Wednesday August 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Procurement Commission unanimously approved
Observers ask: Is the Health Minister flexing his political muscle?
By Kiana Wilburg After months of deliberations, the names and appointments of the Commissioners for the Public Procurement Commission received nothing but unconditional support from Members of Parliament on Monday. Speaking on the widely debated matter was Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Irfaan Ali. Ali appeared to be in an extremely “congratulatory” mood, as he thanked almost everyone he could remember that had a direct or indirect role to play in the House reaching such a stage on the Commission. He thanked past and present PAC members for their dedication to the establishment of the Commission, as well as parliamentary staff for their unwavering work and support over the years. Additionally, the PAC Chairman was elated, to say the least, that the motion on the Procurement Commission attracted consensus. Ali said that he saw the historic moment as a win for all in the National Assembly and expressed thanks to those who contributed to the strengthening of Guyana’s financial sector such as Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge. Ali also made reference to the PAC’s report on the appointment of the members to the Commission. The report noted that the Committee at its third meeting held on November 23, 2015, agreed to continue the work of the previous Committee and to readvertise for submissions of nominations for the Public Procurement Commission, since some of the names previously submitted were now Members of Cabinet or functioning in some other senior capacity. In addition, Members were given an extract on the Public Procurement Commission from the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to enable them to examine and study. Ali said that thereafter a date was set for discussions on how the Committee would move forward on this matter. At the sixth meeting held on January 18, last, the PAC Chairman advised the Committee that only six responses were received for the proposed nomination to the Public Procurement Commission. He subsequently suggested that the Committee re-advertise for another month since the last advertisement did not
- House Speaker, Prime Minister laud historic moment
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo yield the results anticipated. Members agreed to this. On April 8, last, Ali informed the Committee that a total of 29 submissions had been received for nomination to the Public Procurement Commission. He proposed that a Sub-committee comprising the Chairman and the Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence, be established in an effort to shortlist the nominees and present them to the Committee for consideration and subsequent approval. The PAC Chairman said that on June 30, last, the Clerk of the Committee was instructed by the SubCommittee to write the Commissioner of Police in relation to due diligence being conducted on the following persons: Emily Dodson, Balwant Persaud, Devan Khemraj, Brindley Horatio Robeson Benn, Cecil Jacques, Lance Carberry, Carol Corbin, Dr. Anand Goolsarran, Lallbachan Christopher Ram, Sukrishnalall Pasha, Dr. Nanda Gopaul and Ivor English.
House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Irfaan Ali The Committee was subsequently informed that the persons were not criminally known. After further deliberations and short listing, it was noted that Ram and Goolsarran were removed from the list as they provide auditing services to the Government. In the end, the Committee unanimously decided that the nominees to be appointed to the commission will be Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin, Ivor (Continued on page 18)
The Order made under the Public Corporation Act, 1988, which governs the operation of Corporations, including the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), gives certain distinct powers to a Board of Directors. According to the Order, the Board of Directors, consisting of a chairman and other members, are appointed by the concerned Minister under Section Four of the Act. This therefore means that Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, was the one responsible for appointing Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GPHC, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman, and the other members. According to the Order, while the Minister is assigned responsibility for the Board, if there is no Board, the Minister has sole responsibility for the entity in question. But if there is no Minister, the President is tasked with that responsibility. However, once a Board is in place, it has the responsibility for appointing an Executive Director who essentially is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Corporation. The CEO, according to the Order, “shall, subject to the general direction and control of the Board, be responsible for implementing the decisions of the Board
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and the management of the affairs and activities of the Corporation.” It is for this reason that observers have been questioning the authority of the Minister of Public Health to rescind a decision by the Board of the GPHC. The Chairman of the Board had recently written to the Corporation’s CEO, Mr. Michael Khan, asking that he resume duties. Khan was sent on administrative leave last year to facilitate a forensic audit of the hospital’s procurement process. The findings of the audit, based on the view of the Board, had cleared Khan of allegations of wrongdoing. This publication was reliably informed that the Board had voted on whether Khan should return, but the members were divided. A member of the Board had told this publication that because a unanimous decision was not arrived at, a decision was made to write to Minister Norton to intervene. The member had revealed that “...We have a consensus to let the Minister know the findings of the audit…We have written to the Minister and we are awaiting his response in terms of guidance on the way forward,” the member informed. The Board member disclosed too that “some folks are optimistic that Khan will return, some are not
and some are just not saying anything…It is kind of ‘ticklish’.” Minister Norton had confirmed that being the Minister responsible for the Corporation, he was asked to look into the state of affairs. It was for this reason, this publication understands, that the Minister was in a position to rescind the decision by the Chairman to ask Khan to resume duties to allow for the audit findings to be thoroughly evaluated. But according to the Minister “we have not evaluated fully the audit report.” However, according to him, “when one, even at a glance, evaluates the (audit) report, there is so much evidence (against Khan), enough for him to be deprived of further employment (at the GPHC).” The Minister disclosed too that, at this point, “any decision that does not have the approval of the Minister is in violation of the Order.” He asserted that the Board’s decision to reinstate Khan without his blessings should not have been since it is in violation of the Order. But when the Order is taken into careful consideration, some observers are asking whether the M i n i s t e r i s m e r e l y “flexing his political muscle.”
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Wednesday August 10, 2016
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
Glorious days are so far away Based on recent statements from the Minister of Finance, one can deduce that the country’s current economy is by no means anything to boast about. Quite frankly it is not as expected. Tax collection is down and many businesses are experiencing difficulties as a result of average sales. Instead of spending, people are essentially hoarding their money. One could say the government is not being forthright with the public. It is doing a disservice to the people by presenting an overly optimistic belief that the economic difficulties facing the country are easily manageable. It is wrong. It is wishful thinking for the government to believe that the citizens can be lulled into a false sense of security. It is always wise to report on the facts. In support of the Minister, the governor of the Bank of Guyana has also reassured the people that the economy, which is currently at two percent growth rate, will increase to 4.4 percent by the end of the year. But no evidence has been provided to support the claim for such a substantial recovery. The truth is, no country has had such a significant growth rate in six months, not the United States, China or Germany. However, for any short term recovery to take place, the government has to encourage the private sector to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the economy, especially in the agriculture and mining sectors. Few believe that the economy could recover from its present GDP growth rate in such a short time. The shutting down of the Wales Sugar Factory at the end of the year will not aid in this regard. In fact, it will more than likely result in staggering losses in totality. It will be a lingering crisis for a government which has not announced any definitive plans about what it intends to do with the estate. It seems that the authorities are at a loss and are hoping the issue just goes away. The perennial huge debt, massive borrowing and extensive government spending are a recipe for financial disaster. They could also result in economic contraction and a loss of jobs and revenue. It is a fact that too much damage has already been done to the sugar industry by the last government for it to recover. The granting of as much as $12 billion in subsidies annually by the government to keep the sugar industry afloat is a drag on the economy. And the rice industry is barely doing better. The cancellation of the PetroCaribe agreement by Venezuela due to the border dispute with Guyana has reduced the price of rice by almost 50 percent from US$730 dollars a ton to US$390 a ton, which is the current price on the world market. All of this spells trouble for the economy and the government, which must continue to maintain and improve the social services in the country. Given that the economy is ailing, the people need answers to the following questions: How, in the prevailing circumstances, will the government preserve the country’s free secondary education system? How will it improve the services at the public hospitals? Where will it get the resources to repair dilapidated infrastructure it inherited from the last administration? How will it solve the problems of water shortage and the frustrating power outages across the country? Can it create jobs for the 10,000 young people who graduate from secondary schools and the University of Guyana every year? It is normal for a government not to have solutions to all the problems. However, unless this nation’s leaders develop and implement a solid economic plan to boost the economy, they certainly will not be able to provide a better life for all, as promised. Glorious days are so far away.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AT RUSAL ARE IN ORDER DEAR EDITOR; We the concerned employees of BCGI hereby refer to the anonymous letter in your newspaper dated 2016-07-27. The caption reads –”Rusal accused of not adhering to labour laws and has been ill-treating its employees.” The claims of mistreatment mentioned in the letter are misleading and mischievous. There has been no evidence of ill treatment especially after 2009 when the 57 employees were dismiss( because of their disrespectful and violent behavior at the minesite and within the operations during the time of a strike. Unsteady relationships during the 2009 period caused the disconnection between the Company and
the Union (GB&GWU) but, BCGI maintained a very good working relationship with its employees by using its Condition of Employment policy that embodied all the applicable labour laws of Guyana. We the concerned employees have been observing the regular open door meetings at BCGI Office in Aroaima with employees to address complaints. We wish to state also that no worker: were dismissed because of speaking-up for their rights. Further, the allegations in the letter that holidays’ were not being paid for, according to what was agreed upon during the time of the Union is untrue. Holidays are being paid for accordingly. Fresh
potable ice water is being supplied daily to workers at the worksite. It is nonsense to trust the statement in the article that several dozens of BCGI employees consume only one bottle of portable water within 7 days. Actually the rate of consumption of drinking water by employees has been several containers (tanks) per day. In terms of payment to workers; they are being paid performance wise as well as safety bonuses in addition to other benefits and their normal wages and salaries. These extra payments are approximately 30% of the basic wages and salaries received and it is timely to mention that the Company has been promoting social
activities such as Mini Olympics, regular honoring of employees and gifts at Christmas. In fact during last month (June 2016) a team of Government officials visited the mine on-site on a fact finding mission and they left the area satisfied with the good standards they had seen. The current industrial climate here is very good while the harsh inclement weather which began since in the month of May 2016 has been causing serious disruption with the Company’s production efforts. During that time, employees suffered no loss in wages and salaries and the Company did not reduce the workforce numbers to compensate for the period of losses. Concerned employees 14 signatures
A national plan for the Decade for People of African Descent DEAR EDITOR; I was more than pleased to hear President David Granger’s call for a forum to ensure that there is consultation to achieve the objectives of the International Decade for People of African Descent. Prior to that call, the question of why there no national launch of the Decade and why Guyana was not observing it were constantly but to me. The questions, for which I had no answer, prompted me to do some fact finding. In 2014, the United Nations had declared 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2024 the International Decade for People of African Descent, under the theme: ‘People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.” Specifically, the Decade focuses on three main areas, two of which are: strengthening national, regional and international action and cooperation in relation to the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent; and, promoting greater
knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture, and contribution to the development of societies by people of African descent. A Working Group of more than 60 countries was set up with a mandate to elaborate a programme of activities for the Decade. Guyana’s hemispheric neighbours – Brazil, Venezuela, and Jamaica, to name a few – were represented in the Inter-governmental Group but Guyana did not send a representative to the Inter-governmental Group, which was formed in 2013, to fructify the proclamation of the UN General Assembly. For reasons undisclosed to the public, nothing was said or done about the Decade from Government level from January 2015 to July 2016, a period of twenty months. President’s Granger’s reminder on Sunday that the clock is ticking on the Decade is about the best Guyana has done so far. If we assess what past UN Decades have achieved, Guyana would
be somewhat ashamed for not embracing the Decade in question. The ‘Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples’ (1994 2004) succeeded in moving indigenous rights and lands issues from topics low on national agendas to priority items on the agenda of world fora. The ‘Decade for Human Rights Education’ (1995 2005) resulted in the pushing of the frontiers on human rights. In the ‘Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, particularly in Africa’ (2001-2010), the number of cases of the vector borne disease was reduced appreciably. It is time for Guyana to plan for and have a national launch this Decade for People of African Descent. The relevant Government departments, the private sector, NGOs, civil society, educational institutions, and religious organisations should come together to brainstorm and prepare a national plan for the observance of the Decade for People of African Descent. Lennox Cornette
MEMORIES AND MEMORABILIA OF SCOUTING EVENTS DEAR EDITOR; I recently attended the 14th Caribbean Cuboree held in Guyana from the 24-29, July 2016. I must commend you on the coverage your newspaper gave to the cuboree. This will assist in keeping scouting alive in Guyana. As a young scout, I attended the 3rd Caribbean jamboree hosted by Guyana which was held in August, 1969, and I camped at the Queen Elizabeth Park, which today is now known as The National Park. After this jamboree, scouting took a nosedive and almost became extinct in Guyana. After forty years I returned to Guyana in 2009 as a leader to attend the 13th Caribbean jamboree. This was a significant feat. Needless to say I did not find anyone who attended the 3rd Caribbean jamboree and the younger generation did not even know about it. When I tell the scouts and leaders of today, I camped at Queen Elizabeth Park, they were astonished as they never heard of the park by its original name. I even rode on the train
from Georgetown to New Amsterdam and back. I am an ardent scout and do have some memorabilia from that 3rd Caribbean jamboree. At the cuboree, I collected the numerous newspaper articles written by your newspaper and brought them back to Trinidad which I will keep as part of my scouting collection. However, I departed Guyana on the 30th July, 2016 and I am not sure if I missed any articles. If you have copies of the induction of the President (I believe it was printed on 17 July) and any article on Guyana night which may have been printed 1st or 2nd August, 2016 will be welcomed. I would like to get original newsprint copies. I have a friend, Laurence Fung, a leader, you can contact him and give him copies of the articles to pass on to me. Laurence.fung@international.gc.ca. Maybe next time I visit Guyana, we can do an interview on my memories from 1969 jamboree. Lindsay Sahai
Wednesday August 10, 2016
Mega fruit producing farmlands in the West Bank Demerara areas
DEAR EDITOR; By now the matter of the closure of Wales Sugar Estate as a sugar producing entity can be regarded as a done deal. Govt. must be committed to making the tough decisions needed to get the economy on track in the midst of falling commodity prices. It is only natural that Govt. sees agriculture which has been a main pillar of the economy for decades, not just to reduce the food import bill but to create much needed jobs, diversify the economy and stimulate growth. GuySuCo has been in dire financial and administrative straits over the past few years and has been receiving billions of dollars in bailout from the Govt. with another twelve billion earmarked for 2016. Yet the industry is not showing signs of recovery. In 2015, the sugar corporation collected $17.2billion in sugar sales, cost for wages amounted to $21.6billion for 16,000 workers. There is this information known to all except those with their heads in the sandGuySuCo produces sugar at 43 US cents per pound and sells the same sugar at 14 US cents per pound. We must move on to the realisation that sugar has had its days, at least at Wales. Now the future beckons. In the history of agriculture in the West Bank from enslavement times, change in crop type has been effected several times. Diversification of crops has been introduced in enslavement times from indigo, when indigo could be obtained from India and Java at lower prices. From cotton when the USA could produce cheaper with slave labour. From coffee then to sugar. Change or diversification in crop type has been used in West Bank areas, if not fully beneficial, at least there have been the instances when the plantocracy ensured their survival. The Canals Polders ( these Canals were excavated by enslaved labour ) are the modern equivalent of justified diversification, and since that process spelt confidence in the choice of crops, then the case can be made for over-all diversification of the entire West Bank,
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Kaieteur News
from Vreed-en- Hoop to points beyond Kamuni Creek to the south, and by the same evidence, right up to the Essequibo River to the west, where water resources can be gotten from the Essequibo, and all the lands now forming the West Demerara conservancy, all the 22 plus miles by 10 plus miles converted to productive farmlands. At this present time of the 7 years cyclic drought, the West Demerara Conservancy is running dry. The drought is in its 3rd or 4th month. It is scheduled to last until April 2017 and already farmers are losing crops. The spread out of the coastland population into new land development areas would be the new gold strike for Guyana and its role as food basket of Caricom. People in agriculture translate to self-employment, agro industries, cottage industries, other employment opportunities; the creation of other jobs through the providing of goods and services. The lands between the mighty Essequibo and the Demerara rivers may not have gold, there is talk of aluminum deposits, and some timber lands in the vicinity of the upper Bonasika creek. These lands however are suitable for agriculture, the basic industry; and the only proper and assured employment. As stated above, it lay between two mighty rivers, and extends in direction to the vast interior of the country. We should creep into the interior, and not pick up ourselves and re-locate to where we have to provide all the necessities for life in the 21st century. Herein lies the future of this country, with its close proximity to the City; seaport, airport, closeness to investors who can get to and from the areas in a short journey. The population is spread out in productive capacity, and we do not have house lot/house spots popularly referred to as postage stamp size house lots… We offer citizens land upon which to build their future and to enjoy the good life for themselves and posterity. . We will have to initiate change and development by starting with ourselves.
