Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 5
Kaieteur News
Our manufacturers are not visionary people No Insulin at the New DEAR EDITOR; Please permit me a few lines to offer a response to KN article of 15. 8. 2016. “Is Guyana’s manufacturing sector dying? In July 2000, I left my native Guyana with an extremely “bad taste” in my mouth. While working in Guyana I was excited and dedicated to bring change to my country. However, the corruption and lack of vision in both political and civil society left me incapable of being that change agent. In May of this year I was hit with that urge of returning and offering my services. So I came to Guyana and the timing was right. It was the Golden Jubilee and I was able to go to the Guy Expo. Here I was clearly able to identify major problems with the Guyana Manufacturing Sector. I specifically visited booths that were 100 Guyanese products. I was honestly impressed with the quality and creativity of some of the packaged goods but at the same time, I was totally disappointed with the companies’ lack of vision and purpose especially when it comes to product improvement, branding and export market opportunities. When I asked their top management who they currently market to, 90% responded, Barbados Trinidad and Suriname. The others were mostly local market. I asked if they had any plans to explore the US, European and South American markets and they quickly said that it is impossible to get in those markets. What
a tremendous lack of vision and what I term lack of omni-channel effectiveness. To me that is the mentality of a street hustler - hustle for today only. Like Unami’s CEO, I too am upset that such products, that I grew up making in my own home and now being imported. It is true that local manufacturers need to up their game. In this competitive environment local manufacturers need to be nimble and strategic in anticipating growth opportunities, improving manufacturing excellence, leveraging the access to and availability of raw materials. Minister Jordan, forget the past. In manufacturing, the 70’s and 80’s are ancient times and not present day, given the technological advances that have been made. You are comparing apples to oranges. But with all of that aside, what are you prepared to do to inject some life into the dying manufacturing sector? You have to honestly compare many possible factors, some of which you and the government you represent, can easily change in favor of the Guyanese manufacturers. Just take for example the cost of crop production per acre in Guyana compared to Thailand, Jamaica or Suriname. Guyana’s costs are substantially higher. The costs for acquiring land, fertilizer, seed, fuel, transportation and exorbitant taxes drastically reduce manufacturers’ competitiveness. Instead of being “unashamedly critical of the GMSA for crying out about challenges”, some of which I know are
very valid, Mr Jordan, please roll up your sleeves (and your pants foot) and let us rebuild this nation. At the end of the day you will not only be doing your job, but you will also be a proud partner in the resuscitation of the manufacturing sector. If you are serious about your statement “manufacturing in Guyana must become a key driver of rapid economic growth, and the associated creation of employment, both directly and indirectly”, then do as my old man would say - get cracking. You and the government of Guyana can apply basic things to improve the country’s infrastructure, develop sustainable road networks, improve administrative services throughout the public service and reduce taxes and or create sensible subsidies and concessions. I also agree with some manufacturers that the financial institutions need to be more lender friendly to the manufacturers. These are some of the issues that adversely affect manufacturing/export competitiveness and can be easily resolved by the powers to be. Yes, the development and timely implementation of adequate and effective policies and services coupled with costs and operational efficiencies on a national scale, consistently across all interrelated functions will definitely bring new life to Guyana’s manufacturing sector. All for now and remember that I am all in. Doc Jay
Republic Bank and Courts are deceptive with loan arrangements DEAR EDITOR; Over the last week, three things I experienced left me wondering if there is good life for the ordinary and common citizens of this country. I am a normal citizen with a normal job and I live a normal life with a normal family. When one notes the 50% salary increase for the Executive, the hiring of former army people to COI duties and to head state agencies, the sole sourcing by the Ministry of Health, the dismissal of employees, the loss of jobs by Guysuco workers, the everyday robberies (some which are not reported), I ask is this the good life for me as a normal citizen? It is easy to talk but difficult to do the walk. As a normal citizen, I would expect to be treated normally when seeking services in both the public and private sectors. But unfortunately, being a common citizen, then you are treated commonly. My first experience of common treatment is with reference to Republic Bank “Deals on Wheel” promotion. I visited this bank to inquire about a loan regarding the purchasing of an automobile. I was elated when I was told that I have qualified and would be getting a loan at a rate of 9%. I quoted two amounts and was told that based on the payback period, what my installments would be. Subsequently, I checked the amounts that I quoted using an excel loan sheet and with the 9% and payback period and saw that the calculation of the installments were lower. In noting this, I did some calculations and found out that the bank’s installment includes a further 16.42%. This means that when you calculate your 9% with a specific payback period, the value you get must be added by a further 16.42 %
which is payable to the bank. At no time this information of the further addition of 16.42 % was related to me. How fair is this to me? My second experience is in reference to Courts Guyana Inc. Last December, I took advantage of their no down payment promotion and bought an item. I was told the payments for my installments would commence in February 2016. I completed all the related transactions, received my item and have been paying my monthly installments on time. Last week, I went to inform them, that I wish to pay off for my item. To my dismay, the amount that I have to pay off includes the original price of my item and further $150,000. Now I would understand that the payments should be less than the original price as my installments would have been reducing it and the interest would be up to the date of payment. In fact, when I calculated including what I have been paying monthly for the last 6 months, I would end paying the original price and approximately 75% on this price in interest in the less than 9 months. I took a 3 year plan. It is like paying for interest not accumulated. When I expressed my disappointment about this, I was told that that I can look at it from any way I want. How fair is this to me? My third experience is in reference to the Guyana Revenue Authority. When the then Government announced the Mortgage Interest Relief (MRI) in 2013, it came indeed as relief to hundreds of first time homeowners. I started benefiting from it from 2014 and with the system then adopted saw that every three months, the amounts calculated as the relief was deposited in my savings account which was all
administered by my bank. This present government has made an amendment to the Income Tax Act which saw the taxpayer obtaining from the lending institution the Form 4 which comprises the information regarding the interested paid for the year for 2015. Most persons would have received their MRI for the first half of 2015 under the previous system. With the new system in place, in completing your tax return for year of income 2015, you had to include the information of the Form 4 (which was attached) and based on your computation, it would be calculated what will be the amount due to you. A cheque with your reimbursed amount would be subsequently issued to you. I followed all the procedures and have submitted my Tax Return in April of 2016. To date, I have not heard nor received any notifications on my MRI due to me. So, I called the MRI department at GRA and was told that everything is on hold as the lending agencies have not submitted the relevant information to GRA. So I called my lending agency and was informed that the only obligation the agency had was to provide the taxpayer with the Form 4 which the taxpayer has to use to obtain their MRI. So why it is then if the agency is not obligated to do anything else, GRA cannot proceed to process taxpayers’ MRI? How fair is this to me? The Schools’ holidays are coming to end. With no salary increase, no MRI, and mortgage and bills to be paid, my life as a normal citizen is really common, as all that has been done so far, is only benefiting those at the top surely not the common man down at the bottom. Akanni Persaud
Amsterdam Hospital
DEAR EDITOR; It is implausible to comprehend our Public Health Minister would spend millions of dollars to rent an incomplete structure/ building, and drugs that are in demand on a daily basis by patients are scarce commodities. For months, the New Amsterdam Hospital is without insulin and paper to conduct heart tests. The sad truth is many diabetic insulin dependent patients are forced to purchase insulin on a monthly basis, and most of them have to buy insulin at least twice a month depending upon the severity of their condition. Imagine being an insulin dependent person and cannot afford to buy insulin on a monthly basis, what will become of you or your loved ones if for some reason(s) you’re unable to buy same? We disparage the previous government for numerous things and we wanted to see things happen differently but the New Amsterdam hospital has never reached the state it’s in during the reign of the previous administration. Several months ago patients that went to the hospital for simple extraction were told that they cannot get a bad tooth taken out from their mouth because needles weren’t in stock. Really? What is happening to our health system in Guyana? Does our Health Minister know what he is doing? It is clear that he cannot function efficiently, neither can he carry out the task that was mandated to him. Concerned Resident
Hamilton Green laments the deluge of foreign foods DEAR EDITOR; It was very painful to take note of the well prepared article in Knews dated 15 August 2016 titled ‘“Is Guyana’s manufacturing sector dying ?” Tamarind balls and coconut water from Thailand, rice from Pakistan, roti and puri from Suriname, plantain chips from Jamaica etc. But Mr. Editor it is much worse, fruits that we grew and can still grow in abundance are now imported. I refused to purchase a mango, when told it was imported. For me, it is a scandalous situation. The news item gave a number of possible reasons and views of those in the business, as well as a balanced bit of journalism. Now Dear Editor in most places and situations a ‘story’ has two sides, but in Guyana we are special. Our story often time has three sides, we hear one side, we hear the other side but never the whole story. To tell the whole story will require a visit to the colonial days, when we were made to believe that all good things came from ‘abroad’, after 50 years of Independence it somehow still lingers. Then there is our sad political saga of 3 odd generations. Recently we have noticed an assault on Forbes Burnham and the ‘mulings’ of Dr. Jagdeo about race. Maybe
there is no nexus, but I now throw down the gauntlet, perhaps a portion of a side of the story. Had Linden F. S. Burnham not passed away just as the Cold War was thawing, Guyana would not be importing food and fruits that can be produced locally. When you break a bone it takes time to repair itself and is never the same as before. I recall the efforts by Dr, Jagdeo and the PPP, to instruct their supporters and others not to plant so as to frustrate Burnham’s clarion call to Feed the Nation (the Food, Clothe and House crusade). A few suggestions 1) Mon Repos Agricultural Station needs a more aggressive research program to produce improved varieties of vegetables, green and fruits and 2) make farming exciting in all of our schools. Say what you may of the British to deal with the ravages of World War II, at Queens College on Brickdam we had a gardening plot to grow food not flowers. 3) Our local farmers must retain an advantage, also the State should review laws which lock-up farmers because they employ certain methods to deal with larceny of their produce. This is just to get the ball rolling. Hamilton Green
PAGE 6
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Coalition Govt. STATISTICAL INDICTMENT OF GUYANA’S OLYMPICS POVERTY has to do more for youths
DEAR EDITOR; As a born and bred citizen of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, it pains me to see quadrennial after quadrennial in our national newspapers, radios and televisions reporting the exploits of the Olympians from other countries except our own. Oh; how I wish to see the day when our athletes’ images be placed in the local, regional and international newspaper. Guyana has been attending the Olympics since 1948, that’s sixteen Olympic Games or a total of 68 years, and we have only managed to secure a sole medal. Many thanks to Mr. Michael Anthony who would have secured the country’s first and only Olympic bronze medal at the Moscow 1980 games in the men’s bantamweight boxing bout (yes thirty six years ago). As outlined in Table 1, look how dismal Guyana has been performing at the Olympics. We are tied with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for the most Olympics attended by any Caricom country and look at our medal standing. Even those countries that went to fewer games have been doing far better than us. Eight games attended by Grenada and they have produced a gold and silver medal.
What have successive governments been doing to assist our athletes? What is Guyana noted for internationally? Who are our global ambassadors?
Apart from Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana has a higher population than all the other Caricom countries. Despite this fact, most of the smaller countries have fielded more athletes than Guyana. It is a travesty to see our country not represented the way it should at these games. Why the Sports Department does not identify athletic talents at an early age? At school we have the inter-house, interschool, branch and national, these are some great avenues to start. Perhaps we should have some form of campaign to encourage current and perspective athletes. One of Caricom’s counterparts is promoting the campaign “Ten or More Olympic Gold by 2024”. The Prime Minister of that country along with his entire cabinet has pledged to donate 5% of their salary for the next two years with an effort to make the campaign dream a reality. I refuse to believe that we do not have the caliber of athletes to represent our country at world events. I believe greater investments are required. I am therefore calling on the Department of Culture, Youth and Sports to change this dismal cycle of poor or non-representation of our sports men and women at regional and international meets. One can only imagine the pride and joy that will come to Guyanese on seeing the Golden Arrow Head hoisted and the national anthem sung at the medal ceremony at the Olympics! Come on people let us all collaborate to make Guyana great! Davone Toney
DEAR EDITOR; The change of government last year has not brought much expected relief in economic, security and youth affairs by the APNU/ AFC administration. The g o v e r n m e n t ’s ascendancy to power may be the continuation of its predecessor ’s unilateral economic policies, systematic security failure and autocratic rule by those who now sit on opposition benches. Editor, the youth population expected the government to promote racial harmony, job opportunities and inclusive participation in managing our country’s affairs. Instead, the government seems reluctant and more interested in hiring aging and inconsiderate party loyalists from the bygone era. Governments across the globe work closely with their youth population and key sectors to develop and maintain their economies. However, in Guyana, the government is being neglectful to youths, partial to one particular group and solely depending on gold to earn foreign exchange to boost the economy. Editor, while foreign investments are needed to keep our c o u n t r y ’s economy growing, land ownership by foreign companies has become a major issue in Guyana’s hinterland and coast lands. In the future, lands will become scarce and land occupation by foreign companies in disputed areas will endanger Guyana’s national security and create tensions with its continental
neighbours. At present, Guyana’s economy growth is slow and urgently needs some robust investments. However, if our government plans to create a green economy, then mining and forestry will have serious implications for Guyana to achieve this goal. The extraction of oil will commence soon in Guyana’s territory and will create more tensions with her neighbour, Venezuela. Our military is not strong or modern to defend this country in any major conflict. Therefore, foreign companies will depend on their respective governments to protect them from possible military intrusions. They will call on Guyana to accept military protection and we will end up with a different type of situation. Accepting military protection from any of those countries will create strained relations with other countries that do business with Guyana and will create a negative spotlight on the world stage. It is also a form of modern day colonialism for another country to occupy a sovereign state. Editor, we are a peaceful people. Let’s remain that way. We must never allow foreign intervention to cause strained relations amongst our people. If our government is seeking to be reelected in 2020, The President must reshuffle his cabinet, include youths in government affairs, upgrade security and land ownership policies, create economic policies that will benefit locals in the hinterland and coast lands and stop playing “ Political Monopoly”. Dwight Larson Isseneru Village
Lincoln Lewis answers the Indian Action Committee DEAR EDITOR; Fundamental rights and freedoms are held sacred equally as their corresponding responsibilities. Response is made to the Indian Arrival/Action Committee’s (IAC) view that there exists an interest on my part to silence or intimidate the body. The IAC’s right to freedom of expression in questioning the President’s declared intent to establish a “Land Commission” to regularise African ancestral/ communal lands vis a vis what it means for the legally constituted Lands and Surveys Commission was never questioned. What is being questioned, and deservedly so, is
the use of this premise to front what is clearly an expressed denial to Africans of the universal human right to own property, which, in this instance, was bought and paid for by their ancestors in the postslavery Village Movement era. You cannot fool persons by seeking to weld and hide behind the false claim that reparation talks between CARICOM and European countries have something to do with the issue of regularising lands, which also is a function of the State. Any effort to bring ancestral lands in line with 21st century State record keeping /accounting which will also make known ownership is appropriate and welcome. It further
avoids the illegitimate land grabbing tendency as happened in Sparendaam (Pardoville II) and elsewhere and continues today with consequences of creating injurious conflicts. In exercising the right to free speech and freedom of association in its letter, the IAC did send out a dog whistle to Indians that, ‘they must run, run, go tell every Indian the [evil] blacks are coming for their lands, so let us come together and resist this force,” when such has no basis in fact, pursuit, or intent. And here is where this group continues to exercise fundamental rights and freedoms to engage in conduct designed to deny the
bringing about of justice, equity and fair play in the system that would ensure harmony and peaceful coexistence between and among the races. Were the body interested in such pursuit, the falsification of the publicly and widely known case/ focus of reparations would not have been applied. And where it claims that Indians are fearful their lands would be taken away, given the publicly well-known position advanced on the ancestral lands issue and what the President also clearly stated, there is a responsibility on the part of the IAC to so educate and empower its constituents with the facts.
