Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Tuesday August 02, 2016

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

A DISGRACEFUL LEADER Spewing hate and pandering to race will not get the opposition leader any respect from the people. It appears that he is caught between a rock and a hard place and has become desperate; not knowing what the future holds for his leadership and his party. Using racist demagoguery at home and in the diaspora is an old tactic by the leader of the opposition. It will ruin his political career and cause the PPP to remain in opposition for a while. The recent release of the 2012 census shows that the chances of the PPP winning the next election, constitutionally scheduled for 2020 are slim. It was not long ago that the leader of the opposition was criminally charged for inciting racial politics in Berbice and was placed in the Prisoner’s Dock at the Whim Magistrate’s Court to answer the charges. One would have thought that he would have learnt from his mistake but apparently not. He is known for spreading propaganda and untruths and for presenting a cockeyed and widely deceitful assessment of the facts. His use of pretense to communicate how perilous the country is divided along racial lines and him accusing the government of witch-hunting against PPP supporters has boxed him into a corner. Unable to extricate himself from such fibs, his only option is the use of race-bait politics to drive fear into East Indians. However, hallucinations are common among people like him who find themselves between a rock and a hard place. Their view of reality is impaired by demagoguery, hatred, racism and unstatesman-like behaviour. In his twisted mind, he went on a racist rant in Queens, New York where he told his supporters that there has been an assault on Guyanese of Indian origin in Guyana, and that there is also an assault by the government on Guyanese who support the PPP. He then talks about taking the country back “from these people.” Only a racist would think that a certain ethnic group owns Guyana, and to label Afro-Guyanese “these people.” Judging from his bigotry, he seems to be in a dark place and his only way out is to spew hatred and incite racial politics. Those who have the country’s interest at heart including supporters of the PPP have refused to accept his brand of politics of dividing the races to score cheap political points. But a certain minister was seen at a bar in Florida over the weekend imbibing with the opposition leader. As the de facto President, he led the PPP to defeat in the 2011 general and regional elections, but the party remained in office with a minority government. Obsessed with power, he refused to compromise with the majority opposition, but when threatened with a no confident motion, the PPP prorogued Parliament and ruled by decree before calling elections on May 11, 2015. Those in the PPP believed that they could not lose the elections.Since losing the election, the PPP executive has anointed Mr. Jagdeo as their leader with special powers to operate within certain undefined boundaries. They made him larger than the sum of the other party leaders, without realizing that with this type of centralized leadership, the party has no internal mechanisms to disciple the leader or remove him. It is clear that the PPP is gravely impaled by poor leadership, which has caused the party to haemorrhage. The opposition leader is not of a sound mind set to make any meaningful contribution to the country. Spewing hatred, inciting racism, and dividing the races are toxic and harmful to the country and a dangerous impediment to social cohesion in Guyana. It must be stopped.

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

ADMINISTRATORS HAVE FAILED OUR CRICKETERS Dear Editor; We have watched with consternation and despair, the performance of the West Indies cricket team during the first Test match against India in Antigua, which ended on Sunday 24 July, 2016 with the West Indies team being defeated by an inning and 92 runs. Without reservation, I place the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Administrators of West Indies cricket, although a few players are not without blame. Having actively served as an administrator of cricket in Berbice, Guyana from 1964 to 1983, I prefer to focus my attention on the administrators rather than the players. For a cricketer to succeed, especially at the highest level of the game, he/she must have a solid foundation. The cricketer must be grounded in the rules and procedures of the game, but more especially he must be able to perform and produce with credit, under different conditions. That foundation must be

dominated by discipline, fitness, a fighting spirit, a will to win and tremendous powers of concentration. It is the responsibility of the coaches, but more particularly that of the administration to ensure that this foundation is laid. If we are preparing for First Class a n d Te s t c r i c k e t , o u r cricketers must be able to occupy the crease and score hundreds instead of fifties and our bowlers must productive. Young batsmen must be fit, learn to occupy the crease, improve their skills, technique and talent, gain confidence, form and readiness while being productive. The bowlers must be taught to bowl length and line with variations in pace, length and line, swing, spin, bounce and turn. The fast bowler must be taught to bowl long opening spells especially after taking early wickets. Further, opening bowlers must be ready to take the new ball to bowl that final spell of the day. The chasm between the