Values cannot be imparted by nice speeches, or newspaper articles. Values are performative, that is, they can only find and offer meaning through action. We, who want to change the decadent morality of our society will need to practice the values we preach; live and work among the ordinary folks, who are the organic intellectuals, and who know about the hardships faced in their daily experiences, who are the salt of the Earth and who do not have the luxury to plan or express ideas. These are persons who are easily dismissed. They are taken for fools. Their insights are seen as to be inferior by those who think that they are superior in intelligence, education, job position or social status. Too often, the decision makers pursue their own agendas, without assessing local knowledge, relying on consultants who do not speak English, who make little or no effort to interface with local people, the recipients of the proposed study/ consultation, and who would be in shambles understanding our Creolese. The project to create a mega fruit and vegetable and other crops development is not new to Guyana’s agriculture development. We have had drainage and irrigation works at Boeraserie-Bonasika, Tapakuma, Black Bush, Mahaica- Mahaicony-Abary, and lesser Land Development Schemes all across the coastlands. That they may not operate to their maximum capabilities is cause for complaint. We must do as is required to make these areas one hundred percent efficient. The short-fall caused by natural and human factors has to be remedied. The maintenance of the above systems falls down due to human errors which are correctable through the involvement of the receivers of the services. Hafiz Rahaman Coordinator Rural People –NGO EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of its length, this letter will conclude in tomorrow’s edition
Call for inquiries into high profile deaths DEAR EDITOR; We demand inquiries, detailed investigations or what have you, into the operations of drug Lord Roger Khan, as well as the deaths of Satyadeo Sawh and Crum Ewing. My reason for asking is that, it would bring some closure to these much talked about and hotly debated, national topics. As a Guyanese I have the educated right to know, in fact all of this country’s people have a right to know, and I would not rest in my quest to get the present government to start such proceedings. Even if you carry out an ordinary man in the street survey, you would get the same response ”we deserve the right to know.” Why the Granger Government, after more than a year in office cannot convene such an inquiry is beyond all of us, except, they have something to hide. After all, while they were in opposition, the PNC led Coalition was extremely vocal about these and other matters to the point where they issued threats that person/s in the now opposition would be severely punished for these misdeeds. That same PNC group is in power and the clarion call is made out to them to convene an inquiry. Do it right now! What are you people scared of? You have the backing of a populace who are hungry for information into these matters. We are longing to know how, why and when such things took place. Can the present administration level with us? Are we to wait an eternity? These are all rhetorical and sarcastic statements. Is this
administration making a fool out of us or as we commonly say making a fool of themselves? It is either one or the other; I believe it is the latter. If we cross check with the PPP/C we will see that they had for a long time expressed their views as to the reason and cause for Dr. Walter Rodney’s death and did eventually carry out a COI. That Commission of Inquiry came to an abrupt end when facts emanating from it implicated the PNC Party as the masterminds, and the actual perpetrators of Rodney’s murder. So, in like manner this government owes it to the people to clear up all inaccuracies and untruths surrounding the above mentioned crime stories and bring the perpetrators to justice. Could this happen in the dispensation of the PNC Led Coalition, I sincerely doubt? We hear of commissions to be set up on the veterans of this country, such as the befitting of ex-army friends of President Granger, so, why can’t the burning issues of murders and drugs trafficking be dealt with? We want to know! But like I said in an earlier article, this PNC led Coalition sings one tune when they are in opposition and a totally different one when in power. Mr Rohee in one of his press releases aptly describes The President - and I hasten to add “all of the PNC” as speaking with a “forked tongues.” Now is the time to stand up and speak like men and not mice, incidentally this is a quote from their Comrade leader Burnham. Neil Adams
“Fantastic Four” of City Hall needs a lecture in democracy DEAR EDITOR; There seems to be two predominant misconceptions prevailing at City Hall. First, they seem to think that local democracy, something that the citizens of Georgetown have been clamoring for decades now, and for which they are entitled to and deserve, begin and end with the holding of local government elections. They clearly do not understand that this is just merely one pillar of democracy. Why else would they embark on numerous undesirable, unscrupulous and burdensome initiatives without even consulting with the citizens of Georgetown, whom are the ones to be affected and whom these municipal officials work for and are paid by? Have they never heard of Town Hall meetings that are held by cities all over the world, a forum that is used to canvas the support of and consult with the citizenry? Why else would they decide to arbitrarily and unilaterally increase property taxes beginning from the next financial year without consulting the taxpayers? Do property owners have to pursue legal redress in order to obtain justice the way the Private Sector Commission and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce did to get relief for the shipping companies and importers with the preposterous container fee? What is needed is a new valuation of properties in Georgetown, not an arbitrary across the board increase in property rates. This is a lazy man’s method of increasing revenue. A valuation exercise would ensure that the owners of the new gigantic buildings that have sprung up all around the capital pay their
fair share whilst a capricious increase allows them to continue taking advantage of undervaluation whereas ingenuous taxpayers will be subjected to further financial hardship. Secondly, the ‘Fantastic Four’ clearly believes that the Georgetown City Council is not a municipality but rather a privately held company for which they are the owners and directors. That could be the only explanation for why they have municipal workers operate daily in conditions akin to those that greedy private sweatshop owners provide for their workers for the purpose of saving costs to increase their profit margins. Why else would they be flying around the world in luxury utilizing Council’s supposedly scarce fiscal resources, whilst withholding the salaries and wages for weeks leaving them to agonize? Why else would they remove City Constables from protecting municipal properties including markets and from patrolling the streets of Georgetown to make them safer, and convert them into drivers and bodyguards for themselves and private security for their residences? The Minister of Communities has a duty to make the Mayor, the Town Clerk and other errant Councillors and senior officers who are the anchors that are dragging the City Down, understand that they are not imperial overlords but rather public servants, that they are there to serve the citizens, business owners, and visitors to Georgetown, not to bully them, over tax and exploit them, that they are there to provide municipal services, not extravagantly spend on themselves. James McOnnell
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Kaieteur News
A DESCRIPTION THAT IS AN ACT OF DEPRAVITY
Wednesday August 10, 2016
All Dr. David Hinds can do is criticize
have not the financial resources to do either. Most of all they should stop making these r i d i c u l o u s pronouncements that they are trying to organize the city that will make it comparable to modern cities and which would allow it to stand shoulder to shoulder with the great cities of the world, which is an insult to the intellect of Guyanese. City Hall with its present human and other resources cannot make good on such a promise. Lacking within the Georgetown Municipality is the technical and political capacity to provide even the most b a s i c o f c u l t u r a l , environmental, social and sustainable living needs for present and future citizens of Georgetown. Especially when one checks on the background of the Mayor and her Town Clerk. Debra Gibson
DEAR EDITOR; Every time, I read the utterances of David Hinds I often wonder if he is coming or going. His latest salvo in KN on the 1st August 2016, where he is castigating Black people; “they still have to emancipate themselves from self hatred and cultural blindness or simply put— mental slavery.” He alone sees this and knows this. He goes further “African Guyanese are guilty of derailing the foundation of their ancestors.” To quote from Democracy in Black, by Eddie S Claude JR; “In the end Black humanity gets squeezed between claims of our failures and concerns over our deficiencies. Lost beneath both is the fullness of who we are.” While other groups are positive in encouraging their people to take back this land that Black people built, we get condemnation from our own. There is nothing that Hinds and his group will talk about at their forum on Sunday 7th August that was not put forward by the Burnham government during its tenure. But at that time it was, out of step with the times or so they will say. Hinds should know about hatred; he and his Black cohorts could not have gone against Burnham because he was culturally blind. No, their ulterior motive was deeper than that. These political babes in the woods are still political babes in the woods. They’re like their other friends, can only criticize. Ask them for one, not two or three good political ideas that will move this country forward. It would result in a blank stare, unless of course they quote from the great thinkers of yesteryear. These people at best are just trying to stay relevant in the scheme of things. Milton Bruce
The necessity of “Peoples Skills” in police training
Forensic audit of City Hall would reveal massive corruption
DEAR EDITOR, The continued reference by the Mayor of Georgetown and the Town Clerk to the jumbled tent city type shanty town arrangement south of Public Buildings at Hadfield and Lombard streets, where the vendors have been crammed into by the Council as ‘Parliament View Mall’ is pure and simple disrespect and disregard for the vendors and shoppers in our capital city. These two individuals have been travelling all over the world and know what a shopping mall looks like, which is a large retail complex containing a variety of stores and often restaurants and other business establishments housed in a series of connected or adjacent buildings or in a single large building. Apart from the average mall being
DEAR EDITOR; Congratulations for the Guyana Police Force for graduating 203 recruits at a passing out parade recently. Effective planning and execution had to come into play for the GPF to conduct a single graduation ceremony for recruits from the Richard Fikal Police CollegeEssequibo, the Felix Austin Police College - Georgetown and the Felix Austin Police College-Berbice. On August 03, 2016 both Kaieteur News and Stabroek News carried articles indicating that over 200 young men and women embarked on police training. I am happy to note that there will be many more boots of various sizes on the ground to focus on the fight to reduce crime and the fear of crime. Kaieteur News July 23, 2016 reported that the training
simply a place to do some shopping, grab a snack and catch a movie, some malls such as Giftland Mall, offer a spectacular selection of shopping, entertainment and dining options. To refer to these rows of flimsy and porous tents most of which are already damaged, u n d e r w h i c h there are pallets, rickety tables and chairs made from old bits and pieces of wood strapped with scraps of tarpaulin and sling rope with insufficient facilities and conveniences such as poor drainage, non-existent lighting, potable water, and few toilets as a shopping mall, is just depraved. It suggests that they are of the view that Guyanese are unaware of what a shopping mall is, or that we should all pretend that this facility is an acceptable part of the
lasted for four months. I still believe that a four months’ training programme is too short. In another article, I will elaborate. Kaieteur News also posited that Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, DSM told the graduants that the toughest thing to do in time is to deal with people. The top cop is right. That is a significant statement. The commissioner should know, as under his leadership the paradigm has shifted towards the police being more community - oriented and problem solvers. His ranks are required to interact more with the various communities not only to solve crimes, but problems. In addition, ranks are required to deal with their superiors, peers, subordinates, members of the public, friends and family. As part of the
Unacceptable pig-rearing environment at Soesdyke DEAR EDITOR; I need this letter to be published in the newspaper. An investigation needs to be done by the sanitary department in the Soesdyke district on the East Bank Demerara. A man rears pigs in the area. It is an environmental hazard. He feeds his pigs everything rotten (fish guts, rotten eggs etc,). The man boils up this stuff to feed these animals and the stench is horrible. Countless reports were given to the sanitary inspectors. None was successful because they have been compromised. This is because when people come to visit, someone from the department tips him off. He cleans up and the stench finishes for a few days, then it is back again. We have kids and this thing has been happening for years. Tiffany Harding
landscape of the city. Do these individuals or their families shop there? I’ll bet not. They will more likely than not shop at the upmarket malls when they frequently travel, and when compelled to purchase items locally go to the real malls with a retinue of bodyguards and other support staff in tow. It is time for the Mayor and Town Clerk to stop trying to fool the vendors who were forced to occupy that area that they have their best interest at heart, when they don’t. It is time for them to stop coming up with these foolish and impossible pie in the sky ideas of installing a double-deck at the Bourda Green and extending the Stabroek Market to accommodate these vendors, as they
Community Crime and Violence Prevention Component of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) funded by the Inter American Development Bank (IDB), the police must network with members of various multicultural and diverse communities. In order for the police to effectively do so and carry out their mandate as set out in section 3 (2 ) of the Police Act Chapter 16:01 and what is imposed on them by society, they must among other things be well grounded in people skills, hence, the need to develop skills to deal with people. I had a look at the recruit training programme. It is inadequate to induct recruits into the GPF and to prepare them for their role in a new and changing environment. In addition, it is lavish in technical skills but tightfisted in people skills. It should be the other way around. Technical competence - knowledge of the law, police practice and procedure - is required in order for the police to perform their duties. However, people skills are critically important. People skills are the interpersonal attributes that help employees to deal with people and to understand and adapt to the changing environment. Technical skills used to be the most important. Now and in years to come people skills are most important. People skills fit nicely into
UNESCO’S imperatives for learning. They are - Learn to Live Together, Learn To Be, Learn To Do, and Learn To Learn. Coming out of those four pillars are training areas that can positively impact on police training, more so, recruit training. Let me mention a few: Communication, anger management, conflict resolution. Do you resolve conflict through the barrel of a gun? Do you resort to the 4B approach - boots, baton, bayonet and bullet? Policing a multi cultural and diverse society, effective investigation, effective policing, effectively dealing with people, human rights, multi- lingual, self esteem, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, cultural awareness, capacity to act, ability to apply knowledge, sound academic base- reading and numeracy, comprehension, ability to research and analyze. Presently the police performance is remarkable in terms of solving serious crimes. It must be sustained. An important strategy to ensure sustainability is by embedding people skills in the minds of members of the GPF in all divisions and branches and among the various rank structures using UNESCO’S Learning Imperatives as a guide. To do otherwise will cause the performance of the force to be prosaic. Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner Of Police (retired)
DEAR EDITOR; Well the Genie is out of the bottle with the discovery of four secret bank accounts and it will be very difficult for the City Treasurer, Town Clerk or the Mayor of Georgetown to stuff it back in the bottle. To begin, the law stipulates that the Georgetown Municipality should have only one account, and I challenge any municipal official to prove this to be false. So apart from the other four accounts being surreptitious which is a downright disgrace, it is also completely illegal. The fact that they don’t include them into the financial statements is criminal and needs to be dealt with as such. The fact that the City Hall big wigs are against a forensic audit from being held, clearly indicates that there is much to hide at that institution. Might I say that the discovery of the four secret bank accounts is the mere tip of the iceberg of what has been and continues to be, the propagation of massive corruption and wrongdoing at City Hall. When the cover is finally blown at the Council, it will turn out to be the biggest scandal and venality Guyana has ever seen. And could you imagine these big wigs giving us a
lecture on Corruption of Omission and Corruption of Commission? Unbelievable! Let me give them some examples of Corruption of Omission to which they are engaged, including their failure to remit National Insurance Scheme and Guyana Revenue Authority contributions and deductions that they deduct from their employees for months at a time, or when they collect property rates which is supposed to fix roads, or install street lights or to provide humane and hygienic meat processing facilities to citizens which they don’t, but instead use these property rates to travel around the world. And I could give tons of other examples. Regarding examples of Corruption of Commission, one can allude to include the awarding of contracts of hundreds of millions of dollars to a special friend known as ‘Brother’ or Puri Man’ without tender or procurement procedures and likewise the well-known and shameful parking meter arrangement . I consider the big wigs’ lecture and excuse for failing to pay employees on time to be presumptuous, arrogant and disrespectful to all Guyanese. Deodarie Putulall
Wednesday August 10, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Over one year…
Integrity Commission still in disorder and headless By Kiana Wilburg The principle behind the declaration of assets to the Integrity Commission by senior public officers is to ensure that they do not acquire large amounts of cash or property without proper justification to the nation. But the Commission is yet to fulfill this fundamental code which led to its creation. This state of affairs was heavily criticized by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) when the parties served in the political opposition. But it has been more than year since the APNU+AFC coalition took office and there has been no change to the disorder or the fact that the commission continues to operate without a Chairman. In an interview with this newspaper, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo acknowledged that the Commission has not been functioning properly for some time. But since he has assumed responsibility for it, a fresh approach is being looked at. “As PM I am now taking a fresh look at the Commission, with a view to having a fully composed Commission with members and a Chairman, and I recently received a report that I have not looked at as yet, that came from a consultant
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon
who made recommendations as to how we can enhance the work and composition of the Integrity Commission.” Nagamootoo recalled that the Ministry of Governance, which was controlled by Raphael Trotman, was housed in the Ministry of the Presidency. He said that since Trotman was appointed Natural Resources Minister, the Governance portfolio was transferred to him (Nagamootoo). Nagamootoo said that there might have been some attempts during Trotman’s time, to examine the composition of the Commission. He said, too, that there was also a study that was commissioned to examine the weaknesses of the Integrity Commission with a view to strengthening it. “That study looked at all
aspects of the Commission, not only at the members and secretariat, but the enforcement arm of it,” Nagamootoo added. In this regard, the Prime Minister said that there is no use in having such a Commission with the necessary people and it is unable to carry out proper investigations, and more importantly, take action on the findings of the probes carried out. He promised that a more comprehensive look is underway with regard to the commission and its functions. It was since last year September that Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that the Integrity Commission would soon be able to do more than just collect statements from politicians regarding their accumulated wealth.
Controversial parking meter project on hold The Parking Meter project which was slated to commence on September 1 this year, has been put on pause to give elbow room for the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to consider the recommendations put forward by the government. This was revealed by the Mayor of the City of Georgetown, Patricia ChaseGreen during the Council’s Weekly Statutory Meeting held at City Hall on Monday last. It was reported that during the meeting, Councillors were given packages containing the review and the recommendations put forward by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams and Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan. Mayor Chase-Green, stressed that the contract is legal and stated that the Town Clerk will arrange a ‘special’ Council Meeting to review the report and to look
at the way forward for the project. She told the media that there will be no launching on September 1, 2016 - a decision that was agreed upon – because there is some work that needs to be done. She told another section of the media that talks would consider a recommendation for a reduction of the rate from $500 to $200 per hour and the percentage of gross earnings that the City would be entitled to. Earlier this year, top officials attached to the M&CC including the Mayor and Town Clerk Royston King, among others, had revealed that a contract existed between the Council and the Company - Smart City Solutions, to provide and erect parking meters in the Capital. This relationship was heavily criticized by several members of society and groups, as questions were raised about the authenticity of the contract and the true
intentions behind the two parties’ agreement. President David Granger had also publicly stated that while Government has no intentions of dictating Council’s business, he also called on the Municipality to conduct its business in a transparent manner. Cabinet decided that it would be in the best interest of all to have the document reviewed in the name of transparency and accountability. The contract was subsequently handed over to the AG for scrutiny to determine whether there were any illegalities. After this process, it was found that the Contract was legal, however it was ‘burdensome’ and highly in favour of the concessionaire – Smart City Solutions.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
Harmon explained that the coalition government was examining the mandate of the Commission with the aim of giving it powers to investigate the truthfulness of such declarations. The Minister had asserted that the government was, and still is, of the opinion that the Commission does not have enough power to enforce any of its decisions. He had stated, “Public officials would just submit statements to the Commission and there was no clear procedure as to what happens after that. We need to ensure that there is some mechanism within the law to allow for follow ups. “I discussed this matter with the CEO of the Commission. I told him that there are models in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and all across the Caribbean region, where submissions to the Commission are subjected to further scrutiny.” Harmon continued, “So when you go and say you’ve got one house when you actually have 12 others across the country, and the Commission does not have the capacity to investigate that, then it is a waste of time. This is what we had in the past. Statements are taken to the Commission and then there is no follow-up. We want a Commission that has
the capacity to follow-up when statements are made by public officers and action needs to be taken.” The Minister of State had said the Commission has been operating without a Chairman and Commissioners for years. He reminded that there were some names of C o m m i s s i o n e r s recommended during the Tenth Parliament, but they were not appointed by the then President, Donald Ramotar. He said that in such a case, the matter will therefore have to go back to the National Assembly for new persons to be recommended and appointed. Harmon said that for the time being, the Integrity Commission is functioning with a very small staff with a very limited budget. In addition, he had said that proper investigations should be conducted to ascertain how Government Ministers and other public
officials acquire their wealth. Under the laws, public officers including the President, Permanent Secretaries, Director of Public Prosecutions, Auditor General, Commissioner of Police, Army Chief-of-Staff, Heads of the Services Commissions, Foreign Affairs officials, Judges, Magistrates and Department Heads are required to declare their assets. Also required to submit declaration forms of their earnings and gifts received are Regional Executive Officers, the Chief Elections Officer, Mayors, Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of state companies, Registrars of Lands and the Commissioner of the Guyana Revenue Authority, along with Presidential Advisors, and Heads of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Guyana Forestry Commission.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 10, 2016
HEALTH MINISTRY’S DRUG BOND FIASCO…
Govt. engaged in blatant abuse of Contingencies Fund – Former Auditor General By Kiana Wilburg G o v e r n m e n t ’s advancement of $25M for an unfinished security bond for the storage of drugs and other pharmaceuticals represents a clear case of abuse of the Contingencies Fund. This is according to former Auditor General (AG), Dr. Anand Goolsarran. The Chartered Accountant made it clear that advances should only be made from the Fund when the matter is urgent, unforeseen, cannot be postponed without jeopardizing the public interest, and no other provision has been made for it. Elaborating further, Goolsarran said that he made a number of observations regarding Financial Paper One that was laid in the National Assembly on Thursday last. That Paper detailed advancements made by the Government from the Contingencies Fund. Under the heading Ministry of Public Health, there was a budgeted provision for the rental of buildings. This was in the sum of $31M. In addition to this money, Government dipped into the Contingencies Fund
and secured some $63.5M. This amount represented payments to the New GPC for the storage of pharmaceuticals for period March to June 2016, and for rental to Linden Holding Company as per Cabinet decision for the month of July 2016. Some $25M represented a security deposit for the said holding company. Goolsarran recalled that Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton told the National Assembly on Monday that Government opted to rent the bond of the Linden Holding Company since the $19.2M rental fee from New GPC was just too costly. Norton said that the rent being paid per month to the Linden Holding Company is just $12.5M. The Former Auditor General said that New GPC’s rental fee works out to $230.4 million for the year. He deduced that if this is the case, then there was a significant under-budgeting for this item of expenditure by the Government. “Having realized this, the logical course of action should have been to request from Parliament a supplementary estimate. This means that you would have
Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton required the approval of the House before spending, and this money would have been taken from the Consolidated Fund. Instead, the Government chose to access the Contingencies Fund to meet the shortfall.” Goolsarran emphasised that it was not the case when Parliament was prorogued or was in recess. “In the circumstances, one could argue that there has been an abuse in the use of the Contingencies Fund. Years ago, in my comments about the abuse of the use of the
Contingencies Fund, I had cause to lament that this was so because it was more convenient and expeditious to access the Contingencies Fund rather than going back to Parliament and argue a case for the approval of additional funds.” The Chartered Accountant said he is disappointed that Government will end up spending $450 million over a three-year period for the rental of a building. “Would it not be more cost-effective if the Government were to invest in constructing its own facility? Years ago, we had a Government Pharmacy Bond in Kingston, Georgetown. That was dismantled to make way for the Marriott Hotel. I understand that the Government has a pharmacy bond at Diamond. Why was this not utilized? Why did they go the route of sole sourcing for the bond?” inquired Goolsarran. The Public Health Minister was asked this very question by Opposition M e m b e r, Joseph Hamilton on Monday.