Evidently, to do so would compromise what the organisation has set out to achieve. There is no interest in silencing and/or intimidating the body, because organisations, though led by bigots, too enjoy the right to exist and be heard. Correspondingly, those who desire a society where all are treated equally with dignity and respect will expose such operatives. Persons when confronted and exposed may seek to deny the evidence by referring to such as “baseless attacks” or “false assertions,” but no choice exists in playing villain and victim at the same time. Lincoln Lewis
Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 7
Kaieteur News
GPHC CEO flouts tax and procurement regulations - audit finds Between the period January 1, 2012 and May 31, 2015, there were numerous infractions at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) involving its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Khan. In fact, according to the findings of a forensic audit conducted by the Chartered Accountants of Ram and McRae under the purview of the Ministry of Finance, Khan deliberately flouted the law not only when he refused to pay taxes on income earned, but when he condoned questionable procurement practices at the institution. Khan was sent on administrative leave last year to facilitate the audit which had a primary focus on scrutinising the financial operations and functioning of the hospital. The administration leave was in fact, vacation leave accrued by Khan over a period of time. The Board of Directors of the hospital, headed by Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman, has since issued a letter to Khan to resume duties against the backdrop that Khan, based on the audit, was not found guilty of any wrongdoing. Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, has shared an opposing view that “when one, even at a glance, evaluates the (audit) report, there is so much evidence
- resolution expected this week
GPHC CEO, Mr. Michael Khan (against Khan), enough for him to be deprived of further employment (at the GPHC).” CLEARED OF WRONGDOING But the only time the report noted that Khan was cleared of wrongdoing, is when the auditors made reference to an unsigned nine-page paper which was sharply critical of the CEO and strongly suggested criminal intent on his part. The auditors, however, note that “unfortunately, we never had the opportunity to meet with the writer or to communicate with him/her to obtain any evidence to support the allegations. To the extent that we could check the allegations, we found no evidence of wrongdoing on
Mr Khan’s part or support for some of the assertions.” Added to this, the auditors said that “we have decided against reproducing the paper to avoid any accusation of defamatory conduct by any person.” However, it was noted that the paper did contain a number of recommendations that were quite useful which support many detailed in the report. These include a complete overhaul of the statutory form of the Corporation, establishment of an array of policy and procedures for all functions and departments, and the computerisation of the Finance Department and Materials Management. RESOLUTION THIS WEEK But the verdict is still out as to whether Khan will be eligible to retain his position following consideration of the audit report. Minister of State Joseph Harmon at last week’s post-Cabinet press briefing said that “among the issues raised in the report were the relationships between the subject Minister (Dr. George Norton) and the Board of Directors of the Corporation.”
He noted that the decision of the Board of Directors to reinstate the CEO of the hospital has gained the attention of Cabinet. And Harmon disclosed that “Cabinet, having deliberated on the matter, appointed the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister (Basil Williams) as mediator to inquire in all the issues raised in the report.” Williams is also tasked with making recommendations to Cabinet which will allow for a resolution within one week, Harmon said. It is expected that that resolution will be forthcoming this week. However, certain aspects of the report - which has been seen by this publication could have very damning implications for Khan. According to the report, Khan was first employed at the GPHC in the capacity of CEO on March 1, 2000. His most recent contract of employment with the hospital was from August 1, 2014 for a fixed period of three years with a monthly salary of $869,946 which is subject to salary increases given to public servants. As CEO, he is also eligible for other
benefits including 42 days’ vacation leave per year, biannual gratuities of 22.5 per cent of his basic salary, subsidised housing, provision of vehicle, fuel and the entire maintenance cost of the vehicle and telephone and internet service. TAX DEFAULTER But at a meeting of the Board of Directors, consideration was given to a request by Khan to be paid an allowance of $200,000 per month for managing the department of Administrative Services after the transfer of Mr Leslie Cadogan to the New Amsterdam Hospital. However, approval was granted for Khan to be paid a responsibility allowance of $100,000 per month with effect from January 1, 2011. Payment in this regard ended in September 2014 bringing the total amount paid to $4,400,000 thus attracting taxes of approximately $1,413,240. According to the auditors, such a payment falls within the definition of the gains or profits from employment, and is therefore taxable under the Income Tax Act on the Pay as You Earn
(PAYE) basis. However, Khan, in a handwritten memo, instructed the Director of Financial and General Services that his allowance be paid tax-free. The auditors noted that Khan must have been aware that the Board made no decision on the tax implications of the payment to him of a responsibility allowance; that the payment by law is subject to PAYE, and that tax is deducted from responsibility allowances paid to other members of staff of the Corporation. Added to this, the auditors took into consideration that according to Public Service Rules, responsibility allowances should be paid for performing higher duties than those attached to the employee’s current position whereas “a public servant who is required to perform additional work temporarily attached to the position which he or she holds may, with the approval of the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Ministry, be paid duty allowance.” Moreover, the auditors have noted that “we consider (Continued on page 25)
PAGE 8
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
LOCAL GO VT GOVT VT.. COMMISSION…
Bulkan accused of interfering with PPP/C nomination process As the establishment of the Local Government Commission draws nearer, the People’s Progressive Party Civic is of the view that Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan is trying to interfere with the Party’s nomination process. This was communicated to media operatives on Monday during a press conference held at Freedom House hosted by the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee. According to Rohee, Bulkan sent a letter asking whether the PPP/C had conducted consultations with the other parliamentary parties on their nominations. The letter read, “Following is my reply in response to your letter of July 5, 2016. You are hereby requested to confirm that as required under Section 4(1) (b) of the Act, that there were consultations with other parliamentary parties leading to the submission of the three nominees.” According to Rohee, he does not know of any other party which Bulkan expects the PPP/C to consult with in terms of the
parliamentary parties. He said the names which his party submitted came directly from them as is provided for under the constitution. Rohee asked: “Are we to consult with ourselves? Or are we to consult with APNUAFC?” Additionally, Rohee explained that in Bulkan’s letter he also asked for the details of the consultation process which PPP/C supposedly should have carried out with the other parliamentary parties. Rohee believes this was an erroneous request, since there are only two political blocs in the House, and it would be wrong for the PPP/C to consult with APNU-AFC when choosing its three nominees. Rohee opined that Bulkan is “treading on dangerous ground” with his request. “We don’t have six parties; we have a parliament with two parties, a bicameral...PPP/ C and APNU-AFC. So when we looked around, we didn’t see anyone else who we should consult with. So we did what we had to do.”
Former NIS boss Patrick Martinborough dies Long-serving former General Manager of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Patrick Martinborough, has died. Announcing his passing, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition said yesterday that Martinborough served from 1988 to 2007 before retiring from the entity. “As the General Manager in 1992 when the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) took office, he worked assiduously with the Board headed by Dr. Roger Luncheon to sustain steps to bring NIS policy and administration into the
Former NIS General Manager, Patrick Martinborough modern era.” The release said that
Martinborough will always be remembered for his strong support for the PPP/C Government’s “successful efforts to transform the financial sector, particularly budgetary control and fiscal considerations during the early years of economic recovery in Guyana”. He will also be remembered for his leadership qualities of “integrity, humility, servility and loyalty in public office, inspiring generations of NIS staffer”. Condolences were expressed to Mr. Martinborough’s family and friends.
Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan
PPP/C General Secretary, Clement Rohee
Moreover, Rohee said that there is to be a member of the Commission appointed by the Minister after consultation with the local democratic organs. The Commission will comprise eight members. Rohee explained further that the Board will comprise the one person Bulkan has to appoint, three appointed by President David Granger - acting in accordance with his
own deliberate judgment - one from trade unions operating in the local government sector and three members appointed by the President acting on advice from the Leader of the Opposition. It is the latter three members to which Rohee has expressed his party’s contention regarding Bulkan’s supposedly unnecessary interest.
Dr. Ramayya resigns as Region... (From page 3) the REO “could not handle the job, was buckling under pressure and was ducking from his duties”. However, his claims were heavily opposed by a Representative of the Coalition Government in Berbice, Gobin Harbhajan, who had demanded that DeRoop issue an apology, since he would have summoned a meeting to ‘spout nonsense’. Harbhajan, via a release, had stated that the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Minis-
try, Emil McGarrell, had confirmed that Dr. Ramayya had applied for, and was granted official leave. Consequently, Harbhajan said that he did not see how works were being stalled in the Region when there are two Deputy Regional Executive Officers, and an Accounts Department fully staffed and functioning. Harbhajan had also stated that everything DeRoop had said was nothing but “shameless lies” all aimed to soil Dr. Ramayya’s character. Meanwhile, Harbhajan made contact with this publication yesterday stating that over the past year, Dr. Ramayya had been faced with a ‘lot of negative challenges from the opposition’ and was not getting the cooperation from some of the top RDC Members because the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has ‘dominated’ the region with some top office bearers who were giving him
very little support. He added also, that even a few members from A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) from the region were giving him ‘challenges’. “Last week he invite me to his office and spoke about the negatives and problems he is facing and said that he will be resigning, so I told him to stay focused and do the right thing and don’t be distracted. At many RDC Meetings, of which I’m a Councilor, 50% of the discussion was about him from the opposition bench. Many times I stood up and defend him and asked Councilors to give him a chance to execute his duties but I was outnumbered.” He added also that the REO was criticized because of his qualifications. He opined that an REO does not need a ‘Master’s Degree’ to run a region but rather, experience and vision to grow and to take the Region forward.
Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 9
Kaieteur News
NO POLITICAL CAPITAL TO BE GAINED How did the Ministry of Public Health know that the facility at Sussex Street was available for rental, when they were looking for additional storage place to store medicines? Did Cabinet ask about this when it approved the deposit of $25M for the bond? Did Cabinet not question, before it gave its approval, what was the rental for the facility going to be and whether spending this humongous sum was worth it given that government could have bought its own building and equipped it to store drugs for the same or even less that sum? Why spend one hundred and fifty million dollars per years on rental when you can buy two or three properties for that sum? The manner in which this deal has been handled by the government leaves much to
be desired. The investigators from the cabinet were given a mere two days to complete their job. It would be impossible to get to the bottom of this deal in such short time. The government tried a typical political trick by attempting to deflect the blame for the fiasco towards the People’s Progressive Party, saying that it was trying to distance itself from the sole sourcing of the PPPC. Well what a way to distance oneself from the PPPC! The PPPC has nothing to do with this deal. The standards of the PPPC cannot be the benchmark by which the government should assess itself. In any event, the PPPC, for all the criticisms which can be made of it, would not have made such a horrendous deal. The question is where we go from here. The government
will no doubt remain silent on the issue. It will allow the storm to pass. This, too, is very much like how the PPPC dealt with controversies. It stayed quiet, because it knew that within two months, people would forget. The PPPC was in power a long time. It could afford that tactic of allowing the storms to pass by. The APNU+AFC cannot afford to do that because it is a young government. As a young government, its supporters would still be harbouring high hopes for the government and expecting certain standards. They felt betrayed over the trip to China and now they feel more betrayed. When people feel betrayed, they do not forget things that easily. They take decisions about their relationship with those who betrayed them.
Dem boys seh...
When people money full yuh eye When people wake up in de morning dem never know how de day would go unless dem always planning to scam somebody. Nuff people does wake up wid a plan to rob somebody. Larry wake up every day and want to mek money. That is not a bad thing, but when mekking money involving robbing people that is something else. Dem had a local airline name GA2000. It fail and people believe that Larry was de cause. Yesu still holding he head, because he never see what was coming. Dem boys remember de place over de seawall. It was a nice spot, then Larry own it. De Ministry of Public Infrastructure seh he didn’t have permission to do de wuk he started wid all dem bulldozer, so dem stop him. He didn’t even try to fight the matter in court. Instead he lef that and start to think bout other ways. Now he got a doctor in trouble. He is not de only one. Dem have people who sit down and hear that dem win some prize. Dem didn’t enter nutten, not de doctor, but dem believe dem win. People mek thousands of dollars from dem by mekking
dem buy phone cards. A lawyer even get ketch up in this scam, and is not that he hand to mouth. Some does send money to people who tell dem that somebody dead and lef money fuh dem. This person dead in Africa, but the Guyanese don’t even stop to think how this person find dem. De message is that dem stand to get couple million dollars, but dem got to spend money to get it. Dem boys want to know how come people don’t ask de people to mek de deduction from de money. But as dem boys know, people always mek money de easy way, not realizing that dem actually giving away de little that dem have. Some people also come up wid a scam. Dem does pretend to be somebody who stranded in some foreign country and need money. De people who plan this don’t even know if de person ever had a visa. But that is wha does happen when you wake up looking fuh other people money. Talk half and watch out fuh dem who want to tek you money fuh nutten. Not de doctor.