West Indies Regional 4Day and the Test level is wide and deep, too wide to jump across and too deep to climb out of. If our players are to survive and succeed, the administrators will have to build bridges of opportunity. The Guyana Cricket Board has removed these bridges by not playing the 3Day First Division cricket competition which they discontinued in 2010 - a competition which was started before the 1920’s and the 4Day Inter County competition which they discontinued in 2015 after it had been played since 1954. It is significant to note that all of our 50 Test cricketers came up through the 3 Day First Division system and only twelve of our earliest Test cricketers did not come up through the 4 Day Inter County system. The need to invest in and give exposure to our young cricketers cannot be over-emphasized. The 3 Day First Division and the 4 Day Inter County competitions must be reinstated, if our administrators are to have

any thought of producing First Class and Test cricketer of quality. The investment must be made. How can we expect our Under-19 cricketers to move from that level to the 4 Day Regional level without a bridge? How can we expect our First Class cricketers to move from the Regional to the Test level without the foundation? Where are our cricket academies? The fact that out West Indies team has been performing so poorly exemplifies the conclusion that our administrators have not been performing, hence the decline in the performance and standard of our West Indies Test team. It is past time for the administrators to consider what they can do for the sport rather than what they can gain from it. Mortimer George Former Honorary Secretary Berbice Cricket Board 1987 Life Member. 2014 Inductee BCB Administrators Hall of Fame

Hilary Clinton’s vision for Americans of Caribbean Descent Dear Editor; Editor’s note: this is the conclusion of Mr. Kirton’s letter carried in last Sunday’s edition. · Get Incomes Rising and Create Good-Paying Jobs: Hillary has said getting incomes rising again is the defining economic challenge of our time, and she will fight to raise incomes so that all American families can get ahead and stay ahead. Her plan includes raising the minimum wage, ensuring equal pay for women, providing incentives for companies to share profits with their employees, guaranteeing paid family and medical leave, and boosting apprenticeships to help more people get into the workforce. While the unemployment rate of white Americans is 3.8%, it’s nearly 6% for Caribbean immigrants, and Caribbean Americans have higher rates

of poverty than the overall population. Hillary has a plan to invest $125 billion to create good-paying jobs, rebuild crumbling infrastructure, and connect housing to opportunity in communities that are being left out and left behind. Her plan includes investing $20 billion to create youth jobs, and another $25 billion to support entrepreneurship and small business growth in underserved communities. She will pay for the new investments in this initiative through a tax on Wall Street—ensuring that the major financial institutions that contributed to the Great Recession are doing their part in bringing back the communities they hurt the most. · Ensure Every family can build and maintain a strong economic foundation: To o m a n y C a r i b b e a n American and Caribbean

immigrant families have to worry about how one financial setback can erase all of the progress they’ve made. Hillary will fight for economic security for every family, because economic security is a foundation for e c o n o m i c o p p o r t u n i t y. Hillary recently announced her plan to invest $25 billion to lift more families into sustainable homeownership and connect housing to opportunity. The ACA has helped to address disparities in health care and Medicaid accessibility; the uninsured rate among those from the Caribbean has fallen by 7.2% since 2011, with well over 222,000 individuals gaining insurance coverage as a result of the ACA. Moreover, with nearly 20% of the Caribbean-immigrant families at or below the poverty line, the ACA has expanded access to Medicaid and other services for those

who need it most. Hillary will stand up to Republican attempts to roll back the ACA and will protect the progress we have made. She will work to lower out-ofpocket health care costs, reduce the cost of prescription drugs and transform our health care system to reward value and quality. She believes we s h o u l d l e t families—regardless of immigration status—buy into the Affordable Care Act e x c h a n g e s . F i n a l l y, Caribbean Americans would be especially harmed by Social Security cuts or Medicare privatization, given the higher share of seniors in the community. As president, Hillary will fight to defend Medicare and Social Security as well as expand benefits for widows and women who have taken time out of the (Continued on page 5)