Former Auditor General, Dr. Anand Goolsarran But he danced around the question, only offering that he hopes that Government would not have to continue the use of the facility for too long. Goolsarran however stressed that there was enough time for Government to advertise for the rental of a facility for the storage of pharmaceuticals. He said it is therefore difficult for him to accept that it was an emergency situation that warranted sole sourcing. “It is just unacceptable,” Goolsarran opined. The Chartered Accountant also stated that he is disappointed that Cabinet would have approved of the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan accessing the Contingencies Fund rather than seeking a
Supplementary Estimate. The former AG also reminded of Norton’s comments in the House that the release of the contract on the bond would be dependent on the landlord of the warehouse. “I find it strange that the Minister could have said that. The public has a right to know the details of a Government contract, subject to appropriate safeguards, especially in relation to national security and foreign policy,” Goolsarran said. The Public Health Minister was unable to answer a number of questions posed by the political opposition in relation to the money taken from the Fund for the bond which is located in Albouystown. He was unable to tell the House who were the principals of the Linden Holding Company, when it was registered, when the three-year contract was signed, and who signed on Government’s behalf. Some critics are opining t h a t D r. N o r t o n i s i n essence being hypocritical, since he was one of the first ministers who told the Eleventh Parliament that the days of sole sourcing are over. Additionally, the House also approved some $62.5M which was granted to cover rental fees to the Linden Holding Company for the August to December period.
Wednesday August 10, 2016
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Kaieteur News
SAME STROKES, DIFFERENT FOLKS
Young people will become apathetic and indifferent towards politics, again. The young people, during the latter days of the PNC, were turned off from politics because of the levels of political violence and intimidation. Young people saw politics as dirty and dangerous. They stayed clear of politics. Things began to change following the democratic elections of 1992. But not long after, the young people became exhausted by the bipolar politics of Guyana. They fell in line and became part of Guyana’s polarized landscape. The formation of the Alliance for Change altered things. It offered the young people an alternative, a third force. The third force morphed in 2015 with the old politics, but the PPP was so tainted with the stigma of corruption that young people rallied behind the APNU+AFC coalition.
The young people expected much from the new APNU+AFC government. They, instead, have been showered with disappointments over the last fifteen months. With each passing day, ’change’ has seemed like ‘exchange’. And the situation is getting worse. The young people are looking closely at the new government. Instead of change, they are seeing exchange. The APNU+AFC coalition is, with each passing day, beginning to look, smell and sound like the PPPC government which it replaced. Yesterday’s edition of this newspaper dropped a bombshell. It reported that the Ministry of Health had signed an agreement with a private company for rental of bond space for storage of pharmaceuticals. Photographs published by this newspaper showed works being undertaken in the bond.
Yet, we are told that the body was certified as fit for the storage. How can a bond be certified as fit, if it is not completed? The PPPC while it was constructing a bond at Diamond was criticized for having rented storage space from the New GPC. As it turned out, it was not the government which was doing the rental, but a company which was involved in establishing the new bond at Diamond. If the Diamond Bond is not completed or is it not up to standard, then the government had to know this fact fifteen months ago. It therefore had no need to go to sole sourcing for storage. The Procurement Act is very clear on the circumstances under which sole sourcing can be employed. Sole sourcing is referred to in the legislation as single sourcing. There are five circumstances under which single sourcing may be
Dem boys seh...
Perverts cutting deal
Nutten is an eye doctor, suh dem boys seh he should got de best eyes. Dem don’t know how he get tie up wid this drug bond issue. He didn’t see was a bottom house? If he didn’t see then de landlord had to blindfold him, tek him to Sussex Street put him in de bottom house, show him what he paying $12.5M a month for, then blindfold him and tek him back to his office. There is no way anybody in dem right sense or even somebody wid a cockeye gun pay $12,000 a month fuh that place in Albouystown. Dem boys seh Guyana waiting to see what action Soulja Bai gun tek. He seh he don’t like corruption. He can’t smell it much less tek it. Nutten tell dem MP that he had to hustle to get de bottom house because he had nowhere to store de drugs. This mek people believe de place already had drugs store inside when there was nutten. De whole exercise is highway robbery. When Jagdeo rent Babby bond he should have only pay him $1 million per month. Instead he pay him $19 million. Nutten see that, find another $1 million a month bond, and decide to pay $12.5 million a month. Then he tun round and tell de nation through Parliament, how he save Guyana, a lot. Dem boys want tell Soulja Bai that dem got a bigger bond than that and dem willing to rent it fuh $2 million a month. And this bond deh pun Sussex Street, too, not far from de one Dr Nutten pay $12 million a month for. Things like this should send people to jail. Is this wha mek people tun from de PPP. Dem boys seh Soulja Bai should check pun all dem Larrys, and dem don’t mean truck. He might find that all of dem indulge in nuff crookishness. Larry de Singer use to rent a boat to fetch fuel fuh GPL and charge dem US$20,000 a month. He is de wheeler, de dealer, plus de player. Soulja Bai got to keep ee eye pun all dem Ministers who cutting deal wid dem Larrys and de Babbys. One Larry is a pervert and
Nutten is a pervert. Talk half and demand a surcharge from Dr Nutten.
employed. The first one is if the service being sought can only be provided by one supplier; the second one is if the service is specialized and can only be had from one source; the third one is preceded by a catastrophic event which precludes other methods of procurement such as open tendering; the fourth one is in cases in which the procuring entity is obligated to procure supplies and services from a particular entity; the final is in the instance of national security. The young people would have recalled that the parties to the coalition were highly critical of the PPPC when it waived Tender Board regulations to allow for single sourcing. The young people would have recalled also that the coalition parties were
opposed to what they deemed tender–rigging in the prequalification requirements for the procurement of drugs which effectively handed the bulk of the drug purchases in the country to one firm. The coalition parties promised openness and transparency. The young people believed them. Where is the transparency when 12.5 million dollars per month is handed to a company for the storage of pharmaceuticals drugs within an open tendering process? And to rub insult to injury, the bond has been said to have been certified even while workmen are still undertaking works on what seems to be the physical structure as well as the airconditioning. If the parties to the
coalition hope to hold the interest of the young people of Guyana they must now establish a commission of inquiry into this single sourcing with the aim of answering a number of questions. Was there justification for single sourcing? How many years is this contract for? How was the sum paid as rental for the private bond arrived at? Did this matter not raise red flags within the Ministry of Finance? Would it not have been cheaper for the government to spend the 150 million dollars annually on fixing the Diamond Bond?
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 10, 2016
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...
What do you do with 19 years of your life? There is no other country with the negatives that run through the bloodstream of a country like Guyana. Quite often (certainly not occasionally) people would tell me I am too focused on the negatives of Guyana. In fact, a very good friend of mine told me that just the other day. We were travelling down to Georgetown from Berbice after attending Leonard Craig’s wedding reception in Berbice. He is one of the second-tier leaders of the AFC. I knew where he was coming from. His future is in politics. One day he hopes to be in a political position to make policies for Guyana. I have no political ambition. I am a critical academic and that is what I will always be. We see life in Guyana from different
angles. I emphasise the negatives because I believe countries should not have these things. They make people unhappy. They psychologically disturb people. They depress a county’s citizens. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind, and I am unshakeable in my belief, that several UG students over the past two decades committed suicide because the rut of UG was too much for them to bear. I know of one such case on the West Bank of Demerara. UG’s dysfunction made the life of the student unbearable. He was just 18 years. I saw students cry in the registration line, because they couldn’t get a change of course approved before the deadline, as there was no one available to sign their form. I taught at
UG for 26 years and I saw what it did to the psyche of very young people. How could you tell me I shouldn’t criticize a country that makes its citizens unhappy humans? Just look at what happened last week. I rushed home to see the beginning of the knockout section of the Caribbean Premier League. It began at 7 p.m. It was 20 minutes past six and there was a Bank of Nova Scotia programme in progress. There was no cricket. I went downstairs and told my wife cricket was at 8 p.m. In fact the cricket began at 7 p.m. But NCN was not showing it because of a break in signal and didn’t have the commonsense, yes, the commonsense, to run a continuous strip saying there was a break in transmission. Even Frederick after the bank programme was concluded they didn’t run the strip. They did so 40 minutes after. I ask readers in all truthfulness if that was not a complete lack of commonsense. Here is what happened a few days ago. GPL’s commercial manager once told me that customers have an obligation to check with GPL rather than rely exclusively on a post office bill. He had a point there. So you can dial a number and get your bill information. My billing dictates that I pay on the first of each month. Since I didn’t get a post office bill, I dialed the GPL bill inquiry line. You can ask my wife; for hours that number was engaged. I went to the SurePay
booth at the supermarket and paid an amount that would cover my monthly kilowatts. So you didn’t get a post office bill that GPL sends out and GPL’s bill inquiry number was not helpful. This is what I mean by the unhappiness created by the country you live in. Think of what our older folks have to go through. They cannot hop into a car and drive down to SurePay as I did. I come now to the caption above of this column. A cyclist was knocked down by a GuySuCo truck and he sued for damages. He got judgement of $5 million last week. Do you know when he first sued? It was nineteen years ago. Does it make sense if you are 60 years old to sue for redress in the courts of Guyana and the Kissoon process takes two decades to complete? The cyclist suffered serious limb injuries at the time. But he would have had to find money for 19 years to spend recuperating. Just suppose he was 60 at the time, he would have been awarded compensation when he was 80. But maybe given his injuries, he may not have survived to reach 80. These are the negatives that characterize the ontology of this country. How could any human tolerate and accept the nature of such a country? The libel case where then President Jagdeo sued me and the Kaieteur News started in July 2011. This is August 2016, and the end of that trial is nowhere in sight.
Wednesday August 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
Multimillion-dollar pump stations to be built along ECD During the opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), a contract for constructing pump stations along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) attracted colossal bids. They will be built at Lusignan (Lot one), Buxton/Vigilance (Lot two) and Hope/Enmore (Lot three). The contract is being administered by the Ministry of Agriculture - Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU). The engineer’s estimate for lot one was $370M. For lot two it was $256.2M and for lot three, $424.2M. Finally, there was a contract for the extension of the G6 building at Base Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown. The engineer’s estimate was $5.4M.
There was also a contract under the Protected Areas Commission. According to the stipulations of the contract, it is to provide consultancy services for the development of Clear Guidelines and Procedures to incorporate the National Parks Commission into the Protected Areas Commission.
There was also a retender for the construction of a fence, walkway and extension of the guard hut at the Ministry of the Presidency. The engineer’s estimate was $47M.
Under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, there were bids for the construction of Rip Rap river defences at Aurora, Essequibo Coast, and Region Number 2. The engineer’s estimate was $56M.
Additionally, there was a contract under the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), for the procurement of building materials.
There was also a contract to construct a Band Corps building at Base Camp Ayanganna, Georgetown. The engineers estimate was $13.1M.
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Wednesday August 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
US$5.7M SETTLEMENT WITH BK…
Govt. settled fearing loss of appeal - Bulkan Sparks flew in the National Assembly on Monday, as former Attorney General Anil Nandlall took his successor Basil Williams to task for the recent settlement that government made with the joint venture group - BK International and Puran Brothers Disposal. This was in relation the group’s management of the Haags Bosch Landfill site. The out-of-court settlement was made by government with BK International. BK’s contract to manage the dumpsite was terminated last year, resulting in the contractor’s move to the court. A total of $1.1B will be paid in three parts. Government on Monday sought supplementary money from the National Assembly for the second tranche of payment for BK which will cost some $501M. Nandlall, who was the Attorney General at the time the contract was cancelled, questioned Government’s
Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall
Attorney General, Basil Williams
decision to “just give up” and in the process agree to a billion-dollar payout. He pointed out that after filing an appeal, the government then agreed to “compensate” BK with some $1.1B (US$5.7M) from the state’s coffers, without even waiting for the verdict of the
appeal. In view of this, he also queried whether Williams was the defender of the state or the defender of Brian Tiwarie, owner of BK International. “The Attorney General had filed an appeal against the judgment of (former Chief Justice) Ian Chang, in which Chang quashed the
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan
Brian Tiwarie, owner of BK International
termination notice of the contract. Why did they proceed to settle the matter without a hearing and determination of their own appeal?” An unrelenting Nandlall also queried whether the coalition was satisfied with the work which BK International did on the dump site. With the problems occasioned by the contractor’s handling of the landfill, he enquired whether it might very well not have merited a lawsuit rather than a payout. However, Williams defended himself against the onslaught, pointing to “the mess” left by the PPP. He stated that because of the
coalition’s experience with the Rudisa Beverage Company, a decision was taken to settle with BK. Rudisa had taken Guyana to court over an environmental tax the country had been charging for importing beverages. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had awarded damages totaling US$6.2M to Rudisa. Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan also rose to defend the decision to settle. Describing it as a fresh approach to allow for better waste management initiatives, Bulkan stated that ending the contract and having a responsible operator for the site were the main considerations in settling.
“It was felt that had we gone the latter (to hear the appeal), the sum to be paid would have been greater. Secondly, it was to free the site of the encumbrance that was there, which is the contract that was in place.” “But was the Government satisfied with the work done by BK, so that you were prepared to pay $1.7B in compensation?” Nandlall enquired. In response, Bulkan noted that the decision to settle also follows a series of other instances, whereby the government inherited situations where it had to pay. He referenced Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and Rudisa. Haags Bosch was opened in early 2011, replacing the dumpsite at Le Repentir Cemetery in the city, which had to be closed because of health and capacity reasons. Under the arrangements, BK was supposed to be paid for every ton of waste processed. The matter came to a head when the former administration, on February 27, 2015, terminated BK’s contract for the construction and operations of the landfill. The government said that the company missed deadlines and committed other breaches. On March 13, 2015, BK, Continued on page 15
Wednesday August 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
GPL $29M ALLEGED THEFT…
Carvil Duncan kept silent when allegation put to him - later submitted signed statement to police When the allegation of theft of over $29M from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) was put to Carvil Duncan at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown, he remained silent. This is according to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kendranauth Byjamaul. He testified yesterday when the trial continued before Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The policeman assisted with investigations. Byjamaul told the court that a few days after, Duncan submitted a typed and signed statement to him. ASP Byjamaul testified that he read the allegation to
Duncan in the presence of a Police Constable and also cautioned him according to the judge’s rule. The police witness told the court that he kept the statement in his possession and conducted further investigations in the matter. He said that based on information received, he contacted Lorraine Bancroft, the Corporate Secretary to GPL’s Board of Directors. Bancroft, he recounted, also submitted a signed statement along with copies of eight documents. His testimony was suspended until tomorrow. Duncan, 73, of Lot 1977 Williamstad Road, Festival City, Georgetown, is accused of conspiring with another to
Carvil Duncan steal the sum of $27,757,500 belonging to GPL between May 7 and 8, 2015, at Georgetown. It was further alleged that on March 31, 2015, Duncan stole $984, 900 also belonging to GPL. Duncan is currently out on $1M bail. It was reported that Duncan and a former senior official at GPL were part of a multimillion-dollar fraud at the power company. They allegedly paid themselves close to $30M belonging to GPL without authorization.
Wednesday August 10, 2016
Drunken intruder fatally stabs groom’s brother-in-law at wedding Wedding celebrations at a Sister’s Village, West Bank Demerara house came to an abrupt end at around 23.30 hrs on Monday, when a drunken intruder fatally stabbed the groom’s brother-in-law outside the wedding house. Arnold Rattan, a 46-year-old tractor operator, of 299 Long Pond, Sister’s Village, was stabbed under the left armpit and succumbed shortly after at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Angry guests tied up the alleged killer and handed him over to the police when he tried to escape. The suspect is a 31-year-old fruit vendor from Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara. A resident said that prior to stabbing Rattan, the suspect, who was intoxicated, had first entered another yard, two properties away, where another wedding was in progress. Because the man was not invited and was being a nuisance, the residents put the man out of the yard on four occasions. The drunken man then went over to the wedding that Rattan was attending and, when he continued to misbehave, Rattan, who has a fouryear-old daughter, escorted him out of the yard. “Solomon (the suspect) come in and behave bad, and the guy (Rattan) hold him and take him out of the yard and the next thing we see is blood gushing…the man jook him,” one guest said.
DEAD: Arnold Rattan
A taxi driver said that he took the wounded man to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. He recalled that Rattan was unable to speak and was trying to sit. He said that Rattan succumbed about 20 minutes after arriving at the hospital. After stabbing Rattan, the assailant jumped into a shallow trench in a bid to escape. Some of the residents dragged him out, tied him up and handed him over to the police. He was detained at La Grange Police Station.
FRAUD ACCUSED GETS BAIL Bail was set at $75,000 for Wayne Goriah, who is accused of fraudulently converting the proceeds of a generator given to him by another man to sell. It is alleged that on October 5, 2015, at Regent Street, Georgetown, Goriah,36, of Robb and Cummings Streets, Georgetown, being solely entrusted by Aubrey Williams with a 7000 watts Honda generator to sell and return the proceeds, fraudulently converted same to his own use and benefit.
