Kaieteur News

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Anti-money laundering measures…

As worry continues to mount over possible sanctions by the international community if certain measures are not taken to fight money laundering locally, Guyana has submitted a report to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) which it hopes will buy the country more time. Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, yesterday said that the report speaks of other measures that are being implemented in the meantime. The legislation, AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013 (AML/CFT), was presented to the National Assembly for passage earlier this year, but the Opposition asked for more time to study the them and sent the matter to a Parliamentary Select Committee. Guyana, in a last-ditch effort to avert sanctions, sent Nandlall, and Paul Geer, head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the entity which is tasked locally with investigating money crimes,

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall to Nicaragua to ask a review panel for an extension. An extension was granted. Guyana’s situation is set to be reviewed in November, but a progress report was given a deadline of Monday, August 26. “We are proceeding to implement the non-legislative part of the recommendations that are outside of those Parliamentary Bills. We are working to pass the Bills by November. I will be addressing the matter later

this week also,” the AG told Kaieteur News last evening. This was what was also essentially conveyed to CFATF in the report for the August 26 deadline. Sanctions by the international community could see money transfers and other remittances and even trade severely affected. Institutions like the banks, insurance companies, cambios, pawnbrokers, credit cooperatives and money transfer agencies are among those likely to feel the squeeze. The Parliamentary Bills were targeting the deficiencies that currently exist in the laws. Last month, one of the country’s biggest banks, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) warned of the implications of not adhering. “This has very serious implications for our banks, by extension our customers who make and receive international payments,” GBTI’s Chairman, Robin Stoby, S.C., said in his halfyearly report. CFATF, in late May, also

West Bank man died of - four in fractured skull custody Robert Manna also called Jake, whose semi-nude body was discovered lying face down on the street in front of his friend’s house at Westminster, La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara, died of a fractured skull caused by blows he received to the head. This was determined by a post mortem examination

conducted on Monday last, which also cleared suspicions that the 54-year-old man was sodomised. Meanwhile, Manna’s friend “Ramesh”, with whom he had been drinking the night before, and in front of whose house his remains laid, was subsequently taken into police custody. Kaieteur News learnt yesterday that “Ramesh”

gave police the names of three other men, whom he said were also “drinking rum and watching cricket” at his house. The four men remain in police custody. Meanwhile, the dead man’s brother said that although he had wanted to cremate his sibling, he would have to resort to a burial, in order to facilitate an exhumation, should the need arise.

made it clear that the issue was a serious one. WARNINGS “If Guyana does not take specific steps by November 2013, then the CFATF will identify Guyana as not taking sufficient steps to address its AML/CFT deficiencies and will take the additional steps of calling upon its members to consider implementing counter measures to protect their financial systems from the ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from Guyana, and at that time CFATF will consider referring Guyana to the Financial Action Task Force International Cooperation Review Group (FATF ICRG),” the regional body said. According to the CFATF, in November 2011, the body brought to the attention of its member states, including Guyana, that there were significant strategic deficiencies in their AML/ CFT regime. “With a view to encouraging expeditious rectification of the identified strategic deficiencies, the CFATF, in conjunction with Guyana, developed an action plan with identified target dates to address the strategic deficiencies that existed in its national architecture to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.” CFATF acknowledged that Guyana took steps towards improving its AML/ CFT compliance regime, including strengthening its record-keeping requirements and functionality of its Financial Intelligence Unit, but urged that the legislation be passed. CFATF is an organisation of 29 states of the Caribbean Basin which have agreed to implement common

countermeasures to address the problem of criminal money laundering. It was established as the result of meetings convened in Aruba in May 1990 and Jamaica in November 1992. The amendment to the law is designed to force better record-keeping of financial transactions, to flag suspicious activities. It will also strengthen the capacity of countries to prosecute and even seize assets that are proceeds of illegal activities, including drugs and arms smuggling. CFATF and other similar agencies believe that by targeting the money trail, it would hamper drug trafficking and other illegal activities. Guyana has not made any notable arrests for money laundering or seen any major seizures of assets that came from money laundering activities. So far, financial institutions have implemented measures like demanding in some cases that its clients produce two forms of identifications. GUIDELINES Already, Bank of Guyana has developed guidelines for the various financial institutions. Among other things, the businesses may be called upon by the Central Bank to demonstrate compliance. Essentially, the companies will have to take steps to know its customers and take steps otherwise to establish the identities of the parties wishing to create a relationship. Training programmes and the appointment of a compliance officer are recommended in the guidelines. According to General

Manager of GTM Group of Companies, Roger Yee, his company has already since earlier this year, appointed a compliance officer who is ensuring that systems are in place to deal with the requirements. Under the laws, transactions above a certain amount would automatically trigger red flags and these have to be reported to the Bank of Guyana. Financial institutions will be mandated to ascertain the origin of funds when transactions are above a certain amount. For the insurance companies, it is over $1M annually. At the banks, transactions over $500,000 daily would be flagged and have to be reported. No longer would insurance companies be allowed, when the new laws come, to accept vague descriptions of source of wealth as “savings”, “investments”, “inheritance” and “business dealings”. In the case of remittances, the senders’ identities have to be ascertained, failing which the transaction cannot be completed. Suspicious transactions have to be reported to the FIU which under the laws will be given even more sweeping power of investigations.

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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

Syrian end game? Syria’s turmoil began with protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in March 2011as an apparent extension of the “Arab Spring”. He had succeeded his father who had staged a coup in 1970. The protests crossed an important threshold a year and a half later, when the International Red Cross formally declared it a civil war. After over 100,000 dead, almost 2 million becoming refugees and another 4.25 million internally displaced, an end game might be in sight. Support for Bashar al-Assad has held firm among the Alawite minority of which he is a member. They make up about 12 per cent of the country’s population, but while Muslims are not part of the 75% Sunni Majority. Much of the 10% Christian minority have also backed Assad in the past, preferring his secular rule to an Islamist alternative. While the US is concerned about the Syrian regime’s friendship with Iran and its staunch opposition to Israel, much of the domestic opposition that make up the rebel movement were more concerned with establishing Sunni dominance. As the war has gone back and forth, the quick, expected victory of the rebels, backed by the US and the Sunni states, failed to materialise. But it presented the intriguing sight of the US supporting troops heavily infiltrated by Al Qaida and other foreign Islamist forces. A year ago President Obama had indicated that if the Bashar regime used chemical weapons, a ‘red line” would have had been crossed. But support for direct intervention by the US into the Syrian civil war has never been popular with the American public. Last week, after thousands were stricken and more than three hundred persons were killed in a suburb by what appeared to be a nerve gas, the rebels and the US accused the Assad regime of unleashing weapons of mass destruction on its citizens. After some hesitation, the Syrian government accepted international inspectors to investigate the allegation, but the US has retorted that it was too little too late. Though the Bashar al-Assad regime possesses stocks of chemical weapons, earlier allegations of their use by the government have never been conclusively verified. Ironically, U.N. investigators arrived in Syria right before the attack in which chemical munitions were allegedly used; only a government looking to discredit itself would have timed their deployment in this manner. Because there is the certainty of a Russian veto in the UN Security Council since Russia is an ally of the Syrian regime, the US has been lobbying its allies and it appears certain that it is on the verge of entering the fray directly. It will most likely do so under the auspices of NATO or the regional Arab governments’ invitation to stave off a “humanitarian” disaster. This was the technique used in 1999 against Yugoslavia to justify what would otherwise be an act of aggression. The latest poll has indicated, however, that more than 60% of Americans are opposed to intervention, with only 9% supportive. Over the last week, President Obama has been accused of being indecisive for following through on the crossing of his “red line”. One fear might be that in the event of a rebel victory, the chemical weapons in the possession of the Assad regime might fall into the hands of radical Islamist forces such as Al Qaida. Another might be the reaction of Iran, which has admitted that it has non-combatant troops in Syria. Iran has warned the USA after the allegations of the use of chemical weapons, not to cross its “red line”. If the Assad regime falls in Syria, the Iranian supply lines to Hezbollah in Lebanon through Syria would be broken. Iran would not look kindly at this breaking of the “Shia Crescent” in the Middle East. With the confluence of so many volatile factors in a region that has defined the word “volatile” in International Relations, we would urge caution to the US in proceeding with any plans to stage any sort of attack on Syria. It would place the US in an untenable position, just when it is withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

I chose to face the unlawful charges against me, rather than running into the jungle like a scared rat DEAR EDITOR, Allow me if you will to respond to the revelations that have come out of my on air interview with my fellow treason accused Phillip Bynoe over the past week, and your news article of August 16 2013 on the subject matter on whether he owes me an apology over my unlawful incarceration as a political prisoner. I will proceed to do so by citing comments attributed to Bynoe, and providing my take on them. Martin Luther King’s insights that, “In the end we will remember not the words or actions of our enemies but the deafening silence of our friends....”, is instructive, I believe, in any examination of what Phillip should or should not have done after my arrest, indictment, and prosecution. Mr. Bynoe proclaimed that quote, “..Mark Benschop decided on his own to listen to the advice of his attorneys and turned himself in... Phillip Bynoe took his own counsel and refused to turn himself in...” . Phillip’s argument thus is that even though I knew that I had broken no law, had committed no crime, the wise thing for me to do would have been to go on the run like him. They say that anyone who chose to represent themselves in a legal matter has a fool for a client, and this also is instructive in any examination of Bynoe’s thought processes. I will argue that had I not turned myself in and thus endured a public trial that exposed the political implications in the case, and had gone on the run

with Bynoe, I would have probably been dead like so many who were accused and never had their day in court. Bynoe’s post facto retrospective is inundated with egotistical bravado and egotistical interposition. If one expects to be taken seriously by those one purports to be representing, or the values and rights and freedoms one is ostensibly engaged in pursuing, flight in the face of trumped up and political prosecutions is not what one should resort to. I knew that I was not involved in any treasonous conduct or activity on the day in question. I knew that I was innocent and flight would instigate inferences of my guilt. I chose to exhibit the courage to face the unlawful charges before a forum legally prescribed for determining guilt or innocence, rather than absconding into the jungle like a scared rat. Bynoe admits that he was responsible for staging a protest that he claims got out of hand. He admits that I arrived after the events that were the subject of the charges filed against me, had taken place. At the same time, he asserts that he had no obligation to make known these facts during the long period of my trial and incarceration. He boastfully asserts that he was in communication with Attorneys within and without the ruling regime behind my political persecution and incarceration. But by some defect of reasoning and understanding, he felt no

responsibility to use those contacts to make publicly known the facts and circumstances of my presence at the scene on the day in question. I have to assume that Bynoe does not subscribe to the wisdom of the late civil rights leader and martyr Martin Luther King in his exhortation that we should, “..never, never be afraid or reluctant to do what is right, especially when the well being of a person or animal is at stake. And that Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we do otherwise.” My well-being and that of the many who answered his call to that protest were mere blips on the subjective self-preserving radar of Phillip Bynoe, in comparison to the punishments he perceived might have been forthcoming over something that he had initiated. Bynoe, in a vile attempt to explain away his cowardly absconding after the incident, seeks to blame me for my incarceration. He exudes the most obnoxious and inane argument that I was not part of the struggle. That I was not invited. Bynoe, in his post facto preening presumes that there was some clause on Cuffy’s will that bequeathed him the privilege of deciding who could be and could not be part of the Guyanese struggle for change. I suppose this is an inheritance of his political association with those who daily exhibit the tendency to presume ownership of all that is material and non-material

property in Guyana. And it adds to, rather than takes away, the suspicion that the entire fiasco was meant to ensnare others into a web of political persecution. Bynoe, in his after all the dust has cleared triumphalist exultation, evidences the kind of leadership that incites and exhorts people into actions and activities, and then scurries away furtively, leaving them to face the music alone. My question to Phillip Bynoe is, since he seems willing to enter into a public discussion on this issue, and since his disclosures clearly and unambiguously demonstrate my innocence of the charges leveled against me, and for which I was incarcerated for a significant portion of my young life, is he prepared to swear to an affidavit on his revelations? Would he stand before a Justice of the Peace authorized to take sworn testimony, and affix his signature to what freely reveals today? The test of true leadership is not the boastful noise that emanates from those who aspire to such positions. The test of true leadership is the willingness to stand firm and resolute for one’s convictions, and be willing, as I did, and as many who I have no intention of comparing myself with, honorably did, whether the theatre was South Africa or the United States of America. Like Martin Luther King, whose wisdom and courage has been an instrumental guiding principle for my Continued on page 5

It is necessary that the mining industry has someone with intimate knowledge of the sector as its Commissioner DEAR EDITOR, The GGDMA would like to respond to a letter captioned” Improper for GGDMA to call for the confirmation of the acting appointment in GGMC” Stabroek News August 26, 2013 and “A contradictory call by the GGDMA” in the Kaiteur News August 25 2013. The GGDMA as a serious stakeholder in the local mining industry has taken this position in support of the appointment of Mr. Vieira as Commissioner. The GGDMA has two representatives who sit on the Board of Directors of the GGMC and were part of the process to recruit a commissioner to fill the vacancy created at the retirement of past Commissioner in 2012. The vacancy was advertised and applicants were shortlisted

(among them senior staff of GGMC), assessed by interviews and Mr. Vieira was the preferred candidate at the end of the process. Mr. Vieira was recruited as Commissioner by the GGMC Board. However, the Guyana Public Service Union as the union representing the Commission‘s workers protested and advanced the case that the then acting deputy Commissioner be appointed to the position of Commissioner since the individual was soon to retire in a few months. Mr. Vieira acquiesced in good faith and in the interest of good working relationships with GGMC and has been acting for close to 18 months. It is the Association‘ s opinion that Mr. Vieira is discharging his duties commendably in the present circumstances. The issues of falling gold

prices, rampant illegal mining and upsurge of criminal activity in the hinterland, are as old as the Commission itself and has to be dealt with on several fronts including the security sector. The Gold and Diamond Mining Industry is regulated and monitored by GGMC. Over the past thirty-one (31) years GGDMA has successfully managed the development of the small and medium scale alluvial Gold and Diamond mining industry to the most successful industry in Guyana. This was done by working together with GGMC to solve the problems and agree on the ways forward. At this critical stage of its development it is necessary that the mining industry has someone who has intimate knowledge of the sector as its Commissioner. In Archer‘s letter it is

stated “It creates the impression that the GGDMA and the GGMC are bed mates for mutual benefit.” ‘It`s similar to having criminals elect a Commissioner of Police” StabroekNews was wise to not print the latter sentence. We suspect some mischief and from which quarter; recall in SN April 26 2012 and KN August 20 2013 where APNU was renewing its call for acting Commissioner of Police Mr. Brumell to be confirmed to the position he has been acting in for the past year. Is Archer (Sr) by analogy equating APNU with criminals? Colin Sparman For Management Committee Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

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

Amalia would have put future Hopefully, writers will be generations in debt forever guided by facts, and not halftruths on the Amaila project

DEAR EDITOR, Almost all Guyanese want to see Guyana prosper, especially with hydro-power, but prosperity should not come by paying Sithe Global G$130 billion for putting the Amalia Falls Hydro Power deal together. That would be a loss to the Guyanese economy forever but a gain for the American economy, which will put the people in debt for the foreseeable future. A debt that could lead to the dismantling of the country’s already poor social and educational structures. Is this the new form of economic colonialism? Is this how the Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabal plan to drain Guyana of its vital resources? We are of the firm belief that when the PPP finishes with Guyana, all the wells, trenches, streams, canals, rivers and the ocean will run dry and there would not be enough of anything left for the poor and the working class to survive on. The country’s milk has

already dried up; now the cabal is looking for blood. We call on the opposition to stop bleeding the country of its resources. This morally bankrupt PPP cabal was not only putting the lives of future generations at risk with Amalia, they have already done so with the White elephant at Skeldon, the Berbice Bridge and the reckless use of the taxpayers’ money. If we look at Ramesh’s or Fred’s two year old grandson and his excitement about life, that is what he deserves – to be debt free, stress free and happy. If the people of Guyana had allowed the PPP to progress with Sithe Global on the flawed Amalia hydro power project, that grandson would have been immediately saddled with a contingent liability and a highly probably debt of some G$200,000 with Ashni Singh and the PPP “Motion to increase the Debt Ceiling” from G$1 to G$150 billion. That would have been in

I chose to face the... From page 4 positions and activism, I believe that the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Everyone can remember and understand where I was at a time of great challenge and controversy, and where I continue to be today. Bynoe, after scurrying away when the time was ripe with challenge and controversy, today seeks to make his stand today in post facto comfort and convenience. Mark A. Benschop

addition to the current debt the grandson is saddled with at birth of roughly G$555,000, compliments of the PPP. Yes! that is how much the PPP has borrowed in his name and all the other two year olds to do projects over the last 20 years; much of it has been squandered on white elephants like the Skeldon Sugar Factory and GPL. If the people and the combined opposition allowed the PPP to continue with their poor management of the financial affairs of the country, this grandson, by the time he finished working, would have had to pay an additional amount of G$10,000 in taxes per year to Ashni Singh’s operation while he would have been benefiting from wages increase of G$3,750 per year. This is the PPP’s grand formula for putting poor people in perpetual poverty—give a little and take away more so that they can feed the corrupt greed machine with more Taj Mahals, more beach front palaces, more chandeliers that are worth G$10 million, more Prados and Land Rovers, while the people continue to suffer with survival wages and sometimes no wages at all in places like Plastic City. But the people are on to these jagabats. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh

DEAR EDITOR, I am compelled to respond to a letter appearing in yesterday’s edition of your newspaper (KN 26/08/2013) written by Asquith Rose and Harish S Singh. I believe the following paragraph contained in that letter was carefully constructed and deliberately intended to mislead your readers: “What we do know is that David Granger and APNU did the right t h i n g b y n o t voting for the Amaila Bill in parliament, and the people are clearly on their side. In joining with the PPP/C to vote for the bill, the AFC not only did the wrong thing but it appears as though they did not have the people’s interest at heart. If the AFC did have their interest at heart, then why would its leaders allow Sithe Global Inc to charge Guyanese a 19% interest rate when commercial lending interest rates in Europe and North America are less than half that amount?” The first sentence

contains the first lie. There was never an Amaila Bill before the parliament and the authors of the letter are aware of this. The second sentence uses this lie in order to imply that the Allianc e F o r C h a n g e’s (AFC’s) parliamentary vote for two supporting measures for the project was a vote for the project in its entirety. This lets them conclude in the next sentence that the AFC has allowed Sithe to charge an exorbitant interest rate. Also in that sentence, the gentlemen deliberately misuse the term interest rate to refer to what is actually a rate of return on investment or equity. They then repeat a similar line later down in the letter as follows: Further, if they had the people’s interest at heart, they would not have allowed Sithe Global to charge 19 percent interest rate on its loan of US$157 million to the Amaila project when the average commercial lending rate in

North America and Europe is between 6 percent and 8 percent. In this instance they’ve added the word loan to strengthen their case. I believe they both know that the US$157 million was an investment and not a loan, and therefore their comparisons to average commercial lending rates is misleading. Why not make the right comparisons so we can all be better informed? Ultimately your readers will have to form their own conclusions, and in doing so it is hoped they will be guided by the facts and not influenced by such cleverly assembled half truths as contained in the above mentioned letter by Rose and Singh. Dominic Gaskin

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Wednesday August 28, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

