications, while some (like me) did change of registration and the thing has not even been reflected on my application on Turkeyen’s website. Isn’t this laziness? I am also awaiting my results to be posted on the Berbice campus’s website; only one subject’s result is posted. Guyana is not ready for tertiary
education. In America, the professors mark papers and give results the next day after finals are taken! That’s the standard at colleges and universities. In Guyana, you’ve got to wait months for results. And continuing students go blindly into the next semester not knowing whether they passed or failed the previous semester’s work. That is University of Guyana for you. Leon Jameson Suseran
Dishonest vendors will feel the full brunt of the law DEAR EDITOR, I make reference to a letter published in your Monday Edition of August 19, 2013 and captioned “Defective scales are in bountiful use at these Markets”. I wish to inform the writer that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) is responsible for coordinating
the National Weights and Measures Programme which involves the verification of all weighing and measuring devices countrywide. The verification of devices used in commerce is done twice yearly during the periods of January to March and July to September, respectively. It should be noted that although these devices are
APNU understands the role of the police in crime fighting DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a letter in your Wednesday 21st August Edition titled “APNU should direct its anger at the Police Commissioner for the alarming crime rate.” Clement Rohee has been the Home Affairs Minister for the past seven years, and Guyana’s alarming crime rate is nothing new. It is therefore a bit far-fetched for the writer to use the fact that “the commissioner is doing a poor job in controlling crime in the country….” as leverage to absolve the Home Affairs Ministry of its responsibility. APNU also understands that neither the Government nor the Home Affairs Ministry should micromanage the
Guyana Police Force, but isn’t it the job of the Government and the Home Affairs Ministry to reform the Guyana Police Force? Should A Partnership for National Unity blame the Police Commissioner for the fact that the force should be reformed? Additionally, Guyana’s crime rate sky rocketed, and continues to sky rocket under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government – a Government in place years before Mr. Brumell was appointed to his current post. I agree with APNU, the Home Affairs Ministry needs to get to work and reform the Guyana Police Force. Citizens must feel safe. Kimberly Ann Bailey
verified, some vendors and shop keepers are manipulating their devices to cheat consumers. As a result, whenever these malpractices are detected, consumers must object to such practices and report same to the GNBS Inspectors in the Region, so the necessary enforcement actions could be taken accordingly. I also wish to correct one bit of inaccuracy. Contrary to what was written about officers just relaxing and doing nothing, I want to assure Mr Baliram Persaud that the matter was reported to the head office of GNBS and the investigation is currently engaging its attention. Further, should the vendor be found culpable, the necessary enforcement action will be taken. The GNBS wishes to inform consumers that they should be vigilant when making purchases and ensure that they are being sold in metric quantities as the devices are verified in metric units. We also want to thank the writer for highlighting this particular instance and to assure him that with the new legislation which will come on stream in the future, dishonest vendors will feel the full brunt of the law. Evadnie Enniss Executive Director (Ag.) GNBS
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
The Amaila hydro fallout highlights the disrespect for the people DEAR EDITOR, The fallout from the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project (AFHP) brings forcefully to this nation the disrespect harboured by individuals and groups for the people as we continue to witness the Private Sector Commission (PSC)’s active role to deny citizens their constitutional right to: 1) access to information and 2) involvement in nationaldecision making. The PSC’s recent statement, riddled with namecalling and verbal attacks to persons standing up and questioning the conceptualisation and development of the AFHP, has brought to light the inconsistencies perpetuated daily by this government and forces the GTUC to believe the PSC is not interested in having the nation’s business conducted consistent with acceptable international standards and probity, but more as the enforcer for corrupt and abusive practices. Every foreign investment,
regardless of circumstance, the private sector is prepared to embrace, even if it requires being a party to denying citizens/workers their rights and see the plundering/abuses of the nation’s resources. It is therefore not unreasonable to say the PSC’s primary objective is money, since the issue of constitutional rights and the rule of law are not expressed in its vocabulary and upheld in behaviour. The GTUC engaged this body two years ago regarding the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) denying workers their right to belong to a union of choice and bargain collectively. This sector gave the GTUC the assurance it will be engaging the government and employer with a view of having this matter resolved and return to us. The GTUC is yet to hear what, if anything, was done. Behind closed doors, the PSC accepts the wrongdoing of members in the private sector family, but refuses to
People disagree... From page 4 kakabelly fish from a tilapia.” (B) Freddie wants Guyanese to bow down to him as either King Kissoon or King Kong.” (C) “Assessing the function of his brain would be a strenuous task for any competent neurologist.” (D) “Some unfortunate traumatic event occurred during his childhood.” I could go on with extensive quotes from that letter which was very poisonous and vicious. It took me by extreme surprise, because up to that point we had no falling out whatsoever These then are the sequences. Anyone can read them to see who said what first. I think I have cleared my conscience and my obligation
to all those who asked me why Benschop was so vicious in his July 22 letter. I don’t have the answer. All I can say is that people in this country tend to hold on to animosity and I have none for Benschop. I do not have any bad feeling for Benschop. People disagree but then they must move on. I called him to let him know there is no bitterness. I have noticed that he has declared his candidacy for Mayor of Georgetown and signed his name as leader for The Independent Party. I wish him well, and I hope we can continue to struggle together for human rights in our country Frederick Kissoon
act and correct these injustices. Yet at the same time whenever the government conceptualises a scheme that would bring instant gratification to the executive and private sector, the PSC thinks it is incumbent upon the body to treat the citizens like cattle, by engaging in acts to herd them in one direction. Let it be known the attacks on those raising concerns about the AFHP, said concerns were never credibly refuted by the government and the PSC. What is obvious is this body has joined the infantile behaviour of attacking the messengers and ignoring the message. If the PSC knows critics are operating with inadequate information, then it has a civic duty to ensure the constitutional right of individuals/citizens is respected and all documentation pertaining to the project be given to those analysing it. Let the documents be placed in the public domain, inclusive of the National Assembly, which would allow stakeholders to analyse and make a final determination. In the absence of this, attacking the commentators that they are ill-informed,
speaks to a misplaced sense of moneyed arrogance and power. The prime minister is on public record committing to provide requested information. He must be called on to honour the commitment. It must be said those analysing the AFHP are not opposed to hydropower. The concern is the project as currently configured is inimical to the economic wellbeing of the nation. As such, it is important opinions be expressed with a view of realising a project that satisfies the desires of the people. The principal responsibility to ensure this resides with the president and Mr. Ramotar cannot be calling people names and demonising them and expect cooperation or hope to earn the respect and support of those he demonises. He is being advised as the nation’s chief public servant, Massa days are over. Further, the national deliberation on the AFHP is no different to the USA deliberation on the Oil Keystone Pipeline which continues to see analyses, support and criticisms from the legislature and other stakeholders in that society. The effort by the USA president to steer said
discussions through deliberative tones as he strives for consensus among the various groups is a lesson in quality leadership our president should be encouraged to embrace. Note must be taken of the USA ambassador ’s statement: “Until recently the project, which has been under development for six years under Sithe Global, appeared to enjoy the implicit support of all political parties. In recent weeks, however, the project suddenly became enmeshed in political battles that had little to do with the potential of the project to generate cheaper, more reliable, and more environmentally friendly energy for decades to come.”
As Guyanese we must recognize, in this instance, the ambassador is looking out for America’s business interest, which is among his roles and responsibilities. We must acknowledge this, but not be misguided by it. For at the end of the day, it is we, the taxpayers who will have to live with the consequences of a decision of this magnitude not properly thought out and can subject itself to probity. As Guyanese our national interest requires adherence to our constitution, laws, respect for the citizenry and prudent management of our resources. Lincoln Lewis General Secretary, GTUC
CORRECTION/APOLOGY A letter appeared in our August 21 edition, captioned “Appropriate penalties for domestic violence must be enforced when the situation demands it”. The correspondence was emailed to this publication on behalf of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security and reflects the view of the Ministry in
response to an earlier letter from Mr. Vidyaratha Kissoon. Hence, it should not have been attributed to Sohodra Rampersaud, as it mistakenly was due to a misunderstanding. This serves as recognition and correction of that error and an apology for any inconvenience or embarrassment caused.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday August 22, 2013
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Ambassador looking out for America’s interest in Amaila
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…at the end of the day taxpayers will have to live with the consequences -GTUC Brent Hardt, the US Ambassador to Guyana, is looking out for America’s business interest, which is among his role and responsibilities, according to President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis. Lewis is among the latest to respond to the American Ambassador ’s appeal for support of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project as he called for consensus among the political parties locally. According to Lewis, Guyanese must not be
misguided by the Ambassador, “for at the end of the day, it is we, the taxpayers who will have to live with the consequences of a decision of this magnitude, not properly thought out and can subject itself to probity.” Ambassador Hardt, in voicing support for the Amaila Falls initiative said, “until recently, the project, which has been under development for six years under Sithe Global, appeared to enjoy the implicit support of all political parties…In recent weeks, however, the
project suddenly became enmeshed in political battles that had little to do with the potential of the project to generate cheaper, more reliable, and more environmentally friendly energy for decades to come.” Sithe Global is the American based developer of the US$858M Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project. The company had been guaranteed a 19 per cent rate of return on its investment of US$158M in the project. Lewis, in responding to the pronouncement, said
yesterday, “As Guyanese, our national interest requires adherence to our constitution, laws, respect for the citizenry and prudent management of our resources.” According to Lewis, the national deliberation on the Amaila Hydro Electric Project is no different to the USA deliberation on the Oil Keystone Pipeline which continues to see analyses, support and criticisms from the legislature and other stakeholders in that society. Lewis said, the effort by
City Businesswoman slams police over alleged foot-dragging on $1M fraud case A city businesswoman cheated out of over $1M says she is frustrated and tired of being pushed around by the police who are tasked with addressing her dilemma. Sharmila Persaud, who operates Sharmila’s Lumber Dealers at Water Street, Werken-Rust, was robbed of $1,039,000 in late March, when a customer purchasing a number of lumber products, paid with a cheque from a bank account that went dormant since early 2000. Despite fulfilling the groundwork and providing the account holder’s information from the bank to the police, Persaud claims that ranks of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) working on the matter are refusing to make earnest moves toward investigating the fraud and taking the necessary criminal action against the “well connected” conspirators. Persaud explained that the named fraudster used the last Easter Holidays to make the purchase, knowing that the bank would not be able to verify the cheque during the long holiday weekend. She said on March 31 last, the customer, calling himself Hemraj Bhagwandin entered her establishment and requested a quantity of lumber. The man paid with a Bank of Nova Scotia cheque which she Persaud planned to deposit into her account. The businesswoman explained that on April 2nd last, she deposited the cheque, only to receive from the Bank of Nova Scotia a few days later, a notice stating that the account on which the cheque was drawn had been closed for several years. Persaud said she made all
The useless cheque used to pay for lumber and the notice of the disabled bank account initial checks to ascertain information about the account holder. It was then she learnt that the name on the cheque was false and the customer was not who he claimed to be. More checks later led her to a popular city boxing club. All the information gathered
was taken to the CID and handed over she told this newspaper. Sometime later, four individuals associated with the bank account were arrested. That, however, is as far as the police have gone, Persaud fumed. While the four men arrested are out on station
bail, the woman said that police ranks continuously told her, “Your word is not good enough; we have to get more evidence”, whenever she asked them about the progress of the matter. Persaud is however oblivious to what more is needed when, “everything the police said they will do, they have not yet fulfilled. They said they would have an identification parade, I went, nothing happened. They told me to come back another time; when I went they said I just missed the officer in charge, I must come back. When I go back the next time, they say he is not available and that is how they have me up and down, up and down.” Persaud argued further that at present, the Officer-inCharge of her matter is on vacation leave and absolutely nothing is happening with her matter. “I don’t know who I got to ask or who I got to go to for help. I just keep trying and every time, it’s like hitting a brick wall,” the woman told Kaieteur News.