As much as the supporters of APNU+AFC do not wish to see the PPPC gain any political capital from what has happened, they are not going to forget the embarrassment and shame that the bond deal has brought to them. The government therefore can continue to fool itself into believing that if it simply closes ranks and stays quiet that the worst will pass and all will be forgotten. It will not be. There are supporters of the government who may not be saying anything, but they are far from pleased, and
some of them may even be prepared to wash their hands permanently of the new government. The government is taking too much for granted. It is assuming that it can retain its support bases even in the midst of what is happening within the government. There have been too many scandals since the government took power, for its supporters to be sitting comfortably. The PPPC will gain political capital, because if its questioning in the National Assembly did not unearth this deal, the transaction
would have gone unnoticed. But that is the only political capital the PPPC will gain. In so far as the supporters of APNU+AFC are concerned, they will not give any support to the PPPC on this issue. They will not change allegiances. But those who feel betrayed will not support the PPPC, but they will also not support the coalition, now or ever again.
PAGE 10
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 17, 2016
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN...
Inexplicable fear is killing this country
Let us be realistic; a Guyanese citizen isn’t going to go public with what he/she saw if it involves the following – police brutality, police violations, governmental corruption, governmental decadence, illegal activities of big businesses, indiscretions of foreign diplomats, City Hall misbehaviour etc. People fear retaliation from power, wealth and status. You cannot expect the sweeper lady, or the wharf labourer, or the cane-cutter, or the store clerk, to identify him/herself if they see a wealthy person commit a hit-and-run. The fear of having a midnight visit from a hooded gunman is real. There are citizens in this country with status and wealth who have killed people that they caught with their wives or girlfriends, or who have stolen from them, or who have threatened to expose them for illegal activities. Guyanese need to have this kind of information so they could know what their country is like, but fear stops that process. Fear then, of retaliation from people with power, wealth and status is expansive in Guyana, and media operatives understand this. What is not acceptable is misplaced fear, fear that is totally out of context and totally unnecessary. Such fright has no place in the modern world. A sizeable percentage of
humans in Guyana, perhaps amounting to 90 percent, have trepidation about inconsequentialities that should never happen in the real world, and perhaps do not happen elsewhere. There is something that is deeply troubling about this nation. People are afraid to be identified with complaints that should be aired in public, because it is human and natural for any person to do so. I repeat; fear is understandable when you become a whistleblower and your action has important consequences. But surely, why should you be afraid to say that at a certain junction, grass on the parapet needs cutting because it blocks your vision of oncoming traffic? Who is going to visit your Frederick home with an AK 47 if you pen a letter to the newspaper asking for the grassy blockage to be cut down either by the City Hall or the Ministry of Public Infrastructure? Who at the Guyana Revenue Authority is going to tamper with your tax returns if you complain through the media
about the need to regulate unruly mini-bus traffic outside the supermarket? Who at the Georgetown Hospital is going to kill your hospitalized niece if you publicly complain that the zoo in the Botanical Gardens needs more space for the animals? Which newspaper or television news programme is going to plaster your face all over Guyana because you complained about traffic lights not working? Looked at from any angle, this is fear that has no basis. It is about citizens exercising their right to bring to the attention of the relevant authorities the little (and emphasis should be on the word LITTLE) things they find annoying or discomforting. The example that you are about to read takes place in my life not every month Kissoon or every year but every week. I am honestly tired and fed up with this morbid growth of misplaced fear in this country. It is a sarcoma eating away at the conscience and mental stability of this nation. Monday morning I came out of Budget
Supermarket on Sheriff Street after buying some lovely tangerines that were going cheaply. This neatly dressed gentleman came up to me. He said he always wanted to meet with and talk to me. I stretched out my hand. He shook it. He asked if I knew him. I didn’t. He asked if I knew Rohit Kanhai. I answered yes; that I have known him a long time now and he is one of the enduring figures of the Working People’s Alliance and a main WPA leader from the diaspora who owns and runs a Caribbean newspaper in New York titled “Caribbean Daylight”. I mentioned that Rohit was in Guyana two months ago. He said that he knew that. He told me he is closely related to Rohit. And he described the relation. They are indeed close. What did he want to talk to me about? He had to wait almost two hours to drive out from the Providence Stadium. He wants to see multiple entrances and many exit points. I suggested he write a letter. He exclaimed; “no, no, no! He asked that I do it. I replied that the more voices raised on the issue, the more likely the authorities would listen. I was annoyed and abruptly walked away. He came to my moving car and said; Alright, use my name.” Who is going to harm him if he wrote on such a simple thing?
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 11
North R/veldt Secondary to be extended ...and road to be built for derelict vehicle site on highway During the opening of the tenders at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) yesterday, at the Ministry of Finance, a contract for the extension of the North Ruimveldt Secondary School attracted six bidders. The Ministry of Education was listed as the procuring entity.
Two companies also submitted bids for supply of one New Generating Set for the Oscar Joseph District Hospital, Charity, Essequibo Coast Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam). These companies were MACORP ($10. 5M) and Tels Engineering Services ($7.2M). Bids were opened for the contract for the provision of Security Services. The procuring entity is the Regional Democratic Council, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).
Finally, tenders were opened for the supply and installation of a Photovoltaic System and Energy Storage for the Kato Secondary School Complex. The procuring entity is the Ministry of Education.
Tenders were also opened for the construction of an Access Road to the Derelict Vehicle Site at Kururu, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica). This contract attracted a massive number of bidders. The procuring entity is the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the Engineer’s estimate was announced at $186.4M.
Tenders were also opened for the alterations and upgrades to the Office Building of the Ministry of Public Telecommunications. The engineer’s estimate was announced at $3,280,460.
PAGE 12
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
MANUFACTURING SECTOR DYING? PT. 2
Water from Trinidad, cane juice from Canada also on our shelves There are concessions for manufacturers that are not being granted - GMSA Head
GMSA Head, Eon Caesar By Kiana Wilburg In the land of many waters, Guyana sees a large scale importation of bottled water from its Caribbean brothers and sisters. In the land where sugar production has been one of the cornerstones of the economy, the nation sees the importation of sugarcane juice from Canada. Therefore, why is there a domination of such products in the local markets? And should local manufacturers be worried?
Attempting to answer these questions was head of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Eon Caesar. The official said that obviously, such a state of affairs would pose some amount of discomfort for local manufacturers. He noted however that there is a whole host of things which manufacturers can do in this regard. The GMSA Head said, too, that one must be cognizant of the challenges facing the manufacturing sector. He emphasized that high energy cost is not the only stumbling block. Caesar said that there are other issues such as access to financing, non-availability of skills and widespread smuggling. “All these things play a role in the local manufacturing sector.
There is lack of will by the business community to invest based on the environment. There are concessions for manufacturers that could be granted, that are not being granted,” the GMSA Head asserted. He added, “There are concessions that are given… for example, we have manufacturers who have investment agreements (and) when you look at what is written in the investment agreements and then you look at what is in the tax laws, you no longer really enjoy these concessions.” Caesar said that while certain products are being imported and it is not necessarily a good thing for those in the manufacturing sector, “the harsh reality is that we have to live with.” He then pointed to the
importation of ‘Blue Band’ margarine that is manufactured outside of Guyana but is being sold here at a more affordable price that the locally produced ‘Golden Cream’ margarine. The GMSA Executive Member said that countries which fall under the CARICOM umbrella enjoy some amount of concessions in a number of areas. He said that is the reason why someone can bring a product that is manufactured in another sister CARICOM country and sell it for less in Guyana, alongside a similar product that is being manufactured here. Caesar said, “There are beers brought into Guyana and sold for less than a local Banks Beer. So we need to ask ourselves why? The Continued on page 30
Bottled water from Trinidad and Tobago
‘Cool Cane’ - Sugarcane juice imported from Canada
Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 13
Kaieteur News
DEPUTY REGISTRAR APPOINTMENT…
Attorney General has no authority to intervene in JSC decision-making - Nandlall One day after announcing intentions to review the powers of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to appoint critical justice officials, Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General (AG), Basil Williams, is facing a backlash. His predecessor, Anil Nandlall, yesterday insisted that the commission has no obligation whatsoever to consult with the AG on appointments. In a scathing statement, Nandlall, an attorney-at-law and Member of Parliament for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), also accused the AG of attempting to interfere in the independent workings of the JSC, a body that comprises a number of judges. The clash was sparked by news that Zanna Frank, an attorney-at-law, was rejected and prevented from carrying out her duties at the Deeds Registry for more than four months, despite being interviewed and appointed by JSC since March. She was later allowed to take office,
but has not been paid. This week, Frank successfully applied to the High Court, asking the AG to explain why she was prevented from doing her job. On Monday, the AG during a press conference at his office made it clear that he believes that the JSC exceeded its powers to make the appointment and in any case, the Deputy Registrar, was not qualified enough. Further, his office was not consulted. He wants the powers of JSC to be reviewed and reduced. The case would cause ripples, as the JSC is an independent constitutional body. Yesterday, Nandlall in a strongly worded statement explained that Article 199 (1) and (3) and Article 226 (1) of the Constitution give the JSC powers to appoint. “As a matter of fact, another article, 199 (3), explains that the article applies to the office of Commissioner of Title, Magistrate, Director of Public
Attorney General, Basil Williams
Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall
Deputy Registrar, Zanna Frank
Prosecution, Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, Registrar of the High Court, Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Registrar of Deeds, Deputy Registrar of Deeds…” With regards to the running of the commission, Article 226 (1) makes it clear that it shall not be subjected to the direction or control of
any other person or authority. “The response of the Attorney General has been characteristically untutored. It is obvious that, initially, he was unaware of the provisions of Article 199 of the Constitution. This is evident by the fact that he purported to appoint someone to function in that
office.” With regards to claims by Williams that he was not consulted by JSC, Nandlall pointed out that while this may be true, there is no obligation placed upon the commission to consult with the AG or any other person in respect of this appointment. “Secondly, he alleges that
the JSC was acting excessively and out of their jurisdiction. This contention is incomprehensible. A tribunal acts in excess of and without jurisdiction if it makes a decision that it has no lawful power to make.” Nandlall stressed that it is clear that, contrary to the AG’s claims, the Deputy Registrar was qualified. “In fact, Ms. Frank may have been overqualified for that position. In any event, it is the JSC and no one else, who is empowered to assess her suitability for the job. They have done so.” The former AG said that the outburst by Williams amounts to a “most uncouth, unethical and unprofessional onslaught” upon a young female attorney-at-law by a person considered to be the head of the bar. “The learned AttorneyGeneral demonstrates no regard for the sub judice principle, publicly, expressing his views on the merits of a case that is pending in the Continued on page 29
PAGE 14
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Car abandoned, drugs found GNBA Board holds “emergency following police roadblock meeting” to resolve burning issues
The seized car in which Berbice Police reportedly found a stash of marijuana and a passport on Monday evening. The police in Corentyne on Monday evening found an abandoned vehicle which was suspected to have been abandoned by drug dealers after they were cornered by police. According to reports, around 18:05 hrs on Monday, last, the police received information that a vehicle was travelling with a large quantity of drugs destined for the Upper Corentyne area. The police subsequently set up a roadblock along the Corentyne highway. During that time, a vehicle which was suspected to be a taxi and fitting the description, came rolling up
toward the roadblock. However upon seeing the police, the driver of the vehicle made a sudden about turn and headed back in the direction of New Amsterdam. The police boarded their vehicle and gave chase, but were unable to locate the gateway car. Conducting further investigations, the cops received information that an individual had disembarked a car fitting the description of the vehicle being sought, and had boarded another vehicle. The cops later came upon a parked Silver Grey Toyota Continued on page 29
The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Agency (GNBA) on Monday held an emergency meeting in an effort to resolve some burning issues. Kaieteur News spoke to the Board’s Chairman, Leonard Craig who said that “all issues regarding the business of GNBA were discussed.” He said that specific attention was placed on issues of importance “which will help us, as a Board, to move forward.” Asked if all members were in attendance, Craig refused to be specific. His only response was, “we had a quorum.” Pressed for more information as to the outcome of the meeting, Craig said that he has to be temporarily tightlipped about the meeting. Reason being, Craig said, that the Board has decided to issue some press statements before the end of this week. The chairman insisted that speaking to the media now on the matters discussed in the meeting would be preempting the statements. However, Kaieteur News was subsequently able to confirm that Anthony Vieira was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting. The GNBA has been having some serious problems. Craig and Vieira, a key member of the Board, just cannot seem to get along. As a result, the work of the Board has been stalled for some time. Monday’s meeting is the second in
GNBA Chairman, Leonard Craig
GNBA Board member, Anthony Vieira
recent times that Vieira has not attended ever since he staged a protest and stormed out a Board meeting. Information reaching this newspaper is that Vieira will not return to any meeting until such time as Craig is no longer “a concern.” Vieira is the Chairman of a subcommittee that has been set up to deal with some very important business of the GNBA. That Committee is referred to as the Legal matters and Fees Committee. Currently, regulations that are supposed to prompt major changes in the broadcasting industry are stuck in that committee, as Vieira is insisting that he cannot work with Craig. Despite it not being within his power to appoint or remove a Board member, the Broadcasting
entrepreneur thinks that Craig is not fit to be Chairman of the Board. Thus, he is refusing to fully corporate. Kaieteur News understands that the rift between Craig and Vieira has been longstanding. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo recently told Kaieteur News that he did not know about any discord on the Board. Nevertheless, he was quoted in sections of the state media calling on the GNBA to sort out its internal issues and put the business of the public first. While Vieira refuses to work with Craig, critical issues are not being attended to, including the lowering of Broadcasting fees and the existence of illegal radio licences.
