Monday August 15, 2016
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Kaieteur News
George Norton; the truth be told Heartfelt plea DEAR EDITOR, Has the Public Health Minister George Norton joined the growing list of homo sapiens playing and preying on the gullibility of the Guyanese populace? The idea of a mere apology being sufficient atonement for his displayed falsehood in the drug bond fiasco, only serves to add further insult to injury. In fact, to give it its proper recognition, it is a stunning gutwrenching blow to the APNU + AFC administration, and their pre- election promise of transparency and accountability. Here we have the current Administration on one hand doing their darndest to highlight the wrongdoings and skullduggery of the previous government, while others within the same party are running amok committing similar ( if not more serious) offences.
Even intense grilling and questioning failed to produce the truth, it leaving me to wonder if in Guyana the word truth is not viewed or defined the same by everyone. In the world of Hinduism, Truth is defined as unchangeable, and that which has no distortion and is beyond distinctions of time space and person. The national motto of India “Satyamevajayat” ( Truth alone wins) as well as “ Satyam muktaye” ( Truth liberates) speaks for itself. When an individual is firmly established in speaking the truth, the fruits of action become subservient to him. Temporarily casting aside this drug bond fiasco, a lingering question still remains, and one that centers around Dr. Norton and his fulfillment of the Hippocratic Oath. In light of his glaring dishonesty and deception, can he be
trusted to have conducted his practice according to the Hippocratic Oath, that he has sworn to uphold during his practice of medicine? Was he assuming two roles- one of doctor and the other of deviant? Or should we resort to wishing and hoping that from now on the Minister would undergo a Pinocchio- like experience whenever he speaks. I am calling on the Granger Administration to carry out a full public inquiry in this matter, the results of which would surely serve as a foundation for vindication of the promise of accountability and transparency made to the Guyanese population during the last election campaign. There is too much at stake at the Administration level to disregard this request. Yvonne Sam
The Alliance for Change has lost its way DEAR EDITOR; The past year, many, many letters have been written about the disappointment of the AFC. After the one year anniversary of joining the Coalition as a partner in the new government, that list just keeps growing. The AFC is a big disappointment to and for the Guyanese people. We all know of the PNC and PPP track record. With that being said, the AFC had itself POISED to really reshape the political landscape of Guyana. The AFC were at the right spot to use the little influence to nudge the PNC straight. The PNC needed the extra votes of the AFC to get things through. That’s where the AFC could have used their few votes to the advantage of the Guyanese people, who so desperately need a REAL government on their side. The AFC had the golden opportunity to bring civility back to Guyana ’s political landscape. Instead they opted for what the man on the street called “political sellout” The AFC made an “about face turn” that would have made any military personnel proud. After the Cummingsburg Accord, some Guyanese were of the opinion that the AFC who accepted the “paltry” positions to get in. Once they were in, they were going to exercise their stated manifesto. They have enough (sufficient) votes to let the coalition know that they have “clout”. This clout should allow them (AFC) to wield some power. After all, the PNC needed them….to win the election. The AFC needs to publicly remind the PNC of its strength (strength of its support)…in no uncertain terms. The past year has told
us differently. But we now know that was just the beginning of the true “sellout” the AFC just “rolled over” and accepted what the PNC handed to them. A political disgrace! AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo, at the middle of the ongoing negotiations (the initial), had indicated that he was willing to serve as Prime Minister in the proposed coalition. We were told that his decision did not find favour with AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, who had arbitrarily selected him as the party’s Presidential Candidate for the May 11 election. The Alliance for Change (AFC) ceded its ambition to lead the proposed coalition with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), accepting the number two spot. It needs to be pointed out as a reminder what he (Nagamootoo) said. He related that he was quite satisfied with the way things were progressing. Saying that APNU will easily win 40 per cent of the votes at the upcoming elections, the AFC had previously said it could give the David Granger-led coalition the other 11 per cent it needed to clinch a majority at the polls. Regarding the crucial issue of leadership, Granger dodged specific questions about whether he would be willing to give up the
presidential candidacy, since the AFC had demanded the leadership of any coalition as a make-or-break decision. He said that at this point in time. David Granger was not the important factor, but rather it was the interests of the Guyanese people and as such, decisions would have to be taken accordingly. We all remember that at the formation of the minority Opposition party, they had vowed that they would never join forces with any of the established parties – PNCR and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)……so much for that? Even when it came to policies that were damaging to the AFC, policies that have their reputation in question, they “rolled over” and accepted what was handed to them. A sell-out of the Guyanese people. But as the saying goes, they got tarnished by the PNC somewhere down the line. The AFC drove the final nail in their own coffin when the FIASCO with Harmon unfolded. We all remember when the story broke; the senior AFC members raised a furor, (for a day or so). One saying he had no knowledge of BK’s appointment. One official even handed in his resignation (for a day or so), “AFC debunks Harmon’s explanation for appointing Brian Tiwarie” KN Apr 17, 2016. “Nigel Hughes
quits as Chairman of AFC” KN Apr, 12 2016. Then everything went back to normal. Why after a day or so everyone had that sudden change of heart? Was everyone “politically” bought off? The list goes on and on. Psychology has taught us that when an individual or group embarks on a mission, or an endeavor, there is always a plan, an agenda that is the foundation of achieving that goal. As we all know that he, who fails to plan, plans to fail. In the pursuit of that goal, one has two distinct choices to make. One is sticking to the plan and the other is allowing oneself to be deviated off the path. The outcome of staying or deviating is dependant on the intrinsic intension of being true to the inner self or conning your way. The AFC either had the pure goal, intention at the beginning of being truthful to the Guyanese people. Or the plan all along was to con the people from the beginning. It is very difficult to see a party that promised so much, make such an about face. …in such a short time period. Let judge however we wish? This was definitely the “official death” of the AFC. The party we had so much hope for and a personal disappointment for me. Muhammad Raoof, USA
from small miners DEAR EDITOR, We, the small miners at Puruni area are very unhappy over the situation in the area. We spend a lot of time prospecting workground and when we find payable places we are being forced out. The big landowners in the area stop all work over two weeks now in Sauri, Granny and Chiney. We can’t work ;we have home bills and we have to pay for the excavator at the bank and the dealer. Over fifty excavators got stopped from working in Puruni, affecting over one hundred dredges. They are telling us now that if we want to start back we have to pay two million dollars then seven ounces of gold every month. This is not economical. We think this is unfair because if we find the gold and develop the place and that ten percent land tribute or three ounces per month would be unfair since gold not making much. We are asking for somebody to intervene for us by reasoning with the multi-billionaire who owns the place. We can’t talk openly; when you do, you get special attention and we don’t have land or money to fall back on. We are asking for help now because we are being destroyed and nobody is looking out for the small miners. Concerned Puruni Miners
Pitbull danger in the National Park DEAR EDITOR; On Sunday August 14 while jogging in the National Park, I noticed a gentleman on bicycle with his pitbull running alongside. The dog was on a leash. However, when this gentleman entered the park he stopped his bicycle, reached down and unhooked the dog. He then resumed riding with his animal roaming free about 15 feet behind him. I watched this with great surprise, fear and nervousness. As he passed me I asked him about his silly action and his response was, “nah he[the dog] good”. Mr. Editor, I am not sure what “good” means but I do know what is a potential dangerous situation. Dog owners need to realise that their animals react differently to strangers. Over the years we have had reports of some vicious pit-bull attacks in our country. I am calling on the management of the National Park to implement leash laws to protect the citizens. The park is filled with both adults and children on a daily basis and we simply must not allow silly, reckless dog owners to threaten our safety. I am also calling on our government officials and members of the legal fraternity - who frequent the park to exercise - to use their office to ensure we are kept safe, not only in the National Park but also in other public spaces. There should very harsh penalties on silly, negligent and reckless owners of vicious animals. Please, let us not do the Guyanese thing of waiting until the horses have bolted to then close the stable door. A stitch in time saves nine. Mikoowanyah Yosef-Yisrael
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Kaieteur News
Monday August 15, 2016
DEFINITION OF Nandlall accuses AG of CONFLICT OF INTEREST deliberate court delays DEAR EDITOR; The term conflict of interest (COI) is widely used, yet many people are unaware of its meaning and significance. The Journal of Business Ethics defines conflict of interest as “a situation in which a person has a private or personal interest sufficient to appear to influence the objective exercise of his or her official duties as, say, a public official, an employee, or a professional.” This private or personal interest is often motivated by money, but can also arise from other factors such as love and ambition. It is important to take note of the word ‘situation’ from the definition, as a COI can be mistakenly bundled with corruption. For example, a lawyer in need of money is working with a client. A representative of the party that the client is in dispute with approaches the lawyer. The representative proposes to provide the lawyer with a large sum of money if the lawyer agrees to botch his client’s case. In this situation, the bribe offer creates a conflict of interest between official duty to the client and personal duty to self. The action taken when faced with a COI determines if the lawyer is corrupt. A COI alone is not an improper act, but rather a natural phenomenon. It is how the COI is dealt with that may be improper. In addition, an unaddressed conflict of interest can raise suspicion about whether the service provider is being impartial, which can place trust, loyalty, and integrity into question. In the aforementioned example, the lawyer
chooses not to disclose the bribe offer with his client. The client later finds out that the lawyer was offered a bribe. As a result, the client can no longer trust the lawyer, even if the lawyer may have rejected the bribe. To further illustrate the nature of a COI, we will look at another example. A basketball referee has an upcoming game between two high school teams. He notices that a member of one of the teams is his beloved niece. A conflict of interest is formed even though an improper act has not yet been committed. His official duty is to make fair calls during the game. However, he also has a personal duty to the happiness of his niece. If he referees the game, he may make unwarranted calls to benefit his niece’s team. On the other hand, in an overzealous attempt to display fairness, he may make unwarranted calls to hurt his niece’s team. Either way, his decisions are at risk of being subjective. Therefore, if the referee’s connection with his niece is well-known and he chooses to ignore the conflict of interest, trust may be lost and his job may be executed poorly. By looking at these examples, we know that a COI itself is not unethical, but if dealt with incorrectly, a COI can lead to suspicion of objectivity and even an improper act. When faced with a conflict of interest, one should identify it, disclose it, and remove oneself from the situation. Otherwise, the official duty and trust upheld by the service provider may be jeopardized. Nicel Mohamed-Hinds Stanford, CA, 94305
In eight months we should have a new mayor DEAR EDITOR, The real problem Georgetown has faced for some time and continues to face now, is the need for a competent, qualified and forward thinking Mayor to lead our capital. They have not had one for decades and still do not have one. Thankfully, with the recent renewal of the local government democratic process, we no longer have to wait for twenty one years for a new Mayor or City Council. In fact we only have to wait another eight months to elect a new Mayor and another two years and eight months to elect a new City Council. Being a mayor under our local government rules and regulations is not an easy job as he or she does not have