ON DRESS CODES AND HOSPITAL DEATHS DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to voice my opinion on two issues that has caught my attention in the print media. Firstly, I wonder if we as Guyanese question our actions, the reason for it or if it is just to mimic the western world. Could someone please explain to me why women are allowed to wear skimpy clothing to work and a man has to cover himself properly? Isn’t this backwardness? A women is more vulnerable to remarks and even physical assaults when she dresses in a lewd manner than one who dresses decently.(Decent in this context is and as applicable to our society is loose top with sleeves and loose bottom to their ankle). Regardless of how a woman dresses, no one has

the right to attack her, but then again it is as saying that I go to bed in the night and left my wealth outside and expect to see it there in the morning. I call upon the private and public sector to enforce a decent dress code for the sake of our treasures. I would like to end this statement by stating only one with evil and wicked ambitions would counter me and consequently I will not merit any response, further I will close this paragraph with the famous quote by Tawakul Karman: “Man in The early times was almost naked, and as his intellect evolved he started wearing clothes. What I am today and what I’m wearing represents the highest level of thought and civilization that man has achieved, and is not regressive. It’s the removal of

clothes again that is regressive back to ancient TIMES.” Secondly, it is with great disappointment and disgust that once again my attention was captured and humiliated on page 11 of the Stabroek News, Tuesday, August 27, 2013, with the caption “GPH accused of negligence after woman succumbs during emergency treatment”. Regardless of the cause of death of this particular woman, it is most unfortunate that she was rushed to the GPHC around 4a.m, but was seen by a doctor around 7a.m. More disappointing was the fact that there were no more than 10 patients and even more disturbing was the attitude of the nurse towards the departed sister. This portrays an atmosphere of incompetence and unprofessionalism on the part of GPHC. It is common knowledge that no country could prosper economically, morally and socially without human resources; therefore this resource should be treated with the utmost importance, especially more than the Marriot and the Amaila Projects.. The GPHC should be staffed with competent, adequate and well-trained staff, and should be treated with utmost importance with regards to allocation and planning on the Government’s Annual Budget. I honestly feel that citizens of our country are not properly represented by the politicians, since all politicians of Guyana are materially wealthy people and it is difficult for a rich man to put a poor man interest above his. Name and address given

Wednesday August 28, 2013

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OBAMA’S NEWEST WAR GAME Obama seems set to drag America into yet another global conflict. This time the pretext for the use of force is the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria. US Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel has ratcheted up the war drums when he suggested that America was prepared for the first strike against Syria should the President give the order. The warmongering Obama administration is seemingly not prepared to wait on the verdict from the UN team that is presently in Syria. It is seemingly not even willing, should it be discovered who used chemical weapons in Syria, to explore new diplomatic

options. It is at the ready, willing to bomb Syria regardless, it would seem, whatever is the outcome of the UN investigation. The statements emanating from Washington suggest that regardless of the findings of the UN inspections, America is ready for air strikes. The Russians should not allow this war dance by the Americans to continue. They should signal in no uncertain manner that they are prepared and at the ready to come to the defence of Syria should the Americans attack. They should insist that the Obama administration await the outcome of the UN inspections team report, as

Dem boys seh

Don’t ask Brazzy nutten If people want to know something dem got to ask questions. But from ever since dem had people who don’t like to answer questions. Some does deliberately give de wrong answer as one reporter find out. This happen in de States. When some people angry dem does reply, “Don’t ask me nutten.” But Brazzy got another answer and dem boys want to know if was a question about he mother if he woulda give de same answer. De question coulda be “wha you mother name?” or perhaps if he was de fattest child he mother ever mek. Brazzy deh pun TV and of course de whole of Guyana know that de World Bank refuse to support de Amaila project. If de project was so good then a body like de World Bank would put in de money and get a healthy profit. It didn’t. When dem boys ask Brazzy he tell dem to go and ask de World Bank. This is de kind of man who claim that he tell de opposition everything

about de Amaila project. If that is de case why he didn’t answer de question? And dem boys want to know why Sam didn’t answer de question, since he in charge of de electricity sector. Now imagine de police arrest Brazzy and ask how much money he thief from Guyana. Dem boys want to know if he gun tell de police go to Guyana. Is de same kind of arrogance dem been showing all de time. When dem boys ask about who investing in de Marriott, de same Brazzy claim how is confidential. Was confidential when dem boys ask about Fip background in building road. It tun out that it was so confidential that even Fip didn’t know if he build any road. Poor Nigel, who claim how he job as company secretary fuh Sithe Global was public knowledge, suddenly find out that it was confidential, because nobody didn’t know. Talk half and ask Brazzy when he going to jail.

well as await the deliberations by the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria. Before these deliberations take place, the UN team has to establish that an atrocity has taken place, but the mere fact that an atrocity has taken place does not form the basis for force to be used against Syria. The justification for the use of force on humanitarian grounds has to be the ongoing atrocities, and the use of force to repel any atrocity can only, under international law, be undertaken after all peaceful means of resolving the dispute have been exhausted. The American threat is therefore premature and unwarranted. But for the Obama administration it may be politically expedient. With mid-term elections looming soon, there may be the temptation for Obama to order airstrikes against Syria to boost the popularity ratings of Democrats just as how Ronald Regan responded to American

humiliation in Lebanon by invading the tiny and insignificant island of Grenada in Operation Urgent Fury, thirty years ago. The Americans, of course, are keen to blame the Assad administration in Syria for what seems to have been a chemical attack that is believed to have killed in excess of one thousand persons in an area that the Syrian was fighting to gain control. But as some commentators have pointed out, there is no evidence as yet as to who was responsible. It cannot be ruled out that this attack emanated from the rebels. After all, if one of their ranks was found eating the human remains of his victims, anything is possible. What the Americans want badly is a game-changer. They want to enter the civil conflict in Syria to alter the balance, since the tide has long swung in favour of Assad. The chemical attack may well become the pretext to do in Syria what was done in Libya.

But the Americans never learn. They have turned the Arab Spring into a snowstorm of instability. They are destroying the Arab World by seeking to impose their own regimes in parts of that world, by force and by influence. The consequences of this will be both political and economic. There will be a continued backlash against the western world. The strategy will also be ineffective, because Assad has nowhere to run this time, and airstrikes will only intensify the severity of war and increase suffering as happened in the Balkans. There will also be severe e c o n o m i c consequences. Just yesterday, the BBC was reporting that oil prices have risen in response to both the US’s warmongering threats and a serious decline in oil production in Libya. If the Americans launch airstrikes against Syria, it will most definitely see a further increase in oil prices and this

will hurt the American economic recovery and the Democrats in the forthcoming elections. Obama may be willing to take that gamble, but has he factored in the Russian response? Why does he believe that the Russians are simply going to roll over and allow him to do as he pleases in Syria? It will not be that easy.

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Wednesday August 28, 2013

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Sadly, Mr. Ramotar is throwing it away There are two persons who spoke to me on President Ramotar when the country knew he would be the next President. One was the owner of this newspaper, Mr. Glenn Lall. Mr. Lall asked to speak to me and I visited him in his office. I remember the day very well. It was an afternoon. I sat, while he stood when speaking all the time. The conversation was formal and there were hardly any jokes and smiles. Mr. Lall said to me; “Look, I know the way you feel about the PPP and I see all the things you have written, all these years but I want to tell you that Donald Ramotar will prove you wrong.” Mr. Lall continued, “Freddie, I know what I am saying; he is

different. He will change the way Jagdeo ran this country.” I swear on my parents’ grave, I listened and I simply said to Mr. Lall, “Well let’s see what happens.” I honestly felt that Mr. Lall called me in his office because he was convinced there were bound to be changes in my column direction because Mr. Ramotar was the person that was going to transform Guyana in ways that would make the style and tradition of the Freddie Kissoon Column different from how it evolved. I cannot name the other person, because I don’t think he would want me to identify him. I cannot even state the place where the conversation occurred because that would

give it away. He is one of the longest serving servants of the PNC and one that is generally regarded in Guyana as one of the quality persons the PNC as an organization has produced over the past forty years. That is as far as I will go. We were talking about the PPP in Government and I expressed fear of the bad things that may continue under Ramotar and this is what he said; “Nah, Donald is not like that.” That was all he said, and he referred to Ramotar by his first name. At that point he left me to speak to someone who requested his presence. Apart from these two gentlemen, there are the public words about Donald Ramotar by my dead friend,

Vic Puran. I shared a long friendship with Puran and though we were not buddy pals at all, the long years (forty) did make us see each other as friends who respected and liked each other. Months before he died, Vic Puran published a letter in this newspaper openly calling for opposition critics to talk to Mr. Ramotar and try to work with him because as Puran put it at the time, “He is a good man.” Speaking for myself, I would say before the PPP Government descended into really unjustified, authoritarian behaviour, Donald Ramotar and I were on very good terms. His wife and I spoke very friendly to each other whenever we met. During the times I taught his daughter at UG, we would have many, profound conversations on Guyanese politics and during those talks I can honestly say that nothing she said was ever of

a complexion that caused me not to believe that she was below the narrow partisanship and sordid culture of the PPP. In fact I can say that her views were above such partisanship and such a culture. With each passing day, Ramotar is moving further and further away from the person that Mr. Lall, Vic Puran and that PNC cadre spoke so highly of. The latest stumble was at Cotton Tree in Region Five when he used the words “jackass thinking” in response to a certain critic of the present imbroglio over hydropower. In that same speech, Mr. Ramotar seems to be content with using a Jagdeoite style. This is what is so disconcerting about Mr. Ramotar. You are not seeing a Ramotar style, a particular Ramotar angle. You are witnessing a typical, inflexible, Jagdeoite flow. At Cotton Tree, it was Jagdeo in full battle dress. The Kaieteur

Frederick Kissoon News and Stabreoek News were lambasted. One of the saddest points in that address for me is when he said in reference to the Marriott Hotel construction that for the first time Guyana will have a five star hotel. When I read that, UG flew into my mind right away. I say most sincerely the thought just came immediately to mind that we would have a five star hotel, but the country’s only university is dying. How could you compare the two? As I pen this column, the news has arrived that Canada reintroduced the processing of visa and sponsorship applications in Guyana. Less hassle for those leaving.

Sparendaam plane crash...

Compensation for victims still on the table - GCAA By Keeran Danny Government’s offer of compensating residents whose properties were destroyed or damaged, when an American-registered aircraft crashed in Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, in April, is still on the table. Zulficar Mohamed, Director General of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed yesterday. Mohamed said Government is cognizant that legal matters surrounding the insurance of the plane may possibly take years to conclude, as such, it is offering both residents affected one house each. However, this compensation by Government would not override the payments residents would obtain from the plane’s insurance or money from Sithe Global, he added. On April 13, two men were on board the ill-fated twinengine Piper Aztec, with registration N27-F, on a technical survey mission related to the Amaila Falls Hydropower project. Apparently, Sithe Global, responsible for managing the construction of the project, sub-contracted Digital World Mapping to conduct surveys. The aircraft just after taking off from the Ogle Airport, crashed into

Director General of GCAA, Zulifcar Mohamed Florence Tyndall’s residence and burnt a section of her neighbour Michelle Belle’s house. Tyndall escaped unharmed, but the aircraft’s owner and pilot Pierre Angiel and his passenger Canadian Scientist, Nick Dmitriev perished. Early last month, a senior Government official informed this publication that Cabinet approved compensation for the victims. The official also said Tyndall wants Sithe Global to rebuild her house. According to Mohamed, from the inception only Belle had agreed to be compensated by Government. However, with Sithe Global pulling out of Guyana, Tyndall has agreed for Government to

compensate her too. Mohamed is confident that Sithe Global, which is an international company, would honour its obligations to compensate the residents. In fact, the GCAA would continue to communicate with the company on behalf of Tyndall and Belle, he stated. During earlier communication with this publication when the insurance of the aircraft came under scrutiny, Brian Kubeck President of Sithe Global had said “Amaila Falls Hydro believes that insurance should cover the rebuilding / rehabilitation of the houses and we are committed to ensuring that this happens. We are greatly saddened by the loss of life and property associated with the accident and we are doing our best to ensure that the affected homeowners can rebuild”. He stated that Amaila Falls Hydro met with the Ministry of Public Works and GCAA on May 16 and provided a full briefing of the measures being taken to investigate the incident and assist those affected by this tragedy. “Because of the delay in settling the insurance claims, Amaila Falls Hydro has agreed to assist Atlis in establishing a fund to provide resources to the affected homeowners so they can rebuild their homes as soon as possible”, Kubeck said.

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Billion-dollar bids tendered for regional security services The Ministry of Local Government received three (3) billion-dollar bids for the provision of security services for several regions. These include: regions two, three, four, five, six and 10. The bids were opened yesterday by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Ministry of Finance, Main Street.

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) received a lone bid for the procurement of spares for vessels.

Under the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) received bids for the provision of equipment for the hauling of materials for the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) Northern Relief Canal Project.

Further within the Local Government Ministry, bids were submitted for the provision of security services throughout the Hinterland regions. These include: regions one, seven, eight and nine.

Still within the sector, bids were opened for the provision of security services for the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister received bids for the supply and installation of generators for Mahdia and Port Kaituma Power Station.

The Ministry of Health received bids for the procurement of vehicles.

Under the Ministry of Home Affairs, bids were opened for the supply and delivery of construction materials for the Guyana Prison Service. The bids were divided into five lots.

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC), number seven, received bids for the construction of Itaballi Primary School.

In addition, the RDC received bids for the construction of Bamford Point Road, Bartica.

Further, the RDC received bids for the construction of Track X, Caribese Hill, Bartica.

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Kaieteur News

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Wednesday August 28, 2013

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GTA deems British Birdfair 2013 a “record breaking success” Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority Indranauth Haralsingh has deemed this year’s British Birdwatchers Fair (BBWF) a success, noting that Guyana broke its record of having 18 international tour operators proactively selling, promoting, and advertising destination Guyana, via their catalogues and websites. This was compared to just one such person, eight years ago, when Guyana first participated. Haralsingh said that tours are being advertised for Guyana in 2013, 2014, and 2015 are already receiving tremendous response. He explained that “a number of key meetings were held with tour operators who have a keen interest in selling destination Guyana. Expanding our sales and distribution network is critical to the growth and development of birding in Guyana. Fourteen companies and tour operators have a high interest in selling Guyana.” Dubbed the ‘International Wildlife Event of the Year’, the

world’s largest bird festival, was organized by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in partnership with Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. This year, the Birdfair celebrated its 25th anniversary. “Birdfair attracts over 300 exhibitors and over 25,000 birdwatchers, nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, conservationists, etc from all over the world,” Haralsingh said, noting that bird watching is one of Guyana’s most successful niche products, the market for which is thriving. Guyana’s participating team included Wilderness Explorers, Tony Thorne, Claire Antell, and Specialist Bird Guide, Mr. Luke Johnson. According to Haralsingh, “Bird fair 2013 was a very successful one for Guyana, in that our major objectives of promoting Guyana as a top bird watching destination, securing new leads, networking and obtaining feedback, delivering a presentation on Guyana’s biodiversity, hosting a

- plans to host Wildlife Festival in 2015 Guyana Summer Destination Presentation Event, identifying potential tour operators/travel writers for a Guyana FAM trip, etc., were achieved.” He added that hundreds of persons visited and interacted with the team at the Guyana booth daily, and were very interested in Guyana as a holiday destination. He noted too that many had gone to the Guyana booth seeking information and samples of the award winning the El Dorado Rum. “Many visited because of the rising popularity of Guyana as a birding hotspot and as an off the beaten path birding destination with top species such as the Harpy Eagle, Red Siskin, Sun Parakeet, etc, along with amazing wildlife. The booth was also used as the venue for several meetings with tour operators and potential visitors and was a great forum and platform for networking,” Haralsingh

further said. The Guyana team, he noted, also did presentations on Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, and the Forest. “A look at Biodiversity in Guyana was presented by Tony Thorne to an audience of about 80 persons. This presentation promoted Guyana as a wildlife rich and pristine destination worth exploring and visiting. This was well received as bird watchers are also keen to watch other wildlife on a birding trip. This kind of presentation helps to position and differentiate Guyana from its competitors,” the GTA Director posited. Last week, the Tourism Authority, and Wilderness Explorers met to discuss a proposed Wildlife Festival in Guyana in 2015. It was stated that this event will seek to have the participation of world famous wildlife experts, travel writers and authors (publications) and photographers for about

eight to 10 days. “This festival will feature wildlife workshops and lectures, photography workshops, travel writing workshops and art workshops and will serve to attract the high end bird watchers from across the world,” Haralsingh said,

adding that it will also help to raise the destination profile and help to position Guyana as a top birding and wildlife destination. Among those expected to participate is Chris Leadbeater, an Award Winning Journalist from the UK, who had promoted Guyana as one of his best and most memorable vacations, after he came in 2007.

Illegal mining firmly on radar Government has unveiled plans to use satellite imagery and quick army response to target illegal mining. The announcement was made Monday by Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud, as Mining Week 2013 swung in full gear with the start of the country’s 10th National Mining and Quarrying Conferenceþ at the Guyana International Convention Centre. In the midst of some of

the best years for gold mining as prices remain on a high on the world market, Guyana badly wants a repeat of the 2012 good showing which was a major booster of the economy. “The increase in the overall value of mineral production was due to the continued outstanding performance of gold and bauxite, high gold prices, favourable bauxite prices (Continued on page 24)

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Wednesday August 28, 2013

TIP victims, GWMO members support Broomes By Keeran Danny Trafficking In Persons (TIP) victims rescued from sexual slavery thanks to selfless work of the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization (GWMO) have come out in support of Simona Broomes, who has been accused of assaulting a woman remanded for human trafficking. Broomes, President of GWMO, was questioned on Monday at the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters, Eve Leary, in connection with an allegation that she assaulted a Bartica businesswoman whilst rescuing four young women from the sex trade. The girls were involved in the sex trade in Tiger Creek and the confrontation occurred in Puruni at the Mines Office. Broomes was detained for about four hours before being released on $10,000

station bail and was instructed to return to Eve Leary on September 6. Surrounded by members of the GWMO and TIP victims, Broomes was back at her desk arranging to make more trips into Guyana’s “gold bush”. One of the victims, who fell prey to Broomes’ accuser, said she is thankful to Broomes (who she fondly calls mom) for saving her from the interior, and is saddened to learn of the accusation. “The same woman who seh mom beat she up, she is the same person who take me in the interior. I went through real hardship deh. I was forced to have sex with men and I thank God for mom. I don’t want her to go to jail…Who will help the other girls I leave in deh,” she said. Another victim, who was merely 13 years old when she was trafficked, recalled the day she was rescued from Tiger Creek by the GWMO. It

Some members of the GWMO was during this rescue mission that Broomes was confronted by the