Tuesday August 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

GUYANA NEEDS A COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL CONTENT LAW DEAR EDITOR. Oil has been found in Guyana and optimistically production will begin in 2020. This offers Guyana the incredible opportunity of leap frogging beyond the annual incremental 3-5 % economic growth to annual growth rates in the double digit range. If managed strategically and if good governance becomes the norm in Government and in the Private Sector, exponential growth instead of incremental growth is a real possibility. The McKinsey Growth Institute has indicated resource-driven countries need a new growth model to transform the potential resource windfall into long term prosperity. Based on their research as shown in a Report entitled “Reverse the Curse”, the McKinsey Growth Institute has postulated a model, drawn from the many successful approaches that some resource-driven countries, like Guyana, have employed. This model has six core elements: 1. Building the institutions and governance of the resources sector. 2. D e v e l o p i n g infrastructure. 3. Ensuring robust fiscal policy and competitiveness. 4. Supporting local content. 5. Deciding how to spend a resources windfall wisely; and 6. T r a n s f o r m i n g resource wealth into broader economic development. The first element of the McKinsey report speaks to our Constitution. It speaks to the type of people we are or want to be. Do we want to

have one race superior to the next? Do we want one race to have all the resources? Do we want one race to own most of the businesses? Or do we want to be a people of equity, equality and inclusion? The second element of the McKinsey report, speaks to infrastructure. We are a very large country. As President Granger constantly reminds us, the Barima-Waini Region is larger than Kuwait; Pomeroon-Supernaam is larger than Trinidad and Tobago; Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara is larger than Mauritius; DemeraraMahaica is larger than Singapore; Mahaica-Berbice is larger than Cape Verde; East Corentyne- Berbice is larger than Belgium; CuyuniMazaruni is larger than the Netherlands; Potaro-Siparuni is larger than Fiji; the Rupununi (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) is larger than Costa Rica and Upper Demerara-Berbice is larger than The Bahamas. We need infrastructure. We need a road to Brazil and a deep water harbour. We need better energy infrastructure, free of blackouts and free of exorbitant costs. We need better drainage, better water supplies, better schools, better bridges, better sewage systems etc. We need better buses and better roads. This we all know from our daily experiences. The third element of the McKinsey Report speaks to “ensuring robust fiscal policies and competitiveness”. With oil on the way, Guyana has to ensure its core economic principles are sound. The macroeconomic policy of the Government of Guyana is

centered around Guyana’s fiscal, monetary and exchange rate policy. Fiscal policy is aimed at increased collection of tax revenues and the gearing of expenditure towards improved services and growth of the economy. Monetary policy has been aimed at domestic price stability and the controlling of liquidity in the economy, while at the same time allowing for an increased money supply to facilitate expanded economic growth. Exchange rate policy has been geared towards the stabilization of the exchange rate and the maintenance of a rate that is conducive to exports. The announcements by the Minister of Finance and the policies enunciated by the Government of Guyana clearly show we are on the right path as Guyana prepares for oil. Of course, with oil, the very structure of Guyana’s economy will change dramatically. One of the most pressing needs in Guyana today is for the Government of Guyana, in consultation with the Private Sector and Civil Society, to enact a Local Content Bill. Currently none exists. The episodes of the Marriott being built entirely by foreigners even though Guyana has very good construction workers, highlights the need for us as a society to address this abomination of our democracy and human rights. I don’t think China would allow 200 Guyanese to build a hotel in China. Matter of fact, they wouldn’t even be allowed into the country. A local content Bill is an absolute necessity at this time during the early days of oil exploration. Exxon and other multinational entities who

occupy the value chain of oil production and associated industries, should know from day one, that Guyanese must be involved in the initial spend to produce oil and later as oil is produced. Guyana will need many thousands of workers to develop its oil industry. Foreigners will flock to Guyana in massive numbers. Caribbean citizens will flock to Guyana given climate change, economic opportunities and CSME facilitation of “the free movement of people”. If there is no Local Content bill, Guyanese will lose their national patrimony which will be monopolized by foreigners. There are some basic principles that should inform

our Local Content philosophy and legislation. 1. No lands or concessions of any type should be leased to any foreign entity without having a legitimate local Guyanese partner. And there has to be ethnic parity / equity in this arrangement similar to the South African BEE legislation. 2. No fishing, mining, logging licenses etc. should be issued to foreign companies unless they have a partnership with a local processor. 3. Technology transfer and skills transfer should be an integral part of any assessment leading to a decision for the participation of foreign firms in any sector of Guyana’s economy.