the influence and authority of a business CEO and therefore it oftentimes takes more persuasion skills than decision skills to run our capital city. Georgetown does not need a mayor who is merely a caretaker, where not much changes and not much is really expected of him or her. It does not need a Mayor who is just about finessed travelling constantly around the world without achieving anything substantial or just meeting persons and shaking hands and having photo ops. Instead, we need someone with the ability to envision the future, to provide direction. Our present Mayor does not have good communication skills, which is necessary especially the ability to listen to the views of other Councillors. Our mayor must be able to sell his or her program not bully them into accepting something like the parking meter deal. A mayor must listen to his or her constituents and make them feel that they have been heard. People want their Mayor to care about their problems and their vision as well. Not just have a mayor driving around in a fancy SUV
surrounded by bodyguards and other staffers. Our present Mayor lacks the ability to inspire others. A good Mayor inspires others. People want to get involved and be a part of the effort. One thing that good Mayors do is start with a successful project and then build on it. In Georgetown it is the reverse where our Mayor started with a controversial project. Georgetown needs a Mayor with integrity. Our Mayor is mired in accusations of nepotism with claims that her relatives are given cleaning contracts of the cemetery and elsewhere and other forms of employment within the Council. If a leader does not have integrity he/ she will not get the public trust. But most of all, a good leader needs to know when it is time to move on, unlike the former Mayor who hung on for twenty one long years. I hope this Mayor will move on when her year in office is completed to make way for someone else such as Sherod Duncan who is a qualified, honest, competent and caring for the needs of the citizens. Debra Gibson
DEAR EDITOR; The Attorney-General, Mr. Basil Williams, continues to deliberately delay and stall the cases involving the tied NDCs a n d t h e t i e d Municipality of Mabaruma filed by Executive Secretary of the People’s P r o g r e s s i v e P a r t y, M r. Zulfikar Mustapha. The case is being heard by the Honorable Madam Yo n e t t e CummingsEdwards, Chief Justice (acting). It was last called on the 6th day of July, 2016. On that date, the AttorneyGeneral presented his legal arguments and I c o m m e n c e d m y r e p l y. However, I was unable to conclude on that date. I indicated to the Court that I will need a further 30-45 minutes to conclude my presentation on the nearest available date. The Attorney-General then regaled the Court with the details of his international travels and other activities which will not permit him to be present for the remainder of July 2016. According to his diary, the closest date convenient to him was the 12th day of August, 2016, that is, over a month away. It should be noted that
the Attorney-General is appearing with four (4) other lawyers, one of whom is the Deputy Solicitor General, who authored written submissions made in the matter. Significantly, I am making submissions and those submissions could easily be noted by the four (4) other lawyers and therefore a date could easily be fixed for the Attorney-General to reply those submissions. Therefore, his presence is not vital. But as part of the strategy to delay and dilate, he insisted on being present. It is those circumstances and at the convenience of the Attorney-General, that the cases were adjourned to the 12th of August, 2016, at 9 AM, for continuation. Late in the afternoon on the 11th August, 2016, I received a copy of a letter addressed to the Registrar of the Acting Chief Justice informing that the Attorney-General will be “out of town” and therefore cannot appear on the 12th August, 2016, for the continuation of the matter. I was reliably informed that the Attorney-General was in Georgetown on the morning of the 12th
August, 2016. On 9 AM, 12th August, 2016, the matters were called by the Honorable Chief Justice ( a c t i n g ) . Tw o l a w y e r s appeared for the AttorneyGeneral who made an Application for an adjournment. Despite my vehement objections, the matters were adjourned to the 17th of August, 2016. It is my considered view, that the AttorneyGeneral is deliberately delaying these cases to frustrate the functioning of the six (6) local authority organs. That the welfare of thousands of citizens is affected thereby seem not to concern the AttorneyGeneral or the Government. As I said from the outset, the necessity of filing these cases should never have arisen as the law is crystal clear. The Minister of Communities has clearly acted unlawfully. Now that redress is being sought from the Court, the legal proceedings are being frustrated. These are all machinations of an authoritarian nature to defeat the democratic will of the electorate expressed at the Local Government Election Anil Nandlall
WPA diaspora group says... From page 4 a society in disarray, substantial loss of expertise through migration and collapse or imminent collapse of the traditional three pillars of the Guyana economy, namely, bauxite, sugar and rice, a drug fuelled economy and a crisis in educational system. The coalition partners knew all of this before their assumption of office. While realistically not expecting a dramatic amelioration of the conditions in Guyana, there is a settled view that the Government has had enough time to settle into their assumed responsibilities. Regrettably the new administration appeared unprepared to deal with the challenges of a functional coalition arrangement, and its leadership has failed to present a bold creative and visionary approach to inspire the nation’s confidence and involvement, with some ministers displaying inexperience and backwardness, lack of expertise and disconnect with people and communities. What does the Government propose to do to offset massive social
dislocation, wage loss, job loss of thousands in the category of working people, derived from the collapse of sugar bauxite and rice, the disinvestment that will be resulting from the diminished contribution from the underground(drug) economy. Is there an adequate functioning unit to outline a new orientation in economic policy to address urgently these problems and the prospect of the management of an oil economy. We have expected that the Ministry of Education will hold the key to a modern revitalized, liberated and literate society. There was a suggestion that a state of emergency should be declared in education so devastated is the education system. We are expecting much more from the Minister of Education. The new administration is leading us to think that it is a representative government. With a majority of one and the rising tensions between the two main ethnic communities and the increasing impoverishment of the country, this is a dangerous fiction. We have evidence of one token gesture towards
attainment of the goal of an inclusionary government. That initiative appeared insincere, met with scorn from the PPP and has not been heard of anymore. The longer the ethnic divisions are allowed to become rampant the closer we would be to a national disaster. In the spirit of placing Guyana first and of enhancing its capacity as a contributor to the welfare of the people of Guyana, WPAOA has begun to examine the form and structure of our assembly and collaboration to consider what reform may be necessary to make it more accessible to all sections of the Guyanese population at home and in the diaspora and to emphasize our independence of political parties in Guyana and broaden our perspectives to go beyond limited intervention in strictly political matters. The discourse within the WPAOA as to its eventual evolution and structural reform continues. Keith Branch WPA – Overseas Associates
Monday August 15, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Work of GNBA Board Bandits beat fish vendor, remains at standstill terrorise and rob family Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo says that he is unaware of any discord within the Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA). Nagamootoo said that he is quite contented with the efforts being made by the Board. He also said that he is satisfied with the performance of the Chairman of the Board, Leonard Craig. “I have very great confidence in him. He is competent and is doing a fantastic job.” This is the view of the Prime Minister despite the fact that nothing in the broadcasting industry has changed since the new Board has been appointed. The illegal radio licences granted by President Bharrat Jagdeo continue to stand; new applicants remain on hold, fees remain high; zoning still does not exist and there are still no regulations for programming, among other shortcomings. Asked if he was pleased with the work done by the Board thus far, Nagamootoo said, “What I can say is that the work of the GNBA has been stymied from the fact that it didn’t have regulations by which it could sign new licences or at the same time ask old licensees to reapply and to conform with the requirements of regulations.” He went on to explain that there is a Broadcast Act and that Act did not come with regulations. Therefore there are no set standards for Broadcasters to comply with. “So I had a look at the draft regulations submitted to me and then it was forwarded to the AG Chambers. It then had to go to the chief parliamentary counsel’s office…It appears that the regulations are back from the AG’s office. We will look at the work of the parliamentary counsel and then after that process we will submit the draft regulations of the board to the cabinet.” Kaieteur News spoke to several members of the Board. One thing in common was that there is discord on the Board. So deep-rooted is the discord between two key members of the Board that its performance is being affected and critical work is stalled. It was in April that the GNBA held its first press conference. That was eight months after the Board was appointed. At that press conference, the Board laid out the plans for the broadcasting industry
- PM says Chairman doing ‘fantastic job’
GNBA Chairman, Leonard Craig
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo
in Guyana. These plans are to be of major benefit to broadcasters and consumers alike. The Board even said that it would have updated the media within three weeks after the press conference about its decision on how to tackle the existence of illegal radio broadcasters. This would have been with regard to those who were granted licences by former President Bharrat Jagdeo days before he left Office. There has been no other press conference since April and none of the plans outlined have materialized. The only communication that the Board had with the media was about promises that those plans “would soon come on stream.” Early in June, GNBA Chairman, Leonard Craig, said that the Board was reviewing the draft regulations it recently received from the Attorney General’s Chamber. Those regulations, he said, will force all existing holders of Broadcast licences to reapply. This is to be done so that the licences can become compatible with the new regulations. Craig said that when the review is completed, the regulations will be sent to Cabinet for “general approval.” It will then be gazetted and laid before the National Assembly. The Chairman said, “I do not think that the remainder of the process will exceed two to three weeks.” Two months later, the regulations are still before the Legal Matters and Fees committee—a sub-committee of the Board. The Members of that subcommittee are Anthony Vieira, Vic Insanally and Abiola Wong-Inniss. Craig noted that there was
a “holdup.” However, the Chairman failed to state what the “holdup” was. Further queries revealed this “holdup” is nothing that may be resolved soon. The Board had two recent meetings, including one to address the shortlisted candidates to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Authority. Vieira did not attend that meeting. “We haven’t seen him since; I am not sure what to make of that,” said one member. A few months ago, Vieira had made statements about the radio licences. Craig later told the public that Vieira was out of order with his remarks and that his statements were not an accurate representation of the discussions of the Board. Some members are of the opinion that Craig is trying his best, while others feel that he is in way over his head and they support Vieira.
A bandit with a gun and two others with cutlasses escaped with cash and jewellery after terrorizing a Corentyne family at around 05.00hrs yesterday. Ceenarine Cyril Satrohan, 36, of Lot 232 Reef Section, Rose Hall, Corentyne, was at home with his wife and children when the bandits struck. Satrohan, a fish vendor at the Rose Hall Market, was preparing to make his daily sales when the bandits struck. “Me get up to tek out de fish from de freezer and go me go round de side of de house to collect de plastic, de one with de gun point it in me face and seh ‘don’t holler’ and me start holler hard and he lash me wid de gun.” The traumatized man stated that he was dragged back into his home by the bandit who then demanded cash and jewellery. “When de one wid de gun seh ‘gimme money and gold’, de other two run upstairs to meh wife and when she start holler meh tek out de money and give them. Den he drag meh and carry meh to de bathroom and one of them from upstairs come down fah watch me while he go up to meh wife.” Satrohan added that the men then began beating him with the cutlass saying that they would “chop off his hand and foot”. He was then taken upstairs to find his wife being stripped of her gold jewellery. According to Satrohan’s wife, 26-year-old Sarita, she tried to shut the door before the bandits could gain entry but the men overpowered her. “One of dem tell meh don’t holler, all we want is money and gold. And meh start pull off all me ring pon meh finger and meh band and suh and give dem”.
Ceenarine Cyril Satrohan
Sarita Satrohan
She told Kaieteur News that one of the bandits grabbed her by her neck and placed a cutlass to her privates. “He scramble meh neck then he put de cutlass pon meh private and he carry meh husband back downstairs and stay wid he”. The woman told this publication that she retreated to the lower flat of the home with her husband while the bandits made good their escape. The bandits carted off $60,000 in cash and over $100,000 in gold jewellery. Meanwhile, police have arrested a man who had allegedly threatened to rob Satrohan a few days prior to the incident. According to information recieved, the man was hired by the fish vendor to assist him in transporting his goods from No. 64 village.