the USA President to steer that discussion through deliberative tones as he strives for consensus among the various groups “is a lesson in quality leadership our President should be encouraged to embrace.” The GTUC President in weighing in on the debate over the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, took to task the Private Sector Commission, which he said is choosing to attack the messengers while ignore the message in the form of the critiques made. According to Lewis, the PSC is actively playing a role to deny citizens their constitutional right to access to information and an involvement in national decision-making. He said that the Commission’s recent statement, riddled with name calling and verbal attacks to persons standing up and questioning the project, forces the GTUC to believe that the PSC is not interested
Lincoln Lewis in having the nation’s business conducted consistent with acceptable international standards and probity, “but more as the enforcer for corrupt and abusive practices.” The GTUC President noted that every foreign investment, regardless of circumstance, the Private Sector is prepared to embrace, “even if it requires being a party to denying citizens/ workers their rights and see the plundering/abuses of the nation’s resources.” Lewis said that it is therefore not unreasonable to say the PSC’s primary objective is money, since the issue of constitutional rights and the rule of law are not expressed in its vocabulary (Continued on page 24)
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Kaieteur News
Thursday August 22, 2013
Former AG Doodnauth Singh dies Former Attorney General, Senior Counsel Doodnauth Singh , passed away yesterday at the Balwant Singh Hospital, evoking sadness in the political circles and sparking an outpouring of kudos as “one of the best legal minds” in the Region. Singh, 80, who also served as a Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, presiding over the controversial 1997 General Elections, was admitted to the hospital earlier this week, before passing away around 19:00hrs. He had been ill for a number of years now. He resigned from the Attorney General position in 2009, and one month later sued the Government for his gratuity. He served as Attorney General between 2001 and 2009. Born in 1933, Singh was admitted to the bar in 1959. Several government officials, including Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, were at the hospital last evening. So too was close family friend and Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan. According to Minister of Legal Affairs, Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, the passing of Singh is a severe
blow to Guyana and to the legal profession. According to Nandlall, the former AG was one of the best advocates he has ever encountered. “He has participated in some of the biggest cases in Guyana. He was also part of the legal team in the trial of murder of Maurice Bishop (former Prime of Grenada) and in the trial of the Trinidad coup. He was well recognized in the Region.” Nandlall described Singh as a mentor whom he started his legal work with at the AG office. “I would be eternally grateful to him for what I have learnt.” A lawyer who was described as being an expert in all forms of law, perhaps Singh’s greatest assets were his eloquence which served him with distinction in Parliament and the courtroom, which he commanded by his very presence. “Yet despite this, he has remained a very humble man. His loss will be a tremendous blow for the legal profession.” Member of Parliament for A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), Joe Harmon, was also full of praise for the Senior Counsel. The Parliamentarian worked with
the lawyer while he was Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission. “I was the Logistics and Security Officer. He was a very disciplined man with a mind of his own.” However, Harmon believed that GECOM’s work had taken a toll on Singh who never recovered his health fully after the troubled 1997 elections, which ended in street protests and a court case. “He was a very warm person.” According to AFC leader Ramjattan, he was at the hospital yesterday during Singh’s final hours. “Obviously, this is a deep shock for us although we knew he was ill. He was one of the greatest lawyers that Guyana has known. His prowess in the courtroom was of the highest standards. Despite being a fierce competitor in the courtroom, he would come out afterwards, shake hands with the opposing lawyers. He was a very likable lawyer. I will greatly miss him” Minister Manickchand said that President Donald Ramotar has been notified and “there is no doubt that Mr. Singh’s passing is a great
blow to Guyana, the Cabinet and the legal profession.” Manickchand too was mentored by the former AG. In his final words of advice to the National Assembly in a farewell speech, back in 2009, Singh urged a more civilised manner in the deliberations in the House. “Heckling is an art. It is not a means to transform the National Assembly into a fish market…People must be conscious of what this National Assembly is…It is the highest forum of the land…it is where the people’s business is to be debated…it must be debated in a civilized and decent atmosphere.” Singh was the Special Prosecutor in Grenada against Bernard Coard and others for the murder of the former Grenadian Prime Minister Bishop, among others. His final act as Minister of Legal Affairs was to successfully amend the Constitution of Guyana to establish a Parliamentary Oversight Committee which will examine the affairs of the Disciplined Forces. Meanwhile, President Ramotar in a statement said he is extremely saddened. “Mr. Singh, also a Senior Counsel, was a man of high
Doodnauth Singh intellect, having amassed great experience during his legal life, both locally and internationally. He served Guyana with utmost distinction, pride and selflessness.” According to the Head of State, Singh has given decades of service to Guyana, most in the legal profession, in which he was known as an outstanding legal luminary. “President Ramotar and First
Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana express deepest condolence to the family and friends of the late Doodnauth Singh.” Prime Minister, Sam Hinds, and his wife, Yvonne, also expressed shock, and recalled working with the former AG beginning in 1992. “He was a very brilliant lawyer and Guyana has lost a good son of the soil.”
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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THE PRESIDENT SHOULD EXPLORE ALL OPTIONS The President should act like a President and not like an Opposition Leader. He is the elected Head of State and it is for him to find a solution to the impasse that has developed around the hydroelectric project. There has to be a surefooted and positive approach to this issue rather than the government constantly bemoaning the lack of support by APNU for this project. Crying and complaining will not aid in bringing APNU on board. What is needed is considered action. The President should weigh his options and decide on which to pursue. He should make some proposals based on these options. If none of these enjoy the support of APNU, then he should sign off on the project because it is no use wasting time if there is little hope that the project will enjoy the support of APNU. That support was always going to be problematic. The PNC when it was in power failed to construct a hydroelectric project. It was out of its depth as regards this project. The concept was bad and the government lacked the ability to execute this project. The Upper Mazaruni Hydroelectric Project was always going to be too big for the PNC government. The failure of the project had nothing to do with Venezuelan opposition. It was the failure of the project designed which was
dependent on Venezuela purchasing excess power. With no power purchaser for the excess generation, the World Bank was never going to touch this project. In a subsequent column, the failure of this project will be elaborated on because many of the lessons of that undertaking can inform the present impasse. The PNC could not even save the trail which it constructed in preparation for the Upper Mazaruni Hydroelectric Project. The PPP’s main priority at this stage should be to ensure that the jungle does not encroach on the road that it is building to construct this project because that would be a disaster and would mean millions going down the drain. One thing should be clear. The combined opposition is not going to approve Budget support for the maintenance of that road. The government therefore has to find innovative ways of saving that road and this can only happen if they revisit the model of the project in order to avoid it being dependent on Budget support in the future. The failure of the government to gain the support of APNU for the project should be seen as a blessing in disguise. It allows for them to now restructure the model of this project and in so doing to divest government of any equity participation in this project. In short, one of the options that should be considered is for
Dem boys seh...
People trying fuh shut up dem boys Dem boys file a suit and charges of cruelty and inhumanity in Heaven against some people who living pun Earth up to now. Dem ah de people who do dem boys nuff wrang thing pun Earth. Dem try fuh close dem boys mouth, dem eye and even dem tailpipe in this country, because dem boys talk and exposing nuff thing. Plenty official sue dem boys and de Waterfalls paper fuh millions, certainly not US dollars. It must be cruzeiros or monopoly money. Jagdeo and he boys sue. Then he tell everybody, including he best friend to sue. Well this best friend didn’t, only sue in Guyana, he sue in de US. He then run back and sue-sue wid Jagdeo. Now dem boys seh that he got to answer all dem question wha dem boys been asking and he got to do so in front of a US judge. That is wha he hiding from, but dem boys seh that whatever he plan done get expose. In fact, nuff thing expose fuh he. Dem boys know that nuff of dem who sue can’t win, but so many of dem sue that dem boys had to hire five people to live in de court suh dem don’t miss any of de action. People know that all de Waterfalls paper got to do is miss one court appointment and de man who bring de suit gun run fuh collect, like one Arnold Apple who run to collect an award and get stump. Jagdeo waiting to collect, but that is another story. Dem boys don’t mind paying de law suits, but dem woulda like to get all dem drug contract. Talk half and watch fuh dem trying fuh shut up dem boys.
this project to be put entirely in the hands of the private sector. By removing itself from this project, the government does not have to worry about opposition support. There will of course be political risks but that is something that the investors will have to consider and which more than likely will mean higher tariffs. But at least what will happen is that Guyana will enjoy foreign exchange savings. If the government does not wish to go that route then it has to explore other options for funding, including asking the Indian government to take over this project. India has
expertise in constructing these small hydroelectric plants and may be willing to absorb the political risks involved. There seems little hope of APNU ever supporting this project. The President should therefore not waste his time in calling for them to put the national interest first. The PPP ought to be aware by now of the countless occasions when the PNC and the PNCR sacrificed the national interest in order to further their own ambitions for power in this country. The PNCR is not a party that should be expected to place the national interest
above its own quest for political power and in the present political configuration the PNCR knows that should this hydroelectric project be constructed, its chances of winning political power will disappear and the attainment of political power has always been for the PNC and the PNCR more important than what is good for the country. If, however, the President of Guyana feels that redesigning this project is beyond his administration or is not a realistic option at this stage, then it is for him to negotiate a truce with APNU. But this certainly cannot be successful if while seeking to
court this support, the opposition is being publicly attacked from all quarters. You cannot win someone’s support in this way. If in the end there is no end to the impasse, then it is time to move on. In that case, the people of Guyana should demand that the Opposition support the subsidization of electricity so that everyone pays the same tariff as that of Linden.
Guyana goes to CFATF without antimoney laundering legislative amendment Government has blamed the opposition for Guyana effectively missing its second deadline to amend its Antimoney Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism laws. The deadline was given by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) because of the Parliamentary Opposition. Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, said that Guyana was today expected to submit its update on actions taken to address the recommendations of Guyana’s evaluators, as they sought to remedy the deficiencies uncovered in Guyana’s antimoney laundering and combating the financing of terrorism compliance. Currently, the Head of the Intelligence Financial Unit Paul Geer and Attorney General Anil Nandlall are meeting with officials of the CFATF. Explaining why the Opposition, (A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change
(AFC)), is to be blamed for Guyana not meeting the deadline, Luncheon said that they voted in favour of adjourning the Parliamentary Special Select Committee reviewing the Bill, until October 2013, despite objections by Government’s Members of Parliament. “The Opposition members on the Committee turned out in full force, and records would show this was an unusual turn out and essentially to ensure that the adjournment was voted for,” he said. He added that this action by the Opposition has resulted in Guyana not meeting the deadline for submission of the Parliamentary legislative component, which was made known publicly by the CFATF. In May, after missing its first deadline, Government said it was given until November to see its Antimoney Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism Bill amended. However, it was later revealed that the deadline was actually
August 26. This was confirmed by CFATF but AFC refused to accept the deadline is August 26 maintaining it was November. Meanwhile, discussions in the Special Select Committee were interrupted several times by the Opposition because of claims of unfavourable statements and actions of Government in and out of the Committee. According to Dr. Luncheon, the deadline by CFATF was publicly advertised and he could only assume that “the act of the Opposition was deliberate and one that was planned to ensure that Guyana would not meet the deadline and Guyana would stand the consequences of not meeting that deadline…We are aware of the thrust of those consequences seeking to affect the health and operations of Guyana financial and banking systems.” Whilst the legislative aspect of meeting the recommendations was
challenging, Government was able to fulfill its nonlegislative tasks. He said that the meeting that is being attended by the Director of Intelligence Financial Unit and the Attorney General has the task of compiling both the legislative and non legislative responses to the recommendations. “I am assured by the Attorney General that they have compiled all of the necessary information and they are satisfied with the status of those extra parliamentary recommendations and the way they have been handled by Guyana,” Dr. Luncheon said.
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Thursday August 22, 2013
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Thursday August 22, 2013
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
The PNC stands on a moment of history For the purpose of this essay, I am going to locate the main decision about saving the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project investment within the leadership of the PNC rather than APNU, because I believe if APNU is going to approve of it, I think the PNC leadership will be the crucial deciders. Four major stakeholders want the investment to proceed. The AFC has made its decision. The Private Sector Commission’s position is known. The President at the time of writing may still be in touch with Opposition Leader, Granger. The US Embassy believes the investment should proceed. The PNC now has to decide
whether the project is dead or it will join these other stakeholders and renegotiate so the project can proceed. What follows here is my advice to the PNC leadership. It is impertinent of me to suggest how experienced Parliamentarians should conduct their political affairs, but I would like to offer my opinion. As soon as possible the PNC leadership (no doubt with APNU officials included) should seek two meetings respectively with the presidency and the US Embassy. The PNC’s bottom line, which should be nonnegotiable, is that it will vote for Amaila when Parliament convenes, albeit with some
modifications but in return, the PNC is asking for a menu of measures that no decent human being living in or out of Guyana can denounce as unreasonable. It is to be expected that the presidency will not openly embrace all the items and all is well that ends well. One would expect serious bargaining and the PNC will not get all the things it puts on the table. That is life. That is reality and the PNC must know this. First, there must be presidential approval for the financial and administrative independence of Parliament. This was a recommendation by Sir Paul Reeves years ago. It is incredible in any democratic system that the legislature, which is the
ultimate receptacle of power, is subordinate to the government of the day, when one takes into consideration that governments are formed by political parties. Secondly, GECOM should follow in the same direction. This is the body that decides who wins the government by the way it conducts the general elections. If it is not independent, then it can ignore the wishes of the electorate and do its own thing. Why should the agency responsible for the administration of general elections be funded by the government which consists of persons who are politicians that compete for power? The financial outlay of GECOM should not be for a Minister of Government to decide. Thirdly, the President should immediately agree to resuscitate the Commission on constitutional reform. The 1980 Constitution, despite changes made to it ten years ago, is a thing of the past. It was constructed at a certain juncture in the immediate post-colonial period that no longer has relevance. Guyana’s history has
evolved since 1980 in directions that have rendered many sections of the 1980 Constitution irrelevant. Perhaps the most caricatured nuance of life in Guyana, which when compared to other nations in this hemisphere makes Guyana look silly, is that the party that lost the general elections governs Guyana in ways, shapes and modes that virtually make it the majority winner of the national elections. It is something that I believe has literally damaged the psyche of those voters who gave their ballots to the opposition. Even in minor areas of governance you see the “majority” power of a ruling party that did not win a majority at the national elections. In Guyana, this is simply amazing. If anyone not familiar with Guyana comes to this country and sees the way the ruling party uses power, he/she would never believe that such a party did not win a majority in the general elections. Fourthly, the PNC must insist to the US Embassy that the Procurement Commission is a constitutional body that
Frederick Kissoon must be made to function and that the Government is holding it up. How can any citizen eject an all-party body overlooking the way contracts are awarded? In what way is this process a flawed one? Shouldn’t we be happy with an all-inclusive Commission? I could go on to cite changes to the University of Guyana Act and other institutions whose reform would allow for good governance, but space would not permit it. This then is my humble opinion. I recommend a PNC delegation meet with the US Embassy urgently and put forward its agenda for the preservation of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project. The nation will then see who is patriotic and who is not.