Goriah, who had no legal representation, denied the allegation read to him by Magistrate Leron Daly. Police Prosecutor Kevin London did not oppose bail for the defendant. Goriah admitted that he was indeed given the generator by the virtual complainant to sell. He claimed that he had already made arrangements to repay Williams. Goriah will make his next court appearance on August 30.
Wednesday August 10, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Bond storage contract...Rescind shady deal and save face – PPP MP The quote by JeanBaptiste Alphonse Karr—the more things change, the more they stay the same, is brought to the fore with revelations that the new government has entered into a “shady and secret” contractual agreement for the storage of drugs. A contract was signed with a firearms company, Linden Holdings Inc. The company’s head office is located on Middle Street where Side Walk Café previously housed, but the bond is located at Sussex Street Albouystown. On Monday, the National Assembly, while broken down into the Committee of Supply, vehemently questioned the Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, on the matter. But the answers given raised even more questions, leaving the Opposition at a loss. Yesterday, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C)’s point man on health, Dr. Frank Anthony told Kaieteur News that the deal is deeply disturbing. “There are a couple things fundamentally wrong with this entire deal.” He said that based on his understanding there is no immediate need for storage space for drugs. Dr. Anthony said he understands that the Diamond bond—belonging to the government—has space “There is no ‘emergency’ as the Minister so put it.” The former Minister said that even if the government wanted to move from New GPC where it continues to store drugs, the switch could have been made in a more transparent manner, and in a manner that allows the government to receive the
best possible offer. Dr. Anthony pointed out that there has been no public call for space to store medical supplies. He said that there was no public advertisement and because there was no advertisement for the apparent “need”, there could have been no public tendering. “So they did sole sourcing, something that was to be brought to an end,” said Dr. Anthony. Anthony said that he is yet to see the “big transparency” that the government has promised. IS THE BOND SUITABLE FOR STORAGE OF MEDS? Dr. Anthony then turned his attention to high possibility that the bond is not up to the standards required for the storage of drug and medical supplies. The Member of Parliament said that there seems to be no proof that the bond has been certified fit for use in the manner that the Ministry has decided to use it. “From all indications, the environment is not fully conducive for the storage of drugs, despite the Minister telling us that it is,” said Dr. Anthony. When questioned in Parliament as to whether the bond is certified, Norton answered in the affirmative. First he said that local representatives of PAHO and WHO visited the facility and approved of the standards. Subsequently he admitted that that job is not for PAHO and WHO, and said that the bond was certified by officials from the Ministry of Health. Despite the fact that the Food and Drug Analyst Department falls under the
Govt. settled fearing...
From page 12 through its lawyer, Davindra Kissoon, filed a lawsuit asking Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang, to overturn the decision of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to terminate the contract. Tiwarie, in court documents, claimed that he was owed hundreds of millions of dollars for the construction and for the daily management of the Eccles site. Tiwarie said that in 2012, the supervision of the landfill operations was placed under the Ministry of Public Works, with engineer Walter Willis appointed Project Manager. However, BK and Willis clashed, and Willis was removed from the project shortly after. Tiwarie in his court documents said that his company constructed cells, roadways, administrative offices, canteen, workshop and a scale. In the process he hired 50 persons and managed to process 140,000 tonnes of waste annually. However, the Ministry started delaying payments to BK, despite invoices being submitted and letters of demand being written. As of July 23, 2013, the Ministry reportedly owed BK some US$324,677, the monies being for work done since 2012. This meant there were no payments for one and half years. Aside from this, BK had filed claims against the Ministry for breaches in the contract for US$8M. Puran Brothers Disposal will continue the management of the disposal site.
purview of the Ministry of Health, it is not to be mistaken for the Ministry of Health. The body functions independently. Yesterday, Dr. Anthony said, “The Ministry is not a certifying agency and if the Ministry certified the facility (the bond) it would be a breach of the law and an inherent conflict of interest.” He explained that by law, the Food and Drugs Administration is supposed to be the certifying body and only that body can do an inspection to make sure that
the bond is up to standard. Dr. Anthony said that if the bond was certified, then a certificate would have been issued to be presented if ever needed. But above all Dr. Anthony questioned, “How can an unfinished bond get certification?” He regarded the matter “a serious one” saying that there was a breach of agreement, the law, a breach of public trust, and a breach of the APNU+AFC’s promise to do away with sole sourcing “Not only did they sole source, they sourced a man with no expertise. What is so Continued on page 29
PPP Member of Parliament, Dr. Frank Anthony
Minister of Health, Dr. George Norton
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Wednesday August 10, 2016
Esso gets tax break - as oil exploration activities continue The National Assembly on Monday evening voted to approve the maintenance of tax breaks to Esso Exploration and Production Limited and partners as the company continues oil exploration in Guyana. Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, moved the motion for the affirmation of the petroleum order during the final Sitting of Parliament before recess. This order had its origins in the Petroleum Exploration Production Act which was promulgated in 1986. The Act governs petroleum exploration and production in the territory of Guyana. Jordan told the House that Esso Exploration and its joint venture partners approached the government to seek an extension of time within which to complete exploration operations under the current petroleum prospecting licence which ends in June 2018. This, Jordan noted, led to the review of the 1999 agreement by the Ministry of Natural Resources “with a view to strengthening the terms and benefits for Guyana bearing in mind the new realities of the oil discovery.” On June 29, last, the government and the joint venture partners signed a production share agreement. “The government agreed to permit the investors to maintain exploratory control and production rights over the Stabroek blocks without alterations or variations,” Jordan said. The provisions of section 51 of the Petroleum Act allow for the waiver of the application of certain laws in favour of licensees with whom the government has entered into production share agreements. “Section 51 of the Act prescribes Finance Minister Jordan, by order formative resolution of the National Assembly, direct that any or all of the written laws mentioned in subsection 2 shall not apply to or in relation to a licensee,” Jordan explained. Jordan added that the order provides investors with the necessary comfort and assurances that the agreement will be respected in its entirety. Opposition Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Odinga Lumumba, expressed
Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan disappointment in not being informed earlier about the motion. “It makes us feel funny; it makes us feel that there is a hidden agenda and it’s not a laughing matter. It is a question of nationalism,” Lumumba said. However, Minister Jordan assured that there was “no intent to sandbag or ambush the opposition”. It was pointed out that the Order was published in an extraordinary copy of the Official Gazette on August 2. Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman supported the motion. “This order takes us to the direction of bringing us into alignment with what is the norm and what is required by law,” Trotman said. Minster Trotman pointed out that his ministry is currently strengthening bilateral engagements with several first world countries to develop the oil and gas sector. The Natural Resources Minister also noted that a ministerial committee was established comprising the Ministries of Finance, Public Infrastructure, Agriculture, Business, Communities, Social Protection, Education and Citizenship. “Until December, we will be working in conjunction with other ministries to strengthen this framework,” said Trotman.
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Kaieteur News
Implement measures to improve rights of disabled persons Although Guyana has signed on to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the rights of some disabled persons still continue to be violated. This glaring state of affairs includes the fact that a number of buildings are still not being constructed with proper provisions for persons with disabilities. But the Convention clearly stipulates that all public buildings must offer accessibility to such persons. Speaking of the measures that Guyana is required to
fulfil having signed on to the Convention, Member of the National Commission on Disability (NCD), Mr. Komal Singh observed that “to date many places still don’t have wheelchair access, and it is something that we need to push very hard for so that those persons can go to public buildings and have easy access to services.” But there is still time to get the obvious shortcomings addressed, according to Singh. He pointed out that Guyana has until 2020 to put measures in place to comply with the
- NCD Member stipulations of the Convention. Article 9 of the Convention, which speaks to accessibility, stresses the need for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life. Moreover, it underscores that “State Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure persons with disabilities access, on an
Sophia family robbed second time in two years A North Sophia businessman and his family were brutally attacked and robbed by three gunmen shortly after 21:00 hrs on Monday. Bhim Singh, 52, told Kaieteur News that he had just parked his vehicle in his Lot B 17 North Sophia home, and was about to enter the house, when a man suddenly appeared before him and struck him repeatedly across the face with a handgun. Singh said that he lost consciousness after the severe pistol-whipping. The man that struck Singh reportedly fired off two shots and barged into the house where he joined two accomplices and proceeded to savagely beat Singh’s wife and daughter. His wife said that the men stomped her repeatedly as she lay on the floor, she said that they kept asking for money and ransacked the bottom flat before searching the building’s upper flat. After their search didn’t unearth anything of much value, one of the bandits held a cutlass to Singh’s daughter and again demanded money while threatening to slash her throat. The young woman, fearing for her life, immediately handed over the cash that was in the house $1,100 Canadian and G$48,000 in cash, along with jewellery. After the cash was handed over, the trio made good their escape while firing
The injuries Bhim Singh sustained during the attack
more shots in the air. According to reports, a neighbour who saw the men running through the street shouted for help. Upon hearing that, the men reportedly fired three rounds at the neighbour’s house. Singh said that when he regained consciousness, he immediately called the police, who arrived five minutes after the ordeal. He said that he found a fully loaded magazine in the yard and a spent shell, which he handed over to the police. This is the second time in two years that the Singh family has been attacked by gunmen. In 2014, two men armed with handguns invaded their home, Singh however managed to fight off his assailants, who escaped.
The businessman said that he had applied for a firearm licence in 2012 which was acknowledged by then Commissioner, Leroy Brumell, but was given the “royal run around” at the Brickdam Police Station. He said that police officials told him that they lost his documents and that he would have to reapply. Singh subsequently reapplied earlier this year and he showed Kaieteur News a letter indicating that his application was received by the Commissioner of Police (ag) David Ramnarine. He said that had he been granted a firearm licence, he believes that he would have been able to apprehend at least one of the bandits this time around.
equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas.” These measures, the Convention has outlined, “shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility, shall apply to, inter alia: a) buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor facilities including schools, houses, medical facilities and workplaces; b) information, communications and other services including electronic and emergency services.” The Convention, which became effective on May 3, 2008, was first signed on March 30, 2007 and currently has 160 signatories. It is monitored by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. But even as Guyana
NCD Member, Komal Singh embraces the UN Convention, Singh said that efforts still have to be made to embrace the local disability legislation. Since being enacted in 2010, continuous efforts have been made, mainly by the Disability Commission, to raise awareness about its provisions. Singh noted that while sensitisation efforts have been going well, “we need to now start seeing responses and action taken...We thought that it would be a good idea and a good initiative for us to start seeing it happen at Government
Ministries.” He recalled that the current Junior Minister of Natural Resources (former Junior Minister of Social Protection), Simona Broomes, had last year embraced the legislation, by putting in place a ramp for persons with disabilities at the Social Protection Ministry. Singh said that the Commission is pleased with this development and is hopeful that other ministries, agencies and other public facilities will emulate this move. And he is not opposed to these entities offering accessibility to the lower floors alone for now. “We will start with the lower floors since in many of these buildings, because of how they are constructed, it is difficult to get them (ramps) up...it may involve putting in an elevator,” Singh considered. Currently the Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, is looking to address the transportation needs of persons with disabilities. He recently informed this publication that he will be advocating for funds to be allocated in the 2017 budget to procure vehicles suitable for transporting persons in wheelchairs.
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Wednesday August 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Men dressed as women rob Chinese store - One captured
The gathering at the store minutes after the robbery. The bandit before he was escorted to the police station yesterday. In a daring early morning robbery, four men clad in women’s attire attacked a popular Chinese-owned store on Regent Street yesterday before carting off an undisclosed sum of cash and articles. According to reports, the men entered into the ‘Good Life Store’ sometime around 08:30 hrs and began to peruse the items on display. One was seen traversing in and out of the store as if he
was carrying out surveillance, while the other three remained in the store. One female worker, who told reporters that it was her first day on the job, said that the men then demanded that everyone ‘go on the ground’. The distraught woman said that upon seeing this, she ran and hid in the store until the ordeal was over. It is unclear whether the men were armed.
Kaieteur News understands that after the robbery, the men broke off into groups of two as they stormed out of the store. One group fled in a yellow motor car, an eyewitness said, while the other duo proceeded toward a parked Honda CG Motorcycle. A cyclist, who requested anonymity, said that he was passing by when he noticed one of the bandits fleeing the scene. He then went in
pursuit of the two bandits and grabbed one of them as he was about to mount the cycle. “I snatch he by he
boxers, he partner pull off and I pull brakes and pull he off,” the man said while boasting that he was a former member of the Guyana Defence Force
(GDF). The Police were summoned where they escorted the bandit to the police station.
Procurement Commission... (From page 3) English, Dr. Nanda Gopaul and Sukrishnalall Pasha. House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland said he was pleased and found it refreshing that all the MPs voted for the
motion to appoint those nominees. Similar sentiments were shared by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. Before moving a motion to send to the House into a period of
recess until October 10, Nagamootoo lauded the occasion as one which represents a glimmer of hope that the Members of Parliament can partake in a bipartisan engagement.
Wednesday August 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
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PSC commits to supporting ‘Green Economy’ As part of efforts to show support for Government’s thrust for a ‘Green Economy,’ the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Energy and Resources Institute, (TERI) towards embracing and understanding green growth and sustainable development in Guyana. TERI is a not for profit organisation policy research organization based in India working in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable. The signing took place at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, on Monday. Those present included Chairman of the PSC Commission Eddie Boyer, Junior Minister of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma, High Commission of India to Guyana Mr. Venkatachalam Mahalingam, members of the PSC and other representatives. During his remarks, Boyer noted that President David Granger committed Guyana to join in the global efforts to combat climate change when he signed on to the Paris Agreement in April of this year. He said that the PSC is therefore cognizant of the need for the business community to support those efforts. “As a result we are seeking to enhance our knowledge through a partnership (with TERI).” The Chairman said that the Commission is fully committed to supporting the Government’s thrust towards a green economy since the role of business in this effort is pivotal to the success of this venture.” According to Boyer, it is also the desire of the PSC to maintain good corporate citizenship and embrace the need for the pursuit of green growth and sustainable development. He noted that the common impediment to the
expansion of our private sector and the country’s competitiveness is energy. “The high cost of energy is perhaps the greatest barrier to the development and expansion of our manufacturing sector. “ “We are today signing a Memorandum of Understanding with TERI that allows us to harness technical advice and support, in areas of climate change, energy, environment and sustainable development. This commitment was the catalyst for the engagement of the PSC with TERI, and led directly to this Memorandum of Understanding which we are about to sign today. We live in a country full of natural resources, and unless we care for these, manage them properly and use them efficiently, we would be doing a grave injustice to our Godgiven gift,” Boyer said. He pointed out that TERI has moved from formulating local and national-level strategies, to shaping global solutions for critical issues. “It has the conviction a n d u n d e r s t a nding that efficient utilization of energy, and sustainable use of natural resources, would propel the process of development for any country. This visionary organization was formed in India and has taken its message across the world. The MOU, which will initially be for three years, is broad in its scope. It allows for TERI to work hand in hand with the PSC in various areas, including the sustaining of green growth, conducting energy performance audits, sharing research and technology, exploring renewable energy options for business, and establishing linkages with private sector entities in India. Meanwhile, General Director of TERI, Dr. Ajay Mathur, noted that TERI started work with the Government of Guyana in 2011 and over the five years
- Signs MOU for acquiring expertise towards harnessing renewable energy Standing at left is former PSC Chairman, Ramesh Dookhoo. Seated from left are current Head of the PSC, Eddie Boyer, General Director of TERI, Dr. Ajay Mathur, Minister of Finance Jaipaul Sharma and two stakeholders
to date, working through the President’s Office, TERI’s technical teams have undertaken activities in the area of energy management and working in the core economic sectors of Guyana. Mathur said that TERI has assisted the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Guyana Rice Development Board, Guyana Power and Light Company and Guyana Energy Agency among others, through several initiatives which have yielded technological and other improvements. Principal among these initiatives include improving energy efficiency in the sugar factories of GuySuCo; improving energy management of rice mills and the successful introduction of a 400 Kw gasifier technology in one large operation, and which has served as model in the sector for waste to energy conversion. TERI, founded in 1972 and headquartered in Delhi, India, is one of the largest developing country research organisations and has worked extensively in the fields of climate change, energy, environment, and sustainable development. TERI has a staff of over 1200 persons with a presence in North America, four locations in Europe, Africa and several locations in Asia.
Venezuelan jailed, teen remanded for illegal gun, ammo A Venezuelan woman was yesterday jailed for three years, after she pleaded guilty to having 10 live rounds of 3.80 ammunition in her possession, without being the holder of a firearm licence. Paz Pino, who spoke to the court through the aid of a Spanish interpreter, pleaded with Magistrate Leron Daly for leniency. She broke down in tears while telling the court she has
children to take care of and could not have afforded to retain an attorney to defend her. Police Inspector Kerry London presented the case for the prosecution. In another case, 19 –yearold O’Neil Nebert was remanded to prison by the same magistrate, for possession of an unlawful firearm and ammunition. It is alleged that on August 2, at Essequibo,
Nebert had three live 12gauge cartridges in his possession when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. It was further alleged that on the same day, at Essequibo, Nebert had a 12-gauge single barrel shotgun. The unrepresented man, who resides at 12 La Grange, West Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the allegations. He was instructed to make his next court appearance on September 15.
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Kaieteur News
Teenager’s body found in Hope Canal - reportedly left home to go swimming
Dead: Malika Hamilton The body of Malika Hamilton, the teen who reportedly left her Two Friends Village, East Coast Demerara home on Monday to go swimming at the Hope Canal, was found dead yesterday. After the teen failed to return home on Monday evening, a search party consisting of villagers and close relatives was formed. At around 13:00hrs yesterday, a member of the
The crowd that gathered at the canal where the body was found. search party spotted the teen’s body in the canal close to the savannah area, and the
family’s worst fears were confirmed. Relatives of the now
dead Hamilton were quickly summoned to the scene. A crowd built up and
Sophia father remanded over gold band robbery A man who has a pending robbery charge before the court was yesterday remanded to prison for allegedly robbing another individual at the Stabroek Market. It is alleged that on August 8, Dwight North, robbed Adrian Castello of a gold band, and at the time, immediately before or after the robbery, he used personal violence against the virtual complainant. Castello who was represented by Attorney Ronald Daniels pleaded not guilty to the charge read to him by Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Attorney Daniels requested for his client to be released
on reasonable bail. He said that North is the sole breadwinner for his family which comprises five minor children. He added the defendant has no previous convictions and has all intentions of returning to court. However, Daniels’ request was strongly opposed by Police Prosecutor Kevin London. London pointed out that the defendant is currently before the court for a matter of similar nature. According to London, it was while the defendant was out on bail for that offence that he committed this robbery. Magistrate Daly upheld the prosecution’s objections and remanded the defendant to prison until September 5.
awaited the Police who arrived on the scene shortly after. As undertakers from Lyken’s Funeral Home arrived and fished the teen’s body out of the canal, several relatives started wailing and some even had to be restrained as the body was being taken away. The dead teen’s grandmother, Dorel Cambridge, told the media that she feared the worst after her granddaughter did not return home after leaving for the canal with several friends to swim. The distraught woman pointed out that Hamilton
was not in the habit of swimming in the canal. Investigators at the scene said that apart from an apparent broken neck, there were no other visual marks of violence on the body. Villagers were overheard saying that Hamilton was last seen in the presence of two men on the railway embankment in Hope. Commander of “C” Division, Marlon Chapman told Kaieteur News that the suspected cause of death is drowning, but the police are awaiting the results of a post mortem to determine the exact cause of death.