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 15
Legal fraternity calls for special court, judges for Asset Recovery cases By Kiana Wilburg Numerous civil and criminal cases remain clogged in Guyana’s judicial system for a plethora of reasons. But when the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) comes on board, the legal fraternity wants to see cases from the entity being dealt with in an expeditious manner. In fact, it was during the second round of consultations on the SARA draft legislation, held at the Pegasus Hotel, that this matter was brought up. Raising the issue was head of the Guyana Bar Association, Gem StanfordJohnson. During the question and answer segment, the attorney raised a number of concerns, one of which was the need for a special court to deal with asset recovery cases, as the court system is already plagued by a backlog in cases. She said that a special court may be necessary, since, given the current system, it may take approximately five to seven years to conclude asset recovery matters, “especially when one takes into account the fact that there are clever lawyers who may find ways to delay the process.” In relation to the concerns expressed, Attorney General Basil Williams said that the country is based on the system of a separation of powers, and such an issue is one for the Chancellor of the Judiciary. Williams believes however that there could be consultations on that matter between the judiciary and the Executive. Other members of the legal fraternity who were present at the event agreed
- INSISTS SUCH MATTERS MUST NOT FALL VICTIM TO JUDICIAL BACKLOG with the suggestion and stressed that a special court is absolutely essential in such a circumstance. Head of the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU), Dr. Clive Thomas said that he was pleased with the consultations and is in agreement with the suggestion. It was since last year July that the coalition administration promised that it would set up a special court to preside solely over corruption cases. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had made this disclosure at the book launch of former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran. He said that the anti-corruption court will have to be established when all the anticorruption laws are in place. He noted that government has already made steps towards this end, in addition to its efforts to strengthen already existing anti-graft laws. His disclosure was given full support by Minster of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, who reiterated that the number of cases government expects to have in the future on lawbreakers, would perhaps necessitate an entire court. Ramjattan said that one cannot argue that such a court would not only support government’s commitment to enforcing the anti-corruption laws, but would also serve as a reminder that no one will escape punishment once they are found to have committed the crime.
He said that those involved in cases of corruption can rest assured that they will not be denied their day in court, nor would the course of justice be delayed. Written comments on the SARA Bill may be submitted to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel at draftingconsultations.mla@gmail.com or posted to the Attorney General’s Chambers at Lot 95 Carmichael Street, North Cummingsburg. The Draft Bill is also on the Attorney General’s website at http:// legalaffairs.gov.gy/.
Head of the Guyana Bar Association, Gem Stanford-Johnson
PAGE 16
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Sirmattie Ramnaress murder PI…
Magistrate refuses to expunge parts of witness’ statement
MURDER ACCUSED: Colin Grant
MURDERED: Sirmattie Ramnaress
MURDER ACCUSED: Colin Bailey
Magistrate Fabayo Azore refused to expunge certain parts of a statement given by a prosecution witness, as requested by attorney Nigel Hughes, who is representing former Police Sergeant Colin Bailey in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Sirmattie Ramnaress. Bailey, 52, Ramnaress’ former reputed husband, of 63 South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara and Colin Grant of 1161 Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, are currently on remand for the woman’s murder. It is alleged that between August 30 and 31,
2013, at Diamond, they killed 36-year-old Ramnaress. When the PI continued yesterday, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Magistrate Azore informed Police Prosecutor, Stephen Telford and the defence of her ruling to not cut out certain parts of the witness’ statement. The Magistrate said that the evidence led in the statement is relevant to the case. She however stated that the defence will be allowed to cross examine the witness on September 26, when the PI continues. According to reports, Sirmattie Ramnaress was
found lying face down in the garage of her home on August 31, 2013. It was a blaze coming from the woman’s home that led firefighters to a bond, when they stumbled upon her body. Her body reportedly bore two stab wounds - one to the neck and another to the hip. The police in a statement had said that Ramnaress’ house was ransacked and drenched with a flammable liquid, and a storage bond at the rear of the building was destroyed by fire. Grant reportedly told detectives that he was hired and paid by Bailey to kill Ramnaress.
Brazilian woman remanded for illegal ammo Brazilian National, Mikaany Souza Meres was yesterday remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to unlawfully possessing ammunition. Meres appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The 26-year-old denied that on August 11, at Aishalton Village, she had.32 live ammunition in her possession, when she was not the holder of a firearm licence. Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones told the court that the defendant was on her way to a camp on the day in question, when she stopped at the Aishalton Police Station to check in. Jones said
Mikaany Souza Meres that the ammunition was found concealed in Meres’ handbag. According to the prosecutor, Meres was told of the offence committed and
later charged. The unrepresented woman, who spoke through the aid of an interpreter, stated that she resided in Boa Vista, Brazil, and came to Guyana to work as a cook for a mining camp. When asked by Magistrate Azore if he had any objections to bail, Jones replied in the affirmative. He argued that the defendant is a flight risk since she has no ties to Guyana. He also argued that no special reasons were provided to satisfy the court. Magistrate Azore upheld these objections and remanded Meres to prison, until September 8, when she will appear before the Chief Magistrate.
Wednesday August 17, 2016
GPHC CEO flouts tax and... (From page 7) this action by the CEO as a serious breach of law and an abuse of his authority warranting some sanction by the Board of the Corporation.” QUESTIONABLE PROCUREMENT According to the report too under Khan’s purview, “the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, in many instances, failed to follow the procurement guidelines outlined in the Procurement Act, as well as their own policy on the tendering limits.” A report of the findings noted that “it is also not clear whether the full National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) sanctioned the contract awards.” Based on the findings of the audit, the hospital did multiple transactions with a named individual identified as a sole trader whose business (name withheld) was registered with the Deeds Registry on December 17, 2014. According to the findings, the purchases from the entity in question grew significantly from 2012. While in 2012 the value of purchases amounted to $97,729,410 by 2014, the purchase value mounted to
$329,815,110. In fact, between 2012 and the middle of last year, drug purchases from this entity were $852,792,423. But what was particularly troubling about the GPHC’s relationship with this particular entity is that, it was not authorised to supply prescription drugs. According to the audit report “we were informed by letter dated September 14, 2015 from the Food and Drug Department that (the entity in question) does not have an import permit for prescription drugs nor has ever been issued with a marketing authorisation for prescription items supplied to the GPHC.” The findings also revealed that quotations reviewed for the same company reflected that the bidder failed to provide expiry dates for the supply of drugs or medical items. The audit has revealed a number of issues not only with the awarding of contracts, but also with the management of the hospital and lack of internal controls and maintenance of adequate financial systems. There were clear instances where procurement regulations were flouted by the CEO himself. An instance highlighted by the report was where the
PAGE 25
Kaieteur News
CEO permitted sole sourcing without any adequate justification. It was outlined that a quotation for a specialised laser was directly sourced by Khan, who, in his letter to NPTAB, noted that GPHC previously had two Alcon lasers that were donated by the Chinese doctors that are no longer in working condition. He further noted that justification for sole-sourcing was a memo from Dr. Shailendra Sugrim. But the auditors observed that the memo was dated after the CEO had already sought and received the quote. Permission for the purchase was granted three days later by Chairman of NPTAB. The laser was procured at a cost of $9,901,500. But according to the policy under which the GPHC operates, sole sourcing is only allowed when purchases are $1 to $150,000. Should the cost exceed $150,000 and is up to $300,000, three or more quotations are required. If the cost exceeds $300,000 and is up to $6M it must gain the attention of the hospital’ Tender Board. A cost exceeding $6M but up to $15M must gain the attention of NPTAB, while costs of $15M and more must be approved by Cabinet.
Instructor caught with ganja at Camp Street jail A man who teaches steel pan lessons to inmates at the Camp Street Prison was yesterday remanded to prison on a drug trafficking charge by Magistrate Fabayo Azore. Shawn Koulen, 41, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, denied the charge which alleged that on August 11, at the Camp Street Prison, he had 400 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) in his possession for the purpose of trafficking. It was revealed by Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones that Koulen frequently visits the prison to teach inmates. Jones said that on the day in question, police after receiving certain information, searched a haversack the defendant was carrying. Jones said the illegal drug was found concealed in a yellow parcel inside the haversack. The prosecutor pointed out that prison officials never paid much attention to the man when he visited the facility because of what he came to do. Jones pointed out that the defendant admitted that he owned the drug under caution.
- court hears The prosecutor strongly opposed bail for the defendant on the ground that no special reasons were provided to satisfy the court. The defendant told the court that he has three children and has another child on the way. Meanwhile in another case, Jason Howard was released on $75,000 bail for a robbery he is accused of committing last Wednesday. It is alleged that he robbed Charmaine Charles of a gold chain valued $25,000 in Georgetown. The charge also states that during, before or after the robbery he used personal violence against the woman. The unrepresented
Shawn Koulen man denied the allegation read to him by Magistrate Azore. Howard was instructed to make his next court appearance on September 12.
Improved health... (From page 24) arrangement with the Ministry, whereby a health team visits its Lot 44 High Street, Werk-en-rust, Georgetown location every second Wednesday of each month to offer health care services. “We had this arrangement under the previous Minister and it still exists...the team comes and offers us blood pressure testing, blood glucose testing, and dispenses medication and even offers referrals,” Singh added.
PAGE 26
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
UN chief warns of unprecedented Clinton names close confidants, ‘catastrophe’ in Syria’s Aleppo Obama veterans to transition team Reuters - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Kimoon warned yesterday of an unprecedented “humanitarian catastrophe” in Syria’s Aleppo and urged Russia and the United States to quickly reach a deal on a ceasefire in the city and elsewhere in the country. Fighting for control of Aleppo, split between its government-held west and rebel-held eastern neighbourhoods, has intensified in recent weeks causing hundreds of deaths and depriving many civilians of power, water and vital supplies. “In Aleppo we risk seeing a humanitarian catastrophe unprecedented in the over five years of bloodshed and suffering in the Syrian conflict,” Ban told the U.N. Security Council in his latest monthly report on aid access, seen by Reuters. Aleppo is one of the bastions of the rebellion to oust Syrian President Bashar alAssad, whose army is backed on the ground by Shi’ite
Ban Ki-moon Muslim militias from neighbouring countries and from the skies by Russian air strikes. “The fight for territory and resources is being undertaken through indiscriminate attacks on residential areas, including through the use of barrel bombs, killing hundreds of civilians, including dozens of children,” Ban said in the U.N. report. “All parties to the conflict are failing to uphold their obligation to protect civilians,”
he said. Ban reiterated a U.N. call for at least a 48-hour humanitarian pause in fighting in Aleppo for aid deliveries and also pushed Moscow and Washington to rapidly reach a deal on a ceasefire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday discussed securing a ceasefire, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. Russia used Iran as a base from which to launch air strikes against Syrian militants for the first time yesterday. The Russian Defence Ministry said it takes great care to avoid civilian casualties in its air strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.based war monitor, said heavy air strikes yesterday had hit many targets in and around Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria, killing dozens. The United States had been targeting Islamic State militants in Syria with air strikes for nearly two years.
Reuters - Hillary Clinton’s White House transition team, a mix of former advisers of President Barack Obama, close confidants, long-time colleagues and former elected officials, reflects the sense of careful organisation the Democratic candidate has aimed to project in her presidential campaign. But her Republican rival, Donald Trump, could seize on the group to make the point that she is part of the establishment he aims to defeat in November’s election, and to reiterate his charge that a Clinton administration would be an Obama “third term.” The group, which the Clinton campaign named yesterday and which will lay the groundwork for her to take charge quickly if she wins, is evidence of Clinton’s long experience in Washington as a former secretary of state, U.S. senator and first lady. Transition teams aim to help the president-elect make key decisions during the period between the election and
Hillary Clinton the inauguration, in this case from Nov. 8 to Jan. 20, so the new White House occupant can fill leadership posts quickly. “They are the names you would expect – people who have been advising her for a long time; people who have worked with her for a long time and people who are peers, who she respects,” Matt Bennett of the moderate Democratic group Third Way said of Clinton’s transition team. The group will be headed by Ken Salazar, a former interior secretary and U.S. sena-
tor. He will lead four co-chairs: former Obama national security adviser Tom Donilon; former Obama aide Neera Tanden, who now leads the progressive think tank the Center for American Progress; former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Maggie Williams, the director of Harvard’s Institute of Politics. Heather Boushey, the executive director of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, will be the chief economist. Two additional policy advisers from Clinton’s campaign, Ed Meier and Ann O’Leary, will also move fulltime to the transition team, the campaign said in a statement. The transition team does not necessarily reflect future policy. “The job here is to give options, not just say there is one policy course you want to take,” said Democratic strategist Bob Shrum, who advised the presidential campaigns of Al Gore and John Kerry.
Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 27
Kaieteur News
Barbados PM wants closer T&T to ship more goods to Venezuela relationship with Panama Trinidad Guardian Christopher Alcazar, a director of the T&T Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA), has confirmed to the T&T Guardian that local manufacturers are preparing to ship more goods to Venezuela at month end. This follows the first batch shipped in late June in keeping with an agreement signed between the T&T and Venezuela governments to supply the South American country with manufactured goods through a US$50 million revolving fund. The agreement covers an initial three-month period and so far $26.9 million dollars worth of food and basic household items have been shipped to eastern Venezuela. Alcazar, who is also the National Brands Director at Vemco Limited, said one of
Christopher Alcazar the challenges had been in meeting the exact specifications of the size and volume of goods requested by the Venezuelan buyers. “For example, they chose a particular 500ml ketchup format from
Vemco. We were therefore able to supply 180 tons of that particular product given current line capacity, raw and packaging material available at the time,” he explained. “Had they chosen another format of ketchup we would have been able to supply the requested the entire 700 tons of ketchup requested.” However, he added, the Venezuelan market is proving to be lucrative for T&T manufacturers. “Our current business to Venezuela is a foot in the market, which can give us access to understand how we can work with the market to secure midlong term growth through different avenues. Vemco will be pursuing these opportunities as the current business model does not carry with it security for long term brand building in the market,” he said.