Thursday August 22, 2013
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Kaieteur News
New Amsterdam Special Needs School gets $2M lifeline from GAIL Foundation By Samuel Whyte Students of the Special Needs School at Vryman's Erven, New Amsterdam will be in a better position to absorb their education and enhance their talents following the donation of over $2M in playground equipment and educational tools including books by the Gail Foundation. The Gail Foundation(Giving Abundantly In LifeG.A.I.L Incorporated), which is founded and headed by overseas based Guyanese Attorney at law Gail Seeram, is a charitable organization based in Florida that does charity work in Guyana and other parts of the world. Among the package donated to the school were swings and slides for the playground, and a television set, projector, books, toys and other educational tools for the Therapy Room of the school. The occasion was blessed with the presence of Mrs. Yvonne Hinds, wife of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. Mrs. Hinds expressed her delight in being a part of the special occasion. She related her relationship with Gail Seeram, her family and the Gail Foundation and lauded the work of the charitable organization. She stated that the work of the GAIL Foundation is a reminder that Guyanese are willing to support projects in Guyana. Mrs. Hinds, who is also the Chairperson of the Guyana Relief Council (GRC), expressed her appreciation for the timely donations given to the less fortunate. She stated that “we
must applaud the sterling efforts of this young woman of whom we are very proud, a woman who shares her Godgiven gifts and her resources with the less fortunate of the world.” In her speech, Founder and Head of the GAIL Foundation, Mrs. Gail Seeram, stated that her initial intention was to build a playground for the students to have recreation, but after visiting the school and taking a tour of the facilities, she was unimpressed with what she saw. She stated, “I took a tour of the building and when I got in front of a classroom I was told that that box of books was the school's library and I thought that it is not acceptable.” She stated that in addition to acquiring the materials to build the playground she also decided to fund the cost of the Therapy Room. She mentioned that children must have place and room to play and expressed themselves, especially children who are challenged. Also speaking at the simple ceremony were Gail's father, well known Guyanese journalist Ralph Seeram, and local contact Gregory Rambarran. They both admonished the school's authorities to take good care of the facilities and equipment and make sure that it is put to good use. The playground and Therapy Room were blessed by Pastor Williams. The playground is the third playground and the third Therapy Room to be handed over by the GAIL Foundation in Guyana.
Ralph and Gail Seeram
Mrs. Yvonne Hinds and donor Gail Seeram cut the ribbon to officially open the play ground.
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Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Battered wife wants husband to face the full force of the law After being stabbed and chopped more than 10 times about the body, 27 year old Shaeemza Mohamed says
she is prepared to leave her husband of 14 years and hopes that he is jailed for his actions.
Mohamed was allegedly attacked by the man on Tuesday after yet another domestic brawl. When this
newspaper visited her in hospital yesterday her hair was visibly still blood soaked. She hugged her elderly mother who had also come to visit her. Mohamed's face bore a long chop wound and even though it was surgically closed, blood was still oozing from the wound. Her face was swollen fat and her eyes were blood shot, clear signs of the beating she received. Asked to recount what went wrong on Tuesday, Mohamed said everything quickly escalated from an argument. According to the woman, on Monday she and her children along with her landlord went to the seawall for an afternoon walk. Upon her return to their Lot 211 Second Street, Cummings Lodge home, the woman said, an argument started with her husband. She told Kaieteur News that it was during the argument, that her reputed husband began beating her. Mohamed said that after she was beaten, the man packed his clothes and told her that he was moving out. She said the man left the house and went over to the landlord's house, which is a short distance away, to ask for the gate keys. Mohamed said that a short while later she saw the man jumping the gate and he again started to beat her. The woman said that after the second beating, her
Mohamed's face reveals the brutality of the attack. husband went to bed as if nothing was wrong. She explained that the following morning her husband left the house and she assumed that he was heading to work. However the woman said he returned home sometime
was released on $10,000 station bail. After hearing that he was placed on bail, the woman she desperately tried to seek refuge at her mother's house, fearing that her husband would become more violent.
“He took me since I was 13 and he was 29, this is all I know about and Tuesday's attack was the final straw. I want to see my children grow up, I can't stay in it because he will kill me the next time”- Shameeza Mohamed around 10:30 hrs and began “cursing” her but she did not answer. “I ain't answer him because I know if I answer him, one thing does lead to another,” she told Kaieteur News. She said the man then sent her daughter to buy five beers and when she returned with it he commenced a drinking spree during which he started to hurl threats ant her and their three children. “After he finish drinking de beers and get drunk he start asking me fuh de chopper, saying how he going to chop up everybody,” Mohamed said. The woman said she tried to leave the house but her husband was standing by the door. She said that soon after, her husband ran towards the landlord's door and began “chopping” it. The woman said she became very fearful and stayed inside with her children. She said that her husband came back into the house and sent her daughter to buy “more beers”. However before the child could return, the police came and arrested her husband. The woman said that after her husband was arrested she felt some sense of relief. However, that relief was short lived as her husband
“After I hear he get bail, I called my mother and ask she if she gon pay de car and she say yes so I start getting me self together to leave the house,” Mohamed explained. According to the woman, she was looking for clothes to put when she heard her husband come into the house. “When he came in the house I was in the bedroom looking for clothes and de next ting I feel was my skin cutting; is stab he de stabbing me,” Mohamed said. The woman said she started screaming for her neighbours, who came to her assistance and took her to the hospital. Yesterday as Mohamed recounted her story, she said that she knew exactly what people might think about her. “I know people going to ask why I stayed in this relationship for 14 years….but I stayed because I ain't have nowhere else to go,” Mohamed cried. The woman said she is pleading with the police to find him and ensure that he faces the full course of the law. The woman told Kaieteur News that it's hard to leave a relationship which (continued on page 20)
Thursday August 22, 2013
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Kaituma River accident…
Body of missing woman found The body of Shevon Anthony, who went missing on Tuesday after a boat mishap in the Kaituma River, North West District, in the vicinity of the mouth of the Sebai Creek, was found floating some distance from where the accident occurred. The 20-year-old's body was discovered by a search party a few hours after the boat accident from which six passengers survived. A c c o r d i n g t o information received, the boat departed Port Kaituma, Region One at around 03:30pm on Tuesday with seven persons on board, including the boat captain. The intended destination
was Mabaruma. However, just after passing the mouth of the Sebai Creek, the boat reportedly collided with a floating log and almost turned turtle in the thick vegetation alongside the river. After the accident, six of the seven persons remained in the damaged boat which was stuck between the bushes but Anthony wasn't that lucky. She fell out of the boat and it was only after the survivors regained consciousness that they realized that the mother of two was missing. Police in a statement said t h a t a r o u n d 11 : 0 0 a m yesterday, the body of
Bartica Businesswoman remanded for assaulting Women Miners' Assoc. head Ann Marie Carter, 24 of First Avenue, Bartica, who was charged for trafficking in persons on Monday, last, was yesterday remanded to prison on another charge stemming from the incident. The woman appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court and pleaded not guilty to a charge which stated that on April 21, she assaulted Simona Broomes. Court documents revealed that on the day in question, Broomes, who has an active and leading role in t h e Wo m e n M i n e r s ' Association had told the defendant that she was wrong to take a 17-year-old into the interior to be
sexually exploited. The defendant became annoyed and pushed the complainant. The matter was reported and the assailant was arrested and charged for the said offence. A t t o r n e y a t L a w, Haymant Ramdhani who represented the defendant, told the court that his client maintains her innocence and denies that the said assault ever occurred. The former Magistrate then requested for his client to be granted bail in a reasonable sum. The lawyer's application was not upheld and the defendant is expected to appear before Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry on September 18 for report and fixture.
Shevon Anthony was recovered in the Kaituma River and was taken to the Port Kaituma Mortuary. Meanwhile, those who survived the ordeal are Bernadeen O'Neil, 15, Kavita Anthony, 12, Sunita Debideen, 20, the dead woman's sister, Dianne Anthony, 25, Troy Caravaio, 22, and the boat captain, Leroy Caravaio. Ye s t e r d a y , a t t h e Georgetown Public Hospital, Dianne Anthony
told Kaieteur News that it was raining heavily and she and the other passengers were forced to cover themselves with a tarpaulin to avoid getting wet. “All of us were covered with the plastic. Shevon was at the end and I was next to her. None of us know what really happened but the captain told us that he collided with a piece of wood and he fell down in the boat and that was when the boat ended up in the bushes,”
Dianne Anthony stressed. She explained that all the passengers lost consciousness. “When I wake up, I see a lot of blood everywhere and everybody was lying in the damage boat. The boat lean on one side and when I look then I see Shevon missing.” None of the survivors received life-threatening injuries, although five of them were hospitalized at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for observation.
Dead: Shevon Anthony
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Thursday August 22, 2013
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
R. Kelly concert postponed!
R
&B Legend Robert Sylvester Kelly known as R Kelly will not be performing live at the Guyana National Stadium on August 24, 2013. According to Khalfan PR Inc., the artist fell ill after performing at a concert at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, South Africa. The 46-year-old, whose hits include If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time, The World's Greatest and I
Believe I Can Fly, was in South Africa as part of his global Single Ladies Tour. Tickets were all but sold out. McNeal Enterprise and Hits and Jam will be having a press conference today to give further explanations on the postponement of the much anticipated show. They are also expected to announce a possible replacement international artiste to fill the void for the Saturday event.
Controversy brews over beachfront ... From page 3 attracting a string of criticism recently but Karim believes that the Guyanese culture needs to change to embrace such initiatives. Cognizant of the fact that mangroves serve as a defence mechanism against the ocean, the young entrepreneur said that they have taken the decision not to harm or destroy any growth in its vicinity and they have even sought to ensure clear paths are outlined so as to not pose any danger to the young shoots in the locale. Regarding concerns such as Tsunamis posing a threat, Karim told this publication that should there be one, it would be the entire Coast under threat and not just the G-Dock or the Celina's Resort. Asked about damage to the property from excessive high tides, she said that this is a risk that investors should have to decide if they are willing to shoulder. She believes that there are systems already in place
that would serve to allow them to take precautionary measures. Karim was speaking of instances such as the current advisory in effect, regarding the current spring tide. Karim said that the initiative should be supported as it would only serve to help in Guyana's tourism drive. She said that there should be more such undertakings and points to sister Caribbean islands whose beaches are lined with similar resorts. Karim believes that critics should in fact pay more attention to the stench and garbage that permeates Georgetown, as against initiatives meant to aid in the development of the city's image. The entrance to 'G Dock' is located a few meters east of the Celina's resort and takes the form of a welcoming walkway erected from the sea wall and guides patrons to a building nestled in the mangroves.
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Local authorities ... From page 2 A s s o c i a t i o n ( G R PA ) , Dharamkumar Seeraj told Kaieteur News last evening that he is confident that there was no wrongdoing on the local end of the shipment. He explained that the route to Venezuela through the Dominican Republic is not unusual since rice would not be the only commodity onboard the cargo vessel. He noted that when paddy is shipped, it would go directly to the buyer, but rice would normally be exported with other trade goods that are destined for different countries, hence the in-transit stops. He confirmed that the 20 ton shipment of rice was part of the Venezuela/ Guyana rice deal. GRDB General Manager, Jagnarine Singh said however that he is unaware of the rice seizure since he was out all day. He noted that all the relevant checks will be made to ascertain information of the cargo's movement. So far there has been no local arrest, but reports from
the Spanish news agency Dominica Today, say that the nation's National Drugs Control Agency (DNCD) arrested a third suspect yesterday in relation to the 69 bags of cocaine from Jamaica seized at Caucedo, one of the nation's busiest seaports. The news agency reported that the DNCD arrested Jose Manuel Alcรกntara around noon during a raid on an apartment in Andres, in the beach town of Boca Chica, not far from where the drug was seized. They claimed that Alcantara was arrested with a list of the ships about to dock at the port, where he would have received the drug and then reship it. It was further reported that two other men Robert Garcia Ramirez, 36, and Venezuelan national Yonathan Alberto Reyes were arrested as they were about to leave the country aboard Venezuela de Aviacion airline flight 513, headed to Caracas. The busy Caucedo Port, the newspaper said, is a commonplace for drug shipments.