The last two elements of the McKinsey Report focus on “How to spend the financial oil wealth created from oil production” and the vision of economic development we embrace. These two topics need to be discussed in greater detail at another time. Guyana needs to have a National consultation on Local Content. Land is wealth and we need to stop giving it away to economic migrants. Water is wealth. So is knowledge. We have pledged our forests to a foreign state. We now need to ensure, we don’t pledge our land, water and biodiversity to others. Eric Phillips

Professor Persaud fought against apartheid DEAR EDITOR; Guyanese born Professor, Bisnodath Persaud played a very important role for Blacks in the South African antiapartheid fight. It counts among his excellent work during his life time as well as his outstanding work for the University of the West Indies. And as a mark of respect flags will be flown at half staff at all university campuses on F r i d a y, t h e d a y o f h i s funeral. Professor Persaud was a scholar and practitioner with global reach in the field of economic development. Chief Emeka Anyaoku former Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat where Professor Persaud was director and head of the economic affairs

division from 1981 to 1992 said his passing is a “huge loss to the coterie of outstanding advocates of more equitable international economic relations” The distinguished professor was Director and Head of t h e E c o n o m i c Aff a i r s Division of the Economic Affairs division from 1981 to 1992 . In this capacity and as co-secretary to the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings, he played a critical role behind the scenes in the development of the e c o n omic sanctions that contributed to the overthrow of South African’s apartheid regime. Professor Avinash Persaud said Bishnodat’s preference was not to be in

the limelight but to identify the technical work necessary to pinpoint the technical details ne c e s s a r y to translate the desirable into reality and to make it happen. In 1990, he helped to launch the Iworkrama international project that showed rain forests could be sustainably managed. He also played a major role in chaperoning the future Finance Minister and later Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh along the path. Several distinguished persons including Sir Shridath Ramphal, Professor Clem Seecharran will attend his funeral on Friday at Golden Green crematorium in south London. Oscar Ramjeet

Hilary Clinton’s vision for... Procurement Commission

From page 4 workforce—so that all American families can retire with dignity. Hillary has a record of standing with the Caribbean American and Immigrant communities: · As Senator from New York, Hillary championed initiatives to improve the lives of Caribbean immigrants, their families and communities. She introduced the Count Every Vote Act to ensure that all citizens, including foreign language speakers, had equal access to voting, and sponsored the Legal Immigration Children’s Health Improvement Act to restore access to Medicaid and SCHIP benefits for immigrant pregnant women and children. Hillary not only voted consistently in support of comprehensive

immigration reform, but also authored legislation to address the backlog of family visas and expedite the reunification of immigrant families. · As Secretary of State, Hillary was committed to bolstering economic development, public health, and human rights in the Caribbean and Latin America. She launched several initiatives aimed at expanding the U.S.Caribbean relationship, such as the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas and the Caribbean Idea Marketplace. She increased the U.S. financial commitment to the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, which helped local communities cut down on illegal trafficking. She also announced a Caribbean Climate Change Adaptation Initiative,

which awarded six Caribbean countries grants for a l t e r n a t i v e e n e rg y, a n d spearheaded the International Diaspora Engagement Alliance, which aimed to bridge the gap between diaspora communities and businesses in their countries of origin. Wesley Kirton

names are disappointing

DEAR EDITOR, The names selected for the Procurement Commission is astonishing. Nothing will ever change in this country. The commission will contain

persons who are members or strong supporters of the PPP and PNC. The objective persons, Ram and Goolsarran were excluded. There are no objective

persons on the commission. Another nail in coffin of this failed state name Guyana. Apparently there is no room for new and objective persons. Harrish Singh