A young prosecutor takes on corrupt land deals in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - In a poor corner of remote northeastern Brazil often viewed as the country’s ‘Wild West’, a young state prosecutor is chalking up wins in the fight to stop corrupt land deals. The state of Piaui has been targeted as the next frontier for large-scale agriculture investment with a University of California researcher saying land possession in the state is often still decided by the “law of the gun”. Francisco Rodrigues Santiago, the local prosecutor, wants to clean up his state’s reputation as a place for shady deals. For while investment in agriculture is important and can boost food production and reduce poverty, say ex-
perts, Brazil’s land acquisition system is vulnerable to abuse with many competing land registries and unclear property titles. Last month Santiago and fellow prosecutors won a landmark case to block the acquisition of a Los Angelessize swathe of territory he described as an “illegal land grab” and he is now working on laying charges against some of the 14 people involved in the 124,000 hectare deal. “It’s important to investigate these cases because the land is rich in Piaui but the people face poverty: it’s very unfair,” Santiago, 35, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. State officials have pledged to step up prosecutions targeting cases of
“grilagem”, a Brazilian term for land scams. “Since the 1990s, this problem of grilagem has intensified,” he said. “We are trying to diminish this practice. The grilleros do not produce food; they’re speculators.” In a bid to kick-start economic growth in the recession h i t - c o u n t r y, Brazil’s interim government is planning to make it easier for foreigners to buy farmland. But the prosecutor said he is not currently investigating any foreign firms for unlawful land deals.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) — Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has expressed the view that the strong ancestral and cultural links connecting Panama to Barbados warrant a strengthening and enhancing of the existing diplomatic relationship. According to Stuart, this is necessary to “solidify a partnership that is mutually beneficial”. He made the comments in a message on Monday to celebrate Panama Day in Barbados. The Panama Canal was inaugurated on August 15, 1914, and Panama Day pays tribute to those Barbadians who contributed to the construction of the waterway. The prime minister noted that Barbados and Panama have enjoyed a cordial and productive relationship since they established diplomatic relations in August 1975. “The government of Barbados recognises that
Freundel Stuart Panama is a reservoir of potential philanthropy, social and political capital and a conduit for trade, investment, and tourism for Barbados. To this end, the government of Barbados has made a conscious commitment to pursuing all opportunities available in and by way of Panama, and to fully engaging the untapped human capital of Barbadian descendants of Panama in support of this effort. Barbados also embraces the Barba-
dian Diaspora in Panama,” he stated. Stuart stressed that Barbados and Panama were forever linked by the Panama Canal. He recalled that at the start of the 20th century, tens of thousands of Barbadians, mainly men, recruited by the Isthmian Canal Commission to work on the construction of the Panama Canal, set out on a journey from their homeland. He noted that not only did those Barbadians play a pivotal role in what at that time was the world’s most ambitious project to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but they also bolstered this country’s economy through their remittances, at a time of limited prospects for jobs and economic activity at home. The president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela, visited Barbados last year, and the prime minister visited Panama in April 2015 and in June this year for the inauguration of the expansion of the Panama Canal.
Courts to be equipped with modern technology, says Chuck KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The Government is seeking to e q u i p t h e nation’s courts with the relevant technology as part of measures to increase efficiency. During a recent interview on the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) television programme, ‘Issues and Answers’, Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck, said the main parish courts and
all the supreme courts will be equipped with audiovisual technology, “so that everything that is said and done in the courts will be recorded”. “So, during a trial, you will not need the judge taking longhand any longer. Whatever is recorded, the technology is such that immediately, it can be transcribed into written print so that at the end of the
day, the transcript will be ready,” Chuck said. The minister said this will allow cases to move more easily, so that at the end of the trial, if there is an appeal, it can be sent to the Court of Appeal. “If the judge needs time to revise and look at the transcript, it can be printed. Defence counsel and prosecutors will also have a copy,” he added.
PAGE 28
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 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Repairs to LED, Plasma, LCD and other electronic items. Abdul Electronics. Call: 2250391
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
VACANCY Checkers, labourers, pump attendants & accountants. TI certificate needed (Berbice). Call: 330-2399; 623-5920
SALON
WANTED
VEHICLE FOR SALE
- 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
2009 RX8, Allion, Music Bus, Small bus, Motor cycle, Benz. Call: 265-4979
Nails & hair station to rent. Call: 689-0888
Experienced female bartender, live in/live out waitress, cooks & bouncers needed @ Eden Bar & Lounge, Garden of EdenCall: 652-0074
One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician –Call: 231-0655 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 Clerk must be able to work Sunday-Sunday @ Ruimveldt Ice House. Call: 687-0615 Cashier for supermarket – 624-0033; Driver for water truck – 680-3863; Pump attendant /Security in store – 680-3863; Porters- Call: 6803863 Assistant Accountant with own transportation & QuickBooks, PAYE, NIS & VAT knowledge -$150,000. Call: 673-5475/kevin@express truckingcorp.com
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 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 One bedroom apartment preferably working couple or single person. Call: 638-8858 Lamaha property for rent: four bedrooms self contained spacious & comfortable in a secured area, serious enquiries only. Call: 689-4041 Hair station rental at convenient location, Georgetown, Call: 638-1106, discounts given to newcomers, persons with experienced & clients
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
One experienced cashier apply @ Hack’s Halaal with written application, 5 commerce Street.
1-2 Storey house, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, dining, 2 living. Call: 694-3338 Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel: 227-2993 LEARN TO DRIVE C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
Experienced diesel mechanic wanted to work in Georgetown. Call: 227-1717 1 Male cook in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 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
AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pitbull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 2008 Toyota Axio -$2.6M, unregistered. Call: 691-7475 2010 Premio -$3.3M, 2010 Noah & Voxy -$2.5M, 2004 Mitsubishi canter 2 ton $2.4M, unregistered & fully loaded. Call: 642-7295
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
Low down payment, cheap reates,special offer for the summer. Call: 690-6494
CAT 320 BL excavator, 428 CAT back hoe, CAT930 Front End, 9 Wheeled Pneumatic Roller -Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 1 Perkins V8 Turbo Charge 170KVa Generator in working condition, Call 223-7380 D4H CAT Bulldozer, Mack 8 Cubic Yard, cement mixer truck, all in working order. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
Experienced driver to work with a Firm @ G/ Town, able to drive all types of vehicles, ages 30-50. Call: 226-9764
2009 BELTA -$2.3M, 2011 BLUEBIRD -$2.7M, 2009 IST -$2.7, 2012 RACTIS $2.6M, 2009 ARUIS -$2.5M –CALL: 617-2891
1 Office clerk to work with firm G/town. Must be computer literate & have experienced in office procedures. Call: 226-9768
One Corolla Feilder Wagon year 2010 - $1.7M. Call: 2254816; 676-6379
Prime commercial building for sale @ Broad & Charles Streets, Georgetown, 68,000 square feet. Call: 592-231-6694
1-2006 Nissan Dump Canter, 1-Potable trailer. Call: 6626567; 691-4340
Antique household items, plants, ceiling fan, computer monitors, sauna and much more. Call: 231-1284; 223-9719
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 1- Welder must have knowledge of gas welding to work @ 21 Broad St. Charlestown, Fat man Welding Shop. Call: 6439125/ 223-5595 Pastors, voluntary pastors, members, part-time secretary wanted for opening of new Church. Call Pastor & Bishop Walters: 686-3421
Honda Civic M/Car “SS” series -$1.3M, very good condition- Call: 696-2815 RZ minibus -$1.2M, 192 Car $800,000, 2009 unregistered bluebird -$2.8M, excellent condition, owner leaving country. Call: 265-0204; 6765824 Fielder 2006, Bluebird 2006, Army general 6X6 truck, extendable 40 FT Trailer. Call: 616-5595; 665-3676 One 2008 Toyota IST-Call: 614-9742
Live in couple: handyman, caretaking duties. Call: 2271830
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
Purple Heart: 30X80 -$25,000, 32X80 -$28,000, 34X80 $28,000, 36X80 -$28,000, Free Delivery- Call: 688-9712; 6510717; 671-2490
3 TON CANTER ENCLOSE AND OPEN BACK WITH 4D ENGINE, PRICE -$3.6M, NEVER REGISTERED – CALL: 617-2891
CAR RENTAL CAR RENTAL
ADORABLE FLUFFY PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 615-0146
One security guard, apply to Millenium Manor Hotel 43 Hadfield Street W/ Rust .
VISA processing centre for all US/Canadian Visa processing @ Cybertron Parika. Call: 260-4850
TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
One 2007 Fielder stick gear $2.7M negotiable. One B12 Sunny $300,000- Call: 6165974, 618-8703
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
EDUCATIONAL 9 Courses Diploma in Computers -$35,000, Computerized Accounting $30,000 @ MicroGraphics. Vreed-en-Hoop, Call: 2643057
IAE: Register for full time school (Grades 7-11) CSEC lessons; adults and school leavers CXC classes. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742 Computerized Deal for 2016 CXC Students, 9 Courses Diploma in Computerize Accounting @ Cybertron Parika. Call: 260-4850
Audi A4-$3.7M, BMW-$2.3M, Ist-$1,895,000,,Fielder$1,895,000, Spacio-$1,995,000. Contact#650-0402 Elevator (good condition), Diesel Generator (23KVA, 110/220V). Call: 231-1284; 223-9719
1-Leylad DAF-45 $1.5M, 1-Cat 928F Loader-$6.9M,1-Hyster Forklift-$1.5M, Light Tower$800-000. Contact#650-0402 Double Steel Drum Compactor, CAT 215 Excavator, Leyland DAF55 Truck, 400 GLS, Bitumen Kettle. Call: 275-0538; 6837225 Fancy spiral note books and soft cover 3 ring folders by Martha Stewart @ Low prices- Call: 626-6335 Alaris Infusion pumps, single and double cylinder, excellent condition with manuals. Call: 626-6335 Playstation 3 with 4 Control -$60,000, playstation 4 with games -$60,000, used clothes at a cheap price. Call: 670-6215 Fridge, 4 burner store & gas bottle. Call: 684-5365 TO LET Furnished apartment @ Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara. Call: 2160644; 668-8403 Continue page 29
Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 29
Kaieteur News
FATAL FIRE AT DROP IN CENTRE…
Commission recommends similar inspections be conducted at other care facilities The Commission Of Inquiry, (COI) into the fire at the Drop in Centre has recommended that the Ministry of Social Protection and the Childcare and Protection Agency (CCPA) continue to focus on overhauling child protection, cutting red tape and improving the skills and knowledge of social workers, so that they could adequately protect children in the State’s care. The recommendations are based on weeks of investigations into the fire that killed two young children at the Drop In Centre, (DIC) last month. Based on the findings of the COI, there are
recommendations for the Ministry of Social Protection to arrange and conduct inspections at all similar facilities nationwide. The Commission spearheaded by Guyana Defence Force (GDF) retired Woman Colonel Windee Algernon also proposed that the appointment of Inspector of Homes be filled immediately to ensure compliance with the Minimum Operational Standards Regulations (MOSR). Colonel Algernon said that emergency evacuation plans should be developed and practiced at all childcare facilities. “These plans must include safety
Attorney General has... From page 13 Court. I note the silence of the Guyana Bar Association and the Guyana Women’s Lawyers Association on these gross transgressions.” Nandlall also questioned the AG’s objections over the appointment power vested in the commission. “He wants these powers away from the JSC. This is an expression of the authoritarian’s intolerance of a divergence of power by the Constitution away from the Executive into an independent commission over which the Executive has no influence.” Nandlall also denied that the present administration
Car abandoned, drugs... From page 14 Carina, HC 5277, which fit the description of the second vehicle, and was apparently abandoned by the occupants. The vehicle was searched and a multi-coloured shopping bag was found in the trunk. A black garbage bag was found in that bag which also contained four transparent plastic bags with what appears to be leaves, seeds and stems of the marijuana plant. The vehicle was transported to the Number 51 police station where it was lodged. The substance was tested and weighed and was found to be 5769 grams of marijuana. A passport, camouflage jersey and cell phone were also found in the vehicle. Investigations are ongoing.
inherited a “mess” at the Deeds Registry. “I will furnish the details on another occasion. Suffice it to say, that he (the Attorney General) inherited a modern, well-equipped and properly staffed Commercial and Deeds Registries consolidated into a singular unit, the Deeds and Commercial Registry Authority, a statutory body corporate managed by a competen t Board of Directors nominated by important stakeholders, along with an additional and renovated building which formerly housed the New Building Society Limited on Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.”
protocols….that in-house training including rehearsal be conducted for staff in crises management at all Child Care Centres…and Child Care Workers be given additional time away from the working in environment to allow them to relax after a period of work or tension.” Additionally, the COI found that there were adequate written guidelines for the management of crisis situations, including fire. “House Manager, House Supervisor or Social Service Assistance (SSAs) on duty seemed unfamiliar with them, consequently there were no rehearsals. Thus, when the fire occurred there was confusion and panic resulting in the tragedy.” As such, Colonel Algernon called for suitably qualified staff to be recruited to meet the increasing demands of Child Care responsibilities. “The COI found that the SSAs on duty did not possess the necessary qualification and experience for the responsibility given to them. According to the MOSR, qualifications for the position of SSAs (Caregivers) are a Diploma in Social Work, Sociology and three (3) years’ experience working with children, or a Trained Teacher’s Certificate along with a valid police clearance or a secondary education and ten (10) years’ experience caring for children.” Additionally, with respect
days before the incident. Medical examinations done at the Diamond Hospital had confirmed that the five siblings were victims of neglect and maltreatment. They were temporarily placed at the Home until further investigations could have been done.