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Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Man dies hours after defending teenaged sister from neighbour A 23-year-old man was pronounced dead at the Leonora Cottage Hospital two Wednesdays ago, hours after he was punched by his neighbour, when he tried to defend his teenaged sister. Dead is Shamsudeen Samad of Lot 37 Tuschen Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Police are hunting for the suspect who had barged into Samad's yard on August 14 last, and physically assaulted him. According to reports, the now dead Samad was
inside his house when he heard one of his neighbours asking his 14-year-old sister if she would have sexual intercourse with him. Samad exited the house and questioned the neighbour, who reportedly got upset and rushed towards him and punched him in his face. Samad fell on the concrete and lost consciousness while the suspect ran away after seeing blood pouring from Samad's head.
On Tuesday, the dead man's father, Abdul Samad told Kaieteur News that he was at work when his daughter called him and informed him that something happened at home. “I was at work and around 02:15pm (August 14) I get a call from my daughter, telling me to 'come quick, come quick, something happen'. So I rush home.” The man explained that when he arrived at his home,
Dead: Shamsudeen Samad he saw his son in a semiunconscious state and when he inquired, he was told that Samad had been assaulted by the neighbour, while
defending his sister from the 20 year old. The 14-year-old girl explained to this newspaper that she was out on the
veranda and heard when the suspect's mother sent him to the shop but he refused. “He come and stand up in front the yard, looking at me and I ask him what happened and he asked me if I like him and then I call for my smaller brother but he was sleeping.” The girl said that the neighbour pushed open their gate and come into their yard and told her that he wanted to have sex with her. This time her older brother Samad heard the unusual request and came out to confront the neighbour. “When my brother asked him why he tell me that, he run towards my brother and cuff him and my brother fall down and when he (suspect) see that, he runaway,” the 14-year-old told this newspaper. Investigators have informed that they are treating the matter as a possible homicide and have launched a manhunt for the suspect. According to the g r i e v i n g f a m i l y, t h e y received information that the suspect might be hiding in the North West district. “I want justice for my son's death. The post mortem shows that he died from the hit he got on his head,” the dead man's father said.
Battered wife wants husband to face the full ... From page 14 you've been in since you were 13 years old. “He took me since I was 13 and he was 29, this is all I know about,” Mohamed said. She said that Tuesday's attack was the final straw. “I want to see my children grow up, I can't stay in it because he will kill me the next time,” Mohamed told Kaieteur News. On Tuesday evening in a telephone interview with Kaieteur News the suspect claimed that he was forced to defend himself after his reputed wife attacked him with a chopper. Mohamed's reputed husband said that the incident stemmed from an altercation at around 10:00 hrs on Tuesday when he came home and saw his wife and a female friend drinking beers with a man. The husband said that he suspected that the man was having a relationship with his spouse.
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool. Call: 225-9032, 647-2943
Mining claims- 1 River, 24 lands- Potaro River- Call:1613-797-3314
Sale! Axio: TV, DVD $3.1M Neg: Pre-order Premio $2.5M Neg- Call: 655-3400
Ducklings and PigletsCall:688-7291/618-2708
We repair LCD, Plasma, LED TV, Microwave, Washer & Dryer, Amp etc. Call:6472677/693-3277
1 Freight Liner Hauler, 1- 48ft trailer, 1 Low Bed (hauler & trailer)- Call:613-6979
Sale! Sale! Toyota Premio (unregistered), fully loaded $2.5M- Call: 617-2891/2202345
TransponderTV: No Monthly Fees, No Hidden Fees, No Additional Charges: 250 Channels + 50 HD Channels- Call: 675-3201 ONLINE SHOPPING ZERO COMMISSION, WEEKLY SHIPMENTS,AFFORDABLE RATES, FREE PRIVATE MAILBOX. CALL: 2315789, 225-9030 WEFILLOUTVISAFORMS: USA, UK & CANADA & CREDIT CARD SERVICES CALL: 231-5789 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL:694-9843/227-2766 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar CITITECH: Computer/ printer repairs (Mac & PC) IT consultation & Network installation: 125 Light St. Alberttown, G/Town- Call: 226-0085/693-1259 We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699 CAR RENTAL A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Car Rental- Call:643-1131/ 225-3234
FOR RENT Furnished 2 bedrooms bottom flat @ Uitvlught Housing scheme, W.C.DCall:663-2882 Cement mixer (Ransome)Call:681-5988/672-6000
Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 1 Jailing 125CC in good working condition, CF seriesContact:680-5200, BB pin 26FB-6719 to see pictures White shirts (imported) $5000 per dozen. S, M, LCall:220-6909/222-3622/2206356 Pitbull Pups- Call:683-6674 Pure bred Cane Corso Mastiff Puppies: Tail crop, have shots & ready for new home- Contact Tony 6239099 1- 2.5 Ton Mitsubishi freezer canter newly registered. Owner leaving countryCall:629-5376 1 C AT 3 t o n p r o p p i n g forklift with 8ft extended forks, best offer- Call:6108283 or 622-2031
Property for sale in Enterprise E. C. Demerara Call: 627-5416/611-7437 Lodge, corner property with business- Call:223-7181/6274900 ‘BB’ Eccles- Concrete house 3 bedrooms upstairs, downstairs 2 self contained apartments, 2 bedrooms each toilet & bath $28MCall:227-8409/660-4764
Cheapest- Premio, Spacio, Hilux, Stick Gear Buses- Call: 616-7635
Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Premio, Allion, IST, Fielder- Call:652-3820/ 665-4529 New 2013 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabs- Call: 691-0234 1- AA60 Carina- Call:6430332/689-5254
Two storey concrete & wooden building, vacant & spacious yard @ North Ruimveldt- Call:628-1342
First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Spacio, IST, Axio, 212, Fielder, Verossa & AllexCall: 609-8188/ 602-6307
Furnished building in the interior, fully equipped along with six rooms- Call:604-6999 House and Land @ D’Edward, W.C.B.- Call: 6892973/698-3703
Honda welder 270 amp with 15,000 watts generator, 1 Mig Welder & 02 Tundra- Call: 220-4495/ 611-5114
Property for sale by owner located at Regent Street, Georgetown- Call:225-1831
Verossa in immaculate condition- call:676-0706
1 Secretary, 1 Clerk & 1 Office Assistant- Contact the office on 265-3586
CAR RENTAL
Toyota Altezza, PNN, tiptronic- Call:622-0108
2 able bodied labour workers to work on farm at Yahurawara- Contact the office 265-3586
One 2006 Toyota Tacoma GPP fully accessorized: Excellent conditionCall:647-2783/ 644-6066/ 269-1231
FOR SALE/RENT
Brand new Mitsubishi Lancer 2005 model, white with alloy wheels, CD. Bargain price, never registeredCall:269-0210/625-6833 1 Model M with winch GPP series, 1 3RZ Hilux, 1 RZ minibus- Call:627-8551
Executive apartments/ houses- Call:223-8479/6473768 www.spaceseek.gy
Game console for saleCall:672-2566 One 3 Tons Bedford dump truck, 3 and 4" water pumpCall:270-4485/233-5752 Guyana Brakes & Clutch Company, 27 Coldingen, E.C.D
American Style massage services- Call:678-7499 Massage/ physiotherapy for children. Brain stimulation/ physical development enhances complete wellbeing of child- Call:609-3932 The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979
120ft×42ft Space suitable for manufacturing or warehousing- Call:270-4485/ 233-5752 Guyana Brakes & Clutch Company, 27 Coldingen, E.C.D
1 Leyland DAF 60 single axle & dump- Call:216-1315/6136615
Electric Snow Cone machines- Call:266-2711/6094594
42 inch Panasonic plasma TVCall:622-0108
Refrigeration, A/C Technician. Call 231-0655/ 683-8734
Secret Villa Apartments, fully furnished self contained apartmentsCall:266-5243/228-6337/ 223-0994
2 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ QueenstownCall:680-5817
Used Nissan Sunny 2002 model with 15" alloy wheels, DVD player, alarm leather interior $1.3M- Call:269-0210/ 625-6833
MASSAGE
VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant- Call:6889611/684-2838
1 Receptionist, within the vicinity of Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika. Tel: 638-1627
West Ruimveldt $5M, West Bank $22M, East Bank $15M, Section ‘K’ $42M- Call Diana @227-2256/626-9382
Fluffy Dashund pups- Call: 226-9548/ 670-2653
Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6797139
Hilux Surf, Spacio, 212Call:666-2635
One 210 Hyundai excavator with complete 6inch dredge. Price $33M negotiableContact:650-2396/699-4059
Games for PS 2, $900,PSP $900, Xbox360 $2600, PS 3 $2600, call:672-2566
Fully furnished Vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours- 227-1218
Bel-Air $75,000; Kitty US$750; Queenstown US$1000; Lamaha Gardens US$2500- Call Diana @2272256/626-9382
Pluck chicken- Call:676-0931/ 686-7180
Empty plastic fuel drums (55gal) Contact Nicky @ 2267948/646-6000
1 AT 212 new model. Call: 646-4796
TO LET Harmony Inn: Apartments fully furnished, airconditioned apartments: $5000 per night- Call:6680306/602-8769/694-7817
Cashier, porter, sales clerks: Apply with written application @ 2J’s General Store 148-149 Regent road Bourda, G/Town- Call:2252350
One NZE Toyota CorollaCall:614-9060
Houses for sale on E.C.D & E.B.D- Call:223-8479/6473768 www.spaceseek.gy
American Pool Table - Call: 277-0578
Toyota Tundra GNN 7865, 2003 model (bubble back) Price $3.2M neg- Call:2163290
Unregistered Mitsubishi short canter $3,250,000Call:615-7526/653-4560
VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community- Call:592-6248704/ 592-684-9203
Asphalt Roofing Shingles, pig feed, duck feed & shrimp meal- Call:266-2711/609-4594
1 furnished short term 2 bedrooms apartmentCall:222-7891/609-9202
Apartments $50,000: Bills inclusive. Limited space available- Call:223-8479/6473768 www.spaceseek.gy
PROPERTY FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
New model Raum: Mags, TV, back camera & dark interiorCall:269-0432/686-0323 NZE hardly driven: Rims, CD deck, chrome mirrors & alarm. Price $1.950M- Call Shahab 613-5484, Grove E.B.D L-Touring Wagon HB $750,000- Call:674-8982 1 AE100 Toyota Corolla: Mag rims, alarm & A/C $600,000- Call:611-6632
CAR RENTAL Progressive Auto Rental cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email www. progressive autorental. com
Premio, vitz call: 679-7139
LAND FOR SALE House lot for sale: Friendship, Diamond EBD & drafting of house plans call:223-0733, 223-0730, 6928513 Land @ Marudi Creek 35 acres. Suitable for farming/ sand pit- Call:664-9701/6426056
EDUCATIONAL I.A.E (Camp street): Register for full- time, lessons & adults CXC classes: Maths, English, Business & ScienceCall: 223-0604/ 683-5742 Electronic Course- Practical, 12 persons per class. Register early. Beginning 4th September @ Abdul Electronics- Call:226-6551 or 225-0391 Is your child struggling with reading, writing & math or has a disability? For best results- Call:683-3887
Land @ lot 50 area ‘H’ Albion Corentyne, BerbiceCall:647-0357/651-1735 House lots 50’×118’ New Hope, E.B.D: Serious enquires only. No prices on phone- Call:266-2711/6094594 At Bachelor’s Adventure on E.C.D- Call:680-5944 Parfaite Harmony $1M & $800,000- Call:675-7292 Grove behind Samantha Point, land with foundationCall:667-1659/678-7021 (Continued on page 23)
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 23
GPHC maternal death...
Compensation to husband may require legal advice - Health Minister The possibility exists that the Ministry of Health could seek the legal advice of Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, in determining whether any compensation should be paid to Nigel Rodney, whose wife died in the Maternity Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on June 4 last. This is according to Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, who disclosed that while the investigation of the maternal death is not fully completed, any likelihood of compensation from the Health Ministry will require legal advice from the office of the Attorney General. Twenty-eight-year-old Luan Rodney, who was admitted at the public hospital on June 3 last to deliver her second child, was pronounced dead the following day and her baby was delivered stillborn. An ensuing investigation into the death by an Expert Committee has since determined that not only was there negligence on the part of the doctors and nurses attending to the woman but there was also poor management, according to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud. Two doctors and two nurses were sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, and the Expert Committee, in addition to other recommendations, has decided that the health
professionals’ practicing fates be placed in the hands of both the Medical and Nursing Councils. The Attorney General, who doubles as Minister of Legal Affairs and is therefore tasked with providing legal advice to the Government, in an invited comment to this publication yesterday said that although he has not been approached by anyone within the Ministry, he would be required to offer his advice should such a request be made. In direct reference to the maternal death of Luan Rodney, he disclosed that he would however not be required to become involved at the level of the GPHC as that facility not only has its own legal personnel but it also has a Board of Directors and a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who together govern its operation. But according to GPHC’s CEO Mr. Michael Khan, while the determination of compensation will more than likely be a decision to be made by the Expert Committee investigating the death, he is certainly not aware of any such development. In fact, yesterday, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer was unable to call to mind even a single occasion when the hospital was required to pay compensation for a maternal death. Nevertheless, Nigel Rodney, during a recent interview with this publication, disclosed that
GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Khan although he hadn’t the wherewithal to take legal action against the hospital, he is hopeful that some form of compensation would be granted to him. “The least they can do now is compensate me for something that happened because of
their negligence…” “My wife went into that hospital looking and feeling good and come out back dead because they couldn’t take the time to give her proper care,” asserted the distraught man. He is also optimistic that his wife’s death would lend to the improvement of service offered at the facility and even help to save a life in the future. Meanwhile, the Minister of Health yesterday disclosed that ardent efforts are being made to prepare young doctors thoroughly to delve adequately into the medical profession. In this regard, he said that about 70 of these doctors yesterday commenced a pedagogy session at the East Coast Demerara Grand Coastal Inn. The doctors, according to him, are being exposed to areas such as Advanced Labour and Risk Management (ALARM) training as well as complete basic life support, which he noted will be important to their practice.