Wednesday August 10, 2016
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Australian High Commission conducts Development Aid Programme outreach
The Australian High Commission in its bid to continue extending assistance in the Caribbean Region held an outreach exercise yesterday at the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session was headed by Lucrecia Birch, Policy Officer of the Australian High Commission, Trinidad and Tobago, and a representative from the Ministry. According to Birch, the Commission’s Development
Aid Programme (DAP) has been funding projects since 2009. She said, “To date we have funded 16 plus projects and they span a range of areas from human rights to sanitation, education, women’s issues and health.” The DAP is a flexible small grants programme which is aimed at promoting development in Caribbean countries which have been accredited under the Australia’s Official Development Assistance criteria.
Birch said that for this financial year - which began last July and culminates in June 2017 - focus will be placed on areas such as water and sanitation, community health, human rights and gender-related issues. In addition, DAP projects are geared towards achieving practical and tangible outcomes such as poverty alleviation, small-scale infrastructure, rural development, environmental benefits including managing or adapting to climate change
Deportee gets two years for indecent exposure A deportee who sexually harassed a woman and threatened to rape her has been jailed for two years and fined $50,000. He reportedly took out his penis and showed it to the woman. Anand Ramdass, 37, a deportee from the USA, and of Lot 288 Sukhoo Street, No.2 Village East Canje, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court where the matter was heard ex parte. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Winston Poliah,
presented the state’s case. The man was charged with the offence which was committed on September 8, 2014, at Charles Place, New Amsterdam Berbice. The 18-year-old victim who is unemployed, resides with her parents. The two are not known to each other and on the day in question the woman had gone to her neighbour to purchase ice. At the same time Ramdass, who is a relative of the neighbour, was visiting the residence. As the woman was
leaving, the accused ran and held on to her bicycle. The woman pushed him off and they had a scuffle. Ramdass then used expletives, exposed himself before the woman, and made an indecent proposal. The matter was then reported and he was arrested and charged.
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
and ad hoc humanitarian relief. Guyana is one of nine countries in the region which qualifies for these grants. Some of the remaining states are Belize, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname. Birch explained that the DAP is centred on building communities. She informed the gathering that the grants are not for individual benefit. She encouraged cooperatives and groups to come together to generate some sort of sustainable economic activity for themselves. Birch said that the programme does experience some challenges, particularly regarding persons completing applications. She said that despite the willingness of individuals to complete the forms, some are unable to do so, and this is
Ms. Lucrecia Birch, Policy Officer, Australian High Commission, Trinidad and Tobago revealed during the submission stages. The grants have a limit of AUS$30,000. However, Birch
said that persons are encouraged to apply for smaller grants. In addition, there is an upper ceiling of AUS$60,000 of funding which can be accessed, but only in certain cases. Such special cases include multi-country projects or a project which spans two financial years. For the financial year 2013 to 2014, beneficiaries from the fund were the Guyana Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme and the Cancer Institute of Guyana. During 2014 to 2015 the Bina Hill Water Conservation Project and Rights of Children were beneficiaries. In the last financial year which ended in June 2016, beneficiaries were Special Needs for Life, Women’s Refuge, Guyana Mangrove Reserve Producers’ Cooperative Society and the Cancer Institute of Guyana.
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Wednesday August 10, 2016
Putin and Erdogan move towards Trump ignites firestorm with remarks on gun rights, Clinton repairing ties amid tension with West Reuters - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump suggested yesterday that gun rights activists could act to stop his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton from nominating liberal U.S. Supreme Court justices, igniting yet another firestorm of criticism just as he sought to steer clear of controversy. “If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks,” Trump said at a rally. “Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is, I don’t know,” he continued. The U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment guarantees a right to bear firearms. Until Trump made the remark, he had been trying to rally Republican voters behind him and against Clinton, who is leading in national opinion polls in the race for the Nov. 8 election. Some in the audience who were seated behind Trump could be seen wincing when he made the comment. Clinton’s campaign called the remark “dangerous.” “A person seeking to be the president of the United States should not suggest violence in any way,” it said. When asked to clarify what Trump meant, his campaign said Trump was referring to getting supporters of the Second Amendment to rally votes for Trump in the election. “It’s called the power of unification – 2nd Amendment
Donald Trump
people have amazing spirit and are tremendously unified, which gives them great political power,” the Trump campaign statement said. Introducing Trump at a later rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani accused the news media of taking the remark out of context to help Clinton, a former U.S. secretary of state, get elected. The U.S. Secret Service, which provides security details for both Trump and Clinton and rarely comments on political matters, said when asked for a response to Trump: “The Secret Service is aware of the comment.” By day’s end, Trump was drawing criticism on several fronts, another chapter in a campaign marked by bitterness and partisanship. Michael Hayden, a former CIA director who on Monday was among 50 Republican national security
experts to denounce Trump in a letter, said on CNN, “You’re not just responsible for what you say. You are responsible for what people hear.” Gun rights have been a potent issue in a 2016 campaign being waged amid violence that has convulsed many American cities. Trump has planted himself firmly on the side of gun owners with a “law and order” campaign. Before his remark about Clinton, he had said Islamic State militants who killed 130 people in France last year could have been stopped if some of the victims had been armed. Yesterday’s speech came on the heels of a discordant week on the campaign trail for Trump, a businessman seeking his first public office. He came under fire from within his party for belatedly endorsing fellow Republicans in re-election races and a prolonged clash with the parents of fallen Muslim American Army captain Humayun Khan.
Japan military on alert to destroy N. Korea missile Tokyo (AFP) - Japan’s newly appointed defence minister yesterday ordered the nation’s military to be ready to destroy any missiles fired by North Korea that threaten the country, local media reported. Tomomi Inada issued the order, public broadcaster NHK said, without mentioning any indication that Pyongyang is preparing to launch such a missile. Last week Prime Minister Shinzo Abe picked Inada, a close confidante with staunchly nationalist views,
as the new defence minister. NHK said Inada is expected to renew the readiness order every three months so that Tokyo can seamlessly maintain a state of alert. A Japanese defence ministry spokesman declined to confirm the report. Her appointment came last Wednesday, the same day North Korea, a major security headache for Japan, fired a ballistic missile that landed just 250 kilometres (155 miles) off its coast — hitting Japanese-controlled
waters for the first time. The US military said the North had actually launched two Rodong intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to have exploded on take-off. The launches followed a North Korean threat of “physical action” over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, and came just weeks before the start of large-scale joint South Korea-US military exercises. Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile tests this year in defiance of UN sanctions imposed after its fourth nuclear test in January. After last Wednesday’s launch Japanese media quoted officials as saying they were surprised and voicing concern that North Korea was getting better at concealing its preparations to fire missiles.
Reuters - Russia and Turkey took a big step towards normalising relations yesterday, with their leaders announcing an acceleration in trade and energy ties at a time when both countries have troubled economies and strains with the West. President Vladimir Putin received his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan in a Tsarist-era palace outside his home city of St Petersburg. It was Erdogan’s first foreign trip since last month’s failed military coup, which left Turkey’s relationship with the United States and Europe badly damaged. The visit is being closely watched in the West, where some fear both men, powerful leaders ill-disposed to dissent, might use their rapprochement to exert pressure on Washington and the European Union and stir tensions within NATO, the military alliance of which Turkey is a member. Putin said Moscow would gradually phase out sanctions against Ankara, imposed after the Turks shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border nine months ago, and that bringing ties to their pre-crisis level was the priority. “Do we want a full-spectrum restoration of relations? Yes and we will achieve that,” Putin told a joint news conference after an initial round of talks. “Life changes quickly.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during a news conference following their meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, yesterday. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin Cooperation would be increased on projects including a planned $20 billion (15 billion pounds) gas pipeline and a nuclear power plant to be built in Turkey by the Russians, Erdogan said, as well as between their two defence sectors. “God willing, with these steps the Moscow-Ankara axis will again be a line of trust and friendship,” Erdogan said. The leaders were to discuss the war in Syria, over which they remain deeply divided, in a subsequent closed-door session. Progress there is likely to be more halting, with Moscow backing President Bashar alAssad and Ankara wanting him out of power.
Turkey has been incensed by what it sees as Western concern over a post-coup crackdown but indifference to the bloody putsch itself, in which rogue soldiers bombed parliament and seized bridges with tanks and helicopters. More than 240 people were killed, many of them civilians. Putin’s rapid phone call expressing his solidarity to Erdogan in the wake of the failed putsch had been a “psychological boost”, the Turkish president said. Turkish officials, by contrast, warned yesterday of rising anti-American sentiment and of risks to a crucial migrant deal with Europe, in a sign of deteriorating relations.
Chinese ambassador warns relations with UK at crossroads LONDON (AP) — China’s ambassador to Britain has warned that U.K.-Chinese relations are at a crossroads following the U.K. government’s delaying of a decision on a new nuclear power plant backed by Chinese investment. In an article for yesterday’s edition of the Financial Times, ambassador Liu Xiaoming made a direct link between the future of relations and the fate of the 18-billion-pound ($23 billion) Hinkley Point project. He described ties as at a “crucial historical juncture” and stressed the importance of “mutual trust” to the two countries’ relationship. Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May surprised the business world when she stalled the deal last month in order to review the power project in southwestern England, financed by a Chinese nuclear power provider and French energy giant EDF.
Chinese ambassador Liu Xiaoming The delay threw into doubt the “golden era” of ties proclaimed by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Britain last year. The ambassador wrote that he hoped “the U.K. will keep its door open to China.” He urged the British government to decide as soon as possible to proceed with Hinkley Point. Some British politicians
and diplomats are wary of the enthusiasm the previous government of Prime Minister David Cameron showed for boosting ties with Beijing. Britain rolled out the red carpet for Xi during a lavish state visit in October, complete with a stay at Buckingham Palace as the guest of Queen Elizabeth II. The two countries signed more than 30 billion pounds in trade agreements during the trip, as Cameron said Britain would be China’s “partner of choice” in the West. The visit also saw protests by pro-Tibet and human rights demonstrators concerned about the British government’s lavish welcome for the Chinese leader. And there was later embarrassment when the queen was caught on microphone saying Chinese officials had been “very rude to the ambassador” while the visit was being organized.
Wednesday August 10, 2016
PAGE 27
Kaieteur News
Vacation Mode: The PM, President, AG, CJ and acting CoP Trinidad Express - The Prime Minister, President, Attorney General, and Chief Justice are all out of the country for one reason for another. And the Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams is on three months vacation. Yesterday, Chief Justice Ivor Archie issued a statement saying that he was headed off on private business, since the Supreme Court was on recess to reopen September 16. The Law Term ended July 29. Two Appeal Court Justices will perform the duties of Chief Justice - Justice Allan Mendonca from the 9th-16th August and Peter
Jamadar from the 17th- 25th. Archie will be back on August 25. On August 4, Prime Min-
ister Dr Keith Rowley left for the United States for a vacation and medical checkup. He is scheduled to return August 15.
PNP Talks On ‘Openness, Honesty’ In Local Govt. – Party Pushes For Dialogue As Councils Reel From Anti-Corruption Raids
Mayor of Kingston Dr Angela Brown Burke, president of the caucus of People’s National Party (PNP) councillors, addresses journalists while Scean Barnswell, mayor of May Pen and vicepresident of the caucus, looks on during a press conference at PNP headquarters in St Andrew. The Gleaner - With local government elections in the air, the People’s National Party (PNP) is intensifying its preparation with the announcement of a “dialogue on core values” involving the local authorities reeling from an anti-corruption movement spreading across the councils. The PNP controls all 13 parish councils and the Portmore Municipal Council. Three of the parish councils, in the last three months, have been the sites of police raids that have ended with the arrests of employees and a growing bill of millions in alleged misuse of public funds. Kingston Mayor Dr Angela Brown Burke, who heads the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, said Monday the PNP has done a good job in leading the local authorities. “The core values that
we’re talking about [include] openness and honesty. All leaders, whether they are elected or community leaders, people place some confidence and trust in you, and one of the things we need to do in return is to honour that confidence and trust,” she told journalists during a press briefing at the party’s Old Hope Road, St Andrew, headquarters. “When leaders are open and honest, there is less suspicion, and individuals do not have to make up their stories because they have access to the truth.” Brown Burke said the PNP’s push for dialogue was linked to the recent gazetting of laws aimed at strengthening the powers of parish councils. But pressed by The Gleaner, Brown Burke, who heads the national caucus of
PNP supporters, and May Pen Mayor Scean Barnswell admitted that the imminent local government elections make the dialogue timely. Over the four-year period, several investigations involving allegations of corruption have been done, with some leading to the arrest of highranking officials, including Barnswell and former mayor of Lucea in Hanover, Shernet Haughton. Barnswell was found not guilty of corruption charges, while the case involving Haughton is still before the courts. More recently, the Clarendon, Manchester and St Catherine parish councils were probed by the elite police unit, the Major Organised and Anti-Corruption Agency of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Brown Burke insisted Monday “there was no breakdown at all” of oversight of the parish councils over the last four years. Noting that councils are subjected to internal and external audits, she said, “Where there might be issues of practices that need to be dealt with, we have routinely dealt with them.” The PNP lost the February general election and the upcoming local polls are seen as a test of the PNP’s machinery and its unity afflicted by internal fights that have been playing out publicly. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has not indicated when the polls, which were due from last year, will be held. Parliament approved two bills last year that postponed the election deadline to December this year.
Attorney General Faris Al Rawi is also on leave, and his post is being held by Stuart Young.
On July 26, President Anthony Carmona left the country with his wife and children to vacation in the
Bahamas. He returned August 18. Senator Christine Kangaloo is acting as President.
CXC to release results Friday BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The eyes and ears of the region’s education community will be tuned into the island of Anguilla on Friday. That is the day Anguilla will host the official release of the regional results for all CXC examinations offered in May/June 2016 sitting, starting at 10:30 am. Evans McNiel Rogers, minister with responsibility for education in Anguilla, will deliver the feature address at the event. Glenroy Cumberbatch, registrar of CXC, will present the results of all the examina-
tions offered by CXC in the May/June 2016 sitting. These include regional results for Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA). Stephen Savoury, director operations for examinations services, will report on the administration of examinations issues. Following the presentation of the results, there will
be a question and answer segment for members of the audience to ask CXC and ministry of education officials questions and seek clarification about the examinations results. Cumberbatch said, “The official release of results demonstrates the Council’s accountability to the region, and also gives CXC the opportunity to interact closely with it stakeholders – educators, policymakers, principals, teachers, CXC resource persons, students and the media in the host country.” (Caribbean News)
Brazil Senate meets to indict suspended President Rousseff BRASILIA (Reuters) Brazil’s Senate met yesterday to vote on whether to indict President Dilma Rousseff on charges of breaking budget laws, in the long-awaited start of the trial phase of impeachment proceedings against her. With Brazil’s attention focused on the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, senators in the capital Brasilia began to decide the country’s political future in a raucous session presided over by Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski. The impeachment of Rousseff, a former leftist guerrilla and the first woman to lead Brazil, has paralyzed Brazilian politics since the start of the year, deepening a crisis set off by a massive kickbacks and bribery scandal at state-led oil company Petrobras. The outcome of yesterday’s vote is a foregone conclusion because opponents of Rousseff, who was suspended in May, need only a simple majority in the 81-seat Senate to put her on a trial.
Dilma Rousseff A final verdict expected at the end of the month will require two thirds of the votes, but media surveys of the Senate point to defeat for Rousseff and the end of 13 years of Workers Party rule. Conviction on charges of manipulating government accounts and spending without congressional approval would definitively remove her from office and confirm interim President Michel Temer, who would serve out the rest of her term through 2018. A Temer spokesman said
he is confident the charges will be accepted. Government officials expect 60 senators to vote for a trial, which is six more than needed to eventually convict her. Uncertainty over Brazil’s political future has hampered efforts by Temer to plug a fiscal crisis inherited from Rousseff who is blamed for driving the economy into what could be its worst recession since the 1930s. Temer, Rousseff’s conservative former vice president who took over when the Senate suspended her on May 12, has asked senators to wrap up the trial quickly so he can advance with reforms to cap public spending and rework an overly generous pension system.Investor expectations that Rousseff would be ousted and replaced by the more business-friendly Temer have strengthened Brazil’s currency and driven up shares on the Sao Paulo stock market by over 30 percent since January, placing them among the world’s best performing assets.