GDF retired Woman Colonel Windee Algernon From page 28
to the number of residents at the DIC at the time of the fire the children/staffer ratio should have been minimum of six (6) SSAs on duty to adequately meet the needs of the children. “However, on the evening of the fire there were only two SSAs on duty.” Preliminary findings by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the fire that killed two young brothers at the Hadfield Street Drop In Centre, have revealed that there was a lack of fire prevention strategies and other systematic problems at the institution. Last month, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon speaking at a post-cabinet news briefing, noted that the preliminary investigations
revealed that there was a lack of fire prevention strategies and other systematic problems at the institution. Minister Harmon had said that the government would await the report of the inquiry to decide on compensation for the parents of six-year-old Joshua George and his brother, four-year-old Antonio George. The remains of the siblings were found among the debris shortly after firefighters extinguished the blaze which started around 12:05 hrs on June 8, last. The Drop-in-Centre housed 34 children at the time. The two brothers and three other siblings were reportedly taken into the Drop-in Centre less than two
PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 One 2 storey wooden building, located at 29 Delph Street C/Ville on land size50X115, ideal for business. Call: 616-5084 Transported property, 5L Hilux pick-up, 1-complete music set. Call: 265-3586 House for sale @ Public Road Soesdyke, E.B.D –Call: 261-5287 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities -price reduced– Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 High value transported land and 2 bedrooms newly built house, Greater Diamond E.B.D -$16M negotiable. Call: 265-4338
TO LET 2X3 Bedrooms fully furnished luxury apartments for rent (short & long term stay). Call: 665-3505 One four storey business place located on Robb Street, next to Bourda Market. Call: 623-7731; 629-0636; 645-3489 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 2 Bedroom apartment for rent (semi-furnished) @ Dennis Street, Sophia, (water & light inclusive). Call: 6626567; 691-4340
PAGE 30
Kaieteur News
ATV rider injured after colliding with car The overturned ATV
The rider of an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) had to be rushed to a private city hospital after a collision with a car left him nursing severe injuries to the head. Reports are that both parties were travelling at a fast rate along Company Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, when the ATV ran into the side of the car. According to eyewitness, the rider of the ATV was pitched some 10 metres away.
The driver of the vehicle, however, escaped without any injury. The rider, who is known in the area as “Rastaman” was rushed to the hospital by public spirited citizens. This publication was told that the ATV flipped several times. Up to press time this publication was told that the man was listed as critical, but a source at the city hospital said that there was a good chance of him recovering.
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Crime Lab detective to testify in PI into hospital dispatcher’s murder Police Sergeant Rawle Nedd was deemed competent to testify in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) for which Alan Sim Sr., is charged with the murder of Melissa Skeete, a former dispatcher at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Skeete’s body was picked up on November 23, 2015, at Carmichael Street, Georgetown, with multiple stab wounds. The PI commenced yesterday before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The police witness was permitted to testify in the PI by the Magistrate, even after several objections were raised by Attorney Latchmie Rahamat, who is representing Sim. The address of the accused was given as Lot 86 Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara. Sergeant Nedd’s testimony in relation to investigations he conducted in the matter was adjourned
MURDER ACCUSED: Alan Sim
MURDERED: Melissa Skeete
until September 28. Sergeant Nedd is attached to the Crime Laboratory, Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown. He is a fingerprint technician, crime scene technician and crime scene photographer. To date,
he has visited over 2000 crime scenes. It was reported that Skeete, formerly of 94 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, was stabbed multiple times about her body. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre.
Water from Trinidad, cane... The car that was involved in the accident.
From page 12 manufacturing sector tries its best with what we have and if it was that easy then a lot of people would have gone into it. So it is not easy. It calls for a lot of resources and I don’t only mean money.” Asked if the state of affairs would underscore the need for some level of protectionism for Guyana’s manufacturing sector he said, “Of course. I am not saying that there isn’t protectionism, but that is why the Common
External Tariff (CET) has been developed, to help and protect manufacturers. So there are some mechanisms to protect your own industry, and the CET is just one example.” Kaieteur News then asked Caesar to expound on the type of concessions he made reference to earlier. The GMSA Head said, “For example, there are investment agreements that manufactures and investors would have. Some
manufacturers would like tax waivers. Some would like tax and duty free waivers for equipment for manufacturing. Those are the types of concessions that I am talking about.” He was then asked if he was implying that those concessions he mentioned are not easily granted to manufacturers. Caesar at this point, insisted that the reporter was deliberately trying to “misinterpret” what he was saying. Even after it was explained that it was only clarity that was being sought on his comments regarding the concessions for manufacturers, he insisted, “you are not being fair. I am going to bring this conversation to an end.” To be continued …
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 31
PAGE 32
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 33
Kaieteur News
Eight dead, 40,000 homes flooded in Louisiana Reuters - Gonzales (United States) (AFP) - The death toll from historic flooding in Louisiana climbed to eight yesterday, as the ex-
panding flood zone prompted authorities to declare disasters in 20 parishes of the southeastern US state. While flooding receded
in parts of southern Louisiana, other areas saw rising waters. The National Weather Service issued renewed flood warnings. “We’re seeing unprec-
edented flood levels as the waters move south,” Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said at a news conference.
Officials said 40,000 homes have been impacted by the floods and more than 8,000 people were in shelters. More than 20,000 have been rescued or evacuated, they said. Twenty parishes — similar to counties in other states — were declared emergency disaster areas, up from four on Monday and 12 yesterday. The designation frees up federal money to aid with rescue operations and emergency housing, among other things. “We’re just now moving into recovery phase. We’re still rescuing in the southern part of the parish,” said Layton Ricks, the president of Livingston Parish — more than 75 percent of which was affected by flooding. There were reports of looting in areas where homes and businesses were abandoned by fleeing residents. Many municipalities implemented evening curfews to combat the problem, and to allow rescue crews to move freely at night. Rescue crews were searching for more victims, with officials uncertain about how many people remain missing. Rescue workers are also
searching cars that were inundated or carried away by flood waters. “We are going to have to search and mark each of those automobiles,” the governor said. Ordinary citizens in small boats — who in the last few days have earned the title, “cajun navy” — appeared to outnumber formal rescue crews. Among them were John Booth and Austin Tupper of Baton Rouge. The two men in their 20s had traveled 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast to the hard-hit town of Gonzales, where they were using their private boat to help residents evacuate. Gonzales flooded only in the last 24 hours, as waters drained south. Vast swaths of southern Louisiana remained under water — several feet deep in many places — inundating homes, businesses, and cars. Rick Ramsey, the mayor of Walker — a town of 6,000 people east of Baton Rouge told CBS television affiliate WAFB that his town was heavily damaged. “We are in as good a shape as you can expect with 70 percent of our population flooded,” Ramsey said.
PAGE 34
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
Amid nuclear spat, Britain’s May tells China - We want stronger ties Reuters - Prime Minister Theresa May has told China’s leader that Britain wants to strengthen trade and business ties, an attempt to reassure the world’s second largest economy after London delayed a $24 billion nuclear project. May’s surprise decision to review the building of Britain’s first nuclear plant in decades upset China, which questioned whether Chinese money was still welcome in Britain just weeks after the June 23 Brexit vote to leave the European Union. After Beijing’s expression of frustration, May wrote to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang saying Britain attached great importance to Sino-British cooperation. Britain “looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China on trade and business and on global issues”, China’s foreign ministry said, citing the letter. A source in May’s office confirmed the contents of the letter, which was hand-delivered by Alok Sharma, Parlia-
Theresa May
mentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, “This is part of what you’d expect the Prime Minister to do in terms of our relations with the wider world. It’s all part of Britain remaining an outward-looking country as we head toward Brexit,” the source said. China’s $11.3 trillion economy is currently more than four times as big as Britain’s at $2.4 trillion. Cast as the jewel illustrating a “Golden Era” of rela-
tions between the two powers, the financing deal for the Hinkley Point nuclear project in southwestern England was signed in Downing Street during a state visit to Britain by Xi last year. May’s predecessor, David Cameron, said the Hinkley Point project was a sign of Britain’s openness to foreign investment, but May is concerned about the security implications of the planned Chinese investment, according to a former colleague.
Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 35
Kaieteur News
Silva ton puts Sri Lanka in charge against Australia (Reuters) Sri Lanka’s Kaushal Silva roared back into form with a century in the final test against Australia on Tuesday, boosting the hosts’ hopes of a 3-0 sweep against the world number one team at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. A day after the opener split the webbing on his left hand which needed six stitches and dropped down to number three, Silva struck 115 as Sri Lanka reached 312 for eight at stumps on the penultimate day of the test to lead by 288 runs. Dhananjaya de Silva was batting on 44 with Suranga Lakmal yet to open his account at the other end as Australia’s hopes of a pride-
salvaging win looked rather dim against the hosts’ formidable spin attack on a finalday track. The day belonged to Silva who, after scores of 4,7,5,2 and 0 in the last five innings, cover-drove an Adam Voges full toss to bring up his third test fifty in 251 balls. The relief reflected in his animated celebration as the 30-year-old took off his helmet, swung his bat and roared in delight before being hugged by batting partner Dinesh Chandimal. Resuming on 22 for one, Sri Lanka lost three wickets in the morning session before the 58-run stand between Silva and home captain Angelo Mathews (26) stead-
ied the home ship. Overnight batsman Dimuth Karunaratne (22) fell to a clever piece of stumping by Peter Nevill off the bowling of Nathan Lyon who trapped Silva leg before in his next over but the batsman used the review option to get the umpire’s decision overturned. Kusal Perera (24) fell to Jon Holland while Mitchell Starc dismissed Kusal Mendis (18) leg before to claim his 24th wicket in an otherwise spinnerdominated series. Mathews fell to Lyon (4123) in the second session but Silva added 90 runs with Chandimal (43) for the sixth wicket to consolidate Sri Lanka’s position.
Kaushal Silva roars his delight after battling through a split webbing to score a crucial century, Sri Lanka v Australia, 3rd Test, SSC, 4th day, August 16, 2016 ©AFP
Holland ended Silva’s 269-ball stay with Steve Smith taking the catch in slip as the
batsman walked out to a standing ovation. Scores: Sri Lanka 355
(From page 35) took control just as he did when at his peak to come home in 1.42.15. Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi took silver while fast-finishing American Clayton Murphy grabbed bronze. In the morning session, Wlodarczyk underscored her total dominance of the women’s hammer with a world record of 82.29 meters to win gold by a massive 5.54 meters. Wlodarczyk now has the
eight longest throws in history and is the only woman to clear 80 meters. “I thought, ‘this is that day’,” she said. “It was worth giving it a go because you never know if it’s going to happen again - parents in the stands, fans cheering... I think I’m the happiest woman in the world right now.” Bolt begins the second leg
and 312 for 8 (Silva 115, Lyon 4-123) lead Australia 379 by 288 runs.
Soaring Da Silva is Brazil’s...
Wednesday August 17, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Risks will not be profitable. You will have to be careful not to let others find out about your intentions. Competitive games will be your forte. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Get the red tape and the unwanted paperwork out of the way. You will be moody and react poorly to issues concerning your mate. You like to stay busy and now is your chance to do just that. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Make a point of working on yourself. Financial gains can be made through wise investments. Any attractions toward clients will be one sided and must be put right out of your head. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Avoid overloading your plate. Your personal life will be under the gun and you may want to avoid the questions your lover is going to want to ask you. You are best to get out of the house today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You will be able to find the perfect outfit, and the greatest new accessory for your house. You might find that the extra cash will come in handy when an opportunity to invest comes along. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You will find that you are able to clear up a number of small but important details. Attempt to face key issues with lovers or problems could escalate. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You can make some favorable changes to your looks. Plan to get together with someone special later in the day. You may want to put everyone to work on a project that will keep them all too busy to complain. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Set a limit, or you'll wind up on a tight budget. You can surprise members of your family, which in turn will bring you a pat on the back. Stand up and propose your ideas, and you'll be surprised how many people will follow you.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may be frustrated by the way situations are being handled in your personal life. Someone you live with could be frustrated and upset. You can change your living arrangements.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Family may not want to get involved but an entrepreneur will. Your lover will be extremely sensitive and now will not be a good time to make changes that they won't like.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You are best to stick to basics. Work on getting ahead by picking up added skills. Be creative in your efforts. Be aware of any emotional deception. Do not sign legal contracts or documents today.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You can ask for favors or run your ideas by those who will be able to support your objectives. Refrain from arguing with your mate. Talk to those in a position of power about your intentions.
New athletic... (From page 35) and Grenadian laborers, to be named after the Grenadian Olympian. The stadium, which has already hosted a number of top local and regional sporting events, including the 45th edition of CARIFTA Games, and the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 football tournament, was opened in January. James’s bid to repeat as Olympic 400 metre champion sparked a massive outpouring of support with thousands defying inclement weather by journeying to his west coast home town of Gouyave on Sunday to view the race on a giant screen. Another Grenadian, Bralon Taplin, finished seventh in the 400 metre making it the first time two Grenadians appeared in a final of an Olympic track event. “We also look forward to have here soon in Grenada all of our Olympians,” said Steele, hinting at a national home coming being planned for the country’s seven-member team to the RIO Olympics. “So that we can celebrate and give them the recognition that is due to all of them for participating and making us proud as a people”.
of his triple-triple on Tuesday when he runs in the 200m heats in the morning. The highlights of the evening session include the 110m hurdles final and the final of the women’s 1,500m, which four years ago was so ravaged by doping that it has since replaced the 1988 100 meters final as the “Dirtiest Race In History”.