(From page 22)
WANTED One rider for a Transtar motorcycle to deliver waterCall:231-4832/662-3415/6262360 One attractive waitress to work in Bar. Attractive salaryCall:686-4818/699-6994 Males to work in kitchen: Apply @ Shanta’s 225 Camp & New Market Streets Honest live in domestic (single or widowed) attractive salary offeredCall:646-1758 (between 9:00am-4:00pm) 1 female to work in Interior in shop, age 20-45 $80,000Call:664-5199 (from 8am-6pm) serious enquiry only Bar attendant/ waitress, age 25 and over with requirements (shift work)Call:226-0036 Receptionist age 25 and over (shift work). Room attendants & maids age 25 and over (shift work)Call:223-6284/225-9211 Car/Van driver 40yrs plus. Husband and wife live in duties. Laboures - call:2271830 One boy to work in Interior 18-30- $70,00- Call:664-5199 (from 8am-6pm) serious enquiry only Cleaner- Call:225-3234 Wanted contract cars @ Atlas Taxi Service: South Ruimveldt gardens, VHF radio network- Call:661-3043 CAR RENTAL First Choice Car Rental: $5000 & $6000 per dayCall: 668-0306/ 694-7817
WANTED One three bedrooms apartment anywhere around town- Call:617-7865 Machine Operator to work in Garment Factory- Call: 2222541 Laboures to work on wood concession: accommodation provided $4000-$5000 per day- Call:612-1082 (8am to 4pm) 1 welder/ bodywork man to work in the InteriorContact:627-6416/226-3799 (Mon-Fri 8am-4pm) Receptionist, room attendant, bar attendants, washer & presser , cook & helper– Contact: Hick’s Ville Hotel @ 231-0951/231-0953 One live in attractive waitress must have secondary education must be honest & trustworthyCall:610-5043 Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665 Driver, salesperson, male merchandiser & porter needed, bring resume ( include reference) & passport photo at Vegetarian Gardens - Tele: 227-7714 One experienced general domestic, must know to cook tasty Creole dishes. Must be honest & trustworthy- Call:656-6388 Experienced male counter servers, waiters, cashiers, roti/ puri cooks & pastry makers: Apply @ Hacks Halaal 5 Commerce St. Cooks, assistant cooks, waitresses and bartenders to work in Kitty area- Call: 226-7054/ Cell:610-8269 1 Handy Man, 1 Small Engine Mechanic 3 yrs experience- call: 233-2408
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
Men to burn charcoals in large quantity, very attractive salary & package being offered- Call:612-1082 (8am- 4pm) Wanted experienced Taxi drivers & experience Dispatcher @ Princess Hotel- Call:265-7076/6165419 Kitchen help, butcher and cleaner- Call:231-5866/2315857
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
Canter driver/salesmanCall:225-3768 Boys to work at Wash bay in Kitty- Call:227-5751/6270980
Page 24
The Guyana Watch… For the past 21 years, a large number of persons have been visiting the dentists from the Guyana Watch Medical team to do extractions but one of the dentists, Dr. Chiran Reddy stressed that extractions should be the last resort. Dr. Reddy, an overseas based dentist, who has been coming to Guyana for the past 11 years to offer his services to Guyanese, through the Guyana Watch Medical Outreach Programme, said that people should stop thinking about pulling their teeth out and start thinking about how to prevent cavity. During a recent interview with this newspaper, the dentist stressed that the children should be educated more in school as to how they should care their teeth. “We should put a stop to extraction. The main focus should be on how to prevent cavity, rather than when you have a rotten tooth, you pull
Kaieteur News
Thursday August 22, 2013
The extraction of a tooth should Woman leaves be the last resort - US Dentist husband of 13 years
Dr. Reddy with one of his patients during the last outreach it out. You need to tell them how to brush and when to brush,” the dentist advised. During the six days visit to Guyana, the team had a total of 434 dental visits, with
the majority of the persons having extractions done. Two Mondays ago, at Timehri, the doctor met a young girl who told him that she was getting married in
two weeks. The girl’s front tooth was decayed and she requested an extraction. She was advised that a root canal can be done but she refused because of the lack of finance.The doctor said that he observed that people are not going to the dentist regularly because they cannot afford it. “There are fluoride supplements you can take. Fluoride helps prevent cavity. One drop of fluoride is good enough for the entire family and you wouldn’t have to pull the tooth out,” Dr. Reddy commented. During the recent medical visit which ended last Saturday, the team was giving fluoride treatment to children. Dr. Reddy explained that the treatment would protect the teeth for six months, after which another treatment is required. Dr. Reddy who returned to his homeland last Sunday promised to return next year.
for younger friend
A woman yesterday informed her husband that she is ending her 13 year old marriage and continuing her relationship with his younger friend, when they appeared in a Georgetown magistrate’s court charged for assaulting each other. The man 49-year-old taxi driver Michael Thompson and his wife Pamela 42 both declined to offer evidence against each other when they appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore. Thompson was accused of inflicting a beating on his wife, who was in turn also charged for biting him. The incident stemmed from the man finding out that his wife was having an affair with his friend who is several years younger. The court was told that on August 20, at Lot 92 D’Anrade Street, New Town Kitty, Michael Thompson assaulted Pamela Thompson causing her actual bodily harm. Court documents revealed that on the day in question, the defendant went through his wife’s cellular phone and noticed that she was having intimate conversations with his friend. He further observed from one text message that his wife
planned to meet with his friend at a private place. He then waited to see if she would execute the said plan. The woman subsequently left the house and returned home five hours later around midnight. She was confronted by her husband who accused her of being unfaithful and demanded that she leave the matrimonial home. The court heard that the woman just smiled and told her husband that she is comfortable with his decision and proceeded to call a taxi. This angered the taxi driver who then slapped his wife, dealt her several punches to the lower abdomen and choked her until she fell unconscious. When she regained consciousness she went to the nearest police station where she made a report. Thompson was arrested and charged for the said offence. He however told investigators that the woman had bitten him and she too was charged. They both pleaded not guilty to the charges. In the end, the matter was subsequently dismissed after both parties decided that they will not offer any evidence against each other.
From page 7 and upheld in its behaviour. In seeking to qualify his position, Lewis drew reference to the recent debacle that had embroiled the Russian-based Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) and its Guyanese employees. Lewis said that the GTUC engaged the Private Sector Commission two years ago regarding denying workers their right to belong to a union of choice and bargain collectively. He said that the Commission gave GTUC the assurance that it will be engaging the government and employers with a view to having this matter resolved. “The GTUC is yet to hear what, if anything was done.” According to Lewis, behind closed door, the PSC accepts the wrong doing of members in the Private Sector
family but refuses to act and correct these injustices. “Yet at the same time whenever the government conceptualizes a scheme that would bring instant gratification to the executive and private sector, the PSC thinks it is incumbent upon the body to treat the citizens like cattle by engaging in acts to herd them in one direction.” Lewis called for all documentation in relation to the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project to be made public, inclusive of the National Assembly, which would allow stakeholders to analyse and make a final determination. He added too that it must be said that “those analysing the project are not opposed to hydropower. The concern is the project as currently configured, is inimical to the economic wellbeing of the nation.”
Ambassador...
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Former GuySuCo Chairman Harold Davis passes away Former Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and the Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company (GTM), Harold Davis, died “peacefully” in his sleep early yesterday morning at his city home. Davis, 88, had not been well after suffering a stroke, his wife, Mayleen said yesterday. He had difficulty breathing when the couple retired to bed around 11pm on Tuesday, she added. Speaking from her New Market Street home yesterday, Mrs. Davis said she checked on him about two hours later and realized that he passed away. She said his death was quiet and peaceful. Davis began his career as a teacher at the Rosignol Government School. He came to Georgetown in 1947 and taught at the Trinity and Bedford Methodist Schools. He left teaching to pursue studies at the Ohio State University, obtaining a BSC (Bachelors) in Social Administration and later, a Masters Degree in Sociology. He returned to Guyana in 1958 and joined Bookers Sugar Estate the following year as the Personnel M a n a g e r, w o r k i n g a t Skeldon. He was later transferred to Georgetown, taking up a position as the company's Education and Training Officer. According to Mrs. Davis, her husband became Chairman of the company when it was nationalized and rebranded GuySuCo on May 26, 1976. He also served as Chairman of the Sugar Association of the
“That's why he was a member of the Advisory Committee of the Prerogative of Mercy of the Georgetown Prisons for 12 years.” The couple married in 1951, celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary on August 11. Together, they had five children, eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
Harold Davis Caribbean (SAC) from 1980 to 1990, as well as the Chairman of the Consultative Association of Guyana Industries Limited (CAGI). He was a member of the Council of the University of Guyana (UG), and in 1991 he became Pro- Chancellor and a member of the Board of Governors, serving for 13 years. Davis was also the Chairman of Demerara Woods. Davis was also recognized for his experience and became a Director of GTM for some time and later as Chairman up to the time that he became ill and retired. Mrs. Davis spoke fondly of her husband, remembering how hard he would work for his church, t h e Tr i n i t y M e t h o d i s t Church. “He was a man of God,” she said, asserting how passionate he was in adult education and community development, with special interest in penology and criminology.
Page 25
Page 26
Kaieteur News
Thursday August 22, 2013
Greenidge to PSC: Invest in Amaila if it is that good With time running out for salvaging the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, Parliament’s largest Opposition party has challenged the members of the local Private Sector to examine the possibilities of investing in the deal. The call was made by former Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge, during a public forum on Amaila last week at St. Stanislaus College, Brickdam. The session, organized by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), also saw presentations from Professor Clive Thomas, the party’s Co-leader and a prominent financial analyst, who writes a weekly newspaper column. WPA is one of the 10 parties which make up A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the largest Opposition faction in the National Assembly. Both APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC) make up a one seat majority in the National Assembly. According to Greenidge, it is strange that despite heavily backing the project, there was no move by the Private Sector Commission, which represents a crosssection of powerful businesses including banks
and manufacturers, to throw its money into it. There have been objections over the financing structure of the project, including a significant portion allocated for political risk insurance. Last week, Greenidge, a senior MP for APNU, called for the Government to consider raising some of the monies needed for the project on the local market. His suggestion sparked objections in some circles. “The Private Sector should contribute if they believe so much in this project…let them put their money where their mouth is. (It) shows the attitude itself of the Private Sector (Commission) and irresponsibility of some persons who purportedly speak in support of Government.” Greenidge made it clear that there is nothing wrong with Guyana examining the possibilities of raising the monies locally. Both Greenidge and Dr. Thomas suggested that one of the ways to do so is via the issuance of bonds. Bonds provide the borrower with external funds to finance longterm investments, or, in the
Carl Greenidge case of government bonds, to finance current expenditure. The Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the country’s biggest ever infrastructural undertaking, both in terms of magnitude and costs, has been fighting an uphill battle of survival with the US
developer, Sithe Global announcing its pullout recently after Parliamentarians failed to agree on two key pieces of legislations critical to the financing for the US$858M project. Meanwhile, Professor Thomas warned that the
Private Sector should be careful about the details of the project as there is the very likely possibility that regulations could be used to force a number of large businesses to use hydro power when it comes on stream. Currently, several large businesses, including the several fisheries concerns, Bank DIH and Demerara Distillers Limited, are using self generating current. They are allowed to import fuel for their generators without paying some of the necessary taxes. Government is hoping that it will attract some of these companies to hook up back onto the national grid to take up some of the power that Amaila will be generating. With 40% of GPL’s system on standby, it is ironic that local businesses will in all likelihood be forced to
abandon its massive investments in generating capacity, Thomas said. Government has already signaled its intentions to take away the tax waivers once Amaila is operational. Government is banking on the hydro project to reduce its foreign imports of fossil fuel for energy, its biggest annual expense. The project, which has heavily divided the country’s political parties, has also drawn comments from the diplomatic community with even the business sector putting in its two cents. APNU, meanwhile, remained steadfast that a number of critical questions remained unanswered over the mounting costs of the hydro project. President Donald Ramotar has called for one last ditch attempt at talks to smooth out the differences.