Agencies angry over bearing Natural Resource Ministry salary expenses The ongoing differences between the Natural Resource Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) have led staffers of the mining agency to further express disapproval with the Ministry’s interference in the agency’s affairs - speaking specifically this time, to the GGMC paying monthly salaries to some five ministry workers. Additionally, officials of the Guyana Gold Board and the World Wildlife Fund have also claimed

having to bear expenses for some of the Ministry’s staffers. Several GGMC staffers have however expressed disgust over the matter, complaining that the salary payments, which run into millions of dollars, are placing an unnecessary burden on the agency’s coffers. Some complained also that while the agency is paying this huge salary bill, GGMC workers in some top positions are receiving less than what is being paid, despite their

massive workloads. Top brass officials complained, too, that while the Ministry has taken over the agency’s next door building at the Brickdam location, no rent is being paid for the occupancy, while the Commission is also bearing travel expenses for ministry workers. It was reported that for the year 2013, the Natural Resource Ministry received $662M, the agency’s budgeted figure. GGMC (Continued on page 24)

businesswoman and her husband about an hour away at Puruni. The teenager said she was in the GWMO vehicle during the ordeal. In good spirit, she said “I wasn’t too scared because I know I in the vehicle and the women wouldn’t let nothing happen to me”. When asked if she heard any gunshots she said no, but recalled loud talking. Members of the GWMO, including those from Bartica, were upset with this unfortunate turn in events. They are suspicious that “the accuser is not acting by herself and is being supported by someone or persons with power”. In relation to the accuser’s allegation that Broomes stole her six-ounce gold chain, members find this an unlikely situation, owing to Broomes’s

character and the thickness of such a chain. According to one member, the woman needs to provide a receipt to show she possessed such a chain. “And, everyone involved in the gold business knows that a six-ounce chain would be a dog collar and that would be so thick to burst that you could possibly break a person’s neck. So I don’t know what this woman really talking about. But I believe somebody shining her to shut us up,” the woman said. The member questioned why the accuser did not lodge a complaint against Broomes in April, as Broomes had done against her. Meanwhile, Broomes said she heard about this accusation several weeks ago, but never realized it would have materialized. She

said a friend in Bartica who owns a shop overheard a conversation between a man affiliated with a political party and the businesswoman. “The person called me and told me that this man (name given) and the woman plotting to say you beat her up and thief gold from her. And she mustn’t worry he gon work out everything,” Broomes said. Broomes said she feels privileged that young ladies, whom she rescued, remember her and could be by her side. She is thankful that they came to comfort her and looking at their lives now is inspiring her to move ahead. The Director of Public Prosecutions’ office has not yet received a file from the police in relation to the allegations leveled against Broomes.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Infrastructural upgrade for UG within six months Rehabilitation works on a number of buildings at the University of Guyana are slated to commence during the course of the new academic year, which is set to commence next month. This move, according to Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, will be funded by the World Bank and will cater to some infrastructural concerns. “Within six months we are going to see some action,” said the VC, who noted that already contractors for the project are being identified. Additionally, he disclosed that efforts are being made to source portable offices as well as classrooms, which will be utilised while renovation works are ongoing. And should the need for further space arise, Professor Opadeyi noted that talks have been had with officials at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) to possibly facilitate evening classes there too. Moreover, a footpath is slated to be constructed to facilitate easy

passage for lecturers and students between the two institutions. Funding for the rehabilitation, according to the Vice Chancellor, has been secured through a World Bank loan of US$10 million. In fact the funding was made available to the University following a collaborative move between the World Bank and the Ministry of Education to execute a Science and Technology Support project. The project, which was officially launched earlier this year, is set to be conducted over a five-year period and will cater to the development of facilities in four Faculties within the University Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Sciences, Technology and the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Emanuel Cummings, disclosed that under the project efforts will be made to ensure that there is curriculum development as it relates to the support of the Low Carbon Development

Strategy (LCDS). He noted too that while there were many delays ahead of the realisation of the project, “I am certain that nothing happens before its time and I think this is the opportune time…” The project is taking full effect even as the University celebrates 50 years of existence this year, and is expected to help strengthen the University as a regional institution. “We are all proud of the achievements of the University and we are all certain that this fund that will develop these Faculties in terms of curriculum development, capacity building and research also will help the university achieve its mandate in improving the quality, not only of the students, but the staff to deliver quality education,” Dr Cummings asserted. According to Pro Chancellor, Dr Prem Misir, “we at the University of Guyana welcome this World Bank partnership and this has come pretty much through the auspices of the Government

of Guyana.” The loan, he explained, represents a new era of the University’s growth even as he pointed to its manifest implications for national development as it “vividly brings into play the relationship between climate change and biodiversity.” And support for the

project, which is expected to be both challenging and exciting in its implementation, will be sustained by the World Bank, according to the Bank’s Representative, Ms Hongyu Yang. The project is being implemented on the basis of three defined components, with component one focusing

on education quality improvement which will be undertaken at a cost of US$1.9 million. Component two will cater to infrastructure rehabilitation which will attract US$6.2 million, while component three will address institutional capacity to the tune of some US$1.8 million.

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Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Diamond production shines for first half Guyana’s mining industries have shown significant growth, for the first half of the year, with diamond production increasing by almost 54% compared to the same period last year. The quantity of gold declared from January to July 2013 showed expected growth at 23.23% over the same period. However, bauxite production from January to July of 2013 dropped, but is expected to pass last year’s total production, despite community and industrial relations stoppages. These disclosures were made by Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, during the opening of Mining Week 2013. Stone output increased by over 17% while sand stood at 18%. Gold mining continued to

maintain its position as the biggest producer of the mining industry in 2012, accounting for 78.2% of the total value of mine output. The value of gold produced, some $137B, increased by 28.9 percent over 2011. Bauxite at $31.697B, accounted for 18% of the total mine output while diamond contributed $1.468B, quarry stone $3.338B and sand $1.815B. According to the Minister, last year, mining and quarrying employed in excess of 20,000 directly. “We should not overlook the fact that minerals and mining are fundamental building blocks of our economy under a future low carbon economy. In addition to managing their own emissions, the mining and minerals industry also makes a broader contribution in providing the minerals and

metals required for the transition to a low carbon economy.” Persaud pointed to a number of mining companies actively exploring ways to reduce greenhouse gas, research low carbon energy technologies and improvements in transportation systems and building infrastructure. “In Guyana, this is being explored by Reunion Manganese, BOSAI Mineral Group Guyana Inc. and Sandspring Resources Inc., all of whom are seeking investment in alternative renewable energy sources including hydropower.” However, with uncertainty over the early realization of the Amaila Falls hydro project, BOSAI is exploring, with some urgency, the use of clean coal for the production of 50 megawatts of power.

Health Minister installs new BRHA Board By Leon Suseran Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran recently installed a new Board of Directors at the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) in New Amsterdam. The body came about a few years ago as an act of parliament to manage the dayto-day operations of the health care facilities in East and West Berbice. Over the past years, the health care system in Berbice has come under heavy scrutiny by both the Minister and clientele. Long waiting times at hospitals, poor attitudes of nurses and doctors, maternal deaths and other complaints have made it to the floor in the press over the years. It was also only in January when Dr. Ramsaran stated that there exists a management problem in the Berbice health care system and moreso the BRHA. And so, a new Board was installed by the Minister himself in the N/A Hospital Board Room. Businessman Poonai Bhigroo replaced former Chairman Anil Beharry. Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo was returned as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) — the man in charge of the Berbice health care system. “The board has been reenergized. It brings in an opportunity to bring in new blood and new ideas, and at the same time, we have many members of the private sector…the nursing profession— come together and have discussions on the

way forward.” Outlining what will be the main agenda of the new board, he stated that “we are asking them this year to reach out to the Ministry of Education to get into schools to propagate health messages so that we can fight against non-communicable diseases at an early stage, for example childhood diabetes, childhood obesity— this is preparing for change.” He added, too that the BRHA encompasses both regions 5 and 6. “There is a misconception, that the BRHA is confined only to region 6....It’s a work in progress, so although you still have two separate budgets submitted to the Ministry of Finance, the intention is to have unity somewhere down the line…this is part and parcel of the Health Sector Reform. The previous board did an exceptionally good job, he stated, however every year, the Ministry of Health raises the bar and brings fresh faces with newer ideas. “We need more visitations to health care facilities so that the issues are generated by the patients there.” Another thing he wants to see is the creation of Management Committees at the various health care facilities. The new board will need to be focused on the clientele and customer satisfaction; know what the issues are. “To do this, more regular visits need to be done

through town house-styled meetings in New Amsterdam and at Skeldon “so they will be able to interact with the people” . Television interaction also, he stated, is another way he wants the new board to listen to the issues of the patients and clientele in Berbice. “We want to use modern technology and social media...” The member s are CEO, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo; businesswoman Ave Lindie, N/A Hospital Emergency Room doctor- in- charge Dr. Zulfikar Bix; Regional Executive Officer (RExO) Region 6 Paul Ramrattan; RExO Region 5 Ryan Peters, Joy Downes, Hemant Narine, Wanetta Scipio, Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Berbice Representative, Ram Mangru; Barbara PilgrimRoberts; and Medical Superintendent of the N/A Hospital Dr. Vishalya Sharma.

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Health Ministry looking to address malaria-related maternal death Although efforts are being made to reduce the challenge of maternal death, there is still a great deal to be done in addressing this existing state of affairs. And according to Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud, while there is usually great concern about the development of complicated pregnancies there are some underlying factors that should be addressed to prevent such challenges. He alluded to pregnancies where complications develop as a result of complicated malaria, a condition that requires specialist attention. However, since Guyana currently does not have this capacity ardent strides are being made to address this,. “When malaria complications arise people get concerned about the pregnancy, but it really just needs a specialist in that area to manage that condition,” the CMO related. For this year, at least one pregnant woman died as a result of malaria complications. Pregnancy-associated malaria, also known as placental malaria, is a presentation of the common illness that is particularly lifethreatening to both mother and developing fetus. The condition, according to the World Health Organisation, is caused primarily by infection with Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous of the four species of malariacausing parasites that infect humans. It is noted that while the average adult citizen of an endemic region possesses some immunity to the parasite, pregnancy causes complications that leave the woman and fetus extremely vulnerable. In addition to threatening the woman’s life, the parasite can interfere with transmission of vital substances through the fetal placenta often resulting in stillbirth, spontaneous

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud abortion or dangerously low birth weight. Moreover, Dr Persaud disclosed that “we have made some efforts to try and review the management protocol for malaria in pregnancy...we have had pregnant women at both the private and public hospitals, and in both instances we thought that there could have been a little bit more astute management...the concerns with these cases were more about the information available and the approaches that were used,” he asserted. The death of a pregnant woman due to malaria complications is usually characterised by the Health Ministry as an indirect cause of death, and according to Dr Persaud, at least three women were listed in this category for this year. Aside from the woman who was found to have malaria complications, post mortem examinations revealed that another woman died from a blood disease while another was the victim of a complicated chronic disease. The three indirect cases were women hailing from Regions Six (one) and Seven

(two) and one was managed at a private hospital while the two others were managed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). A total of 11 maternal deaths were recorded by the Health Ministry as at the end of July with direct cases including mostly haemorrhaging, induced hypertension and eclampsia and placental abruption. There was also one case relating to abortion and another to a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. The direct cases included two women from Region Two and one each from Regions Four, Five, Six, Eight, Nine and 10. “Of course because GPHC is our principal referral centre, usually even patients from other Regions would go there,” said Dr Persaud, who disclosed that of the eight direct cases, four were managed at the GPHC, one at a private hospital, one at the New Amsterdam Hospital, one at the Suddie Hospital and another at the Diamond Hospital. Although disciplinary measures meted out to culpable medical professionals is recognised as one of the primary actions to be taken in the case of any maternal death, administrative modifications are certainly not prohibited, according to Dr Persaud. He noted that the administrative aspect of any health institution is an important element in ensuring that hospitals effectively manage maternal patients.

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Page 22

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CAR RENTAL A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup- Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Progressive Auto Rental - cars from $4000 per day. Call 643-5122, 225-8711; email www. progressive autorental. com Premio, vitz call: 679-7139 Car Rental- Call: 643-1131/ 225-3234

Used 1220 truck tyres, Kawasaki 600, GSX/R Susuki 750, 2 model ‘M’ foreign trucks used, heavy duty dryer- Call:662-6045 225HP Yamaha Outboard engine and 23ftx6ft boat 17 seats, price $1.6MCall:226-9485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) Playstation2 systems + 8 games + Hacked memory card $40,000- Call:644-6012 Playstation3 games, PSP games and Playstation2 games- Call:644-6012

Dell laptops & desktops complete computers from $55,000 Futuretech call: 2312206 Shop/Bar & 11 rooms guest house @ Barlow landing, Eping. Price $5M- Call:2269485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am4pm) House & Land for sale @ Naamryck, Parika. Price $5M- Call:226-9485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) Model M truck 4x4 with winch, barely used. GRR series- Call:226-9485/2269492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) House & land @ 47 miles Mabura road, 2 acres of fenced yard. Price $10MCall:226-9485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) 2 plots of land adjoining, 21 acres @ Hauraruni, Linden/ Soesdyke Highway. Price $7M- Call:226-9485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) 5 GALLON WATER BOTTLE CAPS IN LIMITED QUANTITYCALL: 614-8957 Video recording Spy Pen $6,500- Call:671-6177 House lot #204 section @ Bush lot, W.C.B with building and erection thereon $6,500,000- Call:6247087/258-0213/266-4283 Pitbull Pups- Call:683-6674

Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Premio, Allion, IST, Fielder- Call:652-3820/ 665-4529 1- AA60 Carina- Call:6430332/689-5254 First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Spacio, IST, Axio, 212, Fielder, Verossa & AllexCall: 609-8188/ 602-6307 Hilux Surf, Spacio, 212Call:666-2635 1 Leyland DAF 60 single axle & dump- Call:216-1315/6136615

VEHICLE FOR SALE New ATVs: Introductory price $1,450,000 (Duty Free)Call:691-0234 Sprinter 110 admirable Vintage, enjoyable rideCall:644-4990 One Mitsubishi Canter; late GPP series – Call:662-8743

Two Tundra, F150 truck, Suzuki sports car and one Chevrolet cargo van (2500cc)- Call: 227-8519/ 616-5784 New model Raum: Mags, TV, back camera & dark interiorCall:269-0432/686-0323 L-Touring Wagon HB $750,000- Call:674-8982 Sale! Sale! Toyota Premio (unregistered), fully loaded $2.5M- Call: 617-2891/2202345 Nissan Laurel super deluxe $700,000 & Nissan Pathfinder Jeep $1.5M neg (excellent condition)- Call:698-7878/ 225-8427

Men T-Shirts: American Eagle $3,500-$5,500. Women TShirts: Aeropostale $2,500, 3,500 & other clothes too- Call Ray 695-0734

Spacio: Fully insured, drop suspension, alloy racing rims, fog lamps, body kit, alarm, DVD/ TV- Call: 647-4620

15-15-15 Fertilizer in damaged bags- Call:266-2711/609-4594

1 Toyota AT192, AT212, Vitz, Rav4, Tacoma, AE91 Sprinter, Hilux Pickup Solid DEF- Call: 644-5096/697-1453

Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6797139 Lombard street for lumber yard or other types of business- Call Richard 6097675/233-2614 1 two bedrooms apartment at Samantha Point, Grove $40,000- Call:613-7596

American Style massage services- Call:678-7499

Daily rental/ apartment & kitchen etc. Call:687-3017 Barber stations to let for only $7,000 per week, fully furnished Barber ShopCall:646-9231

One 2006 Toyota Tacoma GPP fully accessorized: Excellent conditionCall:647-2783/ 644-6066/ 269-1231 Ford F150 Spare Parts: 2004-2010 models: Breaks Pads, spark plugs, mirrors, doors, deff etc- Call:685-2584

TO LET Harmony Inn: Apartments fully furnished, airconditioned apartments: $5000 per night- Call:6680306/602-8769/694-7817

New 2013 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabsCall:691-0234 1 AT 212 new model- Call:6464796 MASSAGE

Toyota Altezza, PNN, tiptronic- Call:622-0108

1 Circular chair set (blue) 7 seats, 1 Recliner, 1 Toilet Bowl Set & Indian wear at sale price- Call:623-3231/259-0953

Apple iTunes cards $3,500, cell phones ZTE $14,000 and home speakers- Call Ray 6950734 Tibetan Terrier mix with Pekinese puppies- Call:2310971/666-8324 100 Watts Blitz amplifier and subwoofer- Call:622-0108 Live/pluck chicken-Call:6504421/220-9203 One Dual Bore Trailer pump 14"-16". New high dam use, cheap- Call:227-1830

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Two bedrooms furnished apartment- Call:665-2548 VACANCY Cashier, porter, sales clerks: Apply with written application @ 2J’s General Store 148-149 Regent road Bourda, G/Town- Call:2252350 Sales girl $10,000 weekly. Apply in person @ Dian’s Deli opposite Kitty Market Vacancy exists for driver/ salesman & security guard: please apply at Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd. Tel:225-7864/227-8607

1 Two flat semi furnished house at 2nd Avenue Diamond Scheme $75,000Call:611-6632 Bel-Air $80,000, Campbellville $90,000, Queenstown US$1000, Lamaha Gardens US$2000- Call Diana @ 2272256/626-9382 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 644-5166,622-2872,6150964

Live in maid- Call:233-2725 Fabricator Welder, security officers, kitchen assistant, 1 cook, host/hostess & cleaners: Interested persons can contact tel:603-3993 Porters, skidder, tractor, moulder operator, wood mizer operator and lorry driver- Call Richard 6097675/233-2614 Vacancy exists for experience security and welder. Apply at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling

1 unregistered Mercedes Benz 1,600cc- Call: 227-3042/ 676-7291

For Cook or Kitchen Assistant @ Abbie’s Creole Snackette lot 6 public road Mc Doom- Call:233-1589

2008 Tacoma 4x4 automatic, excellent condition. Off road tyres with lift kit & access cab- Call: 610-5370 Quantum Auto: Spacio, Premio & new model raum with Alloy wheel & dark interior: Excellent condition- Call:624-7684/ 617-2378

1 Night Security apply in writing with a valid Police clearance to GCC Ground, Bourda Pump Attendant @ Shell Service Station Providence, E.B.D: Must be able to work s h i f t - Te l : 2 6 5 - 7 3 0 5 Email:shellramsburg@ gmail.com

FOR RENT Coolers and ScaffoldCall:657-0424 Cement mixer (Ransome)Call:681-5988/672-6000 3 Bedrooms downstairs, 1 Self-contained: Newly renovated: Yard space: Located in Diamond H/ Scheme- Call:613-0028 House to rent in Eccles scheme, block ‘CC’- Contact number:696-0573/683-5591 PUBLIC ROAD BUSINESS PROPERTY, W.C.D, suitable for food/ liquor restaurant, supermarket etc. Call:6098132/672-8569 (Max) (Continued on page 23)

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Minister pushes for cost and risk reduction strategies in mining sector By Tiffanne Ramphal While recognizing the contributions made to the national economy through the extractive sector, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud is pushing for the implementation of proposed initiatives that will reduce costs and risks of the sector. At the recent opening of Mining Week 2013, the Minister noted that a number of issues have been identified and these “require urgent and immediate attention” so as to move the sector forward. The areas of attention were reportedly brought about through collaborations with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and several mining bodies. Among the notions being proposed, much attention is being placed on mercury-free mining. According to the Minister, Government through the Natural Resources Ministry has been working on a range of initiatives to support the transition to mercury-free technology on the extraction of gold. The issue of security within the sector has also been identified as one where much attention is needed. Persaud said that plans are being made for the Natural Resources Ministry, along with the GGMC, to collaborate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force in order to better facilitate the security needs of miners in the various mining districts. The interventions identified to deal with the security issues include firearm licences for miners, more security checkpoints, increased police presence in mining communities and “clamping down” on illegal conduct such as suspected trafficking in persons, prostitution and the use of narcotics in mining areas. Illegal mining was also identified as an area of target, with the Minister calling on GGMC to step up its efforts in this regard, while garnering support from the communities. The Minister highlighted that efforts will be made to work with the Judiciary to properly enforce action against those engaged in illegal mining, since independent actions by the GGMC are sometimes overridden by court actions. “That is the grand thing of injunctions in the court. We have had a number of instances where Cease Work

orders have been issued, steps taken and then these individuals move to the Court. The hands of the GGMC are then tied and the situation is allowed to remain the same,” the Minister pointed out. He added that the Ministry is looking at employing new technologies which would allow immediate and rapid deployment in dealing with issues of illegal mining. Even with areas of much needed improvement in the mining sector being identified, the Minister maintained that its accomplishments have been progressive. He made reference to the fact that value added practices in mining and quarrying have increased greatly; resulting in higher output by the gold, bauxite, sand and loam industries. It was stated that the value of mineral production in 2012 was estimated to be G$175.8 Billion, representing a 28.9% increase from the value reported in 2011. Gold mining was noted to have maintained its position as the biggest producer of the mining industry. According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the value of gold produced in 2012 increased by 28.9% from 2011. Bauxite, also, with its tremendous output, brought in excess of G$31 Million; while diamond, quarry stone and sand contributed G$1.4M, G$3.3M and G$1.8M respectively. Also, lending in the area of employment, the mining sector reportedly employed 16,579 persons directly during the year 2012. According to the Minister, if indirect jobs are added, the sector would record in excess of 20,000 persons employed. The Minister pointed further to the performance of the sector for the present year thus far. Statistics provided showed that irrespective of price fluctuations, the quantity of gold declared for the period of January to July was a 23.23% increase on the quantity reported for the comparative period in 2012. Diamond output, also, for the year has increased by as much as 53.97% as compared to the level produced in 2012 for the same period. It was noted that while bauxite production took a dip, the companies are optimistic that not only will they be able

For the BEST rates, call us on telephones numbers: 226-8210, 225-8452, 225-8458.

to maintain last year’s output, but the sector is expecting a marginal increase. The Minister added that stone and sand output have also recorded increases when compared to the declaration of 2012 for the comparative period. In order to continue its climb upwards, the Minister noted that much is dependent on support from both the Government and the components of the mining sector to join together in effective management while respecting the rights of those occupying mining communities.