Satrohan said that the deal turned sour after the agreed payment was changed. He said “de man is meh fren and meh tell he seh me gon pay he $4000 if he carry meh to the fishery to by fish and he seh yes. So now when we done buy de fish and coming back, me tek out meh money fah pay and meh had alot of money on meh, suh me give he de four thousand and he seh me gotta give he more money, but dah wasn’t de agreement.” He added that the man then threatened to hire people to rob and kill him. “He keep saying that he would set people fah rob me and kill meh and dump me body far suh meh seh man buddy, me and you is fren, how you could tell me that? And now look meh get rob”.
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Monday August 15, 2016
Kaieteur News
Gov’t utilizes $11.5 Vagrants burning wasps billion on heath sector set fire to govt. building - hospital maintenance, drug procurement, fighting vector borne diseases among highlights Within the past six months Government has utilized $11.5 billion for the health sector for this year. According to a report compiled by the Ministry of Finance, the portion of the budgeted $28 billion for the health sector was expended on training medical staff, procuring pharmaceuticals and intensifying efforts to combat vector borne diseases like the Zika. A breakdown of the spending was provided by the Ministry. The report stated that in an effort to increase the number of qualified professionals and develop human resource capacity in the health sector, an additional $172 million was expended on training. As such, the Ministry said that there has been progress in improving the overall quality of healthcare continues. “Patients experience increased access to qualified medical professionals, as the number of physicians per ten thousand population has increased from 14.1 in the first half of 2015 to 20.3 in the first half 2016. The number of nurses per ten thousand populations has increased from 31.4 to 31.8. Specialty services continue to be expanded with the deployment of additional obstetrician/gynaecologists and one pediatrician in selected regions this year,” the report stated. In addition at half year 2016, the Government is said to have spent $2.9 billion through the half year on essential drugs and medical supplies. In addition, about $136 million was spent on the
procurement of dietary supplies to provide for the adequate nutritional intake for patients within our hospitals. Work is ongoing to improve systems for procurement and distribution. VECTOR CONTROL The Government has also intensified its vector control efforts in the wake of the Zika threat propagated by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. In the first half of the year, the Ministry recorded that over 380 fogging exercises were completed, as compared with128 over the entire year of 2015. In addition, over 7,700 long lasting insecticidal nets were distributed across the country. These efforts will be further supplemented with an additional investment of over $43 million towards selected interventions, with the aim of minimizing the incidence of Zika and other vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya. In addition, the report said that about $136 million was spent on the procurement of dietary supplies to provide for the adequate nutritional intake for patients within our hospitals. According to the Ministry of Finance, efforts are ongoing to improve systems for procurement and distribution. There are also developments in the Emergency Suicide Prevention plan of Action. Consultations have taken place and a draft action plan was completed. This plan is expected to be completed in the third quarter. While this is underway, training and awareness sessions have been taking place, benefitting over 600
persons in regions no 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10. In this vein, preparations have been made for the rollout of Guyana’s first Master of Medicine in Psychiatry programme, which will commence in September with an initial cohort of four. Additionally the sum of $189 million was spent in the first half of 2016 on the purchase and maintenance of medical equipment, while $407million was spent on the construction, rehabilitation, upgrading and maintenance of health infrastructure across the country for the same period. This included the construction of a 10-bed Intensive Care Unit for cardiac patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where progress also continues to be made towards the completion of the Cardiac Theatre and the extension of the Maternity Unit, where an additional bed capacity of 50 will benefit expectant mothers. There has been improved accommodation for health professionals in the hinterland, works will advance in Jawalla, Kako, Katchikamo, Port Kaituma, Kato, and Kurukabaru Further, while the upgrading of the Diamond and Leonora Diagnostic Centres is expected to commence shortly, works continue at the Port Kaituma Hospital Complex. The interventions, specifically at Diamond and Leonora, will improve the efficiency of Healthcare service delivery to citizens by reducing the congestion at our National referral hospital, GPHC, and the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Other works scheduled for the second half include the upgrading of the Tuberculosis (TB) Step down Care Facility at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and the rehabilitation of a building to permanently house the Mental Health Secretariat. With regard to the modernisation of three select primary health care facilities, designs and building plans were completed and sent to the Government of India for consideration. Finally, the Government said it is reviewing options for the way forward for the Specialty Hospital Project in light of the debarring of the prospective contractor by the World Bank and concerns expressed by the Government of India.
Vagrants who had occupied the abandoned Nurses Hostel at Charles place New Amsterdam are being blamed for a fire which destroyed the inner portion of the two storey building on Friday. According to residents, the building was left unused since it was abandoned by the previous government. After awhile vagrants started to occupy the property, although it was still receiving electricity and despite their many complaints, nothing was done. A resident said she was at
home when she noticed smoke coming from the building. When she looked over she saw a vagrant known as “Country” in the house. She enquired about the smoke and ‘Country’ said he was burning “marabuntas”. The woman said she told him to be careful and a few minutes later she noticed the smoke had intensified and decided to investigate. It was then she saw the building on fire. By then ‘Country’ had fled. She raised an alarm and the Guyana Fire responded minutes after with two trucks.
A unit from the Guyana Sugar Corporation-Rose Hall Estate also responded. According to Officer in charge Patrick Carmichael, they received a call at approximately 13:15 hrs and responded within minutes. The water was sourced from a nearby fire hydrant and the Republic Road trench. He said that all the supporting agencies including the Guyana Police Force, GPL and GWI responded in a timely manner and assisted in keeping the situation under control. Police are trying to locate “Country.”
Mystery fire guts Rasville home
The destroyed structure
A fire of unknown origin badly damaged a Rasville, Greater Georgetown home on Saturday night. The fire reportedly started sometime around 19:30 hrs at the south end of the Lot 4682 Rasville building and quickly consumed part of the structure. The occupants are Lorraine Brower, 56; her son, Lorenzo Sampson and her foster-grandson, six-year-old Yenessie Archer. The fire started in Archer’s bedroom which is
located in the top flat. Brower said that she was operating an evening school in the lower flat of her property for adults and has lost everything in the fire. According to the 56-yearold woman, she was at the back of the property and her son and foster grandson were in their rooms sleeping when her son alerted her that the house was on fire. “My son run come call me and said that the house on fire and when we check, it was in the middle bedroom. The
boys in the area formed a bucket brigade and then the fire tender come and out the fire,” Brower said. While this newspaper was reliably informed that it was the six-year-old who started the fire after playing with matches on the mattress, Brower said that she was not aware of that but is waiting the findings from the Guyana Fire Service. However, she did admit that the six-year-old was in his bedroom prior to the fire.
Monday August 15, 2016
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Kaieteur News
AUDITING HAS ITS LIMITS The ‘forensic’ audits were launched by the government, at selective agencies, with the intention of uncovering fraud and corruption. It was intended, no matter what other explanations were given, to prove that the former administration used those agencies to steal a great deal of money. In the eyes of the public the ‘forensic’ audits were intended to prove a political point that the now government, when it was in opposition was making: that the PPP turned Guyana into the corruption headquarters of the West Indies. The ‘forensic’ audits have not established that case. Nothing to near the degree of fraud that was being claimed has been found. There have been a few cases found, here and there, but nothing to get excited about. ‘Forensic’ audits distinguish themselves from other audits by not only identifying the commission of a fraud. They also implicate those accused, trace the money and are able, in many instances, to lead to recovery. The public is interested in knowing which law was broken and who was involved in the theft of government resources. The public is interested in knowing who stole, how much was stolen and where is the money that was stolen. They are not that keen on opinions about what should have been done by management and how many millions would have been saved by fixing minor defects.
Financial management, like economics, is often about allocating scarce resources to multiple demands. Managers have to forego doing certain things which would cost more in the long term simply because there were other priorities. It is not for accountants to deliberate on those decisions. It is for management audits to do this. Management audits are different from accounting audits. Management audits usually are undertaken from within organizations to ensure that agreed on managerial policies are in accordance with what was agreed upon by the organization. Two weaknesses have been identified about the forensic audits. The first has been the expressions of opinions on managerial decisions. This weakness has been increased by the second one: the failure in many instances to grant to the agencies being audited the right to a respose to the preliminary findings of the audits and to record these within the final reports. Forensic audits should not get involved in questioning managerial decisions, except where fraud and theft are involved. The decision of a management to do X rather than Y is one that is for management to determine. If management decides, for example, to buy a new vehicle instead of repairing an old one, there may have been good reason for this. Once it does not involve
corruption and fraud it is not for accounting auditors to question this. They may call attention to the fact that there was excessive spending on new purchases but it is not for them to express an opinion that this was a bad decision as long as there is no theft or corruption involved. The principal function of the accounting auditor is to pronounce on the health of the accounts of a company to determine whether these reflect the true state of the organization. It is not for them to determine that if management had done this and done that millions would have been saved. This is not their role and they are expressing an opinion on a managerial decision which has often not benefitted from knowing the reasons why the agency being audited made that decision. The expressions on opinions of managerial decisions should be left for others, not auditors. The Stabroek News, for example, is up in arms over the decision of the government to relocate the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology. The Stabroek News is within its right to question this decision but not for an auditor. This is a political decision which has been made and it is not for accounting auditors to question that, even though it has financial implications. The decision will cost the government millions. It will upset a lot of people and may not even be the best option for the government. But this
Dem boys seh...
NUTTEN GET KETCH AND HE CAN’T SEH NUTTEN Long time when li’l children thief or try to thief and dem get ketch dem does react in de most funny way. Dem does hide dem hand behind dem back and bend dem head. When dem parents ask dem wha dem do dem don’t admit, but dem does seh “sorry.” Nutten was just like dem li’l children. He try a thing and get ketch. When Jagdeo and de others in Parliament ketch him, he down he head and keep he mouth shut. When dem put pressure pun him, he mumble. Trotman had to holler pun him and tell him to seh ‘Sorry.” Dem boys want to know who gun listen to him when he try fuh seh sorry. He might got to sit down in front of Soulja Bai because that is de only person who might listen. But he got to keep a wild cane because Nutten does always stammer when he do wrong thing and got to explain why he do it. But if you think he is de only bad one, you got to look at GRA. De people in charge decide to spend money to rehabilitate some places. But dem boys seh that it look like if dem gun rehabilitate people too. Yesterday dem place this advertisement in de papers. When dem boys read de advertisement de
fuss time dem couldn’t believe. De now boss man seh how dem gun rehabilitate de headquarters in Essequibo. That ain’t all. Dem gun rehabilitate de customs officers too. Dem boys want to know how much nail and paint dem buy fuh wuk pun dem Customs officers. Some of dem crooked indeed but de other day some of dem start to rehabilitate demself. Dem seize some smuggled fuel and hand it over. That is why de boss man decide that he should rehabilitate all of dem. And dem boys hear that Nutten call Larry and tell him that if anybody ask him, he must seh that he never know Nutten and he wouldn’t seh nutten. Talk half and wait fuh see Nutten try to explain why he try a hustle.
is an opinion and it is not for auditors to question that opinion because it is not their jurisdiction. The government would have had its reasons. Unless, the auditors asked, they cannot know what influenced that choice and since it is not within their jurisdiction to ask, it is always best that accountants stay clear to questioning the wisdom of managerial decisions. They may assume that a decision will result in misallocation of funds but perhaps there was a larger social objective
involved. Perhaps, also, the decision makers did not have all the facts at hand. Many corporations have made bad choices. One company in Guyana made major investments, all of which did not yield financial returns. Those decisions were questioned on the grounds that the management ought to have predicted those losses. But as it turned out, the decision was not one about making money. It was about positioning the company within the market. An auditor would not be
privileged to know that fact. The forensic auditors should stay clear of deciding on the rightness of managerial decisions and what could have been saved if this and that were done. Public entities are not always about maximizing profits. They are principally about delivering a service and sometimes in delivering that service decisions have to be made that are not about financial efficiency.