Region 6 has new Education Officer A new Regional Education Officer in Region Six has been appointed. Ms. Valika Mohabir Jaikishun has replaced Mrs. Shafiran Bhajan, who has given more than nine years service to the region as REdo. Kaieteur News understands that Mrs Bhajan is tipped to be an Adviser to the Minister of Education, Mrs. Priya Manickchand. Region Six Chairman, Mr. David Armogan announced that the incoming education officer will be acting for a while in the capacity until a confirmation can be secured. “That person will be acting for a period of time before they can be confirmed. The system is there and once that person is serious enough...and of course, we will have to ensure that the system continues to operate
at a high level.” He stated that Mrs. Bhajan has served her time. “She has given quite a number of years, beyond the normal 55 years limit that most people are subjected to.” The Regional Chairman believes that the former Education Officer has “done a good job with respect to keeping the education system in tact in terms of ensuring that the standards are maintained and kept. But there comes a time when, regardless of how good you are and how well you have done, you have to make way to younger people.” Meanwhile, Armogan added that he was displeased with the region’s r e s u l t s a t t h i s y e a r ’s National Grade Six Exams. “I am not fully satisfied with the results I have seen.
Former Regional Education Officer Mrs Bhajan Almost 31 per cent of the students have done poorly in my opinion. Because if you have less than 350 marks in the NGSA, I would consider that to be extremely poor and that accounts for 31 per cent of our students.” The Chairman is urging that a “lot more work” be done in the primary schools across the region in order to reverse the decline. “One of the things we find in the primary school system, too, is that we have a lot of teachers going to university at Tain, and a lot of those classes are held during the day at the primary level. It is affecting more than the
secondary, because at the secondary level, you can adjust your time- table to suit those teachers.” “At the primary school levels, because teachers are allocated whole classes to man by themselves throughout the academic year, it is difficult to adjust...so once that teacher is absent two, three times for the week, it means those students in those classes, will be at a disadvantage, because they will not be able to complete the syllabus and that is one of the things we will have to look at during the new school year.” He added that something has to be done at the Ministry of Education, “because we either need additional teachers, or there must be some sort of policy shift in this direction because we cannot continue to have these teachers absenting two, three times a week, during the day when they should be in the classroom giving work and supervising and teaching the children in the school.” According to Armogan, there are programmes to address the low-performing secondary schools in Berbice. “We are running a six-year programme. Schools like the Port Mourant Secondary, Manchester Secondary, and Black Bush Polder Secondary are piloting the programme. Students coming into the schools who have reading and writing difficulties will undergo rigorous work; bringing them at a level at which Form One students at the secondary levels should be at. So, instead of taking five years at those schools, those students are spending six years.” (Leon Suseran)
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 27
President’s College on the verge of collapse The government set out to destroy every bit of Burnham’s legacy - Former PC student PC’s rundown pavilion being taken over by bush.
By Abena Rockcliffe Some are convinced that President’s College (PC) has been deliberately left to deteriorate because “of the simple truth” that it stands as a legacy of the late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham’s “unique vision.” President’s College, which was envisioned to be the school of excellence, is now operating without a Board of Directors, ever since the life of the last Board expired a year ago. The physical environment has also become a bother to most; the farm that was once thriving, now has just a few animals. The school has little or no funding and Kaieteur News understands that little is being done to save the ‘sinking ship’. “PC is not PC anymore; they never wanted PC to maintain its standard,” were the thoughts reflected by a former President’s College student who is convinced that the school is being stifled. Unfortunately, that former student isn’t the only one who expressed similar views.
Kaieteur News conducted a series of interviews during the last two weeks and the consensus among those interviewed is that President’s College is “on its last”. The school was opened in 1985. It was founded by Burnham who launched the project in 1983 but died before the school opened. Students used to be selected from the top two percent of candidates in the Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSEE) and subjected to an evaluation process including interviews with school personnel. Now students are allowed to transfer from lower rated schools into President’s College and preference is given to those from more remote areas. The school allows students to attend without being residential, thereby functioning as both a boarding and a day school. Last week, Kaieteur News was told that “the government wants to change the purpose of the school. PC was better when it was the way Burnham intended it to be.” Someone with close
affiliation to the school said, “Burnham’s vision was for PC to be a self-sufficient school. PC had a thriving farm and use to sell milk, eggs and beef. That money use to pay the farm attendants plus the farm provided for the needs of the school’s population, inclusive of teachers; now PC doesn’t even have a kitchen garden.” Kaieteur News has been told that PC’s farm now has only a few egg laying chickens, a couple of pigs and about five cows. “There is nothing much on the farm and I can’t believe that this is what it has come to. In my day the farm had almost everything. We even had horses, we learnt horseback riding,” said a former student. This newspaper understands that the farm’s rundown is linked to “thieving and poor management. The last Board made a mess out of PC.” A source highlighted, as well, that the sports ground in PC’s compound has also been allowed to deteriorate. “Millions of dollars was spent on getting that playfield in order. When I saw
Will works be completed before school reopens?
What was once the guard hut.
its condition, I asked myself if all that money was spent for it to stand up like how it is. In my day we kept sports there so we hadn’t the need to go out and we didn’t use to have to pay no other place to use their ground.” The obviously concerned former student said that in fact, other entities use to come and use the facilities, much to the financial benefits of PC. Speaking to the villagers, Kaieteur News understands that some village fun days were kept on the very ground that is now a definite cattle pasture. The Pavilion that stands on the ground is being overtaken by wild vines. Kaieteur News asked a teacher attached to PC whether weeding of the field would make it useable again for sports purposes. The teacher was less than optimistic. “A weeding won’t work. It definitely won’t work. A lot of money has to be spent to bring that back.” Pertaining to the ground, another source told Kaieteur
News that the villagers contribute extensively to PC’s downfall, “They don’t understand what it is to have such a unique school in the village. They bring their cattle to graze in the compound.” The source said that sometimes there are over 80 heads of cattle grazing on the field and “not one belongs to PC.” Similarly, a parent of a first time student of the college had called in to this newspaper to highlight the unhealthy surroundings that children may have to endure. The father said that his daughter refused to go to the school after going to register and had to dodge cow dung. USE TO BE AN HONOUR Several former students of PC expressed that it used to be an honour to attend the school. One student said that “In my time, everybody was resident and we all did what they had to do. Early morning we got up and went to the farm, and students were rounded. Attending PC was a big thing; it was the only school wearing purple and
cream… Students had to be awarded here; but now all kinds of children are sent to PC so they no longer see it as a treasure; because it came easy.” Kaieteur News understands that students are very rebellious now. This newspaper received information to the effect that the children had resorted to tampering with the electricity circuit to avoid classes. WAY FORWARD This publication was told that a new Board of Directors is to be installed at the school in the not too distant future. Some staffers, who stressed the implications of being identified, said that they were told that, “we getting a better board.” One staff member said that she will believe that when she sees the work. “We need people that are not about looking after personal gains or else we won’t have a school any longer. As of now, one could count the people that have PC’s interest at heart. If this continues, I give PC five more years, if so long.”
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Thursday August 22, 2013
Europe shies away from cutting aid for Egypt BRUSSELS (Reuters) The European Union stopped short of agreeing immediate cuts in financial or military assistance to Cairo yesterday, as the bloc’s foreign ministers held emergency talks to find ways to help bring an end to violence in Egypt. The decision acknowledges Europe’s limited economic muscle in forcing Egypt’s army-backed rulers and the Muslim Brotherhood supporters of deposed President Mohamed Mursi into a peaceful compromise. It also reflects a concern that abruptly cutting aid could shut dialogue with Cairo’s
military rulers and damage Europe’s ability to mediate in any future negotiations to end the worst internal strife in Egypt’s modern history. The European Union, seen as more neutral than the United States, which provides aid to Egypt’s military, has emerged a key player in Egypt since the army deposed Mursi on July 3. The new government allowed the EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to become the first foreign official to see him in detention. “The principles of our policy are to support democratic institutions, not to take sides,” British Foreign
Secretary William Hague told reporters after meeting his EU counterparts in Brussels. “It is to continue to promote political dialogue and being able to maintain a position where we can continue to do that.” The ministers agreed to review any financial aid given to Egypt but said assistance to civil society would continue. They also agreed to suspend exports to Egypt of any equipment that can be used for internal repression and review any arms sales, though stopping short of explicitly agreeing to end such trade. “We want to continue to have a strong relationship with Egypt and to be able to offer our support, but we stand by the principles and values that we hold,” Ashton told reporters after the meeting. “If we can be of assistance, we would do so.”
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton (R) greets Germany’s Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle (C) during than emergency EU foreign ministers meering in Brussels, yesterday. REUTERS/Francois Lencoir.
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
Syria gas ‘kills hundreds’, Security Council meets A boy who survived from what activists say is a gas attack cries as he takes shelter inside a mosque in the Duma neighbourhood of Damascus yesterday. (REUTERS)
BEIRUT/AMMAN (Reuters) - Syria’s opposition accused government forces of gassing hundreds of people yesterday by firing rockets that released deadly fumes over rebel-held Damascus suburbs, killing men, women and children as they slept. With the dead estimated between 500 and 1,300, what would be the world’s most lethal chemical weapons attack since the 1980s prompted an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council in New York. Immediate international action is likely to be limited, with the divisions among major powers that have crippled efforts to quell two and a half years of civil war still much in evidence. Russia backed up denials from the administration of President Bashar al-Assad by saying it looked like a rebel “provocation” to discredit him. Britain voiced the opposite view: “I hope this will wake up some who have supported the Assad regime to realize its murderous and barbaric nature,” Foreign Secretary William Hague said on a visit to Paris. France, Britain, the United States and others called for an immediate on-site investigation by U.N. chemical weapons inspectors who arrived in the Syrian capital only this week. Moscow, urging an “objective” inquiry, said the very presence of that team suggested government forces were not to blame. U.S. President Barack Obama has made the use of chemical weapons by Assad’s forces a “red line” that in June triggered more U.S. aid to the rebels. But previous, smaller and disputed cases of their
deployment have not brought the all-out military intervention rebel leaders have sought to break a stalemate. U.S. Senator John McCain, a Republican critic of Obama’s Syria policy, said on Twitter that failure to penalize previous gas attacks had emboldened Assad: “No consequence for Assad using chemical weapons & crossing red line,” he said. “We shouldn’t be surprised he’s using them again.” The Security Council,
where Russia has vetoed previous Western efforts to impose U.N. penalties on Assad, began a closed-door meeting but is not expected to take decisive action, with the big powers still at loggerheads. Images, including some by freelance photographers supplied to Reuters, showed scores of bodies - some of them small children - laid on the floor of a clinic with no visible signs of injury. Some showed people with foam around their mouths.
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Thursday August 22, 2013
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Albion cricket academy underway THE 13th Edition of the Albion Cricket Academy commenced last Monday at the Albion Community Centre Ground in the Ancient County of Berbice. In declaring the one week academy, organized by the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club open, Human Resources Manager of Guysuco’s Albion/Port Mourant Estate Vemen Walter showered praise on
the President and Executives of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club for ensuring the continuation of this annual academy for the past thirteen years. Walter, a former president and current Secretary of the club, took the opportunity to congratulate the over 60 young cricketers in attendance for having seen it fit to be part of an activity which will undoubtedly assist
them tremendously in the development in all aspects of their game. The former Guyana Under-15 Manager also pointed out that the game of cricket has evolved so much over the years and will continue to do so and as such, young cricketers will have to be prepared for the challenges ahead if they are to succeed and cricket academies such as this, will certainly assist. He urged participants to
Thursday August 22, 2012 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): Today you may be confronted with one of the harsher aspects of your personality, Aries. It can be a bit of a shock when such a thing happens. It may be that your temper flares or you wrestle with feelings of jealousy. *************************** TAURUS (APR 20 MAY 20): Today you won't feel quite like your usual upbeat self, Taurus. There's nothing to be concerned about. It's just that you have a lot to do and can't help but be focused on it. *************************** GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): You're feeling altruistic today, Gemini. You're eager to do what you can for others. You can now put into action all those lofty visions of volunteering for a worthy cause. *************************** CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): Children are highlighted today, Cancer, either yours or someone else's. You could be in one of the healing professions. If you're a nurse or doctor, you may have the opportunity to make a big difference in the life of one of your patients. *************************** LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): You have a generous spirit, Leo. And today you're feeling particularly altruistic. Finally, you have a chance to help your fellow man in a very real, direct way. Forget about big goals and lofty visions ************************ VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22):This may be an intense day, Virgo, especially if you follow your instincts and say what needs to be said to loved ones. There may be some unresolved issues at home. Do you and your siblings need to address them?
LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): This is just the kind of day you like, Libra - intense and supercharged, just like you! It seems there's a deadline coming up, or a time-sensitive project. You'll have a lot to do and not a lot of time in which to do it. This is when you're at your most productive. *************************** SCORPIO (OCT 23 - NOV 21): You're an organized, disciplined person, Scorpio. No one who knows you would disagree. But there are times when you need to loosen up a bit, and this is just such a time. *************************** SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21): There's extra action in your day today, Sagittarius, so go with it. Don't fight against the wave of unconventional support that's brewing at your back door. *************************** CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): You may be thinking about everything you need to do to improve your work situation. You've made your demands clear, but no one seems to be paying attention. *************************** AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): You're sensitive, Aquarius, and impressionable. You may not appreciate the intense atmosphere building, but it may be just what you need to get motivated. *************************** PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): It's one thing to stick to your guns, another altogether to do so without considering the views of others. People may resent this stubbornness, Pisces. Today you're encouraged to take a good look at yourself.
pay keep attention to what they will be taught over the one week period and to ensure that whatever is learnt is put into practice. President of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, Lloyd Kanden, in his brief address to the gathering challenged the participants to make full use of the academy so that Albion will continue to be the key to Berbice and Guyana’s cricket. The long serving president also applauded the work of the Club’s Cricket Development Committee to ensure that the 13th Academy is staged. Kanden also thanked those who have played significant roles in the success of the Cricket Academy over the years, including Walter, Orvin Mangru and Muthuswammi Permaul. Walter along with former Secretary Tariq Aziz was the two individuals who were responsible for the emergence of the Albion Cricket Academy. Coordinator, Orvin Mangru, disclosed that the aim of the academy is to expose young cricketers to the fundamentals of the game. The packed programme includes lectures in the morning sessions on topics such as Discipline, the cricketer as a role model and as an ambassador, etiquette
and social grace, importance of fitness, laws of the game, importance of education, leadership, HIV & Aids, History of Cricket among others, while in the afternoon sessions, they will be exposed to the basics in batting, bowling and fielding. Chairman of the Club’s Cricket Development Committee Muthuswammi Permual, who reminded the participants of Albion’s rich history in producing top quality cricketers, encouraged them to bring along a family or friend to be part of the academy. Permaul also thanked Republic Bank, Sterling Product, Universal DVD Club, D. Balram Shane
General Store, Rite Choice Supermarket, Guysuco and Geddes Grant, sponsors of the academy. Among the resource personnel expected to deliver lectures at the academy are former Headmaster and first class umpire Dhiriendranuth Somwaru, former Guyana Manager Carl Moore, Berbice Cricket Board Secretary Angela Haniff, Walter, Permaul and Mangru together with cricket coaches Andre Percival, Sewnarine Chattergoon and current national cricketers Jonathan Foo and Anthony Bramble. The academy is open to young cricketers male and female between the ages of 10 to 19 years.
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Guyana’s Warriors face-off with T&T’s Red Steel tonight By Sean Devers Guyana are two wins away from qualifying for their second trip to South Africa for the 2014 Champions League as they face-off with Trinidad and Tobago’s Red Steel in the first semi-final of the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad and a riveting contest is anticipated. In 2010 it was Guyana who qualified for the Champions League when they upset the home team in the semifinals of the Caribbean T20 in Portof-Spain, leaving the stunned capacity crowd in funeral mode. Since then T&T have won every T20 regional title available and will represent the Region in this year’s Champions League for the third successive year after also reaching the final in the inaugural tournament in 2009. However, this is a different T&T team comprising players from several countries, but unlike the Guyana Amazon Warriors they seem to be struggling to perform as a team despite the presence of some high-caliber players. After their loss in the opening match in Guyana to the Warriors, the Red Steel got their campaign back on track with three-run win when the teams played the return match in the Twin Island Republic. In that game Kevin O’Brian (70) and Adrian Barath (29) give the home team a 95-run opening stand before Ross Taylor made an unbeaten 39 to lift T&T to 159-4. Guyana led by an unfinished 60 from James Franklin and 23 not out from Chris Barnwell fell three runs short of the target. Now for the ‘final four’ stage of the competition both teams will have the services of Sri Lankan players for the first time in the tournament due to the unavailability of the Pakistan players who have to represent their country and a broken hand
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Mahela Jayawardene
suffered by New Zealand opener Martin Guptill who played for Guyana. The host will have Mahela Jayawardene to replace injured South African Davey Jacobs, while Guyana gets fast bowler Lasith Malinga and Tillakaratne Dilshan to replace Mohammed Hafeez and the injured Guptill respectively. Guyana’s left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie (14) is the leading wicket-taker in tournament and had bowled ‘dead straight’. Malinga’s pace could be perfect support for him, especially at the ‘death’ while Barnwell and Franklin (the 3rd most expensive bowler in the CPL) will have to improve on their economy rate if Guyana is to limit T&T to a manageable total. Sunil Narine has been Guyana’s best spinner while fellow off-spinner Steven Jacobs has provided excellent support with the ball. Guyana’s problem continues to be the batting and apart from opener Lendl Simmons (3rd on the runs aggregate with 218) and to some extent Guptill and Hafeez, no Guyana batsman has managed consistency. Wi t h G u p t i l l a n d Hafeez unavailable, Skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan who showed glimpses of
his class in the Guyana leg of the competition, Franklin, Jacobs, Denesh Ramdin and Narine will be relied on for runs. On paper, T&T’s batting is very strong with O’Brian, Barath, Jayawardene, Ross Taylor, the two Bravos (Dwayne and Darren) and 17year-old wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran all capable of quick runs. T&T’s bowling will be led by the genuinely quick Fidel Edwards, Kevin Cooper, Dwayne Bravo, O’Brian and Miguel Cummings with spin support from Suleiman Benn, Samuel Badree and Taylor. Tickets for all three matches in Trinidad have already been sold out and with a venue capable of accommodating the largest crowd in the Caribbean (25,000) a capacity partisan turn out is expected tonight when the action starts at 20:00hrs. Scattered thunderstorms are forecast for today in Portof-Spain and if the rain falls it could add to drama since a d a m p o u tfield and pitch could influence the decision to bat or field by the team which wins the toss. The prospects of the Duckworth/Lewis system coming into play increases the Psychological pressure. But T&T’s supporters will be hoping for no rain since a washout will mean that Guyana (by virtue of finishing as the top team in the tournament), will advance to Saturday’s final s ince no reserve day has been allocated. Guyana’s Amazon Warriors could hold the slight advantage of spoiling the Trini’s fete in their own backyard with a win tonight. Jamaica and Barbados square off in the second semi-final tomorrow night at the same venue.
Javon Francis tells of pre-race chit-chat... From page 34 Merritt again and the latter acknowledged that the Jamaican was finishing fast. “I said to him that ‘I was running down the Jamaican record’,” Francis ended. According to Francis, Merritt told him he was still young and that he had a good future ahead of him. “He told me that when he saw me run it reminded him of the young days of Michael Johnson and Bert Cameron. Then he asked me for Gonzales,” Francis noted.
Thursday August 22, 2013
Change made to Jumbo Jet Guyana Cup Horserace programme as A class race added
Ashley John, of Madewini Villas presents sponsorship packages to Irshad Mohammed of the Jumbo Jet establishment. While at right Bibi Rohoman of BM Soat Auto Sales. The organisers of the Jumbo Jet Seventh Annual Guyana Cup horserace meet slated for this Sunday at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Stables in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club, have added an A Class race to the programme. With $34M in cash and prizes up for the taking following the addition of $4M, competitors and fans alike are in for a major treat. With top horse, Score’s Even, which is now a A class animal being in danger of not being able to compete because there was no A class event on the programme, Mr. Nasrudeen ‘Jumbo Jet’ Mohammed added the A class $4M event to the programme. The winner is guaranteed a healthy $2M and Trophy over 1200M. However, five horses will have to start this race before it is held. The H class event has since been replaced, while the distances of the B and the three year old West Indies events has been altered from 1700M and 1600M to 1500M in both cases. The full list of events are The B and lower race for the lavish first prize of $3.5M and the Guyana Cup trophy over 1500M with a total prize money of $7M . The ‘A’ and lower 1200 M gallop has a first prize of $2M and trophy with a total package of $4M. The Co-feature 1500M
event for 3 yrs. old Guyana and the West Indies bred horses for a winning purse of $2.5M and trophy. The Two year old 1000M event for West Indies Bred horses for a $1.5M top prize and trophy. The E class and lower 1400M event for a winning take of $1M top and trophy. There is a race for F class Horses with the winner getting $900,000 and trophy over 1000M, the G 3 and lower1200M contest with the winner getting $800,000 and trophy, the 1200M race for Guyana born three year old horses with a $600,000 price tag and trophy along with the ‘I’ and lower 1200M event for a top prize of $300,000 and trophy. The final race has $200,000 plus trophy at stake for the winner of the JKL event over 1200M. Over 105 horses have entered for the event while a number of foreign and overseas based jockeys will be in action. All the top stables in the country will be represented including the Jumbo Jet connection with over 15 entrants, Colin Elcock Delmur and P&P Syndicate Racing Stable and the Shariff racing stables chases them down with over 10, Senior Council Marcel Crawford, Habibulla, Ashrafally, Jagdeo and Singh also have plenty horses listed to compete. Other major
stables on show will be Dennis DeRoop Simple Royal, Night Eyes, Mahaicony, Jagroop/ Jagmohan and Velloza among others Rumour’s, Night Eyes, Mahaicony, Jagroop/ Jagmohan, Ashrafalli, Tony, Saul, Customs and Singh racing stables. Most of the top Jockeys in the country have been showing form with Jamaicans Andron Findlay and Brian Blake, also expected are Trinidadians Arthur Padmore, Neal Mohammed and Preayven Badrie. However they will have to compete against the likes of overseas based riders in United States based Sunny Singh and Caribbean campaigner Michael Semple, with the local based contingent of Randolph Richmond, Yap ‘Old Boy’ Drepaul, Rupert Ramnauth, Prem Chandra, Krishna Singh, Navin, Mahendra Sukhoo, Nacimento, Michael Sancho, Winston Apadhu, Junio r Sokhan, Ajai Sansarran, Rad Drepaul, Andy Semple and Junior Ramnauth among others in contention. The top Jockey and runner up, top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with accolades compliments of the trophy stall Bourda market and Woodpecker Products. Bugle time 12:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
Thursday August 22, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Giftland launches ‘Quest’ for Brands Ambassador - $3M to be invested among several athletes Giftland OfficeMax has launched an official ‘Quest’ for a Sports Ambassador that will promote the company’s sports brands for one year. The Giftland Sports Ambassador will be chosen from one of five local sports to represent a wide range of brands. At the official launch of ‘The Quest’ at Georgetown Club last week, Delroy Dash, who is part of the Giftland Marketing team, outlined the company’s vision and interest in this new dimension in local sports, which will take advertising to a higher level. Outgoing Ambassador, Masters’ Mr. Universe, Hugh Ross, who spoke briefly on the importance of being an Ambassador, also indicated that local athletes must understand the various aspects of representing the respective company and the brand. He said that the opportunities that were
provided during his tenure as Giftland Ambassador gave him the chance to influence young and aspiring Guyanese athletes. He commended Giftland for their continued efforts and the new initiative. G i f t l a n d ’s Public Relations M a n a g e r, Compton Babb, then outlined the vision behind the concept that induces hope for local athletes; “it’s about Hope for everyone; i n t h e e n d t h i s is what ‘Quest’ will bring to our society- hope to a young student athlete, who can’t afford a track shoe, hope for an athlete who can make difference in the community and hope for a child, who doesn’t have the best parental support,” Babb said in his stirring presentation. He said that Giftland believes that through the nationwide ‘Quest’ for a Sports Ambassador, the nation’s youth can reclaim confidence and hope for a
Outgoing Giftland Sports Ambassador, Hugh Ross poses with other previous ambassadors and potential ambassadors along with Giftland’s Marketing representatives following the launch of the Quest. brighter future in sports; according to Babb every competitor, athlete and student will have a fair chance to prevail, triumph and develop into a new relationship with Giftland OfficeMax through the next year. The five disciplines that the Ambassadors will be chosen from include: Squash,
Football, Track & Field, Hockey and BodyBuilding and the characteristics of the athlete include: knowledgeable and innovative in marketing brands; a good command of the English Language; leadership skills; credibility; relationship builder; team player; tech-adequate and coachable.
Winners from their respective sport disciplines will receiv e d i f f e r e n t packages based on varying sport needs and requirements. But as common in all sports, the support to travel overseas is one of the biggest challenges and to be fully equipped and marketed p r o f e s s i o n a l l y, a m o n g
others, is another. Giftland is prepared to assist athletes in those ways. Travel cost to any Caribbean country and six outfits for each individual will be provided. For the 2013 Quest, Giftland is searching for about 8-10 faces to represent various disciplines, investing in excess of $3,000,000 for one year.