Property for sale in Enterprise E. C. Demerara Call: 627-5416/611-7437 Lodge, corner property with business- Call:223-7181/6274900 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 Property for sale by owner located at Regent Street, Georgetown- Call:225-1831 VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community- Call:592-6248704/ 592-684-9203

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 Land @ lot 50 area ‘H’Albion Corentyne, Berbice- Call:6470357/651-1735 Waiakabra, Linden Highway: 1,409’ x 403’ or 13.73 acres. Concrete house thereon. West of Highway- Call:6194152 Parfaite Harmonie $1M, $1.3M $1.6M- Call:628-9156. Lot 648 Friendship, East Coast Demerara: Size 9,321 Sq.Ft. Price Neg- Call:2590227 At Parfaite HarmonieCall:660-0251

Eccles $6.5M & Robb Street Bourda $120M- Call Diana @227-2256/626-9382 1 Large 5 bedrooms house with Business @ DiamondCall:627-3902 Prime Business Property at East Coast- Tel:222-2014/ Cell:622-8004 1 Three bedrooms house in Parfaite Hamonie, W.B.DCall:658-5803/622-1782 Eccles $6M, West $5M, Charlestown $15M, Prospect $15M- Call Diana @ 227-2256/ 626-9382 South Ruimveldt $14.5M, Uitvlught Oceanview $4.3M, Bel-Air Park $45M, Prashad Nagar $60M- Call:231-2200/ 618-7483 Wharf Land, Ruimveldt, Supply, Soesdyke 200’x300’ $45M, Lombard streetCall:231-2200/618-7483

Transported corner lot 58’x30’ at Garnett and Republic streets, NewtownCall:601-6000 House lot E.B.D 100’x50’ $4M- Call:610-0051 EDUCATIONAL I.A.E (Camp street): Register for full- time, lessons & adults CXC classes: Maths, English, Business & Science- Call: 223-0604/ 6835742 EDUCATIONAL Lessons Classes: Phonics, Reading (A Beka System), Language & Mathematics (412 years) @ 197 Roxanne Burnham Gardens- Call: 6194355/218-2076 Register for courses in English, Math, Social Studies, Masonry, Electricity, Cosmetology & Computer Studies @ AEA Centre Diamond- Call:668-1908

(From page 22)

PROPERTY FOR SALE

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 Portuguese Language made simple- Call:664-5947/2278257

WANTED Need one live in domestic preferably from country areaCall:649-1105 or 622-7956

WANTED One three bedrooms apartment anywhere around town- Call:617-7865

1 female to work in Interior in shop, age 20-45 $80,000Call:664-5199 (from 8am-6pm) serious enquiry only

Laboures and Porters: Apply @ Wieting & Richter Ltd

Female 35-45 years to train for Ice Cream employmentCall:613-2978 Wanted experienced Taxi drivers & experience Dispatcher @ Princess HotelCall:265-7076/616-5419 Urgently needed 1 plot of land to buy in Parfaite Harmony- Call:675-7292 1 Babysitter $22,000 weeklycall 223-0595 for more information One general domestic (3 days a week)- Call:623-3231 One experienced hire car driver from West Bank or West Coast- call:616-0111 1 Maid to work on the E.B.D (Monday- Saturday)- Call: 626-7040 One live-in or live out maidcall:668-3985/264-3355/6837936 Wanted contract cars @ Atlas Taxi Service: South Ruimveldt gardens, VHF radio networkCall:661-3043

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

FOR SALE Household items: Writing & computer desks, small fridge, single & double bed, chest of drawers, living room suiteCall:664-3488 SONY PLAYSTATION 2&3 gamedics. Fifa 2013, God-of-War 4 etc. Best prices- Call:609-8132/6728569 (Max)

1 Sales Representative (Western Union) must have Maths & English CXC. Apply @ Humphrey’s Bakery 38 Ketley Street, Charlestown- Call:231-0497 Girls to work in Bar & kitchen helpers. Apply in person @ Evergreen Bar new road Vreed-en-Hoop Receptionist, room attendant, bar attendants, washer & presser , cook & helper– Contact: Hick’s Ville Hotel @ 231-0951/231-0953 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 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 One experience Hire car driver- Contact Mrs. KhanCall:226-7948 or 686-6648 1 Whole day maid for East Bank area- Call:614-4358 One boy to work in Interior 18-30- $70,00- Call:664-5199 (from 8am-6pm) serious enquiry only Cleaner- Call:225-3234 One live in maid must know to cook & clean, preferably from country side or interiorCall:666-6836 One experienced driver to work in interior to drive bus & lorry- Call:666-6836 Linden highway farm looking for workers- Call Corniluse on 641-1544 or 650-0105 Salesman with own vehicle to distribute food products. Motivated drivers can apply (good commission)- Call:6665676 Wanted to buy: Small living trench fishes (all types) Patwa, Hassar etc.- Call:6448381

Page 24

Kaieteur News

GuySuCo firefighters rescue home alone toddler Firefighters from the GuySuCo Enmore Estate Fire Fighting Unit on Monday responded in time to rescue a toddler from a house in the Senior Management Compound. While police have no knowledge of the incident and GuySuCo officials were tightlipped, Kaieteur News understands that the child was alone at home when the fire occurred at around 14:15 hours. Fortunately the interior of the house was only slightly damaged.

This publication was told that the house is occupied by a manager of the estate and his wife along with the toddler. Reliable sources have informed that the child is usually chained to a bed whenever the couple leaves the house. An operative of the estate’s fire fighting unit told this newspaper that when they arrived at the house, his colleagues were the first to enter and they found the child sitting in a room where the fire had started.

The man said that when he eventually entered the house he saw a chain with padlock attached to a bed. He stated that while he could not say for sure if the toddler was chained to the bed, the sight of the chain almost convinced him about the rumours he was hearing. This newspaper learnt that the matter is being investigated internally by the GuySuCo Management, with a view to ascertaining the cause of the fire and why was the toddler left alone at home.

Wednesday August 28, 2013 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): You'll be seeking injustice today, because you know what it feels like to be treated unfairly. This compassion will force you to butt into a situation you feel isn't right. Friends will admire your principled ways and call you a hero when you stop a silly situation from rapidly growing into a heated argument. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): It might be time to take a gamble on love -- you're feeling brave today, so take the leap! Just make sure that any risk you take is only a little bit out of your comfort zone. This is not the time to leap outside of yourself and start acting totally out of character. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Connecting with other people is getting much easier day by day, mostly because you are feeling more comfortable in your own skin. Accepting yourself for who you are - and for what you bring to any relationship, no matter how brief -- is the best new trend of the summer and you wear it well. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Today, keep yourself from getting too emotional when someone ticks you off - yet again. Being cool, calm and collected is better than being frantic, hyper and loud any day of the week -- but especially today. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Your attention span will be shrinking as the day goes on, so it's not a good day for afternoon meetings or lectures. Even a foreign film with subtitles might be a bit too much to capture your concentration for long. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept.

22): Your career ideas are simmering, and if you are looking to achieve any big points with an authority figure, you can do it today with ease. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Share your woes with one of your closest friends today -- they know you better than anyone else, and are the best equipped to navigate you through choppy waters. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Helping someone live a happier life is a nice goal, but it's a difficult undertaking -- and it's also a b i g g a m b l e . Yo u m i g h t think it's your job to bring someone out of their shell and be more social, but it is not. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): If you are put into an involuntary partnership today, be as open-minded about this person as you can be. Set aside any negative feelings or preconceived notions you might have about them, and focus on completing the task at hand. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Don't yak too long with any one person today -you have to spread your charm around! Tons of people will be up for conversation too. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):You are far too unique to look like, act like, dress like or behave like anyone else today -- so skip the mob mentality and be proud of your perspective. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Do you know your limits? Now's a great time to get a better idea of what you can and cannot do, or else you will end up getting frustrated.

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Illegal mining firmly on... (From page 13) and increases in output of sand and loam,” Persaud told the gathering of miners and key industry players. Over the weekend, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) appealed for Government to consider lowering the taxes on imported fuel, and for duty free concessions on doublecab pickups as part of the measures to lower operational costs. They also asked for the fast-tracking of gun licences and work permits for employees. Addressing the calls for concessions on double-cab pickups, Minister Persaud, said that a revised proposal, which was done by the GGDMA will be studied by the Minister of Finance. However, there will be

conditions, including miners being mandated to declare a minimum amount. Regarding miners wanting to be paid in foreign currency by the Guyana Gold Board, Persaud said a proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Guyana for consideration. Government, it was disclosed, was also considering allowing GGDMA to import fuel for miners as part of the cost cutting measures. In the area of security, with significant numbers of murders and crimes reported almost daily in the interior, the Minister said that considerations are also being given to the granting of firearm licences to miners, the establishment of security checkpoints or “chokepoints” in the mining

districts, an increased police presence, clampdown in Trafficking In Persons and prostitution and on drug use. The issue of raiding and illegal mining was raised. “Our efforts to curb illegal mining are at times restricted by the abuse of recourse to the judiciary. During the period of the injunction, the illegal mining is often continued by the raiders. In the past, a reasonable time frame was granted for GGMC to respond and show “just cause” why an injunction filed should not be allowed.” The Ministry is working with the Chancellor of the Judiciary to address these, Persaud disclosed. Mining Week 2013 is being held under the theme “Clean Green and Responsible; Securing the Future of Mining.”

Agencies angry over bearing... (From page 14) therefore questioned the purpose of having the agency spend millions in salary payments, while arguing that they already have to deal with the burden of making ready the Princes and High Streets building to where GGMC was

forced to relocate. In the payment register which Kaieteur News was privy to seeing and confirming was authentic, it was documented that the GGMC paid a total of $11,158,560 from January to December 2012 for a Natural

Resource Ministry Senior Policy Analyst/ Advisor. For that same period, a total of $10,823,291 was paid to four other ministry staffers; the internal audit coordinator, executive assistant, driver/ maintenance clerk and the indigenous relations specialist. From January to July, this year, GGMC said they have already paid out for the Senior Policy Analyst/ Advisor in excess of $6.5M, while over $7.3M has gone for the other four workers. These payments include NIS, gratuity, car allowance, duty and telephone allowance for some of the workers. When contacted, Gold Board and Wildlife officials said they knew about the payments, but refused to go in-depth with any information. It was however learnt that Gold Board is paying some five ministry staffers, while Wildlife is paying two. Another agency is said to be paying three staffers, but Kaieteur News was unable ascertain that information. Checks to the Finance Ministry confirmed further that salaries for the workers were being paid outside of the Natural Resource Ministry. GGMC had complained earlier this year, that they were having problems functioning because of the Ministry’s interference. They claimed they were forced out of their newly constructed Brickdam building while no rent was being paid for the much needed property, built specifically to ease GGMC’s space congestion problems. GGMC officials pointed out however that massive financial burden is being placed on the agency, and charged that, “certain managers are not even receiving some of the salaries that we are paying out.”

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Months after Hydro Plant kicks in…

Uganda looks to increase electricity tariff Sithe Global, the developer for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, also built the US$902M, 250MW Hydro Plant in Bujagali, Uganda, and the power company in the African nation is once again being forced to ask for an increase in electricity tariff. The request comes just months after that Hydro Electric Plant would have been commissioned. In April this year it was reported in the international news that the Uganda Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA)’s board of directors was considering a power tariff increase. That increase in electricity is being considered just after huge increments of 69 per cent and 36 per cent for large scale and domestic consumers respectively early last year. The Ugandan ERA was seeking a further increase of between five and 15 per cent this year. The Plant was commissioned last year. The increase requested in Uganda is the second such request this year to raise the prices paid for electricity in that nation. Consumers under the Uganda Electricity Users Association have gone to court to protest.

Wednesday August 28, 2013

PNCR dubs rundown President’s College a disgrace

…Sithe Global had charged 19% rate of return This request follows a trend of tariff increases registered in the previous years. In 2005, prices increased by 24 per cent; by 35 per cent in June 2006 and 41 per cent in November of the same year. Among the reasons proffered for the increase in tariffs on the Ugandan people for electricity is the inefficiency of that country’s Power Company, Umeme, the Ugandan equivalent of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL). According to reports, the power company needs an influx of cash through the increasing of its tariff in order to rehabilitate the sick distribution network and reduce system losses. Umeme’s power losses are at 26.1 percent of the energy produced. The technical and commercial losses incurred by GPL stand collectively at 31 per cent. Umeme says it plans to reduce its distribution losses to 23 percent in 2013 by rolling out prepaid metering, replacing old equipment and also connecting more people to the grid.

“This does however require money, and lots of it. Prepaid metering in total requires about US$300M.” This is only for prepaid metering, but then there are additional costs like improving the network. Celestino Babungi, the Chief Financial Officer for Umeme, says the utility is also looking to “secure long term financing from various lenders.” With Bujagali on, much of the Ugandan thermal generators would be switched off in favour of the much cheaper hydro option. But the other reality was that hydro, although largely thought to be cheap, needs humongous amounts of capital outlay, US$902M in the case of Bujagali, money that the government was unable to raise. This therefore called for private-public partnerships. Private investors, including Sithe Global, called for a 19.2 per cent return on its investment. It charged Guyana a 19 per cent rate of return for the US$158M that it said it would have invested in the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project.

Missing Mahaica man’s body pulled from village trench The body of 55-year old Balchand Beharry surfaced in a Hand en Veldt, Mahaica, ECD trench early yesterday morning, three days after he was last seen alive,. The man who was described as an alcoholic appeared to have drowned in the trench, since there were no visible marks of violence on the body, but investigators are taking no chances and will be awaiting the results of a post mortem examination to ascertain the cause of his death. Kaieteur News understands that Beharry lived alone and was last seen alive on Sunday. “He was drunk as usual,” one resident remarked. Residents claimed that while they are

shocked by his death, they are not surprised by the manner. “He used to drink and fall in all dem gutter and trench. People always gat fuh pull he out,” another resident stated. Police said that yesterday, around 06:30 hours, they received an anonymous telephone call informing them that a body was seen floating in a trench. Upon checking, they were initially stumped on the identity of the bloated body. However as word of the discovery spread through the community, residents ventured from their homes to get a glimpse and soon enough, it was determined to be the body of Beharry.

The President’s College pavilion has been left to deteriorate. By Abena Rockcliffe The People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) has labeled the state of affairs at President’s College (PC) disgraceful; and has called for the government to put all politics aside and resuscitate the school. The party sent out a statement to the effect that it is horrified at the state of “neglect and disrepair” of one of Guyana’s top secondary institutions. Both PC and the PNCR were founded by the late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. PNCR’s statement highlighted the party’s call for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the Minister of Education to “stop playing the backward politics of spitefulness with the education of our children and get about the business of resuscitating President’s College by giving it the resources (human and financial) that it needs to fulfil its enlightened educational mandate.” Over the past few weeks, privy to some details about the “depressed” state of PC, Kaieteur News carried out

extensive research and investigations on the school’s premises and through persons with connections to the school. The information received indicated that PC has suffered both an academic decline as well as being rundown. It was also discovered that for almost two years now the school has been operating without a board. The farm that was once thriving now has just a few animals. The school has little or no funding and this publication understands that little is being done to save the sinking ship. In the PNCR’s statement, the party said that published reports and its own observations have revealed that the institution, located at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, is falling apart and in a deplorable state of disrepair. The party pointed out that this situation exists less than two weeks before school is scheduled to reopen for the 2013 – 2014 school year. “It is disgraceful, and a reflection of the approach to education by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic that

the Minister of Education allows this premier school of excellence to show such signs of neglect and abandonment just as Guyana prepares to observe Education Month 2013. President’s College was one of the projects and schools built to elevate the development of education in Guyana. It was intended to institute a culture that would mould, propel and motivate students to become future leaders of our nation. Therefore, it is quite unfortunate that successive PPP Ministers of Education have not recognized the importance of investing time and resources to promote the concept which inspired the creation of Presidents College,” were the views reflected by the PNC. “Is the reason for the neglect of President’s College because it was the brainchild of the PNCR Founder Leader, President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham? The PPP/ C has used the state controlled media to boast about their Government’s accomplishments in the education sector. What is not Continued on page 27

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Public Works assessing job done by terminated contractor Whilst the Public Works Ministry is assessing works executed by Toolsie Persaud Quarries Inc under a $126.8M contract that was terminated, its engineers are carrying out rip-rap works in the area, says Kevin Samad, Chief Sea and Defence Officer. According to Samad, the contractor did not execute a significant amount of work at Cane Garden, Leguan, but mobilized a large quantity of boulders and other building materials. As such, the Ministry is conducting an assessment to ascertain if the Ministry has to pay the contractor additional money or if the contractor has to pay the Ministry. The Government

Information Agency (GINA) in mid-August said the Ministry terminated the contract for nonperformance. The order to commence work was issued since October 2012 with a project duration of eight months. According to GINA, Transport and Hydraulic Minister Robeson Benn said, “The Company’s negligence resulted in more damage to the area. And it is something we could not condone. Samad stressed that the Ministry will not accept the cost for additional works due to negligent collateral damage done by contractors. He said that the contractor did more damage

to the area, resulting in it being more susceptible to erosion. The Ministry is currently trying to remedy the situation and is mulling carrying out the project themselves or taking back the project to tender. Meanwhile, in neighbouring Wakenaam, where the Ministry suspended M&B Construction’s sea defence contract because of destruction to the community road, the contractor is rectifying the roadway. According to GINA, on August 14, Benn requested that the Public Works Ministry’s engineers suspend M&B Construction’s contract until the contractor repairs a two-mile stretch of

road in Maria’s Pleasure, Wakenaam. Apparently, the trucks used to transport the boulders for sea defence works have damaged the road – impeding the free flow of movement in and out of the community. According to Samad, the contractor is expected to complete rehabilitating the roadway at his own expense by this weekend and sea defence works are expected to resume soon after. The contract is worth $96.6M, and Minister Benn revealed that the level of damage to the road “may exceed the monies that were allocated for road maintenance in the contract,” GINA had stated.

A 23-year-old man is hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), nursing multiple stab wounds about his body. Omaly Chester, a construction worker of Strathspey, East Coast Demerara was stabbed to his chest and left shoulder by a man known to him. The incident occurred on the Buxton Public Road around 3 a.m. yesterday. According to information received, Chester was heading home with a group of friends when a man who felt offended by the jokes the injured man’s friends were making, pulled out a knife and

attacked the young man. The injured Chester was rushed to the hospital while his attacker plunged into a trench and escaped. Yesterday, at the hospital, the injured Chester told Kaieteur News that he left home around 7 p.m. on Monday and was at a party in Buxton. “After the party finish, everybody left and me and some boys were walking and they were troubling a guy. They were calling him girl and like he get mad and turn around and pull out the knife and attack me,” Chester told this publication. Police are investigating the incident.