Monday August 15, 2016
Use of chemical agents to ripen fruits in Guyana negligible - farmers more prone to use natural methods, says NAREI CEO By Jarryl Bryan Concern is being raised about the use of artificial chemical agents to expedite the ripening of fruits, with some questioning its prevalence and how harmful it actually is. However, one agricultural expert has offered some clarity on the issue. According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth, its use in Guyana is actually negligible. He stated that the natural method of ripening was actually more popular locally. This natural method, Dr. Homenauth explained, involved placing pre ripe fruits alongside those that were actually ripening. He stated that as the fruit ripens, it emits a gas which can accelerate the ripening
process. In fact, he explained, chemical agents which are used for artificial ripening most likely contain these very properties. He noted that agents like Ethephon were not necessarily harmful. Dr. Homenauth stated that harm is more likely to be caused by the usage of pesticides on ripe fruits. That being said, Dr. Homenauth said that there is a regulatory frame work governing those who export fruits. He noted that exporters must be registered with the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB). This Board is tasked with licensing, registering, training and inspecting those who use pesticides and toxic chemicals. It is also in charge of public awareness in these
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Kaieteur News
NAREI CEO, Dr. Oudho Homenauth issues. Pesticides and toxic chemicals which are banned are also gazetted, to ensure that the public is aware of them. Ethephon is one of the most widely used plant growth regulators. It uses Ethylene, a natural plant hormone used in agriculture
The use of artificial ripening agents has attracted some concern.
to ripen fruits. Fruits ripen naturally when a chemical breakdown within the fruit occurs. As they ripen, the chlorophyll breaks down, causing a change in the fruit’s colour. Guyana, which held the sobriquet the ‘breadbasket of the Caribbean’, produces a wide variety of fruits. But this considered as nontraditional crop production, however, as sugar and rice are the main agriculture exports. Last year, Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder had stated that boosting the nontraditional sector would be a major focus for the administration over the next five years. He had said that research, innovation and technology would need to be increased so the sector could flourish. There are certain measures on going to boost fruit production in Guyana, as it has been recognised for its potential not only for export, but also job creation.. Currently, there is a US$11M project in the pipelines to revive the fruit and vegetable cultivation in areas that were previously neglected. The project, the Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development Project, is being administered as a partnership between the Government of Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Development Fund.
Motorcyclist killed after attending friend’s wake - driver dies after veering into canal A 27-year-old man, who was returning home from a colleague’s wake, lost his life early yesterday when he crashed into a utility pole on the Belle Vue Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD). The accident occurred shortly after 03:30 hrs. Dead is Dominic Fabian King, a Wales Sugar Estate operator of Lot 33 Vive-LaForce, WBD. The police in a statement said that King was riding motor cycle, CH 1556 in a southern direction when he lost control of the bike and crashed into a utility pole. He was rushed to hospital and pronounced dead a few minutes later. The man’s mother, Iris King, said that her eldest son woke her up and informed her that his sibling had met with an accident and that he was lying on the Belle Vue Public Road. “My (eldest) son said that people refuse to take him (the sibling) to the hospital and he was left lying there for a long time until a bus pass and drop him to the hospital,” a traumatized King said. She said that when she reached the West Demerara Regional Hospital, a doctor told her that the 27-year-old was brain dead. She told the doctor that she needed a second opinion
DEAD: Dominic Fabian King and called for an ambulance to transfer him to another medical facility. “He died just before the ambulance reached,” the woman said. King said that her son had borrowed the motorcycle from a friend to go to a colleague’s wake a few villages away. She recalled around 18:30 hrs on Saturday, she was washing clothes and asked her son to cut a pole. When he finished, he informed his mother that he was going to look at cricket in another village. “I told him not to go with his brother’s bike because he Continued on page 12
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Monday August 15, 2016
Kaieteur News
Bartica gets asphalt plant
- courtesy of local construction company
Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson and owner of ACS, Peter Lewis help a young girl cut the ribbon to officially commission the asphalt plant The new town of Bartica now has a local source of asphalt which is expected to lead to the creation of more road work projects and thousands more jobs. Local construction company, Associated
Construction Services (ACS) has set up an asphalt plant in the town that has the potential to produce 300 tonnes of asphalt daily, resulting in more local construction and maintenance projects, which
also translates to more work for locals. The investment which is valued at approximately $150M, was commissioned on Saturday by Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, Minister within the Ministry
The asphalt plant of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson and proprietor of ACS, Peter Lewis. Also present were Region Seven Chairman, Gordon Bradford, Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshal and other regional and municipal representatives. During the exercise, Minister Ally assured residents of the administration’s commitment to assist the region in leveraging their natural and human resources for the town’s development. She also promised that the crucial investment by ACS would be one of several to come, that would speak to strategically positioning the town of Bartica for enhanced economic development. Reassuring that “Region Seven is on the cusp of significant development” she noted that the commissioning of the asphalt plant is an indication that development of the region’s roads has been priortised. Minister Ferguson applauded the “timely investment” as the government has committed to ensuring all-weather roads in the hinterland. “With this asphalt plant being here, it will see many road projects moving from loam, DBST (Double Bituminous Surface Treatment), with asphalt roads becoming a reality,” she said.
She added that this would aid in the elimination of the environment being polluted and residents being affected by dust. It will also result in the reduction of cost associated with getting asphalt material to Region Seven, she said. Established in 1997, ACS of Hampshire, Corentyne, Berbice provides, in all three counties in Guyana, a wide range of construction services. These include the building of roads, the rental of machinery and equipment, and provision of ongoing charitable support to the community at large. In fact, the family business has always had a strong commitment to charity. Regional Chairman Bradford explained that in Bartica, ACS has continued to support the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on a number of projects and initiatives. Bradford explained that earlier in the year, the RDC took the decision to “doing away with chip seal roads,” as these were “not standing up to the rigours of the type of vehicles that traverse the local roads,” he explained. “We took that decision that any road that we are going to construct there from now must be asphalt surface,” Bradford said. He explained that Lewis, in hearing of the RDC’s decision, took up the challenge to help the council meet its goal.
ACS investment in Bartica covers the preparation of the land for the facility and the acquisition and installation of the fully computerised plant that was procured from India and assembled by an Indian engineer. The engineer also spent one month in Guyana providing training to the local staff that will manage the facility. Mayor Marshall said that the multi-million dollar investment in the township of Bartica is testimony that the new municipality is leading the way and will definitely be the model of Guyana in economic, sports, health and green energy. “ …the season to be happy is now and the place to be happy is in the beautiful place of Bartica…when someone can leave Region Six and come to Bartica to make a major investment you know that Bartica is the place to be,” Marshall said. He promised that the Town Council will work feverishly to ensure that Bartica promotes a green economy. He assured that the Town Council will work with the local contractors to ensure that Bartica’s pristine environment is not destroyed in the name of development. This is the second asphalt plant set up by ACS, in a show of corporate support. In 2014, the company invested more than $100 million in the establishment of a modern asphalt plant in Tarlogie Village, Corentyne Berbice. The plant was the first of its kind in the Ancient County, serving to provide quality asphaltic concrete. It is important to have a local source of asphalt for projects, as well as regional and municipal public works projects as asphalt must be delivered hot, shortly after it is produced in order to spread it, roll it, and for the asphalt to properly bond and cure for pavement. ( A GINA feature)
Monday August 15, 2016
Kaieteur News
SWEDEN MINISTER QUITS OVER DRINK DRIVING International Business Times - Sweden’s youngest ever cabinet minister, who came to the country as a refugee from Bosnia, announced her resignation on Saturday after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol. Aida Hadzialic, 29, minister for secondary and adult education, revealed that she had been stopped by police in the southern city of Malmö and tests showed she had an alcohol level of 0.2 grammes per litre of blood — just the level considered an offence in Sweden. “That was the biggest mistake of my life... I will take responsibility. I announce my intention to resign from my ministerial post,” an emotional Hadzialic told a press conference at government headquarters in
Aida Hadzialic Stockholm. “I understand that a lot of people are disappointed in me. And I am angry with myself, and certainly I deeply regret it,” added the young politician seen as the future
of the Social Democrat party. The Swedish prime minister, Stefan Löfven, said, “I did not try to persuade her not to resign. Her decision shows that she is honest and she should be praised.” “She realises the seriousness of what has happened and has therefore asked to resign as a minister in the government. I will grant her resignation today,” said Löfven. Löfven told Swedish TV station, TV4 that he felt sorrow when he found out what had happened and that it is “tragic for all.” “She is such a fabulous talent, something beyond the ordinary.” Hadzialic was born in Bosnia and immigrated to Sweden at the age of five, in 1992, with her parents fleeing the war in the Balkans.
Brexit could be delayed to late-2019 as govt. not ready - Sunday Times Reuters - Britain’s exit from the European Union could be delayed until at least late 2019 because the government was too “chaotic” to start the twoyear process early next year, the Sunday Times reported, citing sources it said were briefed by ministers. Britain voted to leave the EU on June 23, but views differ over when it should invoke “Article 50”, which sets the clock ticking on a two-year deadline to leave the bloc, with some senior politicians calling for a quick departure. Prime Minister Theresa May, who campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU and leads a cabinet of ministers from either side of the debate, has said she will not trigger Brexit talks this year as Britain needs time to prepare. But British government ministers have warned senior figures in the City of London, London’s financial district, that Article 50 was unlikely to be triggered early in 2017 because the situation in government was “chaotic”, the Sunday Times reported yesterday. “Ministers are now thinking the [Article 50] trigger could be delayed until autumn 2017,” one source, who had spoken to two senior ministers, told the newspaper. “They don’t have the infrastructure for the people they need to hire. They say they don’t even know the right questions to ask when they finally begin bargaining with Europe.” Asked about the reported
Theresa May delay to triggering Article 50, a Number 10 spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister has been clear that a top priority for this government is to deliver the decision of the British people to leave the EU and make a success of Brexit.” “The PM has set out the government’s position on Article 50 and has established a new department dedicated to taking forward the negotiations,” she said. European leaders have taken a firm line on the speed of Britain’s exit, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying that while it was understandable that Britain would need a few months to figure out its strategy, “nobody wants a long period of limbo”. But behind the scenes, there has been a growing realisation in Europe’s capitals that the two-year window for negotiating Brexit is far too short.