Kaieteur News
PAGE 36
Wednesday August 17, 2016
14th Annual IPF/NAPF North American Regional Powerlifting Championships
Kenya’s Rudisha retains 800m title Karel Mars, Erwyn Smith and RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Kenya’s David Rudisha obliterated his rivals in the 800 meters final on Monday to become the first man since 1964 to retain his Olympic title over the distance. Rudisha, the world champion and world record holder, stormed to victory with a devastating final-lap sprint that cemented his place among the greats such as New Zealand’s Peter Snell, the last man to successfully defend an 800m Olympic gold. Nicknamed ‘King David’ in Kenya, Rudisha hit top gear in the final 300 meters to surge ahead of his rivals with his trademark finishing kick and win gold in a season’s best time of one minute 42.15 seconds. “I am so excited. It is the greatest moment of my c a r e e r, ” R u d i s h a t o l d reporters. After winning his first Olympic gold and setting a
world record at the 2012 London Games, Rudisha suffered a couple of injuryravaged years that dented his confidence and caused him to miss the 2013 world championships. He struggled for much of the current season and came third in national Olympic trials but the 6foot-3-inch Maasai runner looked in total control of the Rio Games final as his long stride and fluid running style propelled him to victory. “It’s been very difficult,” Rudisha said, referring to his injuries. “I have stayed
focused and positive. My coach has been great and given me hope.” The 27-year-old crossed the line several meters ahead o f A l g e r i a ’s Ta o u f i k Makhloufi, the London Games gold medal winner over 1,500m. Makhloufi said the silver medal boosted his confidence ahead of the 1,500m event later this week. “I am so happy to make my country proud,” he said. “I dedicate this to the poor people.” Fast-finishing American Clayton Murphy set a personal best time to take bronze ahead of France’s Pierre-Ambroise Bosse. “When I saw I could get bronze, I just kept pushing,” said Murphy, who was delighted to have raced against Rudisha. “He is somebody I’ve looked up to since he broke the world record. It was an honor to race him.”
Andrea Smith aiming to shine
Guyana’s powerlifting team in the USVI from right, Erwyn Smith, Kathleen Paul, Andrea Alicia Smith and Karel Mars. Guyana will be aiming to continue its rich tradition of excelling in powerlifting at the Caribbean level when its four member team, which includes three athletes, take on the rest of the region at the 14th Annual IPF/NAPF North American Regional P o w e r l i f t i n g Championships and the 9th IPF/NAPF Caribbean Regional Championships which is currently underway at the Renaissance Hotel Carambola Beach Resort in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The Guyanese athletes under Manager Kathleen Paul left these shores on Saturday last in search of more glory. The athletes are seasoned campaigner Karel Mars along with Erwyn Smith and the lone female athlete, the promising, Andrea Alicia Smith. Ms Smith will be competing in the Women’s 63kg Open Division which was scheduled for yesterday and was intent on obliterating the current Squat and Deadlift records in her division which
stand at 160kg (352lbs) and 142.5kg (314lbs) respectively. M r. S m i t h w i l l b e competing in the Men’s 93kg Open Division today, while Mars will also be in action today. In a release from the federation, the body noted that Team Guyana was plagued with sponsorship issues for this engagement but as a result of a few corporate entities and some individuals, the participation of the trio was made reality. The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPG) had initially shortlisted a squad of 22 athletes comprising of 19 athletes and 3 officials. The team was reduced after the competitions organizers changed the format. The team was further reduced due to sponsorship issues which found the athletes applying for individual sponsorship even as the federation appealed to Corporate Guyana and the
Government, the GAPF noted. After much difficulty in the last week leading up to competition, Rawndell Clementson and Johnny Seecharran were left off the team after Government opted to sponsor the airfare for the lone female athlete, the federation informed. The governing body for the sport says it wishes to extend gratitude to all those who made the participation of the 4-member team possible. These are the Public Utilities Commission, International Pharmaceutical Agency, Demerara Harbour Bridge Ltd., Guyoil, Evan’s Brother Automotive, Hand in Hand, Digicel, Tower Suites, Demerara Mutual, Caribbean Airlines and Sookraj Cambio. Persons interested in viewing the competition can access via the link via https://youtu.be/L0C3NyfX B9Y or via the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting’s facebook page.
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 37
Bolt, Blake and Ashmead advance to 200m semis
Nickel Ashmeade (R) competes in the Men’s 200m Round 1 during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016. RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Defending champion Usain Bolt and team mates Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmead have advanced to today’s 200m semi-finals after all three qualified in r o u n d o n e of t h e Olympic event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil a short yesterday. Blake was first to qualify for the 200m semi-finals after clocking a season’s best of 20.13 seconds, placing second to Spain’s Bruno Hortelano (20.12) in his heat. Then, Ashmead went to the blocks where he won heat six in 20.15s, beating Britain’s Adam Gemili (20.20s) into second. Bolt was the final Jamaican to compete and easily won heat nine in a
comfortable 20.29s, ahead o f N i g e r i a ’ s Ejowvokoghene Oduduru, who clocked a personal best
of 20.34s. American rivals Justin Gatlin (20.42s) and Lashawn Merritt (20.15) were also
Yohan Blake competes in the Men’s 200m Round 1 during the athletics competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016. (Photos: AFP)
first in their heats. Canada’s Andre De Grasse won his heat in 20.09s, which was the
fastest time of this morning’s heats. Only first and second place finishers
automatically qualified for the semi-finals followed by the fou r fastest losers.
PAGE 38
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Caricom pays tribute Troy Doris finishes seventh as American Taylor claims to Bolt, Thompson GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMCCaricom has paid glowing tribute to Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson for winning the coveted 100 metre sprint titles at the Olympic Games currently underway in Brazil. Bolt recovered from a bad start to complete the first phase of an ambitious “triple-triple” when he won the 100 metres final while country woman Thompson became only the second Jamaican women’s Olympic 100 metres title-holder. Bolt, the first athlete to win a hat-trick of Olympic titles, is closer to his goal of winning the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay in three consecutive Olympic Games. “Mr. Bolt’s feat of three consecutive triumphs in the 100 metres is unprecedented in the history of the Games and fills our Community with pride,” said the Caricom statement, released on behalf of regional Heads of Government on Tuesday. “His excellence is an example of the skill and talents which our youths possess and is a beacon of the greatness which beckons those who are willing to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve great heights”. According to the Caricom Statement, Thompson’s victory is “further evidence” of the depth of track and field talent that exist in Jamaica.
second Olympic gold
Elaine Thompson The 24-year-old produced a mid-race burst to brush aside her competition and secure the first major title of her career. “ M s . T h o m p s o n ’s o u t s t a n d i n g performance presented further evidence, if any was needed, of the deep pool of talent that her country, Jamaica, possesses in track and field,” the statement said. “The Community shares in the pride of its Member State as it maintains its dominance in the world of women’s sprinting. The Community joins the people of Jamaica in celebrating these great accomplishments and wishes Mr. Bolt and Ms. Thompson further success at these Games and beyond.”
Christian Taylor (USA) of USA competes. (REUTERS/Dylan Martinez) RIO DE JANEIRO G u y a n e s e Tr o y D o r i s finished seventh in the Triple Jump at the Rio Olympic Games yesterday as Christian Taylor of the United States retained his title, recording the longest jump of the year to claim the podium top spot. Taylor, the defending Olympic and world champion, made his mark of 17.86 meters with his first jump, staking a claim for the gold medal that his rivals were unable to match. His American team mate Will Claye took silver and China’s Dong Bin went home with bronze after they recorded 17.76 and 17.58 respectively, also at their first attempts. Doris created local history when he leapt into the final of the Triple Jump. He leapt to 16.81m in the preliminaries, qualifying for the finals. “I’m excited to finally be an Olympic finalist. Time to make history,” Doris stated, in a social media video. While disappointed, Doris expressed joy at being able to take Guyana where they have never went before and
he will look to improve for the next event. He was eager to hear what Guyanese had to say about his performance. He finished the competition with 16.90m to end in seventh place. The USbased Doris has a personal best effort of 17.18m. Meanwhile, Gold m e d a l i s t Ta y l o r t o l d reporters, “The job is done.” “I never thought on my first jump that would be the gold medal. I wanted it so much. It came together, the stars aligned.” In what soon developed into a predictable tussle for silver and gold from within the U.S. team, the rest of the field in Rio fell behind to join the spectators watching Taylor and Claye re-enact their Olympic duel from London four years ago. “It’s just who executes better on that day. We’re equally talented,” Claye said. “We’re all beatable. I just have to come back and get my win next time.” A notable absentee was world silver medalist Pedro Pablo Pichardo of Cuba, who would have been a challenger for the gold having posted several marks
at 18 meters and further in 2015. The 23-year-old has reportedly struggled with an ankle injury and opted not to jump in Rio, smoothing the way for Taylor. Taylor’s road to Rio has been a rocky one after a worsening knee injury forced him to switch his takeoff leg following his 2012 Olympic triumph, a radical move in one of the most technically challenging events in athletics. After a “game-changing” 2015, the 26-year-old was once again clearing the 18metre mark, making a jump of 18.21 meters at the Beijing world championships to claim second place in the alltime list behind Briton Jonathan Edwards’s 1995 world record of 18.29. Speaking before the Games, Taylor had said the world record was within his sights but his winning mark on Tuesday fell more than 40 cms short. “I wanted the world record but it wasn’t to be,” he said. “Now the fire burns even stronger because I know it’s in the tank.” (Reuters)
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 39
Biles wins record-equaling Soaring Da Silva is fourth gold with floor victory Brazil’s new darling
Simone Biles (USA) of USA competes in the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Floor Final at Rio Olympic Arena. (REUTERS/Mike Blake) (Reuters) Simone Biles showed off her sassy moves and explosive tumbles on the floor exercise to win a record-equaling fourth gold at the Olympics on Tuesday.
A day after a wobbly performance on the beam ended the American’s hopes of leaving Rio with a record haul of five golds for a female gymnast, she was back on form to capture the
floor title with 15.966 points. Aly Raisman completed a 1-2 for the United States by earning 15.500, while Briton Amy Tinkler ’s crowdpleasing routine to Pretty Woman earned her bronze.
New athletic stadium to be named after Kirani James
Bralon Taplin and Kirani James S T. G E O R G E ’ S , Grenada, CMC - Grenada’s newly built athletic stadium is to be renamed after Kirani James, the sensational quarter-miler responsible for the country’s two Olympic medals. T h e G r e n a d a Government announced on Tuesday that it has “started the process” to name the US 40 million dollar Chinese funded facility in honour of the 23-year-old James.
James failed in his bid to repeat as 400 metres champion but clinched silver in Sunday night’s final at the Rio Olympics, four years after capturing the Gold in London. “I think it is most fitting to say that based on most recent performance of Kirani James and recognition of the people’s desire, I think the time has come for us to give serious consideration,” announced
health minister Nickolas Steele during the post cabinet news briefing. “I know that my colleague minister in sports has started the process to name our athletic stadium after Kirani James”. The government announcement comes amid lingering calls for the 8000 seat capacity stadium; built in 22 months by approximately 120 Chinese (Continued on page 31)
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Thiago da Silva won Brazil’s first athletics gold of their home Games on an extraordinary, unforgettable Monday night in Rio, producing an Olympic record of 6.03 meters in the pole vault to beat hot favorite Renaud Lavillenie and send the fans into raptures. A roar to match anything from Sunday’s 100 meters final - produced by a crowd a quarter of the size - accompanied the 22-yearold as he sailed over the bar, leaving the French world record holder and defending champion one more chance to beat him. Lavillenie failed and Brazil had a new, and totally unexpected, hero and their first male athletics gold medal winner since Joaquim Cruz won the 800 meters in 1984. “The gold - incredible,” said Da Silva, who came into the Games with a best of 5.93. “My first time over six meters. My home town wanted me to win. “The crowd were cheering me too much. I had to fix my mind on my technique, forget the people.” There had already been drama aplenty on a night dogged by heavy rain that caused a brief suspension of action. David Rudisha and Shaunae Miller showed that there are different ways to cross the line first, but their gold medals will be the same after thrilling 800 and 400 meters finals. Kenya’s Rudisha, who won the 800m in world record style four years ago, delivered a dominant last lap, striding home majestically to become the first man since New Zealander Peter Snell in 1964 to successfully defend the 800m title. Bahamian Miller, conversely, was tying up desperately but hurled herself across the line, crashing to the track in the process, to just get the nod ahead of American Allyson Felix. There were also golds for Poland’s Anita Wlodarczyk, with a world record in the women’s hammer and 19-year-old Ruth Jebet of Bahrain via Kenya in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase. After the drama of Usain Bolt on Sunday, it looked as if the combination of a poor crowd and heavy rain would produce a flat atmosphere just 24 hours later.
Thiago Braz da Silva (BRA) of Brazil. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) FOCUS OF ATTENTION The pole vault, so often the forgotten event of athletics as it chugs on relentlessly in the background with all the attention on the track, gradually became the prime focus when the crowd realized that the man in green kept clearing. One by one Da Silva’s rivals dropped off but the odds were still stacked heavily in favor of Lavillenie, whose world record of 6.16m meant his final attempt at 6.08 was well within range, despite two failures at 6.03. Brazilians may have been criticized for not being the most sophisticated athletics fans in the world but they knew what was going on enough to take the roof off the Olympic Stadium when the Frenchman failed - though he was unimpressed by their booing as he made his preparations. “There was no fair play from the public,” Lavillenie said. “It is for football, not track and field. “For the Olympics it is not a good image. I did nothing to the Brazilians.” D a S i l v a ’s h e r o i c s s o m e w h a t overshadowed another imperious display by Rudisha, who two months ago was struggling badly with injuries. He bided his time on Monday and then (Continued on page 31)
Kaieteur News
PAGE 40
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Irish bantamweight blasts ‘corrupt’ AIBA RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Irish bantamweight Michael Conlan blasted Olympic boxing body AIBA as ‘corrupt’ on Tuesday in an expletive-laden rant at the judging after losing to Russia’s Vladimir Nikitin in the quarter-finals. Saying he had been robbed of a rightful win, and vowing never to fight again in any AIBA-organized competition, the world champion also accused Russia of influencing judges. “AIBA are just corrupt. They’ve robbed me of my Olympic dream,” he told reporters after losing on points in a unanimous decision that, to some observers, seemed at odds with what they had witnessed. “Obviously Russia can’t dope this time so they are obviously paying the judges a lot more,” he added. “I will never box an AIBA competition again. Not APB, not WSB, not world championships or
Olympic Games. Corruption runs deep... I just think they are rotten to the core.” An AIBA spokesman said Conlan was a champion who came to Rio with high expectations and was u n d e r s t a n d a b l y disappointed to have lost. “Afterwards, it’s his personal judgement,” he said. “All I can say is that AIBA is striving for a fair, level playing field. “The idea is not to benefit one country towards another, we represent 200 national federations. These statements are groundless but he’s free to have his opinion.” Russian officials said the judging had to be respected and boxers should show dignity in defeat. “The Russians are constantly being accused of something. Let’s deal with these things in a dignified way,” said Igor Kazikov, head of the Russian delegation at the Games. “There were judges sitting there, professionals who take responsibility for
Vladimir Nikitin (RUS, blue) reacts after defeating Michael John Conlan (IRL, red) in a men’s bantamweight quarterfinal bout at Riocentro Pavilion 6 during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. (Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports) these things. Why is there this mistrust all the time?” Dozens of Russian athletes, including virtually the entire track and field team, were suspended as part of sanctions against the
country for a systematic state-backed doping program that included the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Russian heavyweight Evgeny Tishchenko was
booed when he won gold on Monday. NEW SYSTEM The scoring system has been changed for Rio from a computerized system to a professional-style, 10-point one. Conlan, who had been the last Irish boxer left in the tournament, lost 28-29 on all three scorecards. The three judges — from Brazil, Sri Lanka and Poland — all gave Conlan the second round 10-9 10-9 10-9 but scored the first and last in favor of his rival. “I was boxing the ears off him, I don’t know how it went against me,” said Conlan, who lingered in the ring after the fight, twirling his vest around his head to applause from the crowd. He also gave the judges a piece of his mind. “I thought the first round I won easy by boxing him. Second round I completely annihilated him standing in close to him. Third round the same, probably a bit closer than the second. I put a serious shift in.