CONSTRUCTION WORKER STABBED BY “ANNOYED” MAN Chester at the hospital yesterday.

PNCR dubs rundown President’s... From page 26 highlighted and given prominence, however, is the rundown and neglected school buildings that are illequipped, outdated and unsuitable for training the next generation of scientist, mathematicians, engineers, business-leaders and agriculturists. The absence of laboratories for science and information technology; the poorly constructed and maintained sanitary blocks with no running water; the low teachers to students ratio which result in large class room populations that make learning, for some, not only a challenge but, in many cases, impossible.” The PNCR said that there was a glimmer of hope that there would have been some difference in the way President’s College is administered with the appointment of a new young Education Minister, “but

sadly her Administration has demonstrated the depths of PPP spitefulness and determination to destroy, regardless of the consequences for the education of the children of Guyana, President’s College, simply because it was a “Burnham” led initiative.” During Kaieteur News’ investigations, the publication was told that “the government wants to change the purpose of the school. It was said that “PC was better when it was the way Burnham

intended it to be.” 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 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 a boarding and a day school.

Page 27

Several hiccups as Skeldon Factory restarts - GuySuCo CEO The problem-plagued US$200M Skeldon Sugar Factory has been up and running since last Saturday, but certainly not without several hiccups. According to Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Paul Bhim, the encountered problems were resolved. He declined to say what the problems were, but noted that there have been continuous repairs. Fixtures on the problematic punt dumper however, may not be completed until the next “outof-crop” season, during December/January. Bhim said that information on the amount of cane processed at the Skeldon factory thus far was not readily available, but promised to give an update during the course of this week. The Skeldon Sugar Factory’s 2013 target is 400,000 tonnes of cane. This is equivalent to 36,000 tonnes of sugar. Both Bhim, and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, are hopeful that the mark will be met. Shortly after it was commissioned in 2009, functions at the facility had to be halted in order to aid repairs. These were carried out by South A f r i c a ’s Bosch Engineering at an additional cost of US $3M. Because of the hefty amount of money spent, and the fact that a number of aspects had to be repaired

soon after construction, the factory was labeled as a “let down”. And like several other projects undertaken by the state, the construction of the Skeldon factory project saw questions raised as to whether Guyana had received value for its money. Financing for the factory came from a mixture of state funds, grants from the European Union (EU) and loans from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and World Bank. It was reported that even if the factory never begins producing sugar to its optimum, as is currently the case, Guyana still has to repay the loans. The Skeldon factory, one of Guyana’s most costly projects, was the effort made by the Guyana government to salvage what is left of the suffering sugar industry which has, over the years, been seen to be spiraling downwards. Production for the first crop of this year plunged to approximately 23,000 tonnes or more below the target, and despite prices offered by Europe – Guyana’s biggest customer – being almost double on the world market, poor production has continued to threaten the viability of the industry. Those who remain employed with the Corporation are worried about the outcome of the approaching crop, since it would determine whether or not they would receive bonuses.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Egypt Brotherhood leader denies ‘terrorism’ claim CAIRO (AP) — A fugitive leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has denied accusations his group is committing acts of “terrorism” following the coup that toppled the country’s president. Mohammed el-Beltagy’s address, which aired yesterday, comes as the Brotherhood plans new demonstrations to defy a crippling security crackdown that has put most of its senior and mid-level leadership behind bars. Among those detained Monday was 25year-old U.S. citizen Mohamed Soltan, the son of outspoken Brotherhood figure Salah Soltan, family and security officials said. El-Beltagy, a former lawmaker, is wanted himself on accusations of inciting violence and has been hunted by authorities for nearly three weeks. In a videotaped message aired by Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr, an affiliate of the Qatar-based broadcaster, el-Beltagy said that authorities were trying to turn a “political crisis” into a security problem by accusing his group of orchestrating a

terrorism campaign. Egypt’s media, almost uniformly anti-Brotherhood after the closure of Islamist television stations, have described the crackdown as a “war against terrorism.” “Don’t be fooled by these lies and deception that aim to label us with terrorism, violence, (and) killing ... at a time when the hands of the coup regime are drowned in blood,” el-Beltagy said. El-Beltagy went into hiding earlier this month after authorities violently broke up protest encampments held by supporters of President Mohammed Morsi, overthrown July 3 by the military after days of mass protests against him. Hundreds died in the crackdown, including elBeltagy’s daughter. In retaliation, Morsi supporters attacked police stations, government buildings and churches. Hundreds of Brotherhood members, the group’s top leaders and Mursi supporters were arrested, many accused of orchestrating and taking part in violence. Airport authorities also

said yesterday that wellknown Egyptian cleric Yousef al-Qaradawi, based in Qatar, would be arrested upon entry to the country. The elderly sheik is very close to the Brotherhood and has spoken out vehemently against the country’s military chief who led the coup. The current bout of violence is the worst in Egypt’s 2 ½ years of turbulent transition. More than 1,000 people, mostly Mursi supporters, were killed in the raids and other violence since mid-August. Violence has waned in the past few days. An official in the Interior Ministry said yesterday that 106 security personnel have been killed since Aug. 14 and that more than 900 have been wounded in violence, including soldiers and policemen. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. In the latest round-up of Brotherhood supporters, authorities said they arrested Soltan and three others at the pro-Brotherhood Rassd Network News service’s office in the Cairo suburb of Maadi. Also detained in the

Mohammed el-Beltagy group arrest was the manager of the news service, a broadcaster and one of Rassd’s founders. Soltan, a graduate of Ohio State University, was active online in support of the Brotherho o d a n d h a d posted a picture of his arm after he was shot during the security raid on the sit-ins two weeks ago. His father is wanted by police on charges he incited violence during speeches. Police said the group was in possession of plans to spread chaos and violence in the country by inciting splits among the ranks of the army

and police and through acts of civil disobedience. Police officials said they confiscated a Thuraya satellite phone, six mobile phones, three laptops and a camera from the group. A Facebook group managed by his friends and family called “Free Soltan” described him as a “prodemocracy activist.” The administrators of the page say they do not know where he is being held and that they are contacting members of Congress and Senate to push for his release. “He is a peaceful person and strongly committed to non-violence and social justice,” a posting on the Facebook page said. Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo could not be immediately reached for comment. The pro-Mursi camp is planning large new rallies on Friday to press for its demands, including justice for those killed and the “leaders of the coup” be put on trial. Many are still calling for Mursi’s return to power, though a Brotherhood official told The Associated Press on Monday that the group is open for talks only after “confidence-building

measures” from the new government. The size of their rallies has dramatically shrunk in the past week. Islamist groups allied to the Brotherhood have proposed a truce between the interim government and the Mursi camp in which the authorities would end the crackdown and the media campaign in exchange for an end to street protests. Scattered protests continued across the country Tuesday. Meanwhile yesterday, an intelligence official said masked militants and snipers attacked the headquarters of military intelligence in the Sinai border town of Rafah. The official said troops responded and injured two of unidentified assailants. In a separate attack, a stolen ambulance laden with explosives exploded when army troops opened fire at it before it hit a police station in the town of Sheikh Zuweyid near border with Gaza, the official said. The remains of the three attackers’ bodies were found in the wreckage, he said. The official spoke anonymously in line with regulations.

Former German President to be tried on corruption charges BERLIN (Reuters) Former German President Christian Wulff will go on trial in November on corruption charges, more than 18 months after the man once tipped as a successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel resigned from the largely ceremonial role in disgrace. Wulff, who served just 20 months as president, will face charges of receiving favors, a district court in Hanover ruled yesterday, throwing out a bid by prosecutors to try him for the more serious offence of accepting bribes. The former state premier of Lower Saxony, 54, rejects the charges and in April

Christian Wulff spurned an offer to settle the case with an out-of-court payment.

He was hand-picked by Merkel for the job of head of state in 2010. But he stood down when prosecutors asked parliament to lift his immunity, saying they suspected he had accepted undue privileges. The charges stem from a visit by Wulff in 2008 to the Munich Oktoberfest beer festival, when prosecutors say film producer David Groenewold covered Wulff’s expenses. Groenewold will also stand trial. Wulff’s reputation took a hammering when newspaper Bild accused him of misleading the state parliament over a cheap home loan from a businessman friend. He apologized for threatening the editor of Bild with “war” if he published the story. A stream of allegations about flight upgrades, hotel stays and gifts followed, chipping away at his credibility. Germans traditionally look to the post of president as a source of moral authority in society and a counterbalance to the government. Anti-Communist rights activist Joachim Gauck replaced Wulff.

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Iran names new envoy to IAEA, extending makeover of nuclear team DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran has named a disarmament expert as its envoy to the U.N. nuclear watchdog, extending a reshuffle of top officials dealing with its disputed atomic program since new President Hassan Rouhani took office vowing to improve Iran’s foreign relations. Rouhani has yet to pick someone for arguably Iran’s most important diplomatic post - chief nuclear negotiator with world powers - but the pragmatist tilt of his team so far points to a closer alignment of nuclear and foreign policy. Reza Najafi, who has worked on disarmament issues within Iran’s foreign

ministry, will be its next ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, ISNA news agency said yesterday. Najafi replaces Ali Asghar Soltanieh, who has been leading so far fruitless negotiations with the IAEA since early 2012 and was the ambassador during the hardline conservative tenure of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The U.N. agency wants to resume a long-stalled investigation into suspicions that Iran has carried out research relevant for nuclear weapons development, an allegation Tehran denies. Western diplomats accuse

Hassan Rouhani Iran of stonewalling the IAEA inquiry. Rouhani, a relative

South Africa strikes escalate with petrol stations dispute JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s petrol station and car dealership workers yesterday announced a strike for higher wages next week, signaling further labour disruption to a struggling economy that also faces looming stoppages in its gold mines. Citing escalating living and transport costs, the country’s leading manufacturing union NUMSA said its 72,000 members working in petrol stations, automotive retail shops and car dealerships would halt work from Monday “in demand of a living wage and improved conditions”. Africa’s largest economy is already facing a wave of wage increase demands and strikes by increasingly militant workers in several sectors, posing a renewed labour headache for President Jacob Zuma’s government after violent mines strikes last year dented growth and led to sovereign credit downgrades. The petrol station and car dealership employees will join workers from South Africa’s auto industry who have already downed tools for a week in a wage dispute, costing the economy an estimated $60 million a day. Strikes also started this week in the country’s construction and airport sectors, but their impact has been limited so far. “Workers are no longer willing to be subjected to starvation and poverty wages,” the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) said in a statement announcing the strike from Monday. It said wage talks with employers had reached deadlock. More worrying for South Africa’s faltering economy is the looming prospect of stoppages in the gold and platinum mines, where unions demanding pay hikes of between 60 and 150 percent are on an apparent collision course with producers battling rising costs and falling metals prices. On Saturday, the main mining union NUM gave bullion producers, including AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Sibanye Gold and Harmony Gold, a seven-day ultimatum to meet its demand for pay rises of up to 60 percent or face strikes. At current spot prices, a gold industry stoppage would cost the economy an additional $35 million in lost output daily. The head of the main mining union NUM, Frans Baleni, held out a slight hope yesterday that a compromise could still be found with gold producers before the Friday deadline. “A strike is always the last resort, we are not trigger-happy about a strike,” Baleni,

General Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), told Reuters on the sidelines of a mining conference in Johannesburg. “We have said let the employers put something on the table ... If it was something reasonable then I am sure our members would consider it,” Baleni added, indicating that NUM would be open to some kind of counteroffer by the companies. A source at the country’s chamber of mines, which is negotiating on behalf of the gold producers, said: “Some compromises have been mooted by the NUM, but no revisions have been formally tabled.” Gold companies say they can ill afford the union pay demands. But Kgalema Motlanthe, deputy president in Zuma’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) government, yesterday expressed sympathy for the mineworkers, saying the industry had for years under apartheid, “developed methods of making super-profits by relying on the super-exploitation of unskilled workers”. “Sadly, the mining industry has remained a prisoner of its apartheid past in this core element of cheap labour sourced through a migrants punishing annual work cycle and all the social evils associated with that cycle,” he told the mining conference. Apartheid ended in 1994. The ongoing and threatened strikes are expected to further hit South Africa’s growth prospects, even though the country registered an acceleration of growth in the second quarter thanks to a robust expansion in manufacturing. GDP expanded 3.0 percent quarter-onquarter, the highest figure for a year, Statistics South Africa said yesterday. Despite this upbeat number, the rand hovered near the four-year lows it plumbed last week over news of the start of the auto industry strike and the threatened gold industry stoppage. The quarterly growth figure, which undershot economists’ expectations of 3.3 percent, was largely due to a one-off bounce from the manufacturing sector, which grew 11.5 percent in the second quarter on a recovery in base metals. Manufacturing is the second biggest sector in South Africa’s economy. The industry’s expansion in the second quarter was the highest since the first quarter of 2011, Stats S.A. said.

moderate, has pledged to smooth Iran’s relations with world powers to help ease stringent international sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program. Iran says it is enriching uranium only for civilian energy and medicine. The West suspects the program is covertly oriented towards developing a nuclear weapons capability. Earlier this month Rouhani appointed former foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi, seen as a relative pragmatist, to head Iran’s atomic energy organization, a position he held before, replacing a conservative hardliner. Vienna diplomats say the exit of Soltanieh, a strident conservative whose relations with the IAEA became tense, may be a further sign of Rouhani’s desire for a fresh start with the outside world on nuclear issues. Rouhani has vowed Iran will be more transparent and less confrontational in talks both with the IAEA and the big powers. But diplomats caution that it remains unclear

whether Tehran’s new tone will translate into substantive change, given that Rouhani has signaled no change in the Islamic Republic’s insistence on the right to enrich uranium without restriction. Little is known about Najafi’s politics. But the state run English language Press TV said that as the head of Iran’s atomic energy organization in 2010, Salehi tried to replace Soltanieh with Najafi at the IAEA, describing Najafi as “an expert in nonproliferation issues” who “deserves the post”. But Soltanieh’s term was ultimately extended. Mark Fitzpatrick, director of non-proliferation and disarmament at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that when Najafi attended an IISS conference in 2010, he engaged with other participants during the breaks, listened well, asked good questions and defended Iran’s interests but was not above correcting himself. ISNA said Najafi was nominated by new Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a U.S.-educated former

U.N. ambassador, for the IAEA post and Rouhani approved it. For the pivotal post of chief nuclear negotiator, it is nearly certain that Rouhani will replace Saeed Jalili, a hardline ideologue of the Islamic Revolution who diplomats said spent more time lecturing than engaging with major powers. A new head of the Supreme National Security Council, who has traditionally acted as chief nuclear negotiator, has yet to be appointed. The delay has raised speculation that Rouhani may be trying to win over power brokers in the clerical and security elites to shifting the job to the foreign ministry, a less hardline institution in Iran’s multi-tiered power structure. While the president can appoint a new head of the council, the fact it comprises representatives of government, parliament, judiciary, armed forces and clerical Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei makes it harder to settle on a negotiating line.

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Wednesday August 28, 2013

West could hit Syria in days, envoys tell rebels AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Western forces could attack Syria within days, the United States and its allies have told rebels fighting President Bashar alAssad, opening up new risks in a war that is spreading hatreds across the Middle East. Participants at a meeting in Istanbul told Reuters that U.S. and other diplomats warned Syrian opposition leaders on Monday to expect action that would punish Assad for poison gas attacks - and to be ready to negotiate if his government sues for peace. The United States said its forces in the region were “ready to go”, but the White House insisted President Barack Obama was still considering various options, not just military force, and was not intent on bringing about “regime change” in Damascus. British Prime Minister David Cameron, anxious like Obama not to emulate the Afghan and Iraqi entanglements that beset their predecessors, said any strikes would be “specific”, a penalty for the use of chemical weapons, and would not drag the allies deeper into a Syrian civil war now well into its third year. He recalled parliament for a debate on Syria tomorrow. United Nations chemical weapons investigators, who finally crossed the frontline to take samples on Monday, put off until today a second trip to the rebel-held suburbs of Damascus where activists say hundreds of civilians died a week ago. But while U.N. evidence of chemical warfare could bolster a Western argument for intervention in the face of likely Russian and Chinese opposition at the United Nations, Western leaders and the Arab League - have already declared Assad guilty. Ahmad Jarba, president of the rebel Syrian National Coalition, met envoys from 11 countries, including Robert Ford, the U.S. ambassador to Syria, at an Istanbul hotel. The rebel leaders proposed

targets for cruise missiles and bombing. One participant said: “The opposition was told in clear terms that action to deter further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime could come as early as in the next few days.” Planning appears to focus on air strikes. There is little public support in Western countries for troops to invade Syria. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said: “We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfill and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take ... We are ready to go.” The Syrian government, backed by regional power Iran, denies gassing its own people and said it would defend itself. Russia, Assad’s main arms supplier, opposes military action and has suggested that rebel forces may have released the poison gas. China’s state news agency recalled how flawed intelligence was used to justify the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Firm opposition from permanent members of the U.N. Security Council all but rules out a U.N. mandate for war of the kind that gave legal backing to NATO air strikes that helped Libyan rebels unseat Muammar Gaddafi two years ago. But Western officials say they do want to act within international law. Moscow and Beijing accuse Western powers of using human rights complaints, such as in Libya, to meddle in sovereign states’ affairs. White House spokesman Jay Carney insisted: “The options that we are considering are not about regime change. “They are about responding to a clear violation of an international standard that prohibits the use of chemical weapons.” Although Obama has long said Assad should step down, he is unwilling to commit to making that happen by force. Cameron told reporters: “This is not about getting involved in a Middle Eastern war or changing our stance

Bashar al-Assad in Syria or going further into that conflict. It’s about chemical weapons. “Their use is wrong, and the world shouldn’t stand idly by.” In France, which played a major role in Libya, President Francois Hollande said he was “ready to punish” Assad for the gas attack, citing a 2005 U.N. provision for international action to protect civilians from their own government. Similar arguments were used by NATO to bomb Russian ally Serbia after the killing of civilians in Serbia’s then province of Kosovo. In an indication of support from Arab states that may help Western powers argue the case for war against likely U.N. vetoes from Moscow and Beijing, the Arab League issued a statement holding Assad’s government responsible for the chemical attack. In Saudi Arabia, the rebels’ leading regional sponsor, Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, called for “a decisive and serious stand by the international community”. Fears of international conflict in the Middle East affected financial markets. Oil prices hit a six-month high and stocks fell around the world, notably in neighboring Turkey, as well as emerging economies that would suffer from a chill in trade. The Turkish government, a NATO member, called for action against Assad for what it called a “crime against humanity”. Obama, Cameron and

Hollande face tough questions at home about how an intervention will end, whether they risk bolstering Assad if he rides out the assault and whether they risk handing power to antiWestern Islamist rebels if Assad were overthrown. Turmoil in Egypt, whose 2011 uprising inspired Syrians to rebel, has underlined the unpredictability of revolutions. And the presence of Islamist militants, including allies of al Qaeda in the Syrian rebel ranks, has given Western leaders pause. They have held back so far from helping Assad’s opponents to victory. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said U.S. strikes would help al Qaeda and called Western leaders “delusional” if they hoped to help the rebels reach a balance of power in Syria. “We have means of defending ourselves, and we will surprise them with these if necessary,” he said. “We will defend ourselves. We will not hesitate to use any means available.” Assad’s forces made little or no response to three attacks by Israeli aircraft earlier this year that Israeli officials said disrupted arms flowing from Iran to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The continued presence

of United Nations experts in Damascus may be a factor holding back international military action. The experts came under fire in government-held territory on Monday before reaching the rebel lines. They interviewed and took samples from survivors, though much evidence may have decayed. A U.N. statement said the investigators had put off a second visit to the affected areas until Wednesday to prepare better. Opposition activists have said at least 500 people and possibly twice that many were killed by rockets laden with poison, possibly the nerve gas sarin or something similar. If so, it was the worst chemical weapons attack since Saddam Hussein gassed thousands of Iraqi Kurds in 1988. Israelis have been claiming state-issued gas masks in case Syria responds to a Western attack by firing missiles at Israel, as Saddam did in 1991. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to “respond forcefully” to any attempt to target it. Western governments were besieged by conflicting advice. Tony Blair, who sent British troops into Afghanistan and Iraq alongside Americans led by

George W. Bush, urged today’s leaders to stop their “hand-wringing” and act. Failure to intervene, he said, would leave Syria “mired in carnage”, a safer haven for Islamist militants than Afghanistan once was. But General David Richards, until July the head of Britain’s armed forces, said “pin-prick” cruise missile strikes could aggravate rather than resolve the conflict, while more sweeping intervention was not on the cards: “The scale of involvement to make a decisive difference in Syria would be so huge that it is something that we, at the moment, cannot sensibly contemplate.” Residents of the Syrian capital are getting anxious. “I’ve always been a supporter of foreign intervention, but now that it seems like a reality, I’ve been worrying that my family could be hurt or killed,” said one woman, Zaina, who opposes Assad. “I’m afraid of a military strike now.” “The big fear is that they’ll make the same mistakes they made in Libya and Iraq,” said Ziyad, a man in his 50s. “They’ll hit civilian targets, and then they’ll cry that it was by mistake, but we’ll get killed in the thousands.”