Hendriks pleased with Lifetime ... Motor racers chomping From page 37 and eventually find (my) way into the West Indies team. “It was a great sense of pride for me to wear the tie and the blazer. It was always a lot of fun. I played with some very marvellous people and it was enjoyable.” After he retired from his on-field duties, “I was on the Jamaica Board, started off as assistant secretary and moving up eventually, in the ’90s I was elected as the president. But it has been trying to give something back to cricket, which has given me so much. It was never looked upon as a chore or as a job. It’s something that (I) enjoyed doing because it was for cricket and, as far as I’m concerned, it is the greatest game in the world. “I’m so happy to know that today players are able to earn a good living playing cricket. But, in our days, it was really sort of a pastime, if you want to call it that. It
was always the honour of playing for the West Indies, and for your country and school as well.” Asked what moments stood out in his career, Hendriks responded, “there is so many of them (but) playing with Gary Sobers.” Now, he is not actively involved in the game but, “I still enjoy watching the game so it’s about that. That’s all it is now, a spectator.” Is he pleased to see the evolution of the game? “Some of it,” he replied. “I do not like 20-over cricket at all. I’ve now just become accustomed to the 50 overs stuff. I’m an old dinosaur. Test match cricket is my cricket.” During the 1990s, Hendriks served as an ICC (International Cricket Council) match referee, and saw a number of changes to the game, from the 1960s to now. “I think it’s a lot of changes, some for the bet-
ter, some I don’t think for the better, I think some for the worst,” he commented. “There is the referral system now which has its pros and has its cons. I think it takes up a lot of time. “I think the umpires, at some stage, should take respo n s i b i l i t y f o r s o m e decisions that they’re referring, which are obvious,” he added. “But there are some good things and some things that I think are unn e c e s s a r y. I think probably cricket has been fiddled around too much, and it has not allowed the game to flow, which I think is a very important thing because people seem to think that cricket is a slow and boring game. And the longer you take to get balls bowled and so on, is more people that are getting frustrated. “But I’m glad to see the crowds turning out to the cricket that I don’t like, which is the Twenty20.
Guptill hopes Limacol CPL has acted ... From page 37 the same team (is great) as we have got along really well. “We have gelled as a team pretty quickly and it has been fantastic. “I have absolutely loved it. It has been a great atmosphere with the crowds; we have had
packed houses pretty much everywhere we have been and I would love to (come back). “It all depends on the scheduling of New Zealand’s future tours and when they are going to schedule the Limacol CPL but hopefully there will be
a gap in our schedule and I will be able to come back and play some more cricket,” he added. The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League concludes Saturday, 24 August, while the two semi-finals taking place today and tomorrow.
at the bit for action
Local motor racers are chomping at the bit to spring into action on September 8 when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) holds its ‘Race of Champions’ Meet which will be held, at the South Dakota Circuit. Word emanating from within the fraternity is that the racers are eager to return to the track after a bit of a hiatus following Guyana’s participation at the opening leg of the Caribbean Motor racing Championship which was held in Jamaica. Speaking with an official of the GMR&SC, the Meet is expected to attract most of the top exponents in the sport locally, while Canada-based Paul Vieira and a few drivers out of the USA are also anticipated to grace the event. Their prese n c e , according to the official, along with those of Mark Vieira, Andrew King, Kevin Jeffrey, Irfaan Kalamadeen, Keith E v e lyn, Ryan Rahaman, Stephen Vieira, Carlos Rodrigues, Shairaz Roshandin and Marcus Fiedtkou, among others, are sure to provide some enthralling skirmishes on race day. The Meet which was postponed from July 7 due to unforeseen circumstances is a good opportunity for drivers such as Afraz Allie, Syed Hassan and Kevin
Jeffrey, all of whom racked up valuable points for Guyana in the CMRC to show that their outstanding performances at the regional event was not a stroke of luck. They, however, will be going up against some formidable opponents on the local scene and to say that they will dominate their respective categories is not a definite termination. Jeffrey, who campaigns in the Group 4 category will h a v e t o r e p r o duce the Jamaica performance where he chased down the likes of points leader in the CMRC Doug Gore and defending Caribbean champion David Summerbell Jnr, to resist the anticipated efforts of King and Mark Vieira, while Allie and Hassan, two of the leading drivers in the Group 2B Division, apart from their own battle will also have to stave off the challenges of Suriname’s Oliver Tjin Liep
Shie, Danny Persaud and John Joseph. The Superbikes category also promises to be just as exciting as the cars with the young brigade of Matthew Vieira and Nikhil Seereeram expected to continue their competition and this will supplement the ‘big boys’ scrap that should feature Stephen Vieira, Carlos Rodrigues, Kwame Ridley and Carey Griffith. The gokarts category is also billed to provide excitement and once again the young drivers are expected to take centre stage with Stanley Ming Jnr and Wayne Elliot Vieira throwing down the gauntlet on veterans Marcus Fiedtkou and Stanley Ming Snr. Samaroo confirmed that all the categories have been subscribed and racing fans can be assured of a full and exhilarating day of daredevilry.
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Gentle through to final in St Vincent - Beaton into Boy’s consolation final Top Junior Player Afruica Gentle showed why she is a force to be reckoned with when she stormed into the girl’s 14’s final with a resounding 6-2, 6-0 thrashing of unseeded Trinidadian Candace Cook on Tuesday, at the Grass Roots Tennis Club in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The 12 year old will now play number two seed and home favourite Amarlia Benn. Young Jordan Beaton also kept the Golden Arrow Head flying high when he blanked Miguel Francis 4-0, 4-0 to progress to the final of the boys 14’s consolation tournament. Meanwhile, other Guyanese were sent crashing out of the tournament, Kalyca Fraser, Keenan Persaud, Mark McDonald and Nicola Ramdyhan all exited.
Afruica Gentle Kalyca Fraser playing in the girls 14’s consolation went down in straight sets 40, 4-1 to Shania William.
Keenan Persaud loss in his opening encounter in the Boy’s 14’s consolation, he lost that matchup in straight sets to Justin Marcano 4-0, 53 and Richard Hoyte defeated Guyanese Mark McDonald 40, 4-1. Lone Guyanese hopeful in the girls 18’s, Nicola Ramdyhan was comprehensively beaten in her second round encounter, receiving a pair of bagels 6-0, 6-0 to Canadian eight seed Jade Hilton. In doubles action, Mark McD o n a l d a n d K e e n a n Persaud lost to Vincentian duo of Alexander Cyrus and Ronald Hoyte 6-2, 6-2, while their counterparts Jordan Beaton and Keshon Reece hammered Miguel Francis and Justin Marcano 6-2, 6-0 to progress to the semi- finals.
Javon Francis tells of pre-race chit-chat with Lashawn Merritt Jamaica Observer YOUNG Javon Francis might not have reached the final of the 400m individual event, but he had threatened to beat the American champion Lashawn Merritt on the final leg of the 4x400m relay, if he got the baton before him. That’s the kind of brash confidence the 18-year-old has and although he didn’t achieve his feat, he certainly spanked the other runners with a blistering relay leg for silver. Francis, 18, ran times of 45.37 seconds in his firstround heat but his 45.62 seconds in the semi-finals landed him fifth and out of the final. The American Merritt, on the other hand, won in a world-leading 43.74 seconds in destroying a quality field,
including defending champion Kirani James of Grenada. Francis recounted to the Jamaica Observer his conversation with the American prior to and after the 4x400m relay. “I saw him and I said ‘Mr Lashawn Merritt’ and he said, ‘you are the 18-year-old?’ I asked him what leg he was running and he said ‘anchor leg’. So I said, ‘so is me and you on the anchor leg’. Then I turned to him and said, ‘you see if I get the baton before you, you nah go ketch mi. The only time you will see me is at the finish line’,” said Francis. “He looked at me and said ‘that is a threat?’ I said, ‘yeah, take it as a threat’,” replied Francis. “You are a brave little young fellow,” Francis
claimed was Merritt’s reply. Francis, the precocious Calabar High student, said he continued the conversation by saying: “Is really long time I wanted to run with you guys to feel 44 and 43 pace and he said ‘you have a big heart though’”. “I said ‘don’t be shocked if I run pass you’. But I told him we coming second still. I told him if I get the baton close, I will run him down and see if I can catch him,” Francis reiterated. With the Americans separating themselves after the third leg, Francis didn’t get a chance to test Merritt, but his 44.00 split was one of the fastest and it propelled Jamaica from fifth spot to second. After his splendid run, Francis said he engaged (Continued on page 32)
Regional Women’s T\20
Jamaica beat Guyana by 5 wickets to book final spot Jamaica defeated Guyana by 5 wickets in the semifinal of the Regional Women’s T\20 tournament yesterday in Grenada. Guyana won the toss and elected to bat at the Grenada National Stadium but suffered an early set back when opener June Ogle (01) was dismissed in the 4th over. The Guyanese then lost a few more quick wickets to be at 30-3 before Shemaine Campbell and Treymane
Smartt added 38 for the fourth wicket to steady the Guyanese innings. Campbell was then run out for 22 before Smartt was stumped for 35 to leave Guyana at 89-5; a position from which they never recovered as they were bowled out for 97 in 19.4 overs. Shanel Daley with 2-9 was the pick of the bowlers. Jamaica reply got off to a bad start when Smartt bowled Mc Clean for 6 at 18-1 in the third over. The Guyanese
bowlers continued to mount the pressure on the Jamaicans reducing them to 50-5 before Sanford and Henry saw their team home without further hiccups as they added 47 for the sixth wicket; Jamaica finished on 99-5 in 19.4 overs, Sanford made 27 and Henry 20. Meanwhile Barbados beat Trinidad and Tobago by 30 runs in the next semifinal which was contested at Tanteen.
Thursday August 22, 2013
Javon ‘Donkey Man’ Francis gallops into imagination of track & field world Jamaica Observer - As part of the intriguing culture of Jamaica, nicknames, or aliases, come aplenty. Some of them are vulgar, offensive, cute, weird, interesting and some simply don’t make sense at all. But most, if not all nicknames, have stories behind them. Javon Francis, the 18year-old who by sheer guts galloped like an equine thoroughbred on the final leg to give Jamaica silver on the line of the men’s 4X400m relay at the 14th IAAF World Championships, has a nickname that in a sense defines his amazing performance. With a relay split of 44.00 seconds, Francis, also known as ‘Donkey Man’, announced himself not only to Jamaica but to the world. And his nickname, ‘Donkey Man’, is sure to become as famous over time as his christened names and his World Championships exploits. People will no doubt recall how this youngster propelled Jamaica from fifth to second spot with a burst of speed, then showed unbelievable courage to hang on for the silver medal under extreme pressure from the renewed challenge of the Russian runner who was being cheered on by his compatriots. They will also recall that it was ‘Donkey Man’ from the impoverished settlement in Bull Bay called ‘Bobo Hill’ who lit up the Luzhniki Stadium, demonstrating the spirit of competition like few others at the games. But how did this talented youngster get his name nickname? According to Francis, he was given the nickname while attending St Benedict’s Primary School by his then football coach, who said he
Javon Francis resembled someone called ‘Donkey’. But the name really didn’t stick with him and only got popular while he was going through intense preparation for ‘Champs’ as a Class Two athlete for Calabar High School. One of his Calabar coaches told of an incident that was funny but which forever endeared Francis to his teammates and coaching staff. “We allowed a younger runner to run off seconds before him and told him to chase him,” said the coach who wishes to remain anonymous. Francis failed to catch the youngster and when asked why not, Francis replied. “Him fast, sir.” That youngster was no ordinary runner; it was one of the top Class Three athletes but Francis was told to catch him the next time. Again the same formula was used: The Class Three runner sprinted off in the
distance and Francis chased him down and almost caught him. “How you don’t catch him?” the question was asked again of Francis. “Mi a nuh donkey sir,” a tired and irate Francis replied. From that day the name ‘Donkey Man’ never left him. Francis recalled two warnings from two of his coaches: “If you come in the kitchen you will get burn” and “if you want something your nose will have to run like river”. Despite being extremely exhausted, Francis said he was offered a financial package if he could run the last 200m in 22 flat or 21 plus. “I said to myself, $400 could do me well and I could stop at Mother’s (Patties) or anywhere. I was tired, but I ran the time like I wasn’t even tired in 21 something,” he remembered. But that coaching style has turned a talented youngster into a star who loves to chase, and not only has he done it once in recent times, he did it at the Penn Relays, chasing and catching none other than the super talented Delano Williams who just represented Great Britain in the 200m at the Moscow games. The stage was set at the 2013 Penn Relays as Munro College, being anchored by Williams, had a near 10-metre lead but Francis went into overdrive and surpassed Williams to secure an unlikely victory for Calabar High. He was timed at 44.8 on that leg. Then months later, he did it again, this time on the world stage, sweeping past not junior athletes, but the best in the world and has now etched his name into Jamaica’s track and field folklore. “Now they want to call me Super Donkey,” Francis told the Jamaica Observer.
Bahamas to host first two editions of IAAF World Relays MOSCOW, Russia (CMC) — Bahamas will host the first two editions of the IAAF World Relays, a new competition being introduced by the sports governing body. The new competition was unveiled during a news conference in Moscow featuring IAAF General Secretary Essar Gabriel and attended by a number of officials, including the Bahamas Sports Minister Daniel Johnson and IAAF Council member Pauline
Davis-Thompson. “We are here to talk about a new and exciting addition to our events,” said Gabriel. “The Relays bring the addition of teaming up and the excitement of the unfolding of different abilities with competitions from 100m up to higher distances.” The IAAF World relays will be staged in the Bahamas in 2014 and 2015. 2004 Olympic Games 100m hurdles champion Joanna Hayes and US
s p r i n t l e g e n d Maurice Greene also attended the news conference. “These are exciting events that the spectators want to see. The Bahamas is the land of relays; Pauline can talk about that, and testify, “said Gabriel. “The icing on the cake is that the 2014 edition will be considered as a qualification for the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, and 2015 edition for the 2016 Olympic Games,” said Gabriel.