“He was completely surprised (to win). He roared like he’d won the Olympic gold... He knows he didn’t win. The American kid’s going to pick him to shreds and I wouldn’t be surprised if they rob him too.” Nikitin will fight highlyrated Shakur Stevenson in the semi-finals, with both guaranteed at least bronze medals. U.S. coach Billy Walsh, who is Irish, joined in the criticism after his lightwelterweight Gary Russell missed out on a medal when a split decision went to Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Gaibnazarov. “The judging has been atrocious,” he told reporters. “The last time I saw it as bad was in Seoul in 1988 when Roy Jones got robbed in the final. “I saw Michael Conlan’s first two rounds in the changing area and he completely out-boxed this guy. He out-fought him in the second round and outboxed him in the first. And he didn’t get it.”
Wednesday August 17, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 41
Local businesses, NDC support Bush Lot United SC and Rising Stars cricket academy The 2016 edition of the annual Bush Lot United Sports Club and the Bush Lot Rising Stars annual cricket academy began on Monday at the Bush Lot Sports Complex ground. The activity is set to run for 14 days. During the camp the youths will be thought basic cricketing skills which will include both theory and practical aspects of the game. The programme also caters for the developing of their interpersonal skills and relationship. They would be lectured in HIV / Aids Prevention, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Physical Fitness, Domestic Vi o l e n c e a n d C a r e e r Choices among other life skills. The practical sessions will entail showing the youngsters the various ways in batting, bowling, fielding, catching, throwing, wicket
keeping and running between the wickets. The youths are also expected to be schooled in discipline, etiquette, good table manners and general education. Physical fitness is also expected to be an integral part of the sessions. According to the organisers the main aim of the programme is to have the youths better able to appreciate the rules and regulation of the game, improve their knowledge and skills and understand general sportsmanship and have a better human relationship with others and improve their discipline generally. The importance of keeping the youths away from the ills of society, while at the same time offering them an alternative by providing training in a sport and counseling in various
GCB National Premier League set to commence on August 26 The inaugural Guyana Cricket Board National Premier League three-day tournament is set to co m m e n c e o n A u g u s t 2 6 w i t h f o u r m a t c h es. The competition will be
contested by eight teams namely West Berbice, Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne, Essequibo, East Bank Demerara, Georgetown, East Coast D e m e r a r a a n d We s t Demerara.
Malteenoes SC to host Cricket programme Malteenoes Sports Club will be hosting a cricket clinic from August 22 through to September 2 at its Thomas Lands facility. The event is seen an effort to re introduce its youth cricket academy. The camp will be facilitated by former national player and Coach Mark Harper and aims to enhance the talent of the young cricketers. Among the aspects of the game that will be looked at are hand eye coordination, reflexes, agility and flexibility, balance, speed, laws of cricket. Players will also be involved in several matches during the programme which will help to test the skills, confidence and mental capabilities of players. Guyana Amazon
Warriors player Steven Jacobs, who is a member of the club along with several of his Warriors teammates, will be on hand to deliver motivational lectures during the camp. The programme aims to attract 60 participants. Registration forms can be picked up at MSC from 15:00 hours MondaySaturday. The fee for children 13 and under is $1,500, while 17 and under will pay $2,000. Children coming in groups of five will get a special package. Guidelines for the programme will be available when uplifting the registration form. For more information interested persons can contact 225-6509 or call the club’s treasurer Troy Lewis on 613-257.
life skills. The Organizers would like to express gratitude to Mr. Feroze Isahawk of Feroze Service Station and HI-Powa Sound and the New Building Society (NBS) Rosignol Branch for their timely gesture and for recognizes the importance of being a good corporate citizen. Also on board is the Union - Naarstighied District Council in which area the two sports clubs are located.
Mr. Feroze Isahawk from Feroze Service Station donates to the academy
Kaieteur News
PAGE 42
Beach volleyball: Germans beat Brazil, secure first women’s medal RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) German beach volleyball duo Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst won back-toback sets against Brazilians Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes in the Olympic semifinal on Tuesday, setting themselves up for a historic medal. L u d w i g a n d Walkenhorst will be their country’s first women to medal in the event after beating the Brazilians 21-18 21-12. With the fans slow to fill the Copacabana stadium for the first match of the day, the Germans seized on an unusually tranquil atmosphere to steal the first set and walk away with the second before the Brazilian duo could hit their rhythm. “It was really important winning the first set and we knew we had to have patience,” said Ludwig. “I think I was the most nervous
Wednesday August 17, 2016
RESULTS for Regional Under-19 Championship - 5th round Guyana on winner’s row
Laura Ludwig (GER) of Germany competes in the Beach Volleyball - Women’s Semifinal at the Beach Volleyball Arena in Rio. (REUTERS/Adrees Latif) for this match because we were in the semi and in front of this crowd.” In the final, the Germans
will face either Brazil’s reigning world champions, Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas, or three-
time Olympic gold m e d a l i s t K e r r i Wa l s h Jennings and her U.S. partner April Ross.
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Results of games played in the fifth round of the one-day phase of the Regional Under-19 Championship here Tuesday show Guyana winning their latest match of the competition: Scores: At Arnos Vale: Guyana won by 38 runs. GUYANA 238 for nine off 50 overs (Keemo Paul 58, Bhaskar Yadram 35, Marlon Hubbard 23; Ryan John 239,Kassim Peltier 2-63, Alick Athanaze 2-35) WINDWARD ISLANDS 200 all out off 44.5 overs (Anil Matthew 39, Johann Jeremiah 32, Alick Athanaze 33, Johnel Eugene 31 not out) At Stubbs Playing Field: Trinidad and Tobago won by four wickets. LEEWARDS 280 for six off 50 overs (Tyrone Williams 132, Kofi James 50;Negus Smith 2-35) TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 282 for six off 45.4 overs (Keagan Simmons 99, Kirstan Kallicharan 43, Brandon Maharaj 51; Kofi James 3-52) At P a r k H i l l : J a m a i c a o n b y n i n e w i c k e t s . ICC A M E R I C A 1 3 8 a l l o u t o ff 4 1 . 1 o v e r s (Sagar Patel 41,Arjun Patel 32; Javor H a r r i s o n 3 - 4 6 , M i g u e l S m i t h 3 - 3 1 , Ty r o n e D a l e y 4-14) JAMAICA 139 for one off 11.5 overs (Michael Frew 40, Jordane Hill 42 not out, Orande Pearson 43 not out; Keifer Phill 1-41)
Kaieteur News
Wednesday August 17, 2016
PAGE 43
DeMarcus Corley steps up training sessions, aspires to ‘Chop’ Dexter Gonsalves’ dreams By Michael Benjamin When Dexter Gonsalves steps into the ring to match skills with former World Boxing Association super/lightweight champion, American DeMarcus ‘Chop Chop’ Corley, he will be pitting his skills against a seasoned veteran who has signaled an intention to do whatever it takes to leave the ring with his hands raised. At least that is what Corley conveyed to Kaieteur Sport when we spoke with him at his home in Wa s h i n g t o n D C , U S A yesterday afternoon. “I am back in training and can assure you that I will be at my ripping best for this fight; the Guyanese people will not be shortchanged,” Corley responded to a question from this reporter. The America pugilist is well hyped up following a successful sojourn in Jamaica where he won all four of his fights to emerge the winner of the Contender Series. Corley had started his quest for honours with victories over Jamaicans, Michael Gardner and Richard Holmes. Two Guyanese, Iwan Azore and Revlon Lake were also his victims with the latter fighter failing to make it to the final round. “The Gonsalves bout will be a continuation of my battle against Guyanese boxers and I intend to continue my winning streak,” Corley stated. He detailed his training regimen as extremely intense while explaining that it is a continuation of the rigorous applications of the Contender Series. “It was serious business but I truly enjoyed the Contender series; it allowed me to assess myself and establish whether I still has what it takes,” pronounced Corley. He said that his day starts with a rigorous two hours workout in the park before returning at the gym at 14:00hrs for hardcore boxing activities. A former World Boxing Association super/lightweight champion
DeMarcos ‘Chop Chop’ Corley (left) and Richard ‘Frog’ Holmes. (Jamaica Gleaner) with a 47-27-1 record, Corley said he expects some aggression from Gonsalves but considers his experience an ace in the hole that will turn the tide in his favour. “Honestly, I know nothing of Dexter other than what I heard that he is a young and hungry fighter who packs a mean punch,” Corley revealed. “But that’s okay, I have a few surprises in store for him,” said Corley. Quizzed on a proposed strategy, Corley was very cagey, “I have nothing specific planned as yet but the general plan is to test Dexter from the first round, make a thorough assessment and then apply the necessary adjustments.” Corley said that his coach, Tommy Galiando, is very competent and has been plugging all holes to ensure that he (Corley) not only emerges victorious but spectacularly so. Asked to make a prediction Corley, with a 37% knockout ratio replied, “I am never good at making predictions; what I know is that if a knockout presents itself I’ll be prepared. Otherwise, I can be contented with a points win.” Nevertheless, he did promise to be in the best of condition to deal with any eventuality. The American pugilist was a world champion from 2001 to 2003 and also went the distance with former
world champions Devon Alexander and Marcos Maidana before losing to Zab Judah in 2003. Other big names on Corley’s resume include Darryl Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr among others. Gonzalves is no slouch and he will also have his eyes set on the belt at stake. He has compiled an 8-1-2 record with a lone loss to Michel Agard in December 2006. One of his drawn decisions was against the same fighter in October of that same year while the other was against Jamaican, Mohammed Dawes in 2007. He is currently working out at the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym in James Street Albouystown and Kaieteur Sport will be monitoring his activities for a subsequent report. Kaieteur Sport attempted to speak with Richard ‘Frog’ Holmes but the connection was broken and proved difficult to regain. We will attempt to repair this anomaly later on. The Jamaican will match gloves with Mark Austin in an 8 rounds middleweight encounter. He is in ripping form after battling his way to the finals in the just concluded Contender Series and will also be in ripping form for this month end’s clash. Just before the termination of our discussion he had informed that he is operating out of the Bruising Gym in St Andrew’s Jamaica and he was also in top shape by dint of his activity in the just concluded tournament. Two of his victims were Guyanese, Iwan Azore and a knockout victory over Xaviar Ford. He also
Mark Austin defeated Barbadian, Miguel Antoine and has so far compiled an 11-6-0 record. Austin is operating out of the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym and Kaieteur sport will be visiting soon to assess his progress. Otherwise, the
card remains unchanged with the opening bout bringing together Kelsey George and Charwin Estwick in a four-round super middleweight affair while Anthony Narine will make his professional debut
Dexter Gonsalves in a four-round lightweight contest against Keeve Allicock. Imran Khan and Quincy Gomes will also go after each other in a return bout, a six-round lightweight affair.
NAMILCO sponsors Boyce/Jefford Classic ‘Champion Athletes’ prize
Marketing Consultant of NAMILCO, Affeeze Khan (right) hands over the sponsorship to Colin Boyce yesterday. The National Milling Company of Guyana Inc. (NAMILCO) has continued its sponsorship of the ‘Champion Athletes’ cash prize for the Boyce & Jefford Track and Field Classic VII, making the contribution official yesterday. NAMILCO became a first-time sponsor of the competition three years ago and has continued the
support of the event. The male and female ‘Champion Athletes’ at the upcoming meet, scheduled for August 27-28, will pocket $50,000 each. “We are happy to be part of this programme and we wish it a success. We know that with you gentlemen at the helm, it will continue to be a success,” Affeez Khan, Marketing Consultant at
NaMilCo, said on behalf of Managing Director, Bert Sukhai. Chairman of the Boyce/Jefford Committee, Colin Boyce, assured the company that the Seventh Edition of the meet will live up to expectations. He informed Khan that a record number of 170 athletes have registered for the championships this year.
t r o Sp
Bolt, Blake and Ashmead advance to 200m semis
Troy Doris finishes seventh as American Taylor claims second Olympic gold Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (C) competes in the Men’s 200m Round 1 during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016.
Kenya’s Rudisha retains 800m title
Troy Doris in Action David Lekuta Rudisha (KEN) of Kenya runs to win gold, ahead of Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG) of Algeria, Boris Berian (USA) of USA and Alfred Kipketer (KEN) of Kenya. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210