Arab League blames Syria’s Assad for chemical attack CAIRO (Reuters) - The Arab League squarely blamed Syrian President Bashar alAssad yesterday for a gas attack near Damascus and urged the U.N. Security Council to act, providing what diplomatic sources said was political cover for a possible U.S. strike.Western powers have told the Syrian opposition to expect a strike against Assad’s forces within days to punish the attack, according to sources who attended a meeting between envoys and the Syrian National Coalition. The Arab League’s statement, issued after an emergency meeting, made no mention of military action. But it accused Assad of genocide and demanded, in unusually strong language, that the perpetrators of last week’s poison gas attack, in which hundreds of civilians were killed, face justice. The Arab League holds Syria “fully responsible for the ugly crime and demands that all the perpetrators of this heinous crime be presented for international trials”, the

Saud al-Faisal statement said. It also called on U.N. Security Council members to overcome their differences and take “the necessary resolutions against the perpetrators of this crime”. Russia and China have vetoed measures against Assad in the Council over the past two years. Russia in particular argued that Western powers abused a resolution in 2011 to justify military action to help topple Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi -

action that was endorsed by the Arab League. Diplomatic sources said the Arab League statement had been pushed through by the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar, in the knowledge that air strikes were being discussed. The two countries have been among the most ardent backers of Syria’s rebels and have pressed for firmer action against Assad. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal urged the international community on Tuesday to take a “serious and decisive” stand against the Syrian leader. Syria’s civil war has split the region broadly along sectarian lines. Shi’ite Muslim Iran, and its allies in Lebanon and Iraq, have supported Assad. The Gulf Arab states have backed the mainly Sunni Muslim rebels, many of whom are Islamist militants. Iraq and Lebanon, as well as Algeria, withheld their backing for the Arab League statement or parts of it yesterday, as they have done in the past.

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Colombia’s Santos open to talks with FARC leader Timochenko BOGOTA (Reuters) Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said yesterday he would consider meeting FARC rebel leader Timochenko to accelerate talks aimed at ending 50 years of conflict but warned the nation will continue at war if Colombians reject what is agreed at the negotiating table. Santos, who started peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, back in November, said the time for peace is “now or never” but reiterated that any negotiated agreements must be ratified by popular vote. In an interview with local radio, Santos said he is willing to meet Timochenko, whose real name is Rodrigo Londono, in pursuit of peace so that the Andean nation can move into a different phase of stability and economic development. “I think this is the most important process that Colombia can have and, if it’s successful, the most important thing that can happen to Colombia in recent history,” Santos told W Radio, referring to the talks hosted by Cuba. “So if there’s a need at some point, for the process to be successful, that a meeting takes place, I won’t rule it out,” he said when asked whether he would meet with the FARC leader. More than three dozen FARC commanders are in Cuba working through a fivepoint agenda that would let the two sides declare an end to the fighting that has killed more than 200,000 since it began in 1964. The war has pit the FARC and a smaller

Juan Manuel Santos rebel group, the ELN, against government troops and illegal paramilitary death squads. Timochenko is not personally taking part in the negotiations and his exact whereabouts are unknown. He is thought to be coordinating the war from hiding in Venezuela. Santos last week sent draft legislation to congress that would seek to ratify any deals signed in Havana through a referendum that would coincide with national elections next March or May. If the voters do not like the way peace is achieved and how it would impact the nation, the accords would be moot, Santos said. “In that case there wouldn’t be a peace process; so simple, we’d continue at war,” he said, acknowledging that talks may stretch beyond November, the date he sees as ideal. While most Colombian support the peace process, many doubt they will soon reach a successful end. Opposition leaders like former President Alvaro Uribe are furious that Santos may be

giving too many concessions to the FARC in order to cement his legacy. The FARC has battled a dozen governments since it began as an agrarian struggle against rural inequality. Even while it has been severely weakened in the past 10 years by a heavy U.S.-backed offensive, the leftist guerrilla movement remains a formidable threat to the government and civilian population. In recent months, the FARC has sought to boost its political sway in rural areas, supporting labor disputes and backing road blocks that have piled pressure on Santos and his government. The rebels have said repeatedly they do not want a referendum on peace and insist on a constituent assembly as the best way to enshrine the tenets of the accords in the nation’s constitution. Any meeting between Santos and Timochenko would be the first such sit down since former President Andres Pastrana met rebel founder Manuel Marulanda during peace talks that fell apart in 2002. Trained in irregular warfare in Cuba and politics in Russia in the 1980s, Timochenko took over as head of the Marxist FARC after Colombian forces killed former boss Alfonso Cano in late 2011. Colombia’s attorney general has put out at least 117 capture orders against Timochenko for kidnapping, murder, rebellion and terrorism while the United States has offered up to $5 million for information leading to his capture.

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JLP PREPARING FOR LEADERSHIP BATTLE Jamaica Gleaner - Area Council Four of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) took centre stage Monday after news emerged that a resolution, which, in effect, came out in full support of Andrew Holness as the duly elected leader, had been passed in that bloc at the western end of the island. The group claimed that the resolution was designed to “reduce the friction and division” that would normally result from an electoral contest and to promote unity in the party. But members aligned to possible challenger Audley Shaw’s camp complained Monday that senior party members were manoeuvring to frustrate a face-off with Holness in November at the party’s annual conference. The charge was soundly dismissed by members of the region, who said nominations are made from the floor of conference each year, allowing persons to elect a leader and four deputy leaders of the party. Attorney-at-law Harold Brady, member of the party’s powerful Standing Committee, said last year was no exception, as Holness was elected unopposed by the delegates of the JLP at the annual conference. Three pivotal members of the JLP represent seats in Area Council Four. They are General Secretary Dr Horace Chang, Edmund Bartlett, who is off the island, as well as Dr Christopher Tufton, the caretaker for South West St Elizabeth, who lost the seat in 2011. Marisa DalrymplePhilibert, the member of parliament for Southern

Andrew Holness Trelawny, which is also located in Area Council Four, said while she remains undecided, she was troubled by the hostilities that had surfaced. “I don’t like the hostilities that are coming out,” she asserted. Dalrymple-Philibert’s comments came only hours after Shaw, who signalled that he was likely to challenge Holness for the leadership of the party, said at a meeting of Area Council Three that he had come in peace and with no malice as he sought to engage delegates and supporters. But Dalrymple-Philibert said the tones from meetings of the area councils, two of which were addressed by Holness and Shaw, had left her worried. She declined to comment, however, on the resolution that hit out at the anticipated challenge to Holness. “I have not decided as yet. I have been a strong supporter of the leader of the party, but as always, democracy is a right, and the delegates on the ground

need a voice,” she argued. The pace of political activities intensified Monday as JLP members huddled to fine-tune strategies in the aftermath of the package of explosive area council meetings on the weekend. There were unmistakable signs that both campaign teams are gradually taking shape, with both teams locked in meetings all day Monday. As Shaw huddled in meetings, a group of parliamentarians, who are openly backing Holness, were meeting at the JLP’s Belmont Road offices Monday. Two former presidents of the young professionals’ affiliate of the party, Generation 2000 (G2K), Warren Newby and Delano Seiveright, as well as Ian Murray, a former senator, are expected to officially throw their weight behind Shaw. N e w b y, a f o r m e r senator, and Seiveright, a one-time aide of Holness in his capacity as opposition leader, were active at the Area Council Three meeting, along with former G2K General Secretary Colin Virgo. Contrastingly, senior members of the JLP are, for the most part, backing Holness and they are not bashful to stand beside him in the limelight. Veteran politicians Derrick Smith, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, Desmond McKenzie, Everald Warmington and Sharon HayWebster, as well as Shahine Robinson and Andrew Wheatley, who publicly expressed support for Holness, were at Monday’s meeting.

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Wednesday August 28, 2013

Venezuela says hitmen Jamaica businesses urged to captured in plot to kill Maduro look to Brazil for development

Venezuela said it derailed a plot to kill President Nicolas Maduro, arresting two hitmen it said wanted to assassinate the leftist leader on orders from a Colombian conservative ex-president. Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez said at a briefing that Caracas arrested the alleged hitmen, two Colombians, on August 13. The pair, Victor Johan Guache Mosquera and Erick Leonardo Huertas Rios, were part of “a group of 10 men who were coming to carry out the murder of the president,” working with former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe, Rodriguez charged. Maduro himself called on US President Barack Obama to say if he ordered or knew of the alleged assassination plan. Maduro said that besides Colombia, it was hatched by far-right Venezuelan opposition figures in Miami. Maduro is a frequent and fiery critic of Washington, as was his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez. “Is President Obama so weak that decisions are made for him in the United States to kill a Latin American head of state without his knowing it?” Maduro said to reporters. The pair detained were part of a support team for a “highly experienced hitman”

Nicolas Maduro identified by the alias David, whom they reported to directly and who was to personally carry out the assassination, the minister said. David, Rodriguez charged, was taking orders from a Colombian who is in prison, Oscar Alcantara Gonzalez, alias “Gancho Mosco”, who allegedly works for Uribe. “We have no doubt that Alvaro Uribe Velez has knowledge of all these things ... And we are not the least bit surprised that he is the one giving orders through

operatives,” Rodriguez alleged. The Colombian expresident, who held office from 2002-2010, vehemently denied the plot, branding the allegations “slurs.” In an interview with Colombian television, Uribe said he would rather talk about “important issues and not the slurs of the dictatorship.” Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who lost the April presidential vote to Maduro and is contesting the results, shrugged off the alleged plot, saying: “Nobody believes that tall tale.” Rodriguez in June alleged that Maduro was targeted by a separate assassination plot launched from Colombia and the United States. Venezuela made frequent allegations of assassination plots against the late leftist President Hugo Chavez and has continued to do so under Maduro, his handpicked successor. Official results gave Maduro, 50, a razor-thin margin of just 1.5 percent over Capriles, 41, in the April 14 election. (AFP)

Trinidad rattled by earthquake

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -CMC – The Seismic Unit of the University of the West Indies (UWI) yesterday morning confirmed that an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 had rattled several parts of Trinidad, the second tremor to be felt in the Caribbean within a one week period. The quake was felt at 7.59 am (local time) and was located at 10.76 degrees north, 61.79 degrees west and at a depth of 57 km, the UWI Seismic Unit said. The quake was felt mainly on the outskirts of the capital Port of Spain. Last weekend, residents in Antigua and Barbuda were jolted by a quake with a magnitude of 5.1. The Seismic Unit said that the quake, the second in the past seven days, had a depth of 30 km and was located east of Barbuda.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – CMC - Jamaica says its logistic hub initiative is vital to the country’s transition to strengthening economic ties with Brazil and as a result a senior government minister is to visit the South American country for further discussions. “Without the logistics hub, we will continue to struggle with a small market (Jamaica), looking at a huge market (Brazil), and not being able to compete effectively,” said Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Anthony Hylton, “With the logistics hub, we are talking about a deeper integration of Jamaica into the global economy, and with that, the movement of passengers globally, and the movement of goods globally…we’ll have the links between Brazil and Jamaica enhanced by movement of goods, passengers, and data,” Hylton told an audience attending an event hosted by the Jamaica National Small Business Loans Limited. The event was aimed at providing a context for Jamaica and Brazil to dialogue on opportunities for trade and investment. Hylton said that he would be making an official visit to Brazil to continue discussions on potential partnerships for the logistics hub. While he gave no date for the visit, he said it was critical that these linkages be made as well as indicating the role that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector must play in the success of the hub. President of the JamaicaBrazil Chamber of Commerce,

Donovan McFarlane, said the close relationship between the two countries helps to facilitate the awareness of the local tourism product. “Understand though, that success is only guaranteed through a joint effort with Jamaican businesses, hotels and the tourism sector,” he said, calling on local businesses and industries to join the membership of the Chamber of Commerce. “We are ready and we are equipped with the tools to show you the way to achieve success in business with both countries,” he said, urging the local businesses to use the Chamber of Commerce as their “gateway” to doing business in Brazil. Brazilian Ambassador to Jamaica, Antonio Da Costa E Silva, said that there were “immense” opportunities for trade between Jamaica and Brazil, and that trade and tourism levels are below what it should be. “In those areas as well as in investment, what I think we are lacking is better knowledge of what we are in

Anthony Hylton each of our context …we have a lot of commonalities,” he said, adding that a similar sister organization (Chamber of Commerce) should be established in Kingston, to develop closer ties. The diplomat said such an organistion would focus not only on trade, but also on joint venture investment, and partnerships to tap into other markets where Brazil may have assets, and those markets with which Jamaica is acquainted, such as the United States and Europe.

Cuban state owned airline introduces new service to J’ca KINGSTON, Jamaica – CMC - Jamaica has welcomed the decision of the Havana-based Aerogaviota airlines to introduce a three weekly service between Cuba and Jamaica. “We take pride in welcoming this group partnership,” said minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Transport, Water and Housing Dr Morais, adding that the partnership provides options for the travelling public. Aerogaviota had been operating chartered flights to Jamaica for the past three years, but will now introduce a scheduled three weekly flights between the two countries. Outgoing Cuban Ambassador to Jamaica Yuri Gala Lopez described Monday’s inaugural flight under the new schedule as the start of a new phase in linking the two countries. “The launch will facilitate the flow of passengers between both countries. In a way this will also help the multi-destination component in our bilateral relationship. I think it will be an additional tool in our joint effort to not only maintain the dynamic and very close relationships that we have, but to take it to another level,” he added. On travel agency said that the new flight would allow for passengers to acquire cheaper airfares since there would no longer have to book connecting flights.

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Muhammad Ali awards to Lewis Hamilton will ‘keep pushing’ honor humanitarian efforts Sebastian Vettel for F1 title

Louisville, Ky. (AP) Boxing great Muhammad Ali wants to recognise the greatness of people waging their own fights for peace and social justice. The former three-time heavyweight champion plans to be in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., for the presentation of the first-ever Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards on October 3. The award winners were not immediately identified but will come from places around the world, the Muhammad Ali Center said Tuesday. The awards revolve around core principles espoused by Ali, with an emphasis on the humanitarian works of young adults, the center said. Ali’s wife said the awards embody her husband’s efforts to inspire good deeds by others. ‘’Of course he is proud of his accomplishments in the ring, but Muhammad’s proudest moments are those where he is able to touch the lives of others in positive and sometimes profound ways,’’ Lonnie Ali said in a statement. ‘’Muhammad is a living example of how one person can inspire and improve the

lives of others.’’ A half-dozen awards will honor people ages 35 and under for making significant contributions to the causes of peace, social justice and other humanitarian efforts, the center said. Awards will be given for exemplifying each of those principles confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spirituality. ‘’The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards is his opportunity to formally recognize some of these young people for the good works they do and to encourage them and others to begin and continue to do good in their own communities and hopefully extend that good to the global community,’’ Lonnie Ali said. Other presentations will be for a Humanitarian of the Year Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Kentucky Humanitarian of the Year Award. Ali and his wife are members of the selection committee. Award presenters will include Ali’s daughter Laila Ali, a boxing champion herself, the center said. The awards ceremony will be at

the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville. It will be part of a three-day celebration at the Ali Center. On October 2, the Ali Center said, it will host the U.S. premiere of the HBO Films presentation of ‘’Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight.’’ The film looks at Ali’s historic Supreme Court battle from behind closed doors. Ali was stripped of his heavyweight crown in 1967 for refusing to be drafted for military service during the Vietnam War. He cited his religious beliefs as the reason for his refusal. His decision resulted in a draft-evasion conviction. Ali found himself embroiled in a long legal fight that ended in 1971, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor. Ali regained the heavyweight title in 1974, defeating George Foreman in the ‘’Rumble in the Jungle.’’ On October 4, the Ali Center will host the Louisville premiere of Bill Siegel’s film, ‘’The Trials of Muhammad Ali.’’ The film looks at some of the defining moments of Ali’s life, including his conversion to Islam and his refusal to serve in the military.

Los Angeles Lakers’ Gasol to speak for Madrid bid

Madrid (AP) - Madrid’s 2020 Olympic bid committee says it h a s appointed Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol to act as one of its spokesmen. In a statement issued Tuesday, the committee says Gasol, one of Spain’s most well-known athletes and a two-time Olympic silver medalist, will address the International Olympic Committee during M a d r i d ’s final presentation in Buenos

Aires next month. Madrid is vying with Tokyo and Istanbul for the 2020 Summer Games, and the IOC will deliver its decision in Argentina on September 7. In the statement, Gasol says the Olympics are ‘’more than sport’’ and Madrid needs the boost the games would provide. Spain has been in recession for most of the past four years and has a 26.3 percent unemployment rate.