Britain created two new government departments to handle Brexit and international trade, led by David Davis and Liam Fox, two prominent “Leave” campaigners in the referendum. Davis has recruited less than half of the 250 staff he needs for the Brexit department, the Sunday Times said, while Fox has fewer than 100 of the 1,000 trade negotiators he is seeking. Elections in France in May, and Germany in September, could also push back the timing of Brexit. Any delay to the process, however, is likely to draw criticism from the pro-leave side of May’s Conservative party, with senior members such as John Redwood calling for a quick departure from the bloc. There was an early sign of tension between the proBrexit members of May’s cabinet in a report that Fox had clashed with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson over the remit of his new department. Fox said economic diplomacy — policies concerning trade and Britain’s economic ties — should be transferred to his department, according to a letter quoted in the Sunday Telegraph. Johnson had firmly rejected the Fox’s demands, the newspaper said. The spokeswoman said the government did not comment on leaked documents.
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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 RAMDASS VISA APPLICATION & immigration services, room A-4, Maraj Building, Georgetown. Call Samantha: 227-0295; 615-9295 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 Jadesco Offers: Architectural designs, 3D modeling, building estimation/ quotation, rehabilitation works & general construction. Call: 612-0468, 629-3605, email: jadesco15@gmail.com 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
SALON
WANTED
- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257
Cashier to work in supermarket and one live in domestic to work in Trinidad. Call or text 1868- 683 1528
VACANCY One nail Technician- Call: 609-7458
Nails & hair station to rent. Call: 689-0888 EDUCATIONAL
Checkers, labourers, pump attendants & accountants. TI certificate needed (Berbice). Call: 330-2399; 623-5920 One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician –Call: 231-0655
IAE: Register for full time school (Grades 7-11) CSEC lessons; adults and school leavers CXC classes. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742
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. Kitchen Assistant: 2 males &female, experienced a plus, must be able to work weekends. Call Mr.Khan: 695-6550; 656-9313 1 Live- in housekeeper (long termemployment).Call:697-8797 Full/Part time service staff @ Indian Dining Restaurant, relevant experienced mandatory. Call: 654-7683
TO LET 2X3 Bedrooms fully furnished luxury apartments for rent (short & long term stay). Call: 665-3505
Buying non-working appliances such as: washing machine, pressure pumps, refrigerator, treadmill, pressure washer. Whatsapp: 661-8802 One experienced cashier apply @ Hack’s Halaal with written application, 5 commerce Street. Experienced female bartender, live in/live out waitress, cooks & bouncers needed @ Eden Bar & Lounge, Garden of EdenCall: 652-0074 Experienced diesel mechanic wanted to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-1717 1 Male cook in the Interior. Call: 678-0565
One four storey business place located on Robb Street, next to Bourda Market. Call: 623-7731; 629-0636; 645-3489
1 Handyman to work urgently, four days per w e e k w i t h g o o d p a y, between the age of 30 to 40yrs old. Call: 641-3687
2 Bedrooms bottom flat furnished with Wi-Fi, etc at Liliendaal E.C.D - $70,000 monthly. Call: 676-6409
One security guard, apply to Millenium Manor Hotel 43 Hadfield Street W/ Rust .
1 Newly refurbished, 1 bedroom apartment @ lot 529 Section “B” Block “X” Great Diamond H/Scheme, E.B.DCall: 689-1518 anytime; 2164200 after 19:00 hrs
Experienced driver to work with a Firm @ G/ Town, able to drive all types of vehicles, ages 30-50. Call: 226-9764
2 Bedroom apartment for rent (semi-furnished) @ Dennis Street, Sophia, (water & light inclusive). Call: 6626567; 691-4340
1 Office clerk to work with firm G/town. Must be computer literate & have experienced in office procedures. Call: 226-9768 Private guard, attractive salary, night. Call: 222-4529; 689-4041 Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic –Call: 223-7500. Monday-Saturday 8:154:15pm
LAND FOR SALE La Parfaite Harmonie -$1.2M & $1.6M with titles, Farm (110ftX55ft) -$3.2M. Call:6585897; 673-2692 MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079
LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
2 Skilled masons -$6000 per day. Call: 695-9996 Technicians: refrigeration, washing machine, gas stove/electronic- Call: 2254822/ 629-4946 FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Repairs to LED, Plasma, LCD and other electronic items. Abdul Electronics. Call: 2250391 CAR RENTAL
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Monday August 15, 2016
Kaieteur News
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL. COM Aidan’s Car Rental: 4WD pickup. Call: 698-7807
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM Low down payment, cheap reates,special offer for the summer. Call: 690-6494
Teepee Suites Apartments: Lot 7 Princes Street, Charlestown, Guyana. Call: 592-223-7903/email: teepeesuites@yahoo.com Three bedrooms and two bedrooms apartments @ Granville Park, E.C.D –Call: 604-0883; 681-3660
FOR SALE 2009 RX8, Allion, Music Bus, LARGE QUANTITIES OF Small bus, Motor cycle, Benz. HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) Call: 265-4979 99.99995% PURITYOne 2007 Fielder stick gear $19,000 PER POUND $2.7M negotiable. One B12 CALL: 592-227-4754. Sunny $300,000- Call: 616Computer parts; tile cutter; 5974, 618-8703 cleaning detergents concentrate and household AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, appliances for sale; price Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitnegotiable- Tel: 618-8672 bull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 ADORABLE FLUFFY PUPPIES FOR SALE. We buy & sell vehicles for cash, CALL: 615-0146 also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Purple Heart: 30X80 -$25,000, 32X80 -$28,000, 34X80 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 $28,000, 36X80 -$28,000, Free 2008 Toyota Axio -$2.6M, Delivery- Call: 688-9712; 6510717; 671-2490 unregistered. Call: 691-7475 VEHICLE FOR SALE
2010 Premio -$3.3M, 2010 Noah & Voxy -$2.5M, 2004 Mitsubishi canter 2 ton $2.4M, unregistered & fully loaded. Call: 642-7295
CAT 320 BL excavator, 428 CAT back hoe, CAT930 Front End, 9 Wheeled Pneumatic Roller -Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
1-43 Cabin Cruiser, 1-48 3 TON CANTER ENCLOSE Yamaha Outboard engine. AND OPEN BACK WITH 4D ENGINE, PRICE -$3.6M, Trawler–Call: 682-8724; 616NEVER REGISTERED – 5954 CALL: 617-2891 1 Perkins V8 Turbo Charge 170KVa Generator in working 2009 BELTA -$2.3M, 2011 condition, Call 223-7380 BLUEBIRD -$2.7M, 2009 IST -$2.7, 2012 RACTIS - D4H CAT Bulldozer, Mack 8 $2.6M, 2009 ARUIS -$2.5M Cubic Yard, cement mixer –CALL: 617-2891 truck, all in working order. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 Model M truck GTT series $3.9M negotiable- Call: 666- Audi A4-$3.7M, BMW-$2.3M, Ist-$1,895,000,,Fielder7380, 603-7090 $1,895,000, Spacio-$1,995,000. One Corolla Feilder Wagon Contact#650-0402 year 2010 - $1.7M. Call: 225Elevator (good condition), 4816; 676-6379 Diesel Generator (23KVA, 1-2006 Nissan Dump Canter, 110/220V). Call: 231-1284; 1-Potable trailer. Call: 662- 223-9719 6567; 691-4340 Prime commercial building for sale @ Broad & Charles Streets, PROPERTY FOR SALE Georgetown, 68,000 square feet. Transported property @ Call: 592-231-6694 Grove and Diamond $16M Antique household items, negotiable. Call: 625-5461 plants, ceiling fan, computer monitors, sauna and much 2 Storey house & land , 3 more. Call: 231-1284; 223-9719 bedrooms, size 20x30. 2 inside bathrooms @ Best Village, W.C.D. $15 million- 1-Leylad DAF-45 $1.5M, 1Cat 928F Loader-$6.9M,1Call: 609-5620, 664-4415 Hyster Forklift-$1.5M, Light House & land 2 storey T o w e r - $ 8 0 0 - 0 0 0 . concrete building (4 Contact#650-0402 bedrooms; 2 self-contained), semi-furnished @ Grove & Music Set, 6 mid range, 5 Diamond N/S. Call: 216-1861, base,5 horn (top box), cash offer at reasonable price. Call: 657-2300, 614-0578 687-7376 Transported property, 5L Hilux pick-up, 1-complete English Made Double Charge Cement Mixer, durable body & music set. Call: 265-3586 attractive price –Call: 681One 2 storey wooden 5988; 225-3019 building, located at 29 Delph FOR RENT Street C/Ville on land size50X115, ideal for 1-2 Storey house, 4 business. Call: 616-5084 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, dining, 2 living. Call: 694-3338 FOR RENT Lamaha property for rent: Hair station rental at location, f o u r b e d r o o m s s e l f convenient c o n t a i n e d s p a c i o u s & Georgetown, Call: 638-1106, given to comfortable in a secured discounts area, serious enquiries newcomers, persons with experienced & clients only. Call: 689-4041
Monday August 15, 2016
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Kaieteur News
CLICO group challenges Imbert’s $400m decision Govt. to target more investments in arrangement with Clico, and Trinidad Guardian - The do not form part of the Clico Policyholders Group renewable energy (CPG) is questioning Finance Resolution Plan.’” Minister Colm Imbert’s instructions to Central Bank to remove over $400 million from Clico’s Statutory Fund. The letter dated July 13 also instructed Clico to “advance the process towards the eventual transfer of the HCL shares and the proceeds from the sale of its Methanol Holdings (International) Ltd shares towards satisfying GORTT’s claim of approximately $2.1 billion as assignee”. The letter stated, “..the Minister of Finance by letter dated July 13, 2016 issued certain special directions to the Central Bank pursuant to section 44F(5) of the Central Bank Act Ch. 79:02. “In furtherance of all powers invoked by the Central Bank by Legal Notice No 32 of 2009 and particularly the Central Bank’s powers
Colm Imbert
Peter Permell
under section 44D(1) of the Act to protect the interests and preserve the rights of all policyholders and creditors of Clico, and of the said special directions of the Minister of Finance, the Central Bank now directs Clico to...” Chairman of the CPG Peter Permell said, however, “This
represents a significant amount of the balance due to ‘resident’ assenting policyholders who accepted the government’s 2011 offer. But are being told by the minister that they ‘gave up their right to accrued interest and these individuals no longer have a contractual
Permell said this was money that belongs to the assenting policyholders. However, documents obtained by the CPG and seen by the Sunday Guardian show that in order to facilitate an earlier settlement of liabilities to “non-resident” (non-assenting) policyholders and mutual fund holders who did not accept the government’s 2011 offer, the minister has instructed the Central Bank by same letter dated July 13 to make full payment of all outstanding liabilities due to them (ie, 100 per cent of their principal plus contractual interest). Permell said this was “morally and legally wrong” since these policyholders should only be paid from assets that do not form part of the statutory fund.