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The problems teachers face DEAR EDITOR; I read with much interest an article published on July 28, 2016 captioned “School dropouts in Guyana…UNICEF initiative aims at root causes” and was perturbed about some of the things mentioned by the Acting Chief Education Officer, Ms. Donna Chapman. Ms. Chapman said, “There are several assessments; National Grade Two, National Grade Four, which I must remind, was always meant to be diagnostic…then we have Grade Six and Nine Assessments, but although we have all those assessments, where are we at this time?” (End of quote) This is not a valid reason why children would stay in school. I ask the question, how would having numerous assessments keep children in school? Perhaps the many assessments keep them away since it appears as though teaching and learning in Guyana is no more fun instead it is all about assessments. In addition Ms. Chapman said that the National Grade Two and Four Assessments were always meant to be diagnostic. If it was always meant for diagnostic purposes why then over the years scores from those two assessments were used as part of the National Grade Six Assessment? This shows clearly that the Ministry of Education has always been contrary to what their policies stipulate. I must say that those assessments will be used for

diagnostic purposes with effect from this year only. Ms. Chapman further mentioned and I quote, “We need to look at the education system. Do we use the data to carry out remedial classes?” Chapman said that if educators would examine the data, it would show the need for students to take remedial classes. “But are we training our teachers to do that?” (End of quote) Mr. Editor, the Acting Chief Education Officer, spoke about remedial classes for learners, if educators should examine the data from the National Assessments but I strongly believe that they have no proper measure in place for remedial classes. I must emphasize that a teacher’s salary is not payable and attractive at all. I can say this on behalf of numerous teachers, should they pay teachers to conduct remedial classes in the afternoons they willingly would do it. There are instances when those in authority would tell teachers to do remedial work during class hours. This is absurdity to the maximum. Should we analyze data from National Assessments and prepare an action plan to work with, most definitely the weaknesses that need to be addressed may not correlate with the work that needs to be done during class hours. For example, you are teaching a Grade Five class and doing remediation work with learners who can’t read. Most certainly, you will have to teach those children basic letter sounds and blending of letter sounds etc. However, that would not be a part of the Grade Five curriculum. How then can remedial work be done during instructional time? In addition, what teaching/ learning materials does Ms. Chapman have to give teachers to do remedial work - a few markers, cardboards and exercise books that they give over the years? Is it because teachers don’t do remediation work why children drop out from schools? Children would drop out from school even at primary level. What is more interesting is that names of learners who are absent for five or more days every month is being submitted to the Ministry of Education and

nothing is being done. Also, children would stop going to primary schools after writing the National Grade Six Assessment which would usually be done in the second term of the school year. I must commend the Minister of Education for the change this year. Hope the National Grade Six Assessment continues to be written in the final term of the school year. Lastly, Ms. Chapman made mention about textbooks. She said, “As you know, for decades we have been distributing exercise books. We’ve reached a stage where we have been distributing text books for core subjects and technical vocational subjects.” This is indeed factual. For years now they have been distributing exercise books but the fact is, I know of one particular instance where a teacher made requisition for textbooks for a class, because that teacher had inadequate textbooks to distribute to the learners. The entire school year elapsed yet that teacher didn’t receive any text books. That teacher worked with the few that were there in groups with the children. Also, what Ms. Chapman should take note of is that topics that are in the curriculum that need to be delivered cannot be found in textbooks that are given. For example, if you want to teach Roman Numerals in one grade you will find that topic in another grade’s textbook. Mr. Editor the things that our Acting Chief Education officer mentioned are not reasons for children to be out of schools. They need to review their policies and have adequate resources available to schools that will stimulate learners’ interest and make teaching/learning fun hence, children will stay in school. Not to have one teacher holding a class of 36 learners have to meet the needs of each learner for at least 4 subjects a day and have a plethora of records to complete. It is very stressful on teachers for a meager salary. Even “ love for the job” will dwindle because of the complications they put teachers through. These officials need to listen to classroom teachers and review certain policies. My resignation letter will be the next letter I will be writing. Primary School Teacher

Tuesday August 02, 2016

TRANSPARENT and TRUSTINSPIRING APPOINTMENTS DEAR EDITOR; The Stabroek News editorial of 1st August commented interestingly on the need for transparent, trust-inspiring appointments and removal of public service staff/ officers and related topical issues. Because this editorial resonates with my own professional interest in Human Resource Management matters, including proper selection, promotion and termination of staff and public service officers, I am inspired to add the following comments: · Human Resource Management leaders, professionals and practitioners who are typically responsible for the recruitment, selection and employment processes must be, like the proverbial Ceasar’s wife, above suspicion of bias in matters of personal integrity, political, ethnic, gender and similar manifestations, especially given what the SN editorial referred to as “the entrenched

ethno-political polarization in the country and the willingness of any number of politicians (including others) to exploit this. · The entire selection process from wording of the Vacancy Ad to conduct of the Interview and Reference Checks must be based on strict, unbiased professionalism and integrity. For example, and as I have written before, the wording of the Ad must not be a slavish, bureaucratic reproduction of the Job Description/Job Specification (which are typically written for a variety of purposes). The Vacancy Ad must be a smart, concise distillation of the Job Description/Specification written in typical ‘marketing’ style aimed at attracting a large enough pool of good, viable applicants from among whom a competitive selection can be made. · The screening/ short-listing of ‘qualified’ candidates must also include

consideration of the peripheral factors identified in the first point above. · The other substantive steps in the selection process (e.g the choice of the Selection Panel, Tests (especially for jobs requiring specific skills such as writing and IT skills), Panel Interviews, Reference Checks etc) are less prone to bias and can help to bolster the credibility and acceptability of the selection decision. While all the above might be difficult to achieve at one go, the responsible HR Management staff must be aware and sensitive to their relevance and importance while never losing sight of the primary focus of selecting the candidate(s) who undoubtedly possess the basic and paramount skills set, necessary experience, aptitude and competencies required for efficient and effective performance on the job. Nowrang Persaud

The BV/Triumph NDC has failed us Dear Editor; I am writing this letter so that the Chairman and councilors of the BV/ Triumph NDC will act on the concerns described below. I am a very concerned villager. It is now five (5) months since the Local Government Elections (LGE) were held, of which your group (The Beterverwagting/Triumph 8th of May Village Movement) won twelve (12) out of eighteen (18) seats. To date, we, the villagers who voted for the group have not seen or heard of any positive development in the neighbourhood. During the campaign, you and your membership (The Beterverwagting/Triumph 8 t h o f M a y Vi l l a g e Movement) paid us regular visits and made lots of promises. Now that you have won the elections, it is impossible to see you and/or your councilors. H o w e v e r, it is encouraging to see the People Progressive Party (P.P.P.) councilors at work in their district (Triumph). What has happened to Beterverwagting (B.V.)? Where are our councilors? Should you walk around B.V. you would see the following: 1. T h e d e p l o r a b l e state of Quamina Road. This road along, with Canterbury Walk, is in need of street lights, especially

in the vicinity of the cemetery. 2. T h e clogged Baron Canal. 3. The high bushes at the side of the roads. 4. M o c h a - M o c h a bush (approximately 8ft tall) along the Side Line Dam. 5. T h e d e p l o r a b l e state of the playground. 6. The Youth Choice Building still in a shameful state. 7. T h e seawall reserve has become on official dumpsite. Mr Chairman, we voted for you and the Beterverwagting/Triumph 8 t h o f M a y Vi l l a g e Movement, because we thought that the group had the ability to restore our village to what it was. It is in a worst condition now. We w a n t e d s o m e o n e t o work with us, so as to restore our village. The residents are looking forward to a better and healthier community. What we do not need is impossible demands, by the N.D.C. on sweet stall vendors (fee of $3,000 per week). Mr Chairman what is the position with The Beterverwagting/Triumph 8 t h o f M a y Vi l l a g e Movement? Is it still alive or was it just active for the LGE? We n e e d t h e President, Ministers and other government officials to visit the district urgently, so that a way

forward can be arrived at for our community. Mr Chairman I am a very concerned villager. It is now five (5) months since the Local Government Elections (LGE) were held, of which your group (The Beterverwagting/Triumph 8 t h o f M a y Vi l l a g e Movement) won twelve (12) out of eighteen (18) seats. To date, we the villagers who voted for the group have not seen or heard of any positive development in the neighbourhood. During the campaign, you and your membership (The Beterverwagting/Triumph 8 t h o f M a y Vi l l a g e Movement) paid us regular visits and made lots of promises. Now that you have won the elections, it is impossible to see you and/ or your councillors. What a shame! What a big shame!! Finally, why was a certain person given another contract to clean the canals? There are three (3) reasons he should not have been given such a contract. 1. He is not permanently residing in Guyana. 2. He cannot supervise what he does not know about. 3. There is no functioning Community Development Council (C.D.C.) in B.V. Concerned Resident

Tuesday August 02, 2016

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West Demerara residents suffer intermittent blackouts …GPL says situation caused by ‘system trip’ Christmas came early for some residents of West Demerara (Region Three) – well, at least the fairy light aspect - compliments of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL). However, the flickering on and off of lights due to repeated power outages over a period of a few hours Sunday night was not welcomed by residents. In fact, many, fearing the worse, hurriedly try to protect electrically driven appliances and other devices by switching off the main switch in their respective homes. This essentially was intended to prevent an undesirable surge of electricity from destroying electrical outlets with unwanted outcomes.

Many residents complained that the dawn of Emancipation has left them feeling still enslaved to a power company that seem incapable of maintaining a service it is mandated to provide. Friday, residents also suffered through a spell of blackout without any fore warning too. This was similar to many days earlier. In fact, residents complained that this has become the norm power outages occur without any advisory being issued. An employee of the West Demerara Emergency response unit said that the incessant blackouts were the results of a system trip. The employee explained that since the emergency response team is not always aware of exactly where on the West Demerara the trip occurred, they would have to do several checks at different points. The blackouts usually occur until the trip is found

The GPL power plant at Vreed-en-Hoop and normalize. This state of affairs the employee said is not unusual, as it happens from time to time and could affect a number of villages or individual villages.

ACDA hosts Emancipation Day on to sponsor students political liberation. festival gone who are pursuing courses at Alexander said that while Members of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) kick started a series of activities to celebrate Emancipation Day 2016, in Region Two. The local group observed the annual libation ritual with a march from the Anna Regina car park to the La Belle Alliance burial ground and back. The participants sang African folk songs and danced during the walk. A cultural programme including items of dance, poetry, songs and greetings from members of Dartmouth and Queenstown groups culminated part of the activities later Sunday night. Dartmouth and Queenstown are Afro-oriented villages. Desiree Charles, a member of ACDA, explained that the group which was formed in 2001 by Ms.Elfreda Munroe, was intended to promote education and cultural development. The group has

the Essequibo Technical Institute. The group has sponsored 26 students for the year. It also offers courses where students are afford an opportunity to learn a trade and the basics in the primary computer courses. Addressing a sizeable crowd Sunday night, former Registrar of the University of Guyana and now advisor to the Minister of Education, Vincent Alexander, told Essequibians that Emancipation is the fact or process of being set free from legal, social or political restrictions. It’s not an activity that is only restricted to people of African descent. Alexander explained that the ancestors were not treated as humans. They existed in inhuman conditions. However, emancipation brought with it a freedom which encompasses social and

freedom or emancipation didn’t take an individual approach, it was however a collective effort. That same attitude must be adopted in order for complete liberation to take its course. Alexander said that emancipation was not gifted to slaves but it was something that they would have fought for. It’s a continuous struggle, he added. “There is strength in unity. We have to paddle together, work collectively; freedom can only be realised in wealth, not poverty.” Alexander said that right in Essequibo, Damon started Essequibo’s struggle which eventually brought about the abolition of slavery.

Residents are however worried that something grave is happening within the power company. But West Demerara alone has not been suffering from bouts of blackout. Residents of Eccles on the outskirts of the capital city have been sharing similar sentiments. Central Georgetown and other parts of the country have not been spared too. On Sunday this publication reported that GPL is currently in a quandary, because a critical submarine cable that links the city with the West Demerara is still to be repaired. The system had reportedly collapsed two weeks earlier and GPL it is believed,, has ever since been seeking foreign assistance to make it operational again. The Chinese-built cable is said to be crucial as it is part of the system that connects the Berbice and Demerara grid. Based on Sunday’s report “It means now that the more than US$30M new power facility at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Demerara will be unable

to lend its excess power to the other side of the river, a worry at this time when GPL is depending on those extras to ensure that there is no shortfall.” Now this is an even greater quandary since the very side of the river outfitted with the new power facility has been plagued with an unusual amount of power outages. Residents are moreover