Pau Gasol

Lewis Hamilton admits it will be “very tough” to beat Sebastian Vettel to the world drivers’ title but insists he is “going to keep pushing”. The Mercedes driver is 58 points behind Vettel with a maximum of 200 available after the Red Bull driver’s dominant victory in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. “It’s a big, big gap. It’s a huge gap,” said Hamilton, who finished third at Spa behind Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. Hamilton admitted it was “difficult” to see Vettel in such a strong position. The Englishman started from pole position but was passed by the German on the first lap, before being demoted by Alonso 14 laps later on. Hamilton’s Mercedes did not have the pace to keep up with his two rivals. “There’s nothing you can do,” Hamilton said. “It’s difficult when people pull away from you and there is nothing you can do about it. “I feel happy we’ve extended our lead [in the constructors’ championship] ahead of Ferrari, and also I’m up to third [in the drivers’ ahead of Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen], so I have come and done what I planned to

Lewis Hamilton do. “But it is difficult when he is pulling away at the rate sometimes he pulls away.” Vettel is 46 points ahead of Alonso, who is second in the championship, and is well on course for his fourth consecutive world title, a feat only Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher have previously managed. Hamilton, who won the previous race in Hungary, said: “He has just had a phenomenal car for a long, long time and it’s still phenomenal and he does the job, so it’s a perfect package. “But we have had some really strong races and we’ve been competing with him and

we have finished ahead of him in the past so it doesn’t mean we can’t do that in these next races. But it is getting closer and closer to the point where we need to be finishing ahead every time to close that gap.” Hamilton said he believed his Mercedes team’s form in Spa meant Vettel and Alonso would start favourites at the next race, the Italian Grand Prix on the high-speed Monza track on September 8. But he is optimistic he will be fully competitive for the final seven races, starting in Singapore on September 22. “They’re more windy circuits, more higherdownforce circuits,” he said. “These two circuits [Spa and Monza], you get a downforce package and you’re kind of stuck with it. It either has or hasn’t worked. “You may improve in the next race or be in the same position. We won’t be any worse. “Then afterwards we’ll have the highdownforce package we had in the previous races but hopefully it should be improved again. So I’m hoping we’ll be more competitive from then on.” (BBC Sport)

Vuelta a Espana 2013

Chris Horner becomes oldest stage winner Chris Horner became the oldest rider to win a stage and take the overall lead in a Grand Tour by winning the Vuelta a Espana’s stage three hilltop finish. The American, who is 41 years and 307 days old, raced clear on the short, sharp climb of Mirador de Lobeira. Horner takes over the race lead from Vincenzo Nibali, who finished three seconds adrift alongside the other main contenders for the overall victory. “I am going to try for the overall victory,” said Horner after the stage. The RadioShack Leopard rider, who is yet to sign for a team for the 2014 season, surpassed the feats of Pino Cerami and Andrea Noe Belgian Cerami was 41 years and 95 days when he won a stage at the 1963 Tour de France, while Noe led the 2007 Giro d’Italia at the age of 38. “I fully appreciate how important it is to win and lead a Grand Tour at my age, the older I get the more I value racing,” he continued. “I understand that every day I race could be my last day on

Chris Horner the bike, but I love racing so much I want to continue.” Horner, who turned professional in 1995 but had never previously won a Grand Tour stage, attacked in the final kilometre of the 172.5km race from Vigo. Race favourites Alejandro Valverde and fellow Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez finished second and third after leading a chasing group of a dozen riders, which included Nibali and Team Sky’s Rigoberto Uran, over the finish line. (BBC Sport) Result of stage three 1. Chris Horner (US / RadioShack) 4:30:18" 2. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +3"

3. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) 4. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Team Sky) 5. Daniel Martin (Ireland / Garmin) Overall standings after three stages 1. Chris Horner (US / RadioShack) 9:37:40" 2. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +3" 3. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +11" 4. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain / RadioShack) +13" 5. Robert Kiserlovski (Croatia / RadioShack) +23" 6. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +24" 7. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Team Sky) +25"

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Wednesday August 28, 2013

Roger Federer easily wins 1st match at US Open New York (AP) - Roger Federer easily won his delayed first match at the U.S. Open on Tuesday, also marking his first Grand Slam victory since losing in the second round at Wimbledon. The Swiss great needed just 93 minutes to beat Grega Zemlja in straight sets. Federer defeated the 62ndranked Slovenian 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 in a matchup postponed from Monday night because of rain. He had 12 aces and 35 winners and won 20 of 21 points at the net. The 17-time major champion is seeded seventh this year, his worst placement since 2002. Jerzy Janowicz, who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, was done in straight sets, too. But his U.S. Open is over. The 14th-seeded Pole felt

Roger Federer

as if a knife were stabbing him in his right side every time he tried to serve. After hurting his lower back Saturday, he lost 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to qualifier

Maximo Gonzalez. Ranked 247th, the 30-year-old Argentine hadn’t won a main draw match on the ATP Tour since April 2011.

Arsenal qualify for Champions League Aaron Ramsey scored twice as Arsenal recorded a comfortable victory over Fenerbahce to reach the Champions League for the 16th consecutive year. The Turkish visitors trailed 3-0 after the first leg of the playoff and went further behind when Ramsey finished from close range after Lukas Podolski’s through ball was deflected to him. Gunners keeper Wojciech Szczesny tipped Emmanuel Emenike’s shot onto the post. But Ramsey grabbed a second when he volleyed in Kieran Gibbs’ cross. Theo Walcott also hit the bar with a free-kick as Arsenal strolled through, with the only concern for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger a second-half injury to Podolski, who was substituted after appearing to pull a hamstring. England midfielder Jack Wilshere also looked uncomfortable after receiving a late kick on the ankle but finished the game. Otherwise, once Ramsey added to his goal in the first leg, it was a relatively straightforward evening in front of an undercapacity crowd at the Emirates Stadium. Following their openingday defeat by Aston Villa, this was Arsenal’s third successive victory and, ahead of hosting north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday, it will have injected fresh confidence into an occasionally fragile side. European governing body Uefa may also breathe a sigh of relief since the result avoided a potentially awkward scenario where Fenerbahce could have

on the big stadium, but the people - it’s too much crowds for myself, I think,’’ she said. She’s also struggled in the North American swing leading to the U.S. Open, but she made a breakthrough last year. Kvitova won two of those tournaments and reached the semifinals at another in 2012, then matched her longest run at the year’s last Grand Slam tournament. The final set Tuesday was closer than the score in this rare matchup of two lefties. After Kvitova went up a break at 2-0, Doi had a chance to break right back but couldn’t convert. Two years ago, Kvitova became the first reigning Wimbledon women’s champion to lose her first U.S. Open match in the same season. She was in danger of another early exit Tuesday when she made 15 unforced errors in the second set. But she’s hardly fazed by three-set matches. Kvitova recently played six straight across three tournaments, winning four of them. Doi, from Japan, fell to 0-4 against top 10 opponents. Players in action later Tuesday include top-seeded Novak Djokovic and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka. Sixth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, with boyfriend Rory McIlroy in the stands, held off qualifier Duan YingYing to win 6-2, 7-5. The 133rd-ranked Duan had a chance to serve out the second set at 5-3 in her Grand Slam debut. But the 2009 U.S.

Open finalist broke back. Then Duan had a set point on Wozniacki’s serve that she couldn’t convert. Wozniacki broke serve in the next game, then staved off three break points to clinch the win. No. 10-seeded Roberta Vinci, a quarterfinalist at Flushing Meadows last year, beat Timea Babos 6-4, 6-2. She’s reached a career-high ranking this summer at age 30 after making the round of 16 at the French Open and Wimbledon. No. 13-seeded Ana Ivanovic and 14th-seeded Maria Kirilenko got off to quick starts, each winning in under an hour. Ivanovic, the 2008 French Open champ, beat Anna Tatishvili 6-2, 6-0. Kirilenko won 6-1, 6-1 against Yanina Wickmayer, a semifinalist at Flushing Meadows four years ago whose ranking has fallen to 57th. Christina McHale, a 21year-old from Englewood Cliffs, N.J., snapped a fivematch losing streak by beating 45th-ranked Julia Goerges 6-4, 6-3. McHale’s ranking had slipped to 114th. On the men’s side, Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey reached the second round. Isner, seeded 13th, beat Filippo Volandri of Italy 6-0, 6-2, 6-3. The 26thseeded Querrey defeated Guido Pella of Argentina 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Milos Raonic won his first Grand Slam match while seeded in the top 10. The Canadian defeated qualifier Thomas Fabbiano of Italy 63, 7-6 (6), 6-3.

WADA revokes status of World Cup & Olympic anti-doping lab

Aaron Ramsey progressed despite facing the prospect of a two-year European ban after being found guilty of match fixing. Their appeal will be heard by the Court of Arbitration in Sport on Wednesday. History weighed against the visitors, with Arsenal only twice suffering European defeats by three goals or more in the last 50 years, and the Turkish side scoring just three times in eight trips to England. However, they went close to opening the scoring when Bacaray Sagna’s attempted clearance was deflected towards his own goal forcing Szczesny into a save. Ramsey then put the Gunners in greater control when the 22year-old profited from Caner Erkin’s sliding clearance after Podolski attempted to find Walcott. Welshman Ramsey, who struggled at times last term,

He had a painkiller injection Monday, which allowed him to rotate so he could hit his backhand. But he described his serve during his match as ‘’a push.’’ At one point in the third set, he even tried one underhand. Janowicz took an injury timeout in the second set for a trainer to massage his back. Janowicz had never been past the third round at a major tournament before his run at Wimbledon, which ended with a loss to eventual champion Andy Murray. The combustible 22-year-old fell in the first round at Flushing Meadows last year in his only previous appearance in the U.S. Open. He had 11 double-faults and 53 unforced errors Tuesday. On the women’s side, fourth-seeded Sara Errani posted a ‘’double bagel,’’ beating Olivia Rogowska 6-0, 6-0 in 51 minutes. The 151st-ranked Australian was a ‘’lucky loser,’’ falling in qualifying but making the main draw when Ayumi Morita withdrew because of injury. Seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova weathered another tough U.S. Open match, needing three sets and nearly two hours to beat 92ndranked Misaki Doi. Kvitova won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 on a windy day at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Kvitova has reached at least the semifinals at the other three major events; she has never made it past the fourth round at Flushing Meadows. ‘’I like big matches

has made an energetic start to this season and impressed alongside Wilshere and Santi Cazorla in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield. The trio were at the heart of some early, crisp passing and set up chances for Walcott and Olivier Giroud, while Cazorla was denied by a fine save as Fenerbahce keeper Volkan Demirel kept the game, if not the tie, in the balance. The visitors went close to equalising on the night before the break when Emenike bore down on goal after giving Sagna the slip, but Szczesny pulled off a superb stop to deny the Nigerian. Eighteen minutes from the end, Ramsey finished off a fine move down the left, volleying into the bottom corner to ensure Arsenal’s name would be in the Champions League draw on Thursday once again. (BBC Sport)

The Rio anti-doping laboratory which was to be used for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics in Brazil has had its right to test samples revoked. The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), suspended the laboratory for a second time in August and will revoke its status on September 25 for failing to meet international standards. The lab can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days. It can re-apply for accreditation and seek “fast track” process from Wada. Organisers of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games had planned on using the centre to test samples from all athletes. But the decision to revoke the accreditation was taken by Wada’s executive committee following a thorough review of the status of the laboratory, which is also known as Ladetec. Wada

cited “non-compliance with the International Standard for Laboratories and the related technical documents” as the reason for their decision. A suspension on testing was imposed on 8 August for repeated failure to comply with international standards, before the decision to stop the centre’s testing in its entirety. Exactly how the laboratory has failed in its work is unknown, but it is not the first time Wada has punished the centre. In January 2012, Ladetec was suspended from testing for nine months for falsely accusing a Brazilian beach

volleyball player of doping. The latest decision means the laboratory’s testing licence will be removed just over nine months before the start of the World Cup. Wada said in a statement: “The revocation will enter into force on 25 September, 2013 and means that the laboratory - which is currently suspended - will no longer be authorised to carry out the testing of doping control samples on behalf of Wada or any testing authority.” With the lab currently suspended from testing, the closest test centre to Rio is in Colombia. (BBC Sport)

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

Diamond tennis camp hailed a success - President Jumana

Some of the participants and officials seen at the opening of the programme at GBTI at Diamond. The just concluded Diamond Tennis Club/ GBTI Junior tennis camp was hailed as a success, according to the president of the Diamond Tennis Club Ricky Jumana. Jumana stated that the camp has seen an increase in the number of participants from the previous year, which he attributed to the love for the game along the East Bank. The tennis camp, which is in its fourth year, saw over 45 participants this year. He said that with this large turnout of juniors, means those residents who live in

villages and areas surrounding the courts are very receptive to the sport. “It was good that we had in excess of 30 juniors, we were hoping to have just about 30 juniors when we were planning and have exceeded that amount and that is good for the East Bank area, to see such a turn out for these activities,” Jumana said. He noted that tennis does not stop at the camp for the junior players. He stated that the club is committed to having the junior players fully trained and be at the top of

the game, so they can also be a part of team Guyana, to compete on the regional and international stage. “We have invited them to participate in the club; along with that we have issued them with club forms so that they can join the club after this camp. They can also access all the facilities at the GBTI Diamond tennis courts.” Meanwhile, Coach Leyland Leacock who assisted in training the participants highlighted that with the success of this camp he is expecting more persons

or players from the area to join the sport. He too was very happy to see the turnout, which he noted was way beyond the expectation of the club. Camps like these, the association members said, would foster the game and develop well rounded and top class junior athletes. They noted that a few players have gone on to win regional tournaments or would have represented Guyana, all coming out of such camps: Afruica Gentle and Gavin Lewis were among the names mentioned.

Guyanese women beat Martinique; topple Dom Rep in CRTTF opener

Guyana’s national women’s table tennis team yesterday toppled Martinique in their first match in the Caribbean Regional Table Tennis Federation (CRTTF) Championships in St. Lucia, and then went on to topple favourites, Dominican Republic last evening. Last year’s Under-21 bronze medallist, Chelsea Edghill, started the Guyanese 3-0 route when she thrashed Ginetta Remion 11-5, 11-4 and 11-6; United States-based seasoned campaigner Trenace Lowe then followed that up with an 11-4, 11-5 and 11-1 win against Corinne Pharose before they sealed the first round triumph via Nathalie Cummings’ 11-1, 112 and 11-6 win against KellyAnn Heloise. The Women’s team then returned to beat the superpowerful table tennis nation, Dominican Republic 3-2 that set them on course to top their group that also included Guadeloupe, which they

- Youthful Men’s team lose to Trinidad

Godfrey Munroe played last night. Senior debutant, Akeicia Nedd is also a part of the Guyane s e t e a m , currently playing at the 55th Senior Caribbean Ta b l e Te n n i s Championships at the B e a usejour Indoor Stadium. Winning their

group will likely place them against Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago in the semi-finals en-route to the Caribbean title. Howev e r, G u y a n a ’s M e n ’s t eam, which the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) referred to as “ d e v e l o p m e n t a l ” , went down to Trinidad and Tobago 0-3 in their first round encounter last evening in St Lucia. In a GTTA official release, it was noted that the association fielded a young developmental team without Paul David and Christopher Franklin. The local team includes Nigel Bryan, Edinho Lewis, Joel Alleyne, Nigel Bryan and in addition to playing t h e M e n ’s t e a m e v e n t , Doubles and Mixed Doubles competitions will also play in the 21 years and under division prospects of medalling are seemingly high. Speaking to Kaieteur S p o r t y e s t e r d a y, G T TA

President, Godfrey Munroe said that Franklin and David had other commitments with David requesting financial assistance from the association to make the trip a reality. Munroe said that the association could not assist him. “It was more shrewd or prudent to go with a development team. It was basically a decision that I had to make. The other thing is, we have to look at avenues of exposing other players. These are basically the future; we have to start looking at succession,” Munroe said. The G T TA H e a d believes that the association would be in dire straits to implement transitions at a time when the seasoned campaigners decide to “call it a day”. He strongly believes that process has to start now and as such invested in y o u t h a t the Caribbean Championships. (Edison Jefford)

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Republic Bank U-17 Inter Zone Cricket starts in Berbice

Brian Dukhna, Brandon Persaud see Lower Corentyne through to the final As the Berbice Cricket Board restarted its cricket season after a lengthy lay off due to the inclement weather, action got underway on Sunday with play in the Annual Republic Bank 2013 Under-17 Inter Zone competition with one match at the Cumberland Ground, East Canje. Half centuries from Berbice Under-17 batsmen Brian Dukhna and Brandon Persaud together with Dukhna and Daniel Lewis taking three wickets apiece, spearheaded Lower Corentyne to victory over West Be r b i c e o n f i r s t innings to advance to the final in their drawn semifinal encounter. The game began one hour late due to some rain, which caused the first innings limitation of overs for both teams to be reduced from 60 to 53. Lower Corentyne won the toss and chose to take first strike. They soon found themselves at 48 for 4 before Brandon Persaud and Navendra Permaul put on a valuable 38 for the fifth wicket after which Permaul fell for 16 and Persaud for 52 in quick succession, leaving Lower Corentyne on 88 for 6. However, Daniel Samaroo

joined Dukhna and the two of them halted the slide and featured in an unbroken stand of 80 for the 7th wicket to see Lower Corentyne ending their first innings on 168 for 6 off their allotted 53 Overs. Dukhna ended on 53 not out and Samaroo 29 not out, medium pacer Imran Imtiaz took 2 for 19. When West Berbice began their first innings, they had a promising start of 16 from Randy Wade (18) and Adrian Singh (9), but they quickly found themselves in trouble at 32 for 3. Berbice Under-17 all-rounder Grisean Grant and Kris Ramnarine gave them some hope with a 27 run 4th wicket partnership. Grant then fell for 23 and Ramnarine 10 as they slipped to 63 for 5, a position from which they never recovered. Off-spinner Lewis and left arm spinner Dukhna ripped through the lower order to see them losing the last five wickets for just 9 runs and eventually all out for 72. Lewis ended with 3 for 13, Dukhna 3 for 18 and medium pacer Navendra Permaul 2 for 18. In the time available, Lower Corentyne reached 37 without loss batting a second time.

Local Paralympic Committee to hold workshop The National Paralympic Committee of Guyana (NPCG) will host a workshop from tomorrow August 29 to 31, 2013 at the Boardroom of the Guyana Olympic Association, commencing at 09:30hrs daily. Mr. Kenneth McKell, President of the Trinidad and Tobago National Paralympic Committee and also the Caribbean Association of National Paralympic Committees will be in Guyana to assist the Local Committee in the preparation of their Strategic Plan. NPCG President Wilton Spencer has expressing t h a n k s t o t h e N a t i o n a l S p o r t s C o m m i s s ion, the Guyana Olympic Association, Mr. Kenneth McKell and fellow Executives of the National Paralympic Committee of Guyana for their support in making the workshop possible.