Argentine candidate for UN chief sees sexism in vote Buenos Aires (AFP) - The leading female candidate to be the next secretary-general of the United Nations, Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra, said yesterday she sees lingering sexism in the election. The world body has never had a female leader in its 70 years. With Ban Ki-moon, the current incumbent, set to step down at the end of the year, Malcorra leads a pack of five women candidates seeking to
change that. But she told Argentine newspaper Clarin that “there is still a biased vote against women” at the UN. “Given equal abilities, there is always a small negative margin against women,” she said. “When one sees that there is currently only one woman on the Security Council (Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN), it is difficult to maintain a certain
level of balance and equality. But maybe I’m wrong.” In the UN’s most recent secret straw poll leading up to the election, Malcorra came in third place, behind Portugal’s former prime minister Antonio Guterres and Serbia’s former foreign minister Vuk Jeremic. She said she was “very satisfied on a personal level” with the August 5 vote. But she added: “Unfortunately, in general
terms, women candidates do much worse than the men. That pains me, because it seems to me I have very distinguished women colleagues with a lot of experience.” Malcorra, a veteran UN insider, was Ban’s chief of staff. She was named Argentine foreign minister when conservative President Mauricio Macri took office last December.
KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Government of Jamaica has announced plans to facilitate increased investments in renewable energy. “We will utilise the country’s abundant renewable resources and also redeploy as much as US$11 billion in savings from renewables to production and job creation in the economy,” said Energy Minister Dr. Andrew Wheatley. In an address at the opening of Blue Mountain Renewables (BMR), a wind energy project in the southern parish of St. Elizabeth last week, Wheatley said continued efforts to increase renewable capacity through solar, wind, waste to energy and hydropower, is the surest way to curtail the country’s heavy dependence on imported oil. Blue Mountain Renewables, is a 36-megawatt plant, owned and operated by the United States-based BMR Energy, will supply energy to the national grid. Ground was broken for the project in February 2015 and 143 persons were employed during the construction phase. “It is truly a privilege for me to be a part of another commissioning for a renewable energy project in Jamaica. Just a few months ago, I was in Rose Hill, Manchester, for the commissioning of Government of Jamaica’s
Dr. Andrew Wheatley Wigton III 24 megawatts (MW) wind farm,” Wheatley noted. He commended the investors and other stakeholders, who have worked to make the venture a reality. The Energy Minister said the project is in keeping with the target of adding 30 per cent of renewables to the national energy mix by 2030, as stated in the National Energy Policy, and in keeping with Vision 2030 Jamaica. “Projects like BMR continue to establish Jamaica as a clear renewables market leader within the Caribbean. By the end of this year, we would have added 80 MW of renewable energy to the national grid, through Wigton III, Content Solar (solar plant in Clarendon) and this facility. Let us be proud of this accomplishment,” he said.
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Talk of shifting funds away from Trump premature - Republican official Reuters - A senior official with the Republican National Committee yesterday played down the prospect that the party would cut off cash and logistical support to White House nominee Donald Trump in order to shift resources toward congressional races. Last week 70 Republicans wrote a letter urging the RNC to stop helping Trump and to focus instead on candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The letter, signed by former members both of Congress and RNC staff, said Trump’s actions were “divisive and dangerous” and posed a threat to the party and the country. Sean Spicer, RNC communications director, said in a telephone interview that abandoning Trump with nearly three months to go to the Nov. 8 election “doesn’t make logical sense.” In October 1996 the RNC moved money from the presidential race to congressional candidates after Republican nominee
IDB supports Belize with emergency assistance in response to Hurricane Earl WASHINGTON, USA — The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will support the government of Belize’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Earl with a US$200,000 grant. The objective of the grant is to support the National Emergency Management Organisation’s (NEMO) efforts to assist vulnerable populations in communities damaged by high winds and floods in various parts of the country. Based on NEMO’s initial assessment of the most immediate needs, the bank’s assistance will support government efforts to provide the required relief in the hardest hit communities in the Belize, Cayo, Orange Walk and Stann Creek Districts. The funds will be used for food supplies, potable water, materials for temporary shelters, transportation costs, and medicine, among other emergency relief items.
Bob Dole fell far behind Democratic President Bill Clinton in opinion polls. But Spicer said giving up on Trump could be harmful to other Republican candidates and there was still time for him to rebound in opinion polls against Democrat Hillary Clinton. “Number one, you need a strong top of the ticket. T h a t ’s n u m b e r o n e . Number two, we’re only six points down,” Spicer said, referring to the gap that Clinton has opened up against Trump in some national polls. Clinton led Trump by more than five percentage points in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday. Clinton has strong leads in hotly contested states such as Pennsylvania and New Hampshire and some polls show her within a few percentage points of Trump in some states such as Georgia that normally lean strongly Republican. Any discussions of cutting off funds to Trump in
Donald Trump August would be “ridiculous,” Spicer said. Trump has polarized the party with his vow to build a wall on the U.S.Mexico border and his plan to impose a temporary ban on Muslims seeking to enter the country. Trump has been criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for a prolonged feud with the Muslim family of a fallen U.S. Army captain and his assertion last week that President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had co-founded the Islamic State militant group.
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Deosaran: Stop tinkering with Police Service
Professor Ramesh Deosaran
NEWSDAY - The expanded challenges faced by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), including illegal drugs, human trafficking, terrorism, border insecurity and State corruption, have caught the TTPS under resourced in terms of manpower, intelligence sharing, and proactive policing. Therefore it is necessary to stop the “tinkering” of the Police Service, and proceed with a comprehensive review
of the structure and operations of the Police Service. Former president of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Professor Ramesh Deosaran made the statement Saturday at the Inaugural Ceremony of the Ninth Executive of the TTPS Social and Welfare Association at the Trinidad Hilton in Port-ofSpain. “Over the years, the organisation and structure of the Trinidad and Tobago
Police Service have been wounded in several ways – even though vast sums of money have been spent in one way or another. At the same time, challenges of lawlessness and crime of all kinds from top to bottom in the society have increased,” he said. “Nothing less than a comprehensive review of the structure and operations of the Police Service will do now, possibly starting with Dr Keith Rowley’s early suggestion for a performance audit of the Service,” he continued. Deosaran expressed the hope that the new executive, consisting of president Michael Seales, vice president Richard Corbett, secretary Anand Ramesar, assistant secretary Cynthia Trim, treasurer Joshua Pierre and three others, would have the opportunity to “heal the wounds, to press your case forward while gaining the respect of both government and the population you serve.” However he highlighted six matters of deep concern regarding the structure and operations of the Police Service. These
include the current status and implications of the procedures for appointing a Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police; the Police Service Commission remains as a politically- driven agency, while the appointment of the CoP and Deputy CoP is also unwittingly largely a politically-driven one; The extent to which the Prime Minister’s veto over such appointments still exists; implications of the government proposals for a Police Management Board and Police Inspectorate; whether or not a foreign Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner are more advantageous over local ones; and the operational and political dilemmas in police governance. Deosaran also noted one of the challenges of the police was gangs. “The spread of gangs, the formation of gangs, and the maintenance of gangs, and the things that they commit that produce so many problems for the police, the government and the courts, that single issue has to be seriously dealt with,” he said.
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Portia urges PNP supporters to focus on upcoming Local Govt. Elections The Gleaner - President of the People’s National Party (PNP) and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller has called on supporters to organise and focus their attention on the upcoming local government elections, due this year. Speaking at the North We s t Manchester Constituency annual conference Saturday evening, Simpson Miller said she will not be taking the elections lightly. She said the PNP needed to win and retain all parish council seats. The PNP president said there was no room for
Portia Simpson Miller complacency, as the party must unite and win back the
trust of Jamaicans. During her presentation, the Opposition leader criticised the Andrew Holness Administration over its promised tax-break to citizens. Simpson Miller quoted the International Monetary Fund as saying that the government will need to find J$16 billion more to fund the increase of the income tax threshold to J$1 million. The new threshold took effect on July 1. Simpson said the increase in the threshold will result in the imposition of other taxes that will consequently make life harder for Jamaicans.
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The unfair disadvantage Caster Semenya must endure to compete for Olympic gold (Reuters) RIO DE JANEIRO — It was a Russian runner named Mariya Savinova who said what a lot of people think about Caster Semenya: “Just look at her.” That was after Savinova lost to the South African in the 800-meter final at the 2009 world championships. The suggestion was as stinging as it was prejudiced: Semenya supposedly had an unfair advantage from elevated levels of natural testosterone, and the so-called proof was her masculine looks. Well, a lot has happened since then, and it was Savinova who likely had the unfair advantage. The righteous runner was caught for doping, prompting WADA to recommend a
lifetime ban. Yet it was Semenya who received so much more scrutiny, despite being cleared to compete by the IAAF in 2010 after undergoing a gender test. Savinova’s insinuations represent one of many troubling episodes in the career of Semenya, arguably the most ridiculed Olympic athlete of our times. Just recently, Paula Radcliffe, the world record holder in the women’s marathon, said a gold medal for Semenya in Rio would mean “it’s no longer sport and no longer an open race.” Semenya is poised to be one of the major stories of these Games, a serious threat to break the 33-year-old world record in the 800 meters, and many people are set to shelve
India’s Sharma and West Indies’ Bravo fined for verbal exchanges (Reuters) - India’s Rohit Sharma and West Indies’ Darren Bravo have been fined 15 percent of their match fees after a series of heated verbal exchanges during the final day’s play in the third test in St Lucia, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Sunday. India crushed the hosts by 237 runs on the fifth and final day on Saturday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the fourmatch series, bowling out West Indies for 108, the second lowest score by the side against India at home. “On the final morning of the match, Bravo and Sharma ignored numerous requests and instructions from the umpires to stop verbally engaging with each other in a manner that was not in keeping with the spirit of the game,” the ICC said in a brief statement. Both players had admitted their offence and accepted the fine imposed by match referee Ranjan Madugalle and there was no need for formal hearings, the statement added.
RESULTS Regional Under-19 Championship — 50 overs, 3rd round KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC — Selected results from the third round of matches in the WICB Regional One Day Under-19 Championships here Saturday. Scores: At Arnos Vale Playing Field: Leewards beat Guyana by 30 runs. LEEWARDS 222-9 (Tyrone Williams 69, Ross Powell 38, Kofi James 32; Akenis Adams 2-41,Bhaskar Yadram 228) vs GUYANA 192 all out (Joshua Persaud 44,Bhaskar Yadram 44;Kian Pemberton 4-29,Camron Pennyfeather 329). At Park Hill Playing Field: Trinidad and Tobago beat ICC Americas by 151 runs. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 279-9 (Kirstan Kallicharan 78, Jonathan Bootan 32, Keagan Simmons 28, Bryan Boodram 26; Aran Pathmanathan 2-39,Rommel Shahzad 270) vs ICC Americas 128 all out (Abrassh Khan 50; Jarlanie Seales 4-33, Negus Smith 3-40). At Sion Hill Playing Field: Windward beat Barbados by three wickets. BARBADOS 178 all out ( Shemer Springer 63 Joshua Bishop 35;Ryan John 3-30, Jonathan Taylor 3-28) vs WINDWARDS 181-7 (Emmanuel Stewart 54,Ryan John 49 not out; Joshua Bishop 3-35,Tremaine Harris 2-35, Deswain Currency 2-29).
scientific research in favor of bias and fear. According to one study, “there is no clear scientific evidence proving that a high level of T is a significant determinant of performance in female sport.” And even if an advantage was somehow proven, it shouldn’t change Semenya’s ability to compete against other women. “I think it’s unfair,” said Yale senior research scientist Myron Genel, who has been studying this subject for decades and serves on the IOC medical commission. “There are a number of athletes who have at one time or another been in the spotlight because they have excelled and have had one or another disorder that’s related to sexual development. It’s hard to say that is the only reason why they excelled.” Genel published a paper last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association,taking this topic on directly. “Genetic conditions that enhance performance in sport include congenital mutations of the erythropoietin receptor gene leading to high levels of hemoglobin, which does not disqualify athletes,” Genel wrote. “There is no fundamental difference between congenital disorders leading to elevated testosterone levels, functional or not, and an erythropoietin receptor mutation leading to high hemoglobin.” Put simply, there’s no reason for “congenital disorders leading to elevated testosterone levels” to disqualify athletes when genetic conditions leading to high levels of hemoglobin
don’t. Genel points to other athletes who have had genetic differences, including Michael Phelps, with his supreme flexibility and enormous feet. It’s never suggested that Phelps should step aside for the shorter Ryan Lochte because of something he can’t control. Nor is it suggested that, say, Kevin Durant should remove himself from the Olympics because he’s too close to the basketball rim. Also, consider all the advantages certain athletes are granted without any work: wealthy parents, a city with many resources, a country with support for budding athletes, a community with excellent teachers and coaches. Of course, hard work is crucial and revered, but the Olympics would look very different if hard work was the only variable in athletic success. The problem is that most differences are celebrated. For
instance, Katie Ledecky is praised for swimming “like a guy”, while Semenya’s differences are abhorrent to a vocal chorus of competitors and fans. And, as Genel notes, there always seems to be extra criticism for track athletes, though the reasons aren’t quite clear. “The celebrated cases have all been in track and field,” he says. “It might be the sport apparel; it’s certainly more revealing. Female athletes appear to be more masculine to some competitors.” That’s a delicate way of saying that women are judged more harshly than men. Which isn’t new, of course. But it has reached an extreme in Semenya’s case. As Stanford ethicist Katrina Karkazis puts it, “I have never seen an athlete who has done nothing wrong so vilified in the media.” One example: The Guardian published a story calling Semenya a “ticking
time bomb”and suggested the “reaction to her success would reignite uncomfortable debates from the past.” Something so incendiary – “time bomb” and “reignite” don’t connote calm reason – does far more to stir up fear than a runner’s success. And who is made uncomfortable exactly? Fans at home? Media? Competitors? Perhaps that discomfort is misplaced and should be reserved for dopers like Savinova. “These are a handful of women [with naturally higher testosterone],” Genel says. “Meanwhile, you’ve got doping incidents that are estimated at 35 percent.” The issue of high T-levels “has been blown way out of proportion to its incidence.” It is to Semenya’s credit that she runs on, set to win a gold medal that will surely cause her more stress to go with her triumph. She has already been, in her own words, “subjected to unwarranted and invasive scrutiny of the most intimate and private details of my being … [that] infringed on not only my rights as an athlete but also my fundamental and human rights including my rights to dignity and privacy.” No male athlete ever has had to deal with this kind of gender-specific shaming. Whatever unproven advantage Semenya might have has also come with a terrible burden. We should be giving more attention to her disadvantage: chasing her dreams under a constant assault on her body and her spirit.
St John’s, ANTIGUA – The West Indies Benevolent Fund, also known as the West Indies Retired Players Foundation is targeting March 2017 to host a massive event to release information on all players who have represented this region in international cricket. This event will coincide with the 2017 tour of the West Indies by England for three one-day internationals in Antigua and Barbados. Chairman of the Fund, Dr Nigel Camacho revealed, “We are looking at initiatives which we hope to have completed by year end, which includes the complete
database with all the retired players for West Indies. This is critical for us and we plan to get this done as one of our major projects for this year.” To date, there have been 307 players in the Test format; 171 in ODI and 63 for Twenty20. Since its inception in 2014, the Fund has hosted a number of events since its inception to include launches in at least five countries and a golf tournament which was held in Barbados last year which raised funds to assist several retired players. The Fund has disbursed US$15,000 in various pledges. The directors along with
Camacho, carrying on the work of this WICB initiative, are Major Radcliffe Daley (Jamaica); Sanjay Amin (Barbados); Nixon McLean and Wavell Hinds (WIPA). Among the activities planned in the upcoming year are: · Fundraising dinner · Outreach – public
awareness to collate information for the retired players’ database The Chairman added that “an advertising campaign will be done to complete the database.” The next fundraising event is a golf tournament scheduled for the Cayman Islands later this year.
Caster Semenya
West Indies Benevolent Fund targets March for Massive event
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Puig secures Puerto Rico’s first gold medal RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Monica Puig scored the upset of her career and delivered Puerto Rico its first Olympics gold medal on Saturday, overpowering Germany’s Angelique Kerber to win the women’s singles tennis competition. Puig, cheered on by fans in Rio de Janeiro who waved Puerto Rican flags and shouted “Si, se puede” (“Yes, you can”) throughout her hard-fought three-set victory, beat the Australian Open champion 6-4 4-6 6-1. With the remarkable victory, Puig reached several milestones in one fell swoop. She is the first gold medalist for Puerto Rico, the Caribbean island and U.S. territory that fields its own Olympic team at each Games. She also became the first woman to win a medal representing Puerto Rico, whose male athletes had captured eight medals at past games, mostly in boxing. Puig, who deployed aggressive ground strokes to beat Kerber and blasted winners from all over the court, is also the first unseeded women to win the Olympic singles gold. The 22-year-old fell to the court and kissed it after sealing victory as fans yelled “Monica, Monica, Monica.” She broke down in tears on the podium. “It was the tournament, and greatest moment, of my life,” Puig told reporters. “I wanted it so badly, I fought and my put my heart and soul on the court.”
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“I’m a pretty aggressive player .... I have that ‘Boricua’ fire in me,” Puig added, using a common term for Puerto Rico and the country’s inhabitants. Though Puig resides and trains in southern Florida, she was born in Puerto Rico and said she still spends plenty of time there with family. “I know my country really wanted this victory,” she added. Puerto Rico has been facing a deep economic crises and badly needed a bolt of good news, Puig had said before the match. She is not the first Puerto Rican woman to win a medal. Gigi Fernandez, also born on the island, won two Olympic gold medals representing the United States in doubles tennis. Puig added she had not yet checked her phone, but is expecting a flood of calls, emails, tweets and congratulations over social media from her fellow Puerto Ricans. “There will definitely be some celebration,” she said. Kerber, who had beaten Puig twice in the past on the hard court, said she had fought hard to come back after losing the first set, but could not get the traction she needed in the decisive third set. “I knew, actually, that she’s a great player,” the German said. “I tried everything ... she played better in the end. “I think she came here with no pressure. She had nothing to lose.”
Monica Puig (PUR) of Puerto Rico celebrates after winning match against Angelique Kerber (GER) of Germany. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
Biles wins women’s vault gold
Simone Biles (USA) of USA sings her national anthem with her gold medal on the podium. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Allaround champion Simone Biles scooped her third gold medal at the Olympics when she soared to victory in the vault final on Sunday. The American beat world champion Maria Paseka of Russia with a score of 15.966 from her two vaults. Paseka claimed silver and Switzerland’s Giulia Steingruber pipped India’s Dipa Karmakar by 0.15 of a point to take bronze. Uzbekistan’s Oksana Chusovitina, bidding to become the oldest ever gymnast to win an Olympic medal at the age of 41, finished seventh out of the eight finalists after over-rotating on her Produnova. For Biles it seemed business as usual, with little over-the-top celebration as she captured the third of what could be a record haul of five golds. Biles said the win was especially satisfying as she has never won the
vault in the world championships. “It was good, I feel very excited because having gone to worlds and having two silvers and a bronze it means a lot to me … It’s something that I wanted so badly,” she said. There was a little hop following her opening Amanar vault, a 2-1/2 twisting back somersault. When she launched into the air for a second time, she was foot perfect as she nailed the landing from her Cheng vault, a round off half turn into the table, followed by 1-1/2 twisting front somersault. An ear-to-ear grin and a high-five with coach Aimee Boorman completed another golden day for the 19-yearold who is proving to be an unbeatable force in Rio. Paseka, the silver medalist, told Reuters: “I could have done the second vault better. I want to be first of course, but I look at Simone and I understand at the moment she’s untouchable.”
Neymar back in charge of Brazil ahead of Olympic semifinals SAO PAULO (AP) — It might be time to put Neymar’s name back on the Brazilian jersey. After an uninspired start that prompted some fans to replace his name with Marta’s on the famed No. 10 shirt, Neymar is finally showing why he arrived at the Olympics as one of its biggest stars. Neymar led Brazil to the semifinals of the Olympic soccer tournament with an outstanding performance in the 2-0 win over Colombia on Saturday. He scored a goal and was one of the best players on the field, constantly creating opportunities despite being harassed by Colombian players nearly every time he touched the ball. “He took a beating but he still helped the team a lot,” Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus said. “Everybody knows he is a star. He is crucial for us.” Neymar impressed with his talent and his toughness, the type of performance that Brazilian fans had been expecting since the beginning of the Olympics. “Neymar gave a very positive response,” Brazil Olympic coach Rogerio Micale said. “He was provoked almost the entire first half but he didn’t let that get to him. He behaved well as the team’s captain.” The Barcelona player lost his cool once before halftime, committing a hard foul on a Colombian player with a tackle that led to a benchclearing brawl. The play ignited fans at the Arena Corinthians, but he left
himself in danger of being sent off. “It was the only thing. He came in harder, just like they were doing, and received the yellow card,” Micale said. “After that, he kept his calm.” Despite being the tournament’s top player, Neymar had disappointed in the first two games with Brazil, when the title-favorites were held to scoreless draws by South Africa and Iraq. He was being loudly criticized by fans and local media, who said he lacked leadership and wasn’t worth being Brazil’s captain. A photo of a Brazil jersey with Neymar ’s name scratched off and replaced with Marta’s name went viral, and supporters heckled him
by chanting the women’s star’s name during games. With the team in danger of another embarrassing home elimination two years after the demoralizing 7-1 loss to Germany at the World Cup, Neymar finally took over in the must-win game against Denmark, setting up two goals in the 4-0 victory. On Saturday, he kept alive Brazil’s hopes of winning the soccer gold for the first time by scoring from a free kick in the 12th minute. He controlled the pace for Brazil throughout the match despite being provoked by Colombian players. “Neymar is very experienced, he helped us a lot,” said Luan, who scored the other goal against
Colombia in the quarterfinals. “He controlled the game and overcame the pressure. He was crucial in our victory.” Neymar is only 24 but is one of the team’s most experienced players. He skipped the Copa America earlier this year so he could play in the Olympics to try to give Brazil the unprecedented gold, which is the only significant trophy Brazil hasn’t won in soccer. Neymar was in the team that lost the 2012 Olympic final to Mexico in London. Brazil will play Honduras in Wednesday’s semifinals at the Maracana Stadium, which will be the team’s first game in Rio de Janeiro. Germany and Nigeria play the other semifinal match in Sao Paulo.
Neymar back in charge of Brazil. (Photo: The Associated Press)
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Usain Bolt crests Legend status as he Colombia’s Ibarguen wins his third Olympic 100m gold medal wins triple jump gold The Jamaican sprint superstar beat out American Justin Gatlin for the gold. (AFP/Getty Images)
Daily Mail - Usain Bolt is still the fastest man in the world. The Jamaican sprint superstar beat out American Justin Gatlin for the gold in the 100m final race last night, running the track in 9.81 seconds. Gatlin took home the silver medal while Andre De Grasse of Canada nabbed the bronze. Bolt is now just two races away from completing the ‘triple triple’ and winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
The race was billed as an epic head-to-head between Bolt and Gatlin, who has one Olympic gold medal and a career racked with drug controversy. But Bolt proved in the semifinals that he wasn’t going to relinquish his title easily. He appeared to be cantering along and mocking his opponents as first he looked to his right and then swung his head to his left to look at his rivals behind him, trying to keep pace. He crossed the line in 9.86 seconds, the fastest time in
the three heats, with a huge grin and pointing at the cameras, clearly saving his best for the final. Bolt had received the loudest cheers inside the Olympic Stadium, while New Yorker Gatlin was booed and jeered when his name was called at the start. Gatlin, evidently angry at his reception, crossed the line in 9.94secs and stormed off straight down the tunnel as the other runners stayed on the track shaking hands. The 100m final was not only the most eagerly awaited event of Rio 2016, but a personal grudge match between the Jamaican and American ace sprinters. Bolt, who will be 30 on Sunday, said Gatlin would ‘feel his full wrath’ when they finally came head-to-head on the Olympic track. Bolt was unimpressed when Gatlin focused on the six-times Olympic gold medalist’s slight injury worries
earlier this summer, claiming the champion had been given ‘a medical pass’ to compete after missing the Jamaican trials. ‘He’s injured, gets a medical pass, that’s what his country does. Our country doesn’t do that,’ Gatlin was quoted as saying in the American press. Bolt, who was hailed as the savior of his sport after his 100m and 200m victories ahead of Gatlin at last year’s World Championships in Beijing, soon hit back. ‘For me I felt it was a joke - I felt it was a disrespect they think I’d back out of a trials,’ he said. ‘I’ve proven myself year on year that I’m the greatest. I laughed when I heard it; I was disappointed, especially in Justin Gatlin.’ Team US Olympic officials have pleaded for America to finally forgive Gatlin as he bids to become the fastest man in the world. Gatlin won gold in 2004 at the Athens games, but was later convicted of a doping offence and served a fouryear ban, returning to competitive athletics on 2011. It was the second controversy to descend on the 34-year-old track star after he was banned in 2001 from international competition for two years. He tested positive for amphetamines, but later successfully appealed that the positive test had been due to medication that he had been taking since his childhood, when he was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. But the sprinter has not been able to shake off his accusers as he attempts to give Bolt a ‘run for his money’ after claiming bronze against the Jamaican in London. And Gatlin’s coaches are insistent beating Bolt to the Olympic title should not be seen as a ‘tainted gold.’ Tracy Sundlin, who is in charge of the US track and field men’s team, told Daily Mail Online: ‘That would be wrong. Justin is a remarkably talented athlete who clearly made a mistake at some point.’ ‘He has paid dearly for that mistake. He has owned up to that mistake.’ ‘If people saw what he is doing and the amount of effort… if they saw his heart, I think they would feel as I do.’ ‘People do forget how truly special a talent he was. He was a world class hurdler as well as a sprinter.’ ‘He has done things that people don’t understand and appreciate.’
Caterine Ibarguen (COL) of Colombia celebrates after winning the gold medal in the event. (REUTERS/Phil Noble) (Reuters) Colombia’s Caterine Ibarguen leapt 15.17 meters to snatch a gold medal in the women’s triple jump on Sunday, fending off Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas to continue her dominance in the event. The two-time world champion Ibarguen was hot-favorite going into the Rio Games and produced a season’s best jump in the fourth round of the final to take gold. Rojas’ best of 14.98m, also in the fourth round, was enough for silver. Kazakhstan’s London Olympics champion Olga Rypakova pulled off the two best jumps of her season, but her 14.74m in the fifth round was only good enough for bronze.
Van Niekerk breaks world record to win 400m gold as Kirani James takes silver
Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) of South Africa competes to win the gold. (REUTERS/ Lucy Nicholson) (Reuters) Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa won the men’s 400 meters gold in a world record time of 43.03 seconds at the Rio Olympic Games yesterday. His time bettered the previous world mark of 43.18 seconds set by Michael Johnson in Seville in 1999. Kirani James of Grenada took the silver while bronze went to LaShawn Merritt of the United States.
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Felix runs season’s best Guyana Men fail to clear to reach 400m final Semi-finals’ hurdle C’bean Squash C/ships in T&T
Ladies hunt title Nyron Joseph
Richard Chin
GUYANA (2) Richard Chin Nyron Joseph Alex Arjoon Jason Khalil Kristian Jeffery
VS beat beat lost lost lost
BERMUDA (3) Noah Brown 3-2 Anthony Fellows 3-0 Micah Franklin 0-3 Kristen Johnson 0-3 Patrick Foster 0-3
Team Guyana came up one match short against a tough Bermuda team in the Men’s Semi-finals of the 2016 Senior Caribbean Squash at the Queen’s Park Oval Squash Courts in Trinidad on Saturday, while the Ladies were still alive f o r G u y a n a ’s l o n e t i t l e when they were set to battle Barbados in the Championship match last evening. The Guyanese were given a great start by veteran player Richard Chin, who continues to be an important cog in the team’s line-up. Chin pulled out a tough five-setter against an opponent nearly half his age to give Guyana a one love match lead. Nyron Joseph made it 2-love with a quick three-game win over Anthony Fellows. However, it was at this point the depth and experience of the Bermuda line-up showed as the last three matches were all taken without conceding another game. Guyana were looking to finish strong in the third place match up last evening against Cayman Islands, while the Guyanese ladies should go all out for a win in the Women’s final. 11/6, 9/11, 11/6, 7/11, 11/8 11/8, 11/4, 11/5 11/7, 11/2, 11/9 11/6, 11/2, 11/3 11/9, 11/2, 11/7
Christine Day (JAM) of Jamaica, Shaunae Miller (BAH) of Bahamas and Allyson Felix (USA) of USA compete. (REUTERS/David Gray)
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Allyson Felix sounded a warning to her 400 meters rivals with a season’s best run of 49.67 seconds to reach the final of the one-lap sprint at the Rio Olympics on Sunday. The American’s time was the second fastest of the year behind only the 49.55 clocked in London last month by Shaunae Miller, who was second in the third semi-final behind Felix in 49.91. Felix, seeking her fifth Olympic gold, got off to a strong start and ran down Miller on the back straight but the Bahamian came back at her on the final bend and might have caught the world champion had she not eased up approaching the line. “I wanted to get a solid effort and try to make a run at a good lane tomorrow. I wanted to bump up the intensity tonight,” the 30-yearold Felix told reporters. Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson ran the second fastest time of the night, a personal best 49.83, to win a tight semi-final ahead of American Natasha Hastings, whose time of 49.90 was
also her best of 2016. The United States and Jamaica also filled the automatic qualifying spots in the opening heat with American Phyllis Francis making up five meters on Stephenie Ann McPherson on the home straight to win in 50.31. Jamaica’s McPherson ran 50.69 for second place. Italian Libania Grenot (50.60) and Ukraine’s Olha Zemlyak (50.75) will also line up in the final after qualifying as the fastest finishers outside the top two. “It was my coach’s birthday yesterday,” said Zemlyak, whose time was a personal best. “Every day I make him presents. Tomorrow I want to give him the final.” Felix, who suffered an ankle injury in a gym accident earlier this year, was unable to defend her 200 meters title in Rio after failing to finish in the top three at the U.S trials. The London 400 meters champion Sanya Richards-Ross was also unable to defend the Olympic crown after suffering a career-ending injury at the same meet.
LTTC concludes successful PAKISTAN CRUSH ENGLAND TO LEVEL SERIES Training Camp The Linden Table Tennis Committee (LTTC) hosted its second Annual Summer Training Camp which targeted students between the ages 6 to 16 years, at the Mackenzie High School Auditorium. According to a release from the LTTC, the aim and objectives of the camp were to introduce and orient players to the fundamental aspects of the game with a view of developing the sport and building a nucleus of players in Linden, that would c h a l l e n g e f o r national representation in the near future as well as teach a life long learned skill to students. The camp was held from July 25 - August 12, Monday through Friday where basic
strokes such as the forehand and backhand drives, push, top spin and serve were taught by ITTF Level One coaches and LTTC general secretary and Chairman Mr. Shavin Greene and Mr. Howard James respectively. Also, assisting was coach and ITTF basic umpire and referee Mr. Maurice Cummings, who serves as Treasurer of the LTTC. The release added that the central plan of the LTTC is to now continue to work with the players in a more structural manner to develop talents, while also seeking to engage them in competitions with other novices from Georgetown in addition to developing school-based programmes. After the training an
evaluation competition was organized for the participants. In the special Females category Shania Barrow took first, the other categories were the 6 to 9 years, 10 to 13 years and 14 to 16 years, where the winners where Yohance October, Jamal McCalmant and Kester Albert respectively. The LTTC extended thanks you to all the sponsors especially, Director of Sport Mr. Christopher Jones and the NSC, Banks DIH limited and Sports Plus for their support in making the camp a success. The LTTC is now looking forward to the implementation of the National Athlete Development Programme for Table Tennis which targets 8 schools in Linden in view of the developing the sport. The camp engaged over 45 participants.
(Reuters) Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took five wickets to help Pakistan crush England by 10 wickets in the final test at The Oval on Sunday and level a fluctuating series 2-2. The touring side bowled England out for 253 in their second innings, Shah completing figures of 5-71, before Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam eased them to a simple target of 40 in 13.1 overs to complete an emphatic win. “It was special, keeping in mind it was Independence Day, it was something special to draw the series here after being 2-1 down, losing the second test badly and losing the third,” Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq told the BBC. “But the way the team fought back, I’m a really happy captain.” England had resumed on 88 for four and Gary Ballance soon fell for 17 but Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 65 to give the hosts hoping of saving the match. Shortly before lunch, however, Shah deceived Moeen with a quicker delivery and
the left-hander, on 32, nicked another catch to a gleeful Sarfraz. Chris Woakes was run out following a mixup with Bairstow, who drove the next delivery from Wahab Riaz straight to extra cover, his departure for 81 ending any realistic chance of England saving the match. Stuart Broad reverse swept Shah straight to Younus Khan at slip and after Steven Finn and James Anderson shared a defiant lastwicket partnership of 32, Anderson was trapped lbw by part-time off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed for 17. Azhar smashed Moeen for a huge six to take Pakistan to 42-0 and clinch victory, punching the air in delight before leaving the field with Aslam to warm applause from the sun-baked crowd. Pakistan won the first test at Lord’s and England were victorious in Manchester and Birmingham. Scores: Pakistan 542 (Younis 218, Shafiq 109) and 42 for 0 (Azhar 30*, Aslam 12*) beat England 328 (Moeen 108, Sohail 5-68) and 253 (Bairstow 81, Yasir 5-71) by ten wickets.