PAGE 28
TO LET Spacious 2 bedrooms @ Vreed-en-Hoop; new apartment: kitchen, fence yard, security cameras, grill, granite cupboard. $25,000 Call: 682-5230; 628-9596 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING& PUBLISHINGINC–TEL:6004212: We create A/works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:6294946 or 225-4822
VACANCY One nail Technician- Call: 609-7458 Body work man needed. Call: 660-3004 Checkers, labourers, pump attendants & accountants. TI certificate needed (Berbice). Call: 330-2399; 623-5920 One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician –Call: 231-0655
2X3 Bedrooms fully furnished luxury apartments for rent (short & long term stay). Call: 665-3505 One four storey business place located on Robb Street, next to Bourda Market. Call: 623-7731; 629-0636; 645-3489 2 Bedrooms bottom flat furnished with Wi-Fi, etc at Liliendaal E.C.D - $70,000 monthly. Call: 676-6409
Hotel Front Desk Clerk, computer literateÿCXC English and Mathsÿ flexible hours. Tel: 638 2027 3 Waitresses -$15,000 weekly, bartender -$22,000 weekly, cook -$17,000 weekly –Call: 661-5099 or whatsapp: 6618802
Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove service and repairs. Call: 601-0595; 220-4073; 220-5785
Sales clerks between 1828yrs, sound secondary education, experienced in sales, send application @ 35 North Road, Georgetown. Call: 225-8831 American Variety Store, 140 Regent & Light Street, Georgetown: 1 experienced cashier, apply in person with written application. 1 Male janitor/cleaner. Apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Maid helper to work for salon/ spa. Call: 227-4799/231-0734
EDUCATIONAL Electronic Course. Starting 9th August. Hands-on training repairing all types of TVs, etc. Call: 226-6551; 225-0391 IAE: Register for full time school (Grades 7-11) CSEC lessons; adults and school leavers CXC classes. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742 9 Courses: Diploma in computers -$35,000; Accounting Programs: 4 courses -$35,000 @ MircoGraphics, Vreed-enHoop. Call: 264-3057 Computerized Accounting $30,000 4 courses, Diploma in computers -$30,000 9 courses @ Cybertron, Parika: 2604850 US and Canadian Visa application -$5,000, passport application at Cybertron, Parika Call: 260-4850
Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL. COM
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
Aidan’s Car Rental: 4WD pickup. Call: 698-7807
Wings 4WD pickup rental: 690-6494
PROPERTY FOR SALE
SALON
Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities -Price Reduced – Call: 662-9335; 612-3244
East Ruimveldt corner $15M. East La Penitence $13.7M 2 storey, Aubrey Barker road (corner) $30M- Call Shawn (Broker) 231-2199, 618-7483
LEARN TO DRIVE Learn to drive with Fast Learners Driving School Today. Sign up on Facebook or call 690-6868 C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages). MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079
House & land 2 storey concrete building (4 bedrooms; 2 self-contained), semi-furnished @ Grove & Diamond N/S. Call: 216-1861, 657-2300, 614-0578 Good Hope-(2)storey concrete building, Tain(2)storey concrete building, Tel:231-9690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri). Parfaite Harmony & Tuschen, each -(2) storey wooden & concrete building. Tel:231-9690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri). Transported property, prime, furnished liquor restaurant & bar, 2 freezers, 1 pools table, double lot @ E.C.D- $20M neg. Call: 600-7228 House & land for sale in Plantation Peter’s Hall -$8M. Call: 617-6015; 269-0493
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Computer parts; tile cutter; cleaning detergents concentrate and household appliances for sale; price negotiable- Tel: 618-8672
One (2) family house lot 32 Ann’s Grove housing scheme, land 100x50 $20M negotiable- Call: 623-5423
2 Storey house & land , 3 bedrooms, size 20x30. 2 inside bathrooms @ Best Village, W.C.D. $15 millionCall: 609-5620, 664-4415
Travel Assistant with 5 CXC subjects. Email applications to :goetravel2016@ yahoo.com along with 2 references & recent photo ID.
RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295
Jadesco Offers: Architectural designs, 3D modeling, building estimation/ quotation, rehabilitation works & general construction. Call: 612-0468, 629-3605, email: jadesco15@gmail.com
Wednesday August 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
FOR SALE Toyota IST-$1,895,000, Toyota Fielder-$1,895,000, Toyota Spacio-$1,895,000, BMW 318i-$2.3M, Audi A4-$3.7M. Call: 650-0402 D4H CAT Bulldozer, Mack 8 Cubic Yard, cement mixer truck, all in working order. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 Sign & Copy Center Call: 695-2199. Marathon Moto, Phase1 7½ HP & Transformer & photocopying machine- Call: 680-5266; 672-3886
Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games, applications & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:2259032;647-2943;604-5198 ADORABLE FLUFFY PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 615-0146 Elevator (good condition) Diesel Generator (23KVA, 110/220V). Call: 231-1284/ 223-9719
1-43 Cabin Cruiser, 1-48 Yamaha Outboard engine. Call: 661-6938; 259-3164
Antique household items, plants, ceiling fan, computer monitors, sauna and much more- Call: 223-9719/ 231-1284
One 8" by 6 ft jouter, price $170,000 & drill press $40,000, 1- Mitsubishi Canter -$1.2M. Call: 618-3359; 6626326
Purple Heart: 30X80 -$25,000, 32X80 -$28,000, 34X80 $28,000, 36X80 -$28,000, Free Delivery- Call: 688-9712; 6510717; 671-2490
2 Storey concrete building @ Samatha Point, Grove. Call: 682-1126; 613-7596
1-210 Hyundai excavator, good condition, any reasonable offer accepted. Call: 610-0515; 216-1390; 6128009
Gold & Diamond land @ Potaro Mining District (Kuribrong). Call: 682-1126; 613-7596 Trawler –Call: 682-8724; 6165954
Baby Chicks for sale on the Essequibo Cost, lowest price anywhere. Call: 626-9589
ACCOMODATION
Crazy Deal! Dell laptops & desktop computers, loaded with lots of games & educational programs from $49,000. FutureTech: 2312206
Harmony Inn- furnished apartments and rooms (long term & short term) affordable prices- Call: 668-0306/6947817/ 218-1400
1 Haier 43" smart TV (brand new) & 1 twin tub washing machine (brand new) Call Kumar: 617-2370; 265-0100 no reasonable offer refuse
House for sale @ Public Road Soesdyke, E.B.D –Call: 261-5287
FOR HIRE 1 Zone 42 pittbul mini-bus for hire in excellent condition for creeks, weddings, airport, etc. Call Kumar: 617-2370
1 Perkins V8 Turbo Charge 170KVa Generator in working condition, Call 223-7380
LAND FOR SALE 457 Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara, Acres 457=0.295 or 12,850.259FT. Call: 609-208-8282 House lot for sale @ Triumph Railway Embankment. Call Bibi: 617-3365; 603-9547; 2206799 50 Acres of land @ Plantation Elizabeth Ann, Right Bank Demerara River. Call: 680-5266
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Tushen $2.2M, $3.5M, Parfaite Harmonie- Call:642-1252 Land for sale at Eccles and Diamond. Call: 609-7766
CAT 320 BL excavator, 428 CAT back hoe, CAT930 Front End, 9 Wheeled Pneumatic Roller -Call: 275-0538; 6837225 Double Steel Drum Compactor, CAT 215 Excavator, Leyland DAF55 Truck, 400 GLS, Bitumen Kettle. Call: 275-0538; 6837225 Desks and benches in good condition, ideal for school, private lessons, etc. Call: 6833887 Continue page 29
Wednesday August 10, 2016
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
Public Security Minister promises release of protocols by weekend …as SOCU gets $20.3M in supplementary funds
Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall
The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) received $20.3M in supplementary financing after the passage of the supplemental paper on Monday. Not, however, before Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, was grilled about the yet to be released SOCU protocols. The money will go towards salary and operational-related expenses. When the National Assembly reached the line item, under the Ministry of Public Security, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Members of Parliament Anil Nandlall and Clement Rohee had probing questions about SOCU’s operations. Nandlall questioned when the protocols for the unit would be made public. Ramjattan subsequently gave a commitment to release these protocols within the week. He was also asked by the former Attorney General
about the unit’s composition. Nandlall noted that the unit is supposed to have financial analysts and lawyers, since it is a unit intended to probe financial crimes. The Minister disclosed that the unit had three Officers and one Financial Analyst by the name of Alicia Padmore. He could not present, at the time, her qualifications. With regards to the Attorneyat-Law, Ramjattan stated that efforts were ongoing to have one on staff. Since SOCU is an arm of the police, albeit a special one, Nandlall also enquired whether it was subject to the Police Service Commission (PSC) and disciplinary proceedings normal in the force. Ramjattan confirmed that this is so. Rohee enquired about the chain of command. It was pointed out that SOCU falls under the Commissioner of
Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan Police, who reports to the Minister. SOCU was established under the previous administration, but they had failed to implement the protocols for that specialized unit that is tasked with probing financial crimes. However a call for the standard operating procedures to manage the affairs of the SOCU intensified following the deaths of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sgt. Robert Pyle, his wife Stacy, and Canter truck driver, Linden Eastman. They died in an accident on December 30, 2015.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had stated that Pyle, driving motor car PRR 9118, was in pursuit of another vehicle during a “Special Operation” on behalf of SOCU, when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into Eastman’s oncoming Canter truck on Carifesta Avenue. According to reports, Pyle was part of a team that was carrying out an operation in the vicinity of the residence of embattled head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, (NICIL), Winston Brassington.
From page 28
FOR RENT
WANTED
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Wanted land to buy @ Tushen, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, Parfaite Harmonie. Best price offered- Tel: 642-1252
Teepee Suites Apartments: Lot 7 Princes Street, Charlestown, Guyana. Call: 592-223-7903/email: teepeesuites@yahoo.com Hair station rental at convenient location, Georgetown, Call: 638-1106, discounts given to newcomers, persons with experienced & clients La Grange Public Road: 3 rooms @ top & 2 rooms @ bottom (whole/separated). Toilet & bath inside; available from September. House @ C/Lodge. Call: 6190673 2 Bedrooms apartment located at 16 Stanleytown, W.B.D –Call: 696-8714 Apartment for rent in Industry E.C.D- Call: 619-2388 One bedroom apartment preferably working couple or single person. Call: 638-8858
Experienced fiber glass workers on E.C.D – Call: 6223250; 665-9747 2 Live in waitresses to work in Bar at Berbice– Call: 6046606; 692-4649 Cashier to work in supermarket and one live in domestic to work in Trinidad. Call or text 1868- 683 1528 1 Driver to work sweeper truck at night around town. Call: 218-1156; 218-1455 1 Driver for East Bank Area – Call: 233-2745 One female cleaner for office in Eccles call 233-2745 Buying non-working appliances such as: washing machine, pressure pumps, refrigerator, treadmill, pressure washer. Whatsapp: 661-8802 Driver for taxi minibus, license will be an asset. Call: 664-0802 One experienced cook to work in snackette & bar –Call: 647-7432; 223-5798
BOND STORAGE... From page 15 special about him? “ Dr. Anthony said that storing medications at an environment that is less than conducive can be very harmful and will result in further waste of money. “The drugs will most likely be spoilt, then what?” Dr, Anthony said that there seems to be an absence of a desire to get value for money. He said that rent and a security deposit have already been paid yet the facility is not complete and the government is still to get use of it “so why begin paying rent.’ The Member of Parliament also pointed out that under the previous agreement that the government had with New GPC, half of the rent money used to be paid by the Ministry while the other half was paid by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. He said that since Norton failed to make it clear, Opposition Members of Parliament are left to wonder if the hospital will still be paying - which will mean the government will be paying even more money than was announced on Monday. The former Minister said that the best way out of this would be for the government to rescind the contract and go to public tendering. On Monday, the National Assembly was given little detail about a contact that the Ministry of health entered into with a firearms company—Linden Holdings Inc. for the storage of medical supplies. The bond is unfinished but the government has already advanced $25M. It will be paying the company $12M per month. Linden Holdings Inc has no medical background and from all indications the bond, located in Sussex Street, is not FDA approved.
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee
2008 Toyota Axio -$2.6M, unregistered. Call: 691-7475 Unregistered Nissan Bluebird 2006 -$1.95M negotiable & 2010 Toyota Allion. Call: 644-9277 2009 RX8, Allion, Music Bus, Small bus, Motor cycle, Benz. Call: 265-4979 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Honda CG 125 –Call: 2642242 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 RUSH – Call 621-7145 Price Negotiable One 2007 Fielder stick gear $2.7M negotiable. One B12 Sunny $300,000- Call: 6165974, 618-8703
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 10, 2016
Man accused of stealing Convict jailed for phone succumbs home burglary - Uncle questions accuracy of “thieving” report A man who was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Monday after sustaining a sound beating, reportedly at the hands of residents of Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, succumbed to the injuries he sustained the very night. Reports suggest that the man was beaten by a mob after he stole a “cheap phone” from an individual. This publication had identified the man as 30-year-old Levi Armstrong of Lot 222 Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara. However, his uncle, Gilbert Garrett, said that his nephew’s name is in fact Levi Alleyne, and he was 21 years old. He reportedly lived at Princes Street, Georgetown. According to Garrett, his nephew succumbed to his injuries at 21:30 hours on Monday. He disclosed that Alleyne worked as a porter at the Muneshwer’s Wharf and was reportedly heading to his father’s residence at Paradise, East Coast Demerara, when he was attacked. Garrett said too that he learnt that his nephew was using a very familiar
The dead man’s uncle Gilbert Garrett
Levi Alleyne hours before his demise
shortcut to get to his destination when he was attacked. “I could put me head on a block that man was not a thief...the phone that my nephew dead and left was an expensive one, and I ain’t see yet the cheap phone people say he thief. The only lil problem he had was the lil ganja smoking.” According to Garrett, when he visited the Vigilance Police Station, where the matter is being investigated, the only thing that ranks confirmed was that a call was made to the station informing that a man was beaten and left on the side of the road. He claimed that at no time did any rank confirm that his nephew was attacked because of “snatching anybody’s phone.” He said that he was told that police ranks were the ones who rushed his nephew to the hospital. Alleyne, Garrett said, was the last of three children born to his sister Diane Alleyne, who has been inconsolable since learning of her son’s tragic demise. A post mortem examination is expected to be conducted on Levi Alleyne’s remains today.
A convict who was recently released from jail will be spending the next 18 months behind bars, after he was convicted on a charge of break and enter and larceny. Manraj Adnarine, 41, of Meadow Bank, was sent to prison for breaking into the dwelling house of Cedric Richardson and stealing a television set, a blender, a quantity of gold jewellery and a tape deck - all totaling $515,000 on June 17, at Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The sentence was
handed down yesterday by Magistrate Dylon Bess in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. According to court facts, the defendant was caught by the virtual complainant in the house. At his first court appearance, Adnarine had pleaded not guilty to the allegation but was remanded to prison after he failed to provide the court with a lot number for his address. The man had denied breaking into the premises
and claimed that when the offence occurred he was in prison serving four months for a simple larceny conviction.
Users of the Louisa Row road can now breathe a sigh of relief as the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Special Projects Unit, in collaboration with the Mayor and City Council’s Engineers’ Department completed rehabilitation works on the road, yesterday. This will enable easier access to Albouystown, Charlestown, East Ruimveldt, West La Penitence and other neighbouring communities. Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Works Clerk, Shemroy Skeffers, said that rehabilitation works started last Thursday and encompassed the roadway from Princes Street to Sussex Street, using a crusher-run surface. It was capped with asphaltic concrete and shoulder works were done to improve the area’s aesthetics. The workers encountered
some challenges during rehabilitation, nevertheless they were able to complete the necessary work on the road to allow for the smooth flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s, Time Checker, Dave Danny explained to the Government Information Agency that the workers had to work on Sunday. “With a very minimal labour force we were able to get a lot of work done. It wasn’t a very smooth terrain, it was really rough and the workers really worked hard to get things done and beautify the site, bringing some renewed energy to the area again,” Danny said. Raymond Hooper, a resident of Princes Street, praised the rehabilitation works.
“This is a very good compliment to the residents of East, West, North and South, Albouystown, Charlestown, North East, West La Penitence; it is very good venture and good for the road users also.” Jermaine Higgins, a pedestrian who uses the road daily, also expressed gratitude for the rehabilitation works. “It’s a diversion. If you did pass here two weeks ago you couldn’t even walk through here cause is some real big holes. Now we get something that somebody could pass through with a stroller or whatever.” The rehabilitation works on the road came in light of a request by the Mayor and City Council’s Engineers’ Department, to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
JAILED: Manraj Adnarine
Govt. rehabilitates road through Le Repentir cemetery
Wednesday August 10, 2016
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Hurricane Earl Affects 110,000 Children in Belize BELIZE CITY, Belize - No one died when Hurricane Earl made landfall in Belize last Thursday, but by UNICEF’s count, more than 100,000 children in Belize were affected. That’s not to say that number of children was physically hurt when the Category 1 system’s heavy winds and rains destroyed buildings and flooded neighbourhoods, according to UNICEF representative Ivan Yerovi. “When we are talking about potential impact, we’re not saying 110,000 children are suffering or they are cur-
rently injured…We have to consider that we’re not only talking about physical damages or injuries. We need to also consider that children may suffer some psycho-social problems. And when we are talking about potential impacted populations we have to consider those aspects as well,” he explained to the Belize media Monday. “The physical infrastructure, the household situation and conditions and so on, that’s one thing. But the psychosocial impact on children, that’s something we also
need to take into consideration.” Asked to explain how UNICEF arrived at a figure o f 11 0 , 0 0 0 , Ye r o v i e x plained it was a calculation based on information from the Statistical Institute of Belize. UNICEF says lack of access to clean water, poor sanitation, and the risk of mudslides, along with sightings of alligators and snakes in flooded areas, threaten the safety of the country’s most vulnerable children. (Caribbean360)
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Wednesday August 10, 2016
Trinidad imam rejects ISIS recruitment allegations PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Imam Nazim Mohammed has denied suggestions that he recruited Trinidad and Tobago national Shane Crawford to fight for extremist militant group ISIS. In fact, Mohammed said he does not know, nor has he ever spoken to or prayed with Crawford. Mohammed’s denial comes in the wake of reports that Turkish authorities had thwarted an attempt to smuggle nine Trinidad and Tobago nationals into Syria to join ISIS and an article in the July edition of ISIS online propaganda magazine Dabiq in which Crawford, under his Muslim name Abu Sa’d alTrinidadi, was featured and made an appeal to Trinidad and Tobago Muslims to kill Christians, the Trinidad Guardian reported. In the article, Crawford said he was involved in crime before leaving Trinidad and Tobago and was accused of being among those plotting to kill former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Identifying himself as an ISIS
Imam Nazim Mohammed – Photo Trinidad Guardian sniper, Crawford claimed he and two Trinidad and Tobago colleagues, Abu Abdillah and Abu ’Isa, were the first three Muslims to join ISIS. He admitted to being inspired to jihad by the teaching of Ashmead Choate, a Trinidadbased Muslim scholar who was the purported ring leader of the 2011 assassination plot. After the report surfaced there were also reports allegedly linking Mohammed to the ISIS recruitment process in Trinidad and Tobago and
of involvement with Crawford. But Mohammed insisted that he had no friendship, association or interaction with Crawford. “Maybe I saw him (in the mosque) and thing, but I personally don’t know him. I never spoke to him. All I know him is by seeing his photos in the newspapers. Maybe he attended my mosque, I can’t remember every face. Maybe he passed through the mosque, I don’t know. People (non members) would come from all over to attend Juma’ah,” Mohammed said, defending his position and name. Asked if he had helped Crawford get to Syria, Mohammed said he was being blamed innocently. “If I have to be implicated it must be on truth. If they have to imprison me for the truth, then so be it. When people want to look for a scapegoat they would come after you. But they must not do that. People must be just and truthful. If people do things, why should we be paying for that?” (Caribbean News)
Wednesday August 10, 2016
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Bolt says sub-19 seconds in 200 still a goal RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — The “Usain Bolt Variety Hour” hit Brazil, big time, on Monday. The closing number said it all: After talking about life, sprinting and the Olympics — and yes, Bolt insisted the Rio de Janeiro Games will be his last — the 6-foot-5 Jamaican pulled out his cell phone and started taking selfies while he shimmied off stage , surrounded by more than a dozen thong-and-headdresswearing Samba dancers. The evening with Bolt also included his now-immortalized “To The World” pose, a few serious questions about racing and doping, along with one reporter who said he had no question, but pronounced: “I really love you, man,” then poetry slammed the following: “I
hope you win. I hope it’s your day. I hope you will go even though you get hit by a Segway.” The now-famous Segway incident occurred after Bolt’s victory in the 200 meters last year at the world championships. While taking a victory lap, a multitasking photographer slammed into the back of Bolt’s legs with his scooter. Bolt bounced up and was no worse for wear. In the lead up to the Rio Olympics, his legs haven’t fared as well. He pulled out of his national championships last month with a sore hamstring, which he has been trying to rehabilitate in time to put on a show in Brazil. Bolt takes to the track Saturday for the early rounds of the 100 meters. If he wins the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay, the
way he has at the last two Olympics, he’ll close his Olympic career with nine gold medals. By now, though, it’s as much about the show as the results, and Bolt said as much Monday night. “I’m definitely a sprinter first, but I like to entertain,” he said. “That’s what people come out to see. They like it when I do crazy stuff. I try to entertain and make it different, help people enjoy it.” By doing that, he has obliterated the decades-old image of the sullen, skulking sprinter — and has also offered a much-needed breath of fresh air in a sport devoured by doping scandals that have dominated the leadup to the Olympics. “I think we’re going in the right direction,” Bolt said. “I
Wednesday August 10, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Keep an open mind when dealing with youngsters. Put your thoughts into action. Rest and relaxation will be more favorable than you think. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Watch your tendency to live for the day and to spend too much on entertainment and children; it could set you back. Avoid disputes with family; their complaints can't change anything anyway. Your talents might just be discovered. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may meet that special person if you attend fundraising functions. Love can be yours if you get out and about. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Be sure that the person you're drawn to is not already involved. You will get upset over trivial matters. Don't expect anyone else to pay your bills for you. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you're preoccupied, be careful while operating a vehicle or any kind of equipment or machinery. Get involved in philosophic groups that will enlighten you. Go out with friends who are positive and supportive. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Money may slip through your fingers. Get together with friends for some competitive physical activities.
You may be in an extremely passionate mood today. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) However, you may not attract the kind of interest you had in mind. Your honesty will not only win you points but also respect. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Those you care about may oppose your ideas. Your loved ones could set you off. Go after your goals and don't be afraid to ask for assistance. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Opportunities will develop through those you encounter while attending organizational events. Travel will turn out to be far more exciting than you imagined. Children will want to help, too. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Concern yourself with legal matters and formulating contracts rather than finalizing your objectives. Go to the top if you're being harassed or held back. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Overindulgence could lead to problems with digestion. You will find that you can work progressively at improving yourself today. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Any renovation or decorating to your home should include the whole family. Disputes may start because of a lack of honesty. Residential moves will be in your best interest.
must say, we’re weeding out the bad ones. I think people should have faith. We have to go through the rough times before we get to the good times.” Speaking of which, Bolt hasn’t ruled out a goal he set a long time ago — to better his record of 19.19 seconds in his favorite race, the 200. He has long said he’d like to take the record, which stood at 19.32 for 12 years
Entries expected... (From page 34) Poo, Red Rocket, Isn’t She Charming Firing Line, Appealing Harvest, Rosetta, Super Bowl, It’s My Turn, It’s My Choice, Cat Messiah, Release the Beast, Perfect Wind Storm, Keep On Swinging ,Wise Secret , She So Special, Super Cat, Royal Jet, Perfect Gold, King Stanley, Ausome Cash, Flash Again, Natural Beauty, Genuine Risk, Seven Dust ,Valtimore, Mystery Man, Plan Land, Three P Prince, People Will talk, Daddy’s Dollar, Affinity, Iron man, Fire ball, Blundy, Dirt Man, Blue Lightning, Lil Axe, Momentum, and Peace of cash, Party Time, Peace of Cash, Slim Shady, Secret Thinker, Amazon Warrior, Little, Red Region , Red Jet, the Suriname pair of Expresso and Buffen. Contact can be made with Chandu Ramkissoon on 6249063 or 232-0633, Ramnauth on 337-5311, 697-1979 and Sancho 690-0569 for any details on the event. Race time is 12:30 hrs. The coordinator is Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed.
before he first broke it at the Beijing Olympics, into the 18second range. But the leg injury leading up to the Olympics made it a less-manageable goal to pursue. Then, after his only Olympic tune-up run — a 200 late last month in London — he met with coach Glen Mills, who told him, “That’s one of the worst races you’ve ever run,” according to Bolt. Still, why not aim high? “I really, really, really want that one,” Bolt said. And going after dreams is the main message he wants people to take away from his career. “For me, it’s always to
work toward your goal,” he said. “It’s a hard road. Never let anyone tell you, you can’t do it.” But as much as sending messages, Bolt pretty much laughed his way through 30 minutes of dance, drama and jokes. He said the only problem he’s encountered during his stay in Rio had to do with TV. The apartment he’s sharing with teammate Asafa Powell didn’t have one. “Somebody told us they were going to get it,” Bolt said. “After two days, I was just, ‘Buy a TV.’ I’m a good teammate. So I got him a TV.” As always, keeping the people entertained.
Region 7 REO congratulates... (From page 37) while at the same time opening opportunities for holistic development. Mr. Gilbert noted, “NPSCA should be highly commended as they are certainly playing a critically important role in assisting in the further development of sports here and I applaud their efforts.” Gilbert congratulated all the
sponsors adding that, “We at CDC fully understands the importance of initiatives like these which seeks to bring the people and their villages together, thus we don’t have no hesitation in collaborating with them and knowing Minister Harmon’s passion for youth development I am sure that is what also propelled him into supporting.”
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Wednesday August 10, 2016
Ashwin shines again for India in third test (Reuters) An unbeaten century stand for the sixth wicket by Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha put India in a respectable position after the first day of the third test against West Indies in St Lucia on Tuesday. The visitors were 234 for five at the close of play with all-rounder Ashwin on 75 and wicketkeeper Saha on 46, the pair having added 108 to leave honours even at the Darren Sammy Stadium in Gros Islet. Opener Lokesh Rahul chipped in with a brisk 50 earlier but India’s batsmen were otherwise bogged down until Ashwin and Saha cut loose against the second new ball, plundering 46 runs off the final nine overs. The late flurry took the gloss off what had been an encouraging day for West Indies after the hosts won the toss and decided to bowl. Te e n a g e p a c e m a n Alzarri Joseph enjoyed a dream debut, in his third over claiming the prized wicket of India captain Virat Kohli, caught at first slip for three. Joseph (2-38) also snared Rohit Sharma, caught behind for nine, while all-
Ajinkya Rahane is cleaned up by Roston Chase after failing to connect with a sweep, West Indies v India, 3rd Test, Gros Islet, 1st day, August 9, 2016 ©Associated Press
rounder Roston Chase continued his excellent series by picking up two wickets with his off spin. Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel (1-68) was expensive although he at least took the first wicket of the day when Shikhar Dhawan (one) gloved a short ball down the leg side to wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich. Jason Holder and Miguel Cummins bowled with discipline in the fourpronged pace attack but went
wicketless. The day belonged to Ashwin, who was dropped on 21 and received another reprieve on 35 when he was caught at point off a Gabriel back foot no-ball. THORN IN SIDE Ashwin has been a thorn in West Indies’ side the entire series, making a century and claiming seven wickets in the first test before picking up another six victims in the second match. Rahul followed up his
158 from the second test by reaching his half-century in 64 balls before falling to the very next delivery when he flicked Chase straight into the waiting hands of short fine leg. “I wanted to attack the bowlers and put them under pressure because the wicket was a little damp the first hour,” said Rahul. “The ball was doing a bit with sideways movement ... and with this being an open ground, and with the breeze, there was swing throughout
the day. “I did my job pretty well, got the team off to a decent start and the boys carried on from there.
We’re pretty happy with our effort at the end of the day.” India lead the four-test series 1-0.
GCB Scotiabank Kiddy Coaching programme bowls off in Linden
Officials of the GCB, Scotiabank and the Ministry of Education share a moment with the coaches and participants after yesterday’s session. By Zaheer Mohamed The Guyana Cricket Board/Scotiabank Kiddy coaching programme commenced yesterday at Bayrock ground in the mining town of Linden where students are being tutored on the basics of the game. Sessions are being conducted by coaches Michael Hyles Franco and
Andrew Allen and will conclude on Friday. GCB treasurer Anand K a l l a d e e n , Te r r i t o r i a l Development Officer and former West Indies fast bowler Colin Stuart, Nicholas Fraser of the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Department and Scotiabank Marketing Manager Jennifer Cipriani met with the youths
yesterday. Cipriani urged that students to remain disciplined and focus on their education, adding that they are happy to partner with the GCB for the venture, while Kalladeen urged the youths to take the game seriously so that they can develop into the world class players. Fraser spoke of the
importance of such venture and lauded the GCB and Scotiabank for their input. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Stuart said the clinic targets youths between the ages of 7-12 and focus mainly on cricket related and cricket specific activities. “The aim is to give participants information about cricket that could help them develop their skills.
What we find at this level is that some youths may show good natural talent while there are some who have to work hard to develop, we really can’t say where who will go forward at this age so the coaches will work on the various departments with the students,” he added. Stuart indicated that they have indentified coaches in the area who will work along
with their more senior counterparts and teachers in schools in the new term so the programme will continue. He informed that they GCB held a similar clinic in Essequibo in August and will be conducting another in Berbice and Georgetown later in the year stating that the programme targets over 200 primary schools.
Wednesday August 10, 2016
Kaieteur News
Gymnastics Americans blow away opposition to win gold Simone Biles (USA) of USA competes on the beam during the women’s team final. REUTERS/DYLAN MARTINEZ
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) There were a few wobbles here and there, even for Simone Biles, but those imperfections could not stop the United States from blowing away the opposition to capture the Olympic women’s team title with a record margin on Tuesday. America’s famous five of Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian proved that they are an untouchable force in gymnastics as they tumbled and soared to victory with a total of 184.897 points. In a sport where tenths of a point can mean the difference between a gold and no medal at all, their winning margin of 8.209
points was a blowout. In fact there was only 4.601 separating silver medallists Russia from lastplaced finalistBrazil. China trailed the Russians by just 0.685 of a point to finish with bronze. They put in such a spectacular performance that three-times world all around champion Biles needed to overhaul a target of just 7.591 with her final floor performance to secure the first Olympic gold of her career. It was little wonder that her team mates were already hugging and whooping for joy even before she had begun her hip-swinging routine to the beats of Samba music. Her explosive and high-
flying tumbling passes — which included her trademark soaring double layout with half twist at the end — had the Brazilian crowd roaring their approval and when she completed her final landing, it was not a case of if the U.S. were champions, but by how much. A score of 15.800 confirmed the result and gave the U.S. their second successive team gold. Before Tuesday, the previous biggest winning margin under the open ended scoring system, which was introduced in 2006, was at the 2014 world championships when the Americans beat China by 6.693 points.
Judo: Racism inspires Brazil’s golden girl to greatness RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Brazil’s first gold medalist of the Rio Olympics basked in her newfound fame on Tuesday, with judoka Rafaela Silva taking aim at the racism that first threatened to defeat her and then became the affront that spurred her to greatness. Silva, who grew up in the City of God favela, the community made famous in the 2002 film, was disqualified in London for an illegal move and was described online as a monkey and taunted with other abuse. She considered giving up but friends - and the help of a psychologist - convinced her to keep going. The 24-year-old proved them right and the doubters wrong on Monday evening when she delighted the home crowd by winning Brazil’s first gold of the games in the
57kg judo final. “I can serve as an example for the children of the community, because just being black means that people look at you in a different way. You walk down the street and people hold on to their bags,” Silva told a news conference on Tuesday. “(The victory) shows the value that a child from a favela can have. “I just remembered that sensation I had and the suffering of that defeat and I wanted to have a different feeling,” Silva added. “Judo has its favorites but the one that wins on the mat is the one who wants it most and in my house no one wants it more than me.” Silva was encouraged to take up judo as a way of channeling her natural aggression and she learned her trade at the Instituto
Reacao (Reaction Institute), an NGO set up by Flavio Canto, the Brazilian who won bronze in Athens in 2004. Her win delighted a crowd that was patiently waiting for a local winner. Silva climbed into the stands to hug her family and coach who had traveled just a few minutes from her nearby favela home to the Olympic Park. Silva, who was woken after four hours of sleep by friends desperate to see her medal, promised to keep going and defend her title in Tokyo in 2020. “I am still young and I want to feel like I did yesterday more times,” she said. “I intend on carrying on competing and my sister will continue in the Instituto Reacao to give back what people gave to us.”
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Usain Bolt calls for faith but questions if rivals are drug free BBC Sport - Usain Bolt has defended athletics at a news conference that featured a dance troupe and a rapping Norwegian. Amid the razzamatazz, the six-time Olympic champion, 29, made a serious point about the future of the sport. The run-up to the Games was dominated by Russia’s doping scandal, while American rivals Justin Gatlin and LaShawn Merritt have served drug bans. “People should have faith,” said Bolt. “We’re weeding out the bad ones. We’re going in the right direction.” But the Jamaican added “nothing is guaranteed” when asked whether the sprint races at the Games, which start on Saturday, would be drug-free. Bolt, who said in February he would retire from athletics after the 2017 World Championships, confirmed this would be his last Olympics. The sprinter, who holds the 100m and 200m world records, also said he was aiming to become the first man to run under 19 seconds in the 200m. He could leave Rio with
a third successive Olympic treble after winning the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles in 2008 and 2012. “The 100m is never stressful,” Bolt said. “For some reason, when I get to the 200m, I’m always a little bit nervous.” Johnson v Bolt Retired USA sprinter Michael Johnson believes he would have beaten Bolt at 200m if they had raced in the same era. The 48-year-old ran a world record 19.32 seconds to win 200m gold at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Bolt lowered Johnson’s world record twice, setting the current standard of 19.19secs at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. Yet Johnson told the Radio Times: “I’d have been first.” Johnson, working in Rio as a pundit for BBC Sport, thinks a rivalry between himself and Bolt would have seen one of them break the 19-second barrier. “He thinks the time would have been 19.01 or 19.02,” the American said. “I think we would have been around 18.99, so we differ on that.” “But we both agree that
we each would have won!” The athletics events in Rio begin on Friday, with Bolt first in action in the 100m on the Saturday, before the final on Sunday. Bolt’s news conference on Monday was held at the Cidade das Artes, the home of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and the largest theatre in South America. The world’s media queued for more than two hours before the start. When the event did get under way, there were fewer empty seats than at many of the actual events. Given the significant media appeal of the world’s fastest man, it was perhaps to be expected that the news conference would be far from ordinary. A Norwegian journalist declined to ask a question, instead proclaiming his love for Bolt before rapping a song in his honour and then blowing him kisses while samba dancers joined the sprinter on stage and danced with him. “I like to entertain, because that’s what people come out to see,” said Bolt. “I try to entertain and make it d i f f e r e n t . T h a t ’s m y personality.”
3rd Rock Entertainment Basketball
Kwakwani down Jets in upset victory, but Royals’ back-to-back wins reach final four Amelia’s Ward Jets were upset by the returning Kwakwani who scored an emphatic 88-65 win and placed themselves in a strong position to reach the semifinals and join Victory Valley Royals; who gained back-to-back victories to cement a place alongside top seed Retrieve Raiders when t h e 3 r d R o c k Entertainment Promotions Open basketball championship began over the last weekend at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. On Saturday led by their roving players leading the Kwakwani side which thumped the Jets in the night cap game 88-65, guard Dominique Douglas hit 21 points, Leonard Primo 17 and Evan Johnson 16 being their outstanding players.
Only Orin Rose looked good for his 19 points while Akini Wilson supported in a losing cause with nine. In the opening game last Saturday night, Royals closed out second seed Half Mile Bulls 69-53 as H a r o l d A d a m s spearheaded their win with 14 points, Alwyn Rodney and Trevor Profitt each netted 12 and Orlando Glasgow got 13 and Chris Williams eight. Last Sunday the Royals gained their second win to make it to the finals, beating Block 22 Flames 57-30 with Glasgow leading their charge with 16 points, Williams got 14 and Adams added 10. Only Selwyn Henry with eight showed much resistance to the Royals who now wait to see if the Bulls
will make it through with a win over Flames come Saturday. Should the Flames upend Bulls, they will advance along with Royals to battle for a final place. In the other group play only one team will move through from among Jets, Falcons and Kwakwani. Jets’ only hopes of reaching lies with Falcons scoring an unlikely win over Kwakwani in the first g a m e c o m e S a t u r d a y. The other team waiting to play that team which advance is the top ranked Retrieve Raiders, who gained a bye to this round due to the format used in this seven team championship. The final is set for next Saturday at the same venue.
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Wednesday August 10, 2016
Guyana Cup $30M Horse Race meet
Entries expected to close today Dereck Singh,(right) CEO of Live By The Henny party promoters from NYC hands over to Jonathan Ally the sponsorship.
Ramesh Sunich and Nasrudeen Mohamed Jnr. pose with the trophies up for grabs for the champion jockey & champion trainer.
Farad Habibulla, son of Proprietor Fazal Habibulla hands over Chester Fried contribution to a representative of the Jumbo Jet Organising Committe.
Overseas sponsor joins the fray With the recent changes and adjustments made to the 10 annual Guyana Cup Horse race meet, closing date for the event has been extended to today due to a number of requests made by horse owners. Owners are making full use of the benevolence of the organisers as a number of last minute entries and sponsors are being received. Entries are expected to top the 80 mark.
The Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing stable organized event in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club is slated for Sunday 14th August 2016. Meanwhile, the hype and impact created by the 2016 Guyana Cup has caught the eyes and pocked of the America Promotional group “Live By the Henny” of New York City. The group which promotes all kinds of events
including parties in the NYC area has joined the sponsorship bandwagon. CEO Dereck Singh was on hand to hand over the sponsorship package to Jonathan Ally of the Jumbo Jet Organising Committee. Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall yesterday handed over a number of beautiful trophies to coordinator is Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed for the top performers including
champion jockey and trainer. Sunich has lent yeoman service to sporting events over the years and has been a staunch support of horseracing. Other major sponsors include the Government of Guyana, Banks DIH Limited, Trophy Stall, Nand Persaud and Company among others. Nine races are listed on the days programme with over $30M up for grabs.
The feature A and lower event is expected to be a scorcher with all of the top horses in the country entered to participate. A whopping $4M and the Guyana Cup Trophy compliments of Banks DIH Limited is available for the winner from a sumptuous $8M package over 1800M. Horses such as double defending champion CP Got Even, Score’s Even, Kings Knight Just Call Me Boss,
Princess She Not, Golden Blue Echo, Spit Fire, Plum Plum, Lady Budapest, Climate Change, Blame the Jockey, Jack in My Style and the newly imported Brave Sky out of the USA will be looking to make an impact immediately upon arrival. Among other animals entered for the mega event so far are-Big Man Boss, Captain Crook, Got To Go and Quiet Strom, Witchy (Continued on page 31)
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 10, 2016
C’bean Squash C/ships in T&T
Guyana off to solid start
Ashley Khalil
Ben Mekdeci
The Guyana squash team were off to a solid start when the 2016 Caribbean Squash Championships (CASA), which runs from August 8-14, began on Monday in Trinidad with the women’s team claiming five of the eight quarter final spots, while Sunil Seth was able to claim a spot in the Men’s division. On Monday in the Men’s First Round: Ben Mekdeci (GUY) lost Rhett Cumberbatch (BAR) – 3-1 (4/11, 8/11, 4/11) Nyron Joseph (GUY) beat Don Benn (BAR) 3-1 (11-7, 3-11, 11-8, and 11-5) Sunil Seth (GUY) had a bye Jason-Ray Khalil (GUY) had a bye Monday in Men’s Second Round: Nyron Joseph (GUY) lost (9/16) Kale Wilson (TRI) 3-1 (6-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6) Jason-Ray Khalil (GUY) beat Dane Schwier (JAM) 3-2 (11-3,7-11,7-11,11-4,11-7) Sunil Seth (GUY) beat Jason Doyle (OECS) 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-7) Men’s Round of 16 Sunil Seth (GUY) beat Patrick Foster (BER) 3-0 (11-8, 11-4, 16-14) Jason-Ray Khalil (GUY) lost Kristen Johnson (BER) 3-0 (11-4, 11-3, 11-7) Women’s First Round Akelia Wiltshire (GUY) beat Chaise Daniel (BAR) 3-0 (11-6, 11-3, and 11-4) Larissa Wiltshire (GUY) beat Maegan Jackson (BER) 3-0 (11-1, 11-2, 11-3) Taylor Fernandes (GUY) beat Jane Chapman (BER) 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-1) Victoria Arjoon (GUY) beat Grace Edy (BER) 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-1) Ashley Khalil (GUY) had a BYE Mary Fung-A-Fat had a BYE Women’s Second Round Akelia Wiltshire (GUY) beat Andrea Goodridge (BAR) 3-0 (11-5, 11-1, and 11-5) Larissa Wiltshire (GUY) beat Zoe Sorrentino (OECS) 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-5) Taylor Fernandes (GUY) beat Faith Gillezeau (TT) 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-6) Ashley Khalil (GUY) beat Rae Stollmeyer (BAR) 3-0 (11-2, 11-6, and 11-4) Mary Fung-A-Fat beat Alexandria Yearwood (TT) 3-0 (11-5, 11-2, 11-5) Victoria Arjoon (GUY) lost to Amanda Haywood (BAR) 3-1 (11-4, 11-1, 9-11, 11-3) In Yesterday’s Men’s Plate (1st Round) Ben Mekdeci (GUY) beat Jonathan Walker (JAM) 3-1 (11-4, 8-10, 12-10, 11-7) Nyron Joseph (GUY) lost to Kevin Bailey (OECS) 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, and 11-6) Yesterday’s Men’s Plate (Q/ Finals) Ben Mekdeci (GUY) lost to Anthony Fellows (BER) 3-0 (12-10 11-4 11-3) Yesterday’s Men’s Quarter-Finals Sunil Seth (GUY) beat Jules Snagg (OECS) 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-8) and was scheduled to play Chris Binnie of Jamaica last night. Yesterday’s Women’s Quarter-Finals Ashley Khalil (GUY) beat Taylor Fernandes (GUY) 3-0 Mary Fung-A-Fat (GUY) beat Amanda Haywood (BAR) 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, and 11-7) Akeila Wiltshire (GUY) Lost to Karen Meakins (BAR) 0-3 (11-7, 11-4, 11-4) Larissa Wiltshire (GUY) Lost to Meagan Best (BAR) 0-3 (11-6, 11-5, 11-4) Khalil was scheduled to play Best while Fung-A-Fat was set to face Meakins last evening.
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Letter to the Sports Editor
Dr. Karen Pilgrim responds to Chronicle article Dear Sports Editor, I write regarding the – Saturday August 6, 2016 – Guyana Chronicle article; “GASA denies claims of favouritism in selection of Olympic coach” in which the President of GASA is quoted as saying, “Paul Mahaica was chosen through a democratic process of voting” to be the Rio 2016 swimming coach. Is the President of GASA (who is also the Chairman of the National Sports Commission) really stating that the selection of the coach to accompany athletes to the highest level of sports competition should be based only on popularity? Is there no concern for what is best for the swimmers? In July 2008, GASA Council (executive plus club representatives) agreed that the coach which travels with a team should be from the club from which the majority of swimmers came. This decision was not lightly made; it resulted from consultation with the Athletics Association of Guyana and Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad & Tobago. While the by-laws, which would have cemented this rule, have mysteriously failed to be completed, this rule was followed until the London 2012 Olympics when GASA sent Sean Baksh as coach of two swimmers, neither of whom were from his club; both of whom were members of the Dorado Speed Swim Club. The explanation given at that time was that the swimmers’ coach, Stephanie Fraser, had gone to Beijing in 2008 and someone else should “get a turn”. In the case of Rio 2016,
the two swimmers are Hannibal Gaskin (Dorado) and Jamila Sanmoogan (Dolphin). The proposed coaches were Shyka Gonsalves (Dorado) and Paul Mahaica (Dolphin). So a second criterion should have been applied to select the coach– what is best for the swimmers. To determine this, there should have been a comparison of the knowledge and experience of the coaches. I will attach the resumés of three Dorado coaches for your information as they are all vastly more e x p e r i e n c e d t h a n M r. Mahaica. Coach Gonsalves was one of Hannibal’s instructors when he was learning to swim. Coach Stephanie Fraser has been his primary coach since he became a competitive swimmer; persevering despite another coach’s advice that Hannibal should choose another sport as “he likes swimming, but swimming doesn’t like him”. She continued to work with him in the morning while Coach Gonsalves coached him during afternoon sessions. His acceptance for the FINA Olympic Preparation Scholarship and the positive remarks by the Spire Institute coach are based on their work with Hannibal. The GASA President went on to justify Mr. Mahaica’s selection by stating that he is the National Swim Team Coach. I cannot comment on this as no such term exists in GASA. He then stated that Mr. Mahaica will be “coaching the Guyana Goodwill Games swim contingent scheduled to compete in St. Lucia on August 19”. At best Mr. Mahaica can be stated to be
once more accompanying a team as he will be in Rio during the most crucial “taper” period for the Goodwill team and will return to Guyana on the night of August 15th while the Goodwill team arrives in St. Lucia by the 18th. I have absolutely nothing personal against Coach Mahaica. He is unfailing courteous to me. I believe that, in time, he may be a good coach, but that is yet to be seen. In 2013, he and I worked side-by-side during a FINA clinic and he was then learning the rudiments of teaching swimming. Compare this with Coach Gonsalves, who became a swim instructor in 2001 and was Guyana Red Crosscertified in 2002. She started coaching more than ten (10) years ago and has attended FINA swimming coaches’ clinics in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In 2010 she participated in the UNDP L o n g - Te r m A t h l e t e s ’ Development Training-ofTrainers programme. She is an American Swimming Coaches’ Association and FINA Level 2 coach. In December 2015 she earned a Diploma in Swimming from the International Coaching Course, University of Physical Education (Hungary). Guyanese looked, with pride, at our Rio 2016 team during the Opening Ceremony. We will all be proud of our athletes, no matter how they do during the Games, but we expect to at least see Personal Bests from our two swimmers. They should have been given the best possible chance to achieve their best. Sincerely, Karen Pilgrim
Kaieteur News
PAGE 40
Wednesday August 10, 2016
AAG/NSC/We Hope Inc. launch Athletics Camp
Director of Sport, Christopher Jones (centre) with We HOPE Inc President, Claudia John (on his left) and AAG President, Aubrey Hutson (on her left) among some of the athletes after they received the running shoes. The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), The National Sports Commission (NSC) and We HOPE Inc., launched an inaugural Track and Field Camp that began yesterday. The Camp will end this weekend with a meet at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora. O ff i c i a l s f r o m t h e respective stakeholders launched Camp at the National Resource Centre, with AAG President, Aubrey Hutson, Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, and President of We HOPE Inc, Claudia John, among
athletes. John, who is an overseasbased Guyanese, donated 100 running shoes to young athletes. The initiative is aimed at addressing a deficiency in Guyana. This, according to Hutson, prevents local athletes from making an impact globally. “The AAG through its commitment to the IAAF to hold track and field camps in Guyana to deal with the three aspects that we feel are the reason why we are not producing world caliber athletes; one of them is the adequate technical training, secondly, nutrition, and
thirdly, to be able to have athletes operate together so that we can achieve the goals that we would like to see.” Hutson said. The Camp is aimed at developing both athletes and coaches, and is expected to involve some 100 athletes and over 30 Coaches, who will be encamped for the one week period at the Leonora Secondary School, next door to the synthetic facility. Former Grenada Olympian and current US track coach, Joel Phillip, who will be working along with and lending technical and guidance to coaches
here, will be working with the Camp. Phillip is a coach with We HOPE Inc. The Camp is expected to be an annual initiative, at least for the next four years, and focus will be placed on identifying athletes for the next Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. “This is where we start, we start by holding Camps and ensuring that the athletes from as small as age nine or eight are exposed to the best possible coaching that t h e r e i s l o c a l l y, ” h e continued. At the end of the camp,
the participants will be issued with certificates of participation. During his remarks, Jones recalled the story of how he was contacted a few months ago by John, with her hopes of donating 20 pairs of shoes. He said that the donation grew to 100 pairs. John decided to make the donation after her 11 year old son, Matthew John, himself an athlete in the US, encouraged her. “Several months ago, Ms. Claudia Simon made contact with me, with an initiative that she has, she
wanted to give 10 athletes in Guyana 10 shoes, that mushroomed into something larger and we now have 100 that we’re going to be giving to the athletes here in Guyana,” Jones said. We HOPE (Helping Other People Excel) Inc. is aimed at providing opportunities to children and youths to achieve their full potential in academics and sports in developing countries. Saturday’s meet will see the participation of all of the athletes who were apart of the Camp. It will begin from 10am.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 10, 2016
Region 7 REO congratulates historic staging of Summer Fiesta More sponsors on board As excitement builds for the inaugural staging of the 2016 North Pakarimas Summer Fiesta, a number other companies have come forth to chip in, while Regional Executive Officer of Region 7 Roderick Edinboro has praised the organisers for what he said is an event taking place at a very critical time. REO Edinboro said that he trust that other hinterland regions including his will emulate what is being proposed for Region 8, thus ensuring that sports can be further developed. The REO, who indicated that he will be visiting the event with the view of better understanding the magnitude and scope of the games, said that having such an event doesn’t only bring the villages together but it also seeks in forging better relationships while enhancing development among the various communities. He stressed that with a number of villages expected to compete it will serve as a catalyst to propel and identify a number of talented sportsmen and women from the region into securing the well needed exposure that has been lacking. “Many of the youths in communities like these have the talent, unfortunately there isn’t any programme and/or events to help in identifying these and therefore they are forced many times to abandon their dreams. However, with such an initiative by the North Pakarimas Sports and Culture Association, they need to be fully commenced as they are laying the needed ground work for the advancement of the region through sports,” he said. He issued a passionate appeal for corporate Guyana to lend support wherever necessary thus ensuring that the work that has alreadybeen done by NPSCA can continue. “They (NPSCA) has started an initiative which should be continued and commended
as they are helping in a significant way to advance sports development, while probing the needed opportunities. However, for this to work you need the holistic support of the corporate community as with corporate support a number of great things will happen. I want to see initiatives like these grow and I intend to collaborate with Region 8 in ensuring that these events and activities can certainly grow,” he declared. With the official launch slated for today, Wednesday, a number of senior government officials are expected to grace the event. Minister of State Joe Harmon will deliver the feature address and declare the event open along with National Director of Community Development Council (CDC), Eugene Gilbert. Ministers Sydney Allicock and Valerie Lowe along with Director of Sports Christopher Jones are also among those slated to be at the event. One of the organisers disclosed that already a number of villages have arrived while the remaining villages were expected in by last night. Some 20 odd villages are slated to compete in Male and Female football, male and female cricket, female volleyball, male and female archery and road races. Some 820 athletes are expected to compete over the ten days with each village competing to be dubbed as the Champion village of Region 8. Meanwhile, a number of other companies have joined the list of sports with the latest sponsors being Banks DIH, Tony’s Auto Sales, Regal Stationary and Computer Centre and S. Jagmohan Constriction. Many of the companies that have joined the list of sponsors’ expressed excitement at being able to contribute to an event that primarily seek to bring about
Amrita Bahadur, a representative of Regal Stationary and Office Centre presenting the sponsorship to Mahendra Samaroo for the staging of the North Pakarimas Summer Fiesta.
Roderick Edinboro youth and community development. They expressed satisfaction that such a major activity has the potential of bringing about economic development (Continued on page 31)
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Kaieteur News
PAGE 42
Wednesday August 10, 2016
CrossFit 12-12-12 Throwdown T&T
Angelina DeAbreu places 1st in Novice category; Dillon Mahadeo 3rd in RX (Open) Representing Crossfit 592, Guyana’s first and only official Crossfit affiliate did represent with pride at last Saturday’s 2016 CrossFit 12-12-12 Throwdown at St. Anthony Ground, West Moorings, in the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Hosted by T&T’s first officially affiliated Crossfit gym, Crossfit 12-12-12, this inaugural contest in the Land of Soca attracted over 100 of the best athletes in the sport. While Guyana is fairly new to the sport, the athletes from the Land of Many Waters represented with
Women’s Scaled Division (Novice) winner Angelina DeAbreau (2nd right) with the rest of the Guyana team In Trinidad. pride. Competing in the RX or Open class, Dillon Mahadeo
ended a satisfying 3rd out of 40 athletes while contesting t h e Wo m e n ’s S c a l e d
Division (Novice), Angelina DeAbreau took the 1st place while countrywoman Neesa
Bhagwandin was 7th. The other male Guyanese athletes that
competed in the RX division also turned in creditable performances in T&T taking on the best in the Caribbean. Jamie McDonald was 10th, Carlos Mendonca 15th, Ian Rogers 16th, Dr. Osmond Mack 19th and Christian McRae, 23rd. All the competitors did the same first 3 events with different load requirements based on category. The top 10 RX men and women went on to do a fourth event and the top 5 were required to do a fifth event. Scoring was determined by tallying up the total scores for the entire day’s events.
Atkinson comes Serena Williams eliminated in up empty-handed third round upset Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, CMC – Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson failed to recover from a slow start and finished way outside the medals in eighth position, in the final of the women’s 100 metres breaststroke at the Rio Olympic Games here on Monday. The 27-year-old Atkinson, the Caribbean’s main medal prospect in swimming, was left with too much ground to cover and ended at the back of the field in a time of one minute, 08.10 seconds. American teenager Lily King clinched the gold, winning in an Olympic record time of 1:04.93 while
Russia’s Yulia Efimova was second in 1:05.50 and a n o t h e r U S s w i m m e r, Catherine Meili, took bronze in 1:05.69. Dethroned champion and world record holder, Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania, finished just ahead of Atkinson in 1:07.32. The Jamaican swimmer declined to speak to reporters in the mixed zone after the race but King was ecstatic about her victory. “Tonight has been so crazy. My life is changing right now. I’m a gold medallist and it’s what I’ve always wanted to be and it’s an incredible feeling,” said
King. “I’m probably going to start crying. I’m usually not a crier but this is a special moment so we’ll see if it gets to me or not.” Atkinson, the first ever black woman to win a world swimming title, was the only Caribbean competitor advancing to a final since the swimming competition began on Saturday. She had qualified for the final on Sunday with the fifth fastest time of 1:06.72, the same as Meili. It was the second consecutive final for Atkinson at her fourth Olympic Games.
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Olympic champion and world number o n e S e r e n a Wi l l i a m s tumbled out of the Rio de Janeiro singles competition in the third round on Tuesday after a shock defeat to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. Svitolina, who is ranked 20th in the world, stunned the London Games gold medalist 6-4 6-3 to record a
memorable victory against the American, who has won 22 grand slam singles titles. “It’s an unreal feeling for me. This is just a perfect moment,” said Svitolina, who will face Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova in the quarter finals. Williams was visibly frustrated throughout the match as she struggling to find her range, making 37
Serena Williams shakes hands with Elina Svitolina of Ukraine after losing. (REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE)
unforced errors compared to 17 by Svitolina. Late in the second set, Williams served five double faults in a single game, which drew gasps from a shocked audience. Williams, who has won three women’s doubles Olympic titles with sister Venus, was also eliminated with her sister from the doubles on Sunday.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 10, 2016
PAGE 43
Spartons capture Carter/Stag Dominoes tourney
Captain of the victorious Sparton team, Stephan Duncan (right) accepts the trophy from Stag Beer brand manager Lindon Henry in the presence of GDA head Faye Joseph (5th from left) and his team mates. Spartons proved too good for their opponents as they captured the Deon Carter/ Stag Beer dominoes title on Monday night at Dynasty.
Spartons marked 86 games to beat C7 on 60 and Sadist with 54 in front of a decent crowd. Roberto Osbourne who played through due to the absence of
one of his team mates made 30 out of 36 games while Stephan Duncan and Dexter Thompson who shared a double love made 15 each. Thom Marvin and
Sheldon Gourick got 12 apiece for the runner up team while Richard Mittleholzer scored 13 and Clifford Sardena 12 for Sadist. Sparton pocketed a
trophy and $140,000 while C7 took home a trophy and $60,000 and Sadist a trophy and $30,000. Stag Beer brand manager Lindon Henry congratulated
the winners and thanked the other participating teams adding that they are happy to be associated with the tournament. (Zaheer Mohamed)
t r o Sp
Ashwin shines again for India in third test R Ashwin whips one to the leg side, West Indies v India, 3rd Test, Gros Islet, 1st day, August 9, 2016 ŠAssociated Press
Alzarri Joseph celebrates after dismissing Virat Kohli, West Indies v India, 3rd Test, Gros Islet, 1st day, August 9, 2016 ŠAFP
Gymnastics Usain Bolt calls for Americans blow away faith but questions if opposition to win gold rivals are drug free
Team USA celebrates their gold medal win. (Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports)
Usain Bolt enjoys a moment with the Samba dancers in Brazil.
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