Pulsating encounters on the cards as... From page 37 the dependable Devon Millington and Jason McAuley will comprise the strike force. It is now crunch time and both coaches are spouting confidence. Who will cart off the spoils? Indeed that is the two million dollars question, the very amount the top team will take home. Tonight’s encounter should give football pundits a hint of who could possibly win the prize. For now both teams will be going after each other to ensure that they are in contention against Alpha on Sunday night.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Honduras win CONCACAF U-15 title Georgetown, Cayman Islands – Darixon Vuelto scored two goals and Honduras defeated Guatemala 2-1 to capture the inaugural CONCACAF Under15 Championship title on Sunday before a crowd of 3,000 at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. The win meant that Honduras completed the tournament with a perfect 6-0-0 record, scoring 22 goals and conceding only two. “We are very happy,” said Honduras head coach Carlos Tabora immediately after the match. “We just won the championship and we are happy for that. “We want to thank CONCACAF for organizing the tournament.” The Hondurans went ahead in the sixth minute when Vuelto converted a penalty kick after Guatemala was whistled for a handball infraction in its own box. Though the Catrachos had an early lead and much of the possession, Guatemala started to play m o r e cohesively and

The victorious Honduras Under-15 Team equalized 19 minutes later. Following a Guatemalan free kick 20-yards from the goal, referee Marie-Soleil Beuadoin ruled that the Honduran wall encroached

inside the 10-yard zone and ordered that the kick be retaken. The second attempt bounced low off the wall and Mario Humberto

Rodas placed the loose ball inside the left post to make it 1-1. Oslin Sevilla almost restored Honduras’ lead five minutes before the break, but his attempt hit off the post and was gathered in by Guatemalan goalkeeper Rodrigo Reznik. In the 52nd minute, H o n d u r a s s e a l e d the

championship. Guatemala could not clear a corner kick and Vuelto, who was named the game’s player-of-thematch and the c o m p e t i t i o n ’s most outstanding player managed to jab the ball into the back of the net from close range. Meanwhile, El Salvador scored both of its

goals in the second half to defeat Bermuda 2-0 and take third place. H e n r y T u r c i o s gave the Salvadorans a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute and Kevin Martinez added an insurance strike with five minutes left in regulation time. The Central Americans completed with the competition unbeaten in six of its seven games (4-21 ) . B ermuda – the only Caribbean side to reach the final four – lost for the first time in seven tournament outings. It went a perfect 5-0-0 in the group stage, before falling to Guatemala o n p enalty kicks in the semifinals after a 1-1 draw. Tournament Honors Golden Ball (tournament’s most outstanding player) Darixon Vuelto, Honduras Golden Boot (tournament’s top goalscorer) - Leighton Thomas Jr., Cayman Islands (11 goals) Golden Glove (tournament’s most outstanding goalkeeper) Wilmer Martinez, Honduras Fair Play – Bermuda

Carter rocks Dubai with record breaking swim Firpo’s Quintanilla reaches

Trinidad and Tobago swim history was made on Sunday when Dylan Carter qualified for the finals of the 100m backstroke at the World Junior Swimming Championships in Dubai UAE. He became the first T&T athlete ever to past the preliminary round of this championship. Carter again left his indelible mark on T&T swimming record books when he blasted to the wall in 55.64 seconds in the 100m backstroke. The multiple regional gold medalist and record holder erased his own 15-17 age group national record of 56.83 in the process and was ranked 3rd out of 65 of the World’s best junior back stroke swimmers. He went 0.01 slower in the semis and advanced to the finals as the 5th fastest qualifier. 0.86 seconds separated first from eight place in the semifinals therefore every single entrant is a medal contender. Danas Rapsys of Lithuania was the fastest qualifier winning in 55.05. Speaking after the day’s session Carter was pleased at his performance: “I felt really good in the preliminary round, knew that I was well prepared and expected the

Dylan Carter best result. I am happy that I was able to make the semifinal round from the morning swim and break the national record and felt great after the evening swim having made the finals. My team mates are very encouraging and share the success with me”. The four other T & T team members were in action on Sunday all had creditable performances. Joshua Romany also swum the 100 back and placed 45th in 1:01.08. In the female equivalent, Kristin Julien (1:07.80) and Tyla Martin (1:08.29 Pb) placed 48th and 50th respectively. Jonathan Ramkissoon swum the 100m

breaststroke placing 47th in 1:06.48 (Pb). Coach Franz Huggins expressed satisfaction on the performance of the team on Day One. “We have had creditable performances on day one from all athletes, with of course Carter’s achievement being the highlight, which brought some confidence to the camp. It was a historic event for T & T and perhaps the wider Caribbean in having someone from the region make a finals. In fact, the only finalist we have ever had at a world championship was George Bovell III. Dylan still has a few mistakes to rectify which means we can see some improvement in the final”. Manager Dean Romany stated that there was renewed enthusiasm on the team: “Our job to keep the morale of the team high seems to be working so far. They are a bunch of really dedicated, focused and talented young swimmers. Dylan’s successful performance was shared by all. His effort has brought a renewed enthusiasm to the team. It was great to see them sit together at the dinner table and feel proud to wear the uniform knowing that one of our own made finals”.

the 500-match milestone

Mauricio Quintanilla reached the 500-match milestone in El Salvador’s first division on Sunday, when he started in Luis Angel Firpo’s 1-0 win over UES. The 31-year-old began his career in 1999 with AD El Tránsito, where he played in 122 games, before moving on to San Salvador FC. He signed with Luis Angel Firpo in advance of the 2002-03 season, spending seven years with the Usulután side and appearing

in 230 matches. For the 2009 Clausura, Quintanilla joined Nejapa (nine matches) and then competed for Alianza 20092012. The defender rejoined Firpo ahead of the 2012 Apertura, where today he has played in another 43 matches. Quintanilla has participated in two editions of the CONCACAF Champions League (2008-09, 2013-14), scoring in a 1-1 home draw against Mexico’s Pumas on October 9, 2008.

Mauricio Quintanilla

Mexico to face Finland in October friendly Mexico City - The Mexican Football Federation announced on Monday that its men’s national team will take on Finland in an international friendly on Wednesday, October 30, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. It will be the fifth alltime meeting between the sides with Mexico winning on three previous

occasions and one match ending in a draw. Their last encounter was in February 1985, a 2-1 victory for El Tri. Finland is currently in third place on six points in Group I of UEFA World Cup qualifying for Brazil 2014, behind Spain (11 points) and France (10 points) with three games left to play. Since the beginning of 2000, Mexico has played 10

matches in San Diego, going unbeaten in nine of those encounters. Its lone loss came at the hands of Argentina, 4-1, in June 2008. Mexico’s last game at Qualcomm Stadium was a 1-1 draw against Venezuela on March 29, 2011. Aldo De Nigris scored in the 58th minute to give the Mexicans a lead.

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Kaieteur News

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BCB, BCCDA assist a number of organisations Pooran Brothers Top Mix supports Goal for from proceeds of T20 Independence Cup Gold Football C/ships

Recipients and members of the BCB and the BCCDA after the presentation. The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) recently held a special ceremony on the Republic Bank Tennis Court in New Amsterdam to present awards to individuals, organisations and clubs in the Berbice area. The awards came from funds from the proceeds from the Independence Cup T20 cricket competition which was held in May. Speaking at the simple ceremony, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the BCCDA, Imran Imran Sacoor, stated the BCCDA is moving into a different direction. He stated that the organisation is no longer sitting back and just looking after business interest. They are prepared to go out and doing things differently, thus the collaborative effort between the two organisations. Sacoor gave a back ground of the tournament and promised bigger things next year. Coordinator Anil Beharry in giving a brief background, congratulating all the teams for participating and thanked

all the companies that came on board with sponsorship. He also had special words of commendation for the media fraternity in Guyana for their assistance. Secretary of the BCB Angela Haniff spoke on behalf of the organisation and express their delight in being a part of the activity, which not only provides entertainment, but brings people together. She mentioned that the BCB is always willing to use its expertise and resources in plausible ventures and is looking forward to playing their part in the activity next year. She used the opportunity to call on cricket clubs and organisations to come forward and support the venture more next year so that more persons can benefit. Haniff said, last year, all the first division clubs in Berbice were presented with first-aid kits coming out of the proceeds of the Independence Cup. President of BCCDA Mark Roopnarine in brief remarks - stated that his organisation is fully behind the venture and during his tenure more such activities will be pursued. He

mentioned the changing times and the need to be diverse. Roopnarine also weighed in on the moulding power of cricket and the success of the T20 cricket across the world and the benefits that can be derived from the game. He also took time to recognize the sponsors who came forth and supported the tournament. He said the effort of the sponsors goes back to the community to assist with further development. Those benefitting from the joint gesture are top cricket clubs –Albion Community Centre and the Bermine Cricket Club, who received $100,000 each. The money to the two clubs will go towards their all-round development. Treasurer Beharry stated that every year two clubs are selected to receive assistance. Last year the clubs that benefitted were the Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Clubs (RHTY&SC). The organisations also presented $30,000 each to the Anker Ville and Bohemia Primary Schools. The money will be used to construct

sheds at the two schools. The Albion Community Centre gets an additional $100,000 which represents $50,000 from last year and $50,000 from this year. Sacoor stated that the assistance to Albion is for their generosity in allowing the organisers the use of the Albion Community Centre free of charge for the two years. The money was not collected last year, so they will collect $100,000 this year. Three orphanages namely the Canaan Home, Alpha Children Home and Children of Promise homes were also presented with cheques for $20,000 each. A sum of $20,000 was given to a parent to assist financially with her son’s expenses to travel to Pakistan for Kidney replacement surgery. Beharry also suggested that a special fund be set up next year for similar emergency projects. Minus the expenses and the donations, the Independence Cup saw a profit of $1,382,321. This was divided into two with the BCBC and the BCCDA each received checks for $506,160.50. (Samuel Whyte)

Ms. Sarah Dass (right) is all smiles as she hands over the donation to Ms. Sheron Abrams. Football is played on the field but it is the off the field activities that make it possible for the fans to truly enjoy those action packed duels. Sponsorship is considered a major off the field activity, for devoid of such support, the organisers are unable to convert their plans into action. And so it was that yesterday morning, one of the organisers of the Slingerz Football Club/National Association of Women’s Football Goal for Gold football championships, Colin Aaron, journeyed over to the West Coast to collect a sponsorship package from the proprietors of Pooran Brothers Top Mix to offset the expenses of the current tournament. He was accompanied by Secretary of the National Association of Women’s Football, Sheron Abrams who collected the gift on behalf of her organisation. Secretary of Pooran Brothers Top Mix, Sarah Dass, presented the gift to

Ms. Abrams and conveyed best wishes on behalf of her superiors. She said that their sincere wish is to promote sports in the best light and as such, acquiescing to the donation was not a hard decision to make. Ms Abrams expressed gratitude on behalf of her organisation while assuring her benefactor that the gift would be integral in offsetting their many expenses. Earlier, Mr. Aaron had collected a similar gift from the Manager of Fazia’s Collections, Terry Anderson. The businessman resides in Tuschen Housing Scheme WCD and Mr. Aaron had travelled to that location to collect the gift package. He was thankful for the assistance and conveyed those sentiments to Mr. Anderson. Mr. Aaron said that such support is indeed appreciated and urged other businesses to imitate the gesture so as to ensure the continuity of football development.

Slingerz FC/NAWF Goal for Gold C/ships

Pulsating encounters on the cards as four top teams go after each other Football action returns to the Georgetown Football Club ground this evening and fans are gearing up for two potentially pulsating encounters that will determine the final matches in the inaugural Slingerz Football Club/National Association of Women’s Football Goal for Gold football championships. The lasses from Berbice will take on their Georgetown counterparts at 18:30hrs while the Slingerz FC will play BK Western Tigers in the feature attraction starting at 20:00hrs.

The winners of the women’s encounter will go on to play Bartica in the finals scheduled for Sunday September 1 while the winner of the men’s encounter will oppose Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United to determine the champions in the two categories. Western Tigers has had a successful run so far in the tournament after defeating Seawall (2-1) and Pele via penalty kicks (4-3). Coach, Calvin Alleyne is confident that he has the firepower to tackle the West Coast team

and enter the finals against Alpha. “The Western Tigers will be coming out with full force with such strikers as Gavin Wilson, Hubert Pedro and Dominique Garnett, all capable players,” exhorted Alleyne. He said that he has sifted out the most competent players from among his squad and would be coming at Slingerz with venom. As such, fans could expect their stars to come out fighting. Dereck Carter, arguably among the best between the uprights will

be expected to thwart the opposition’s chances while Stellon David, Randolph Wagner and Captain, Phillip Rowley will shore up the midfield area. The defence cordon will be manned by the likes of Soloman Austin, Ryan Adolph and Trevon Lythcott and Mr. Alleyne is confident that once his team plays according to plan they could ease past Slingerz and into the finals. Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard is the Coach of the Singerz team

and his expert tutelage has seen his men defeating Netrockers (4-0) and Topp XX (4-1). He is casually optimistic of carting off the spoils but he is very much aware of the opposition’s strengths. “I am expecting a tough game; the Tigers are good players and would be nurturing similar ambitions to win as we are, so I will not discard them but will come out fighting with our eyes set on victory,” said Mr. Pollard. He admits that Carter is a competent goalie but said

that he has great confidence in his keeper, 16 years old Simon Emmanuel. “He has great potential and I expect great things from him,” said Pollard. Apart from his ‘keeper,’ Pollard will be fielding a competent team the likes of Colin Nelson, Joshua Browne, Shavane Seaforth and Kester Jacobs in the defence cordon. The midfield area will see such players as Tichard Joseph, Vurlon Mills, Clive Nobrega and Captain Dwayne Jacobs while (Continued on page 35)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday August 28, 2013

Masakadza sets up shock win for Zimbabwe The last time Zimbabwe beat Pakistan in any format was 15 years ago. Back then, Pakistan lost to arguably the most formidable Zimbabwe side in history - one that was capable of standing up to the best international sides. With the cricketing climate in the country having undergone a drastic change since then, any victory by the current setup against a top side will be remembered for long. Coming off a disappointing T20 series, where Zimbabwe failed to figure out how to close out a chase, they held their composu r e a n d a p p l i e d themselves better despite the short turnaround time. A strong opening stand o f 1 0 7 b e t w e e n Vu s i Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza was the bedrock in their chase of 245. Having dealt with the seamers with ease during t h e T 2 0 s , Z i m b a b w e ’s chances of victory hung on how they would perform outside their comfort zone. They looked ill at ease against the spin trio in the T20s but crucially, this time, they didn’t let the spinners run away with the advantage. Saeed Ajmal managed to strike, but the long interval between breakthroughs meant that Pakistan were always playing catch-up. In the closing stages, Pakistan had created enough pressure to bring the equation down to a runa-ball, but a combination of poor fielding and freakish luck meant that it was Zimbabwe’s day. Before this match,

Hamilton Masakadza Masakadza spoke about the importance of his duty, as an opener, to set the base and not allow pressure to build on the lower order. Back at the

top, a position he is comfortable with, and with an opening partner from school days, Masakadza took the initiative by hammering

GCA\Banks Malta U-13 tourney

GYO, DCC in winners’ lane Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) and Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) recorded victories when play in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)\Banks Malta Supreme Under-13 25 overs competition continued yesterday with two matches. At GYO, the host defeated Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) by 90 runs. GYO batted first and scored 327-7 off their allotted 25 overs, but ended on 257 since according to the competition regulations

10 runs shall be deducted for every dismissal and each team shall commence their innings with 200 runs; the batsmen are required to bat in pairs with each pair batting for five overs. Extras contributed a healthy 86; Joshua Bourne effected 3 dismissals for 14 runs. MSC in reply managed 320 in 25 overs, but suffered 23 dismissals which saw them ending on 90. Sase Norville top scored with 22; Anand Chetram

accounted for 5 dismissals while Movindra Persaud, Chandra Mohan and Varu Jaikeshan had 3 each. Danesh Alli and Elnathan Sukhnanand claimed 2 apiece. At Bourda, DCC overcame Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) by 129 runs. DCC rattled up 384-5 in 25 overs, but finished on 334 after the deduction for dismissals was made. Alphius Bookie led with 36 and got support from Rawl Douglas 19 and Jospice Jones 16. Avinash Boodram had three for 13. GCC in reply endured 11 dismissals in scoring 315 in 25 overs. Extras was the top scorer with 39. Brandon Jaikaran effected 3 dismissals for 7 runs and Triston Rodrigues had 3-13. The competition continues today.

Junaid Khan for three boundaries in an over. The openers were strong through the off side against the left-armers and the boundary barrage prompted captain Misbah-ul-Haq to bring in spin from both ends from the eighth over. The spinners managed to keep the runs down but wickets eluded them. Misbah used all five bowlers by the end of 12 overs and the breakthrough finally came in the 24th, when Sibanda stayed back to an Ajmal ball that spun back in. Masakadza reached his fifty the following over and continued to take on the spinners, sweeping Ajmal and reading Shahid Afridi’s variations. He chipped down the track and lofted Afridi over extra cover for six in an over that produced 13. The f r u s t r a t i o n s h o w e d in Pakistan’s fielding, when in that over, a drive back to the bowler which should have been stopped resulted in two runs. Masakadza fell during the batting Powerplay, smashing Ajmal straight to cover. It was only temporary relief for Pakistan because by then Ta y l o r w a s s e t , h a v i n g already hit four boundaries. Pakistan didn’t do themselves any favours in the field, though. A struggling Timycen Maruma tried to loft over long-on but Ahmed Shehzad was in two minds whether to catch or stop

the ball and the ball bounced over his head for four. Taylor himself was letoff, on 37, when a reverse sweep went straight to point where Junaid dropped it. Luck was firmly in Zimbabwe’s favour. Maruma’s wobbly knock suggested that Zimbabwe were starting to panic, but Sean Williams, aided by some good fortune, ensured his side held the edge with a spicy cameo. An inside edge off Junaid hit the base of the stumps but miraculously, didn’t dislodge the bails. Worse still for Pakistan, it went for four. Williams sealed the win in style, smashing a six over midwicket to give Zimbabwe their first ODI win against a top team since October 2011. Pakistan, winning the toss, found runs hard to come by at the start due to steady seam bowling, recovered in the middle t h a n k s t o Mohammad Hafeez’s brisk half-century, and stumbled towards the end, failing to accelerate due to the pressure caused by the sudden fall of wickets. What prevented them from suffering a complete meltdown was Misbah-ulHaq, who carried on his good form from the West Indies with his fourth consecutive fifty. It was a mixed day for Zimbabwe in the field. A series of drops at the start showed that the team had hardly made any progress on that front s i n c e t h e I n d i a t o u r. Mohammad Hafeez was a beneficiary of one of those

drops, when on 10. He went on to score 70, but the pace of his innings was crucial, with Misbah not deviating from his tried and tested conservative approach in the middle overs. Hafeez found early momentum with three sixes off Prosper Utseya, down the ground, though he was lucky the second one wasn’t pouched at the boundary’s edge. Hafeez was strong through the off side, punishing the offspinners in particular. He picked 48 of his 70 runs off Utseya and Malcolm Waller, picking the large gaps square of the wicket on the off side. Pakistan struggled to maintain a healthy run-rate following that wicket. Umar Amin was run-out trying to complete a second run. Afridi played a typical blink-andyou-missed-it cameo before edging a slog. Haris Sohail was caught brilliantly by Utseya, who plucked a one-handed blinder at short cover - a catch good enough to forget the sitters put down earlier by Zimbabwe. Misbah’s innings had a high percentage of singles he had scored only two fours till the 46th over, and yet had managed a decent strike-rate of 81.69. Yet, he saved his big hitting only for the final over, mowing Tinashe Panyangara for massive blows over the onside to take Pakistan to 244. It was well short of stretching the hosts, who are a win away from sealing the series. (ESPNcricinfo)

Sachia Vickery triumphs at US Open 18-year-old Sachia Vickery made her WTA debut by topping Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 6-4, 6-4 for a first-round win yesterday at the U.S. Open. Vickery showed great skill and patience as she fought back to defeat the Croatian, Lucic-Baroni, in straight sets yesterday afternoon. Vickery, who has Guyanese parentage, fought back from two breaks down in the opening set to seal the set 6-4. In that opening set, the wild carded American fought immensely after dropping her opening to game to Baroni who jumped out to a 2-0 lead, she immediately broke back to remain on serve 2-1. It soon moved to 3-1 after Vickery found serving tough, out on court 7, she dropped that game 40-15, that was all that she needed as she would regain composure to riddle off

the next 5 of 6 service games to close out the set. The second set was much of the first. Vickery trailed 3-2 early in the second set but she would find another level of inspiration to riddle winners to all parts of the courts as she would break and then jump ahead 4-3. She would soon break again to lead 5-3 that was followed by another service break as the pressure of serving out her first professional victory, with the change over eminent, she surrendered her service game. Sachia dug deep to break her veteran opponent at love to close out the victory and move to the second round. Vickery, a 18-year-old rising tennis star in the ilk of the Williams sisters and Sloane Stephens, qualified for the U.S. Open in the USTA Girls 18s National Championship, easily

handling Alexandra Kiick 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 recently to earn the coveted place at the U.S. Open in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Back then, Vickery, from Miramar, FL, had said, “It feels unbelievable,” “It hasn’t sunken in that I’m going to be playing at the U.S. Open. “It’s been my dream since I started playing tennis. I can’t even put it into words how happy I am.” Now with her first win at the big event under her belt, her thoughts and feelings must be euphoric and sobering at the same time as she looks ahead to her next opponent. In a release, the Guyana tennis association stated it would like to congratulation Ms. Vickery on her first US Open Main Draw victory and wish every success in her forth coming matches and future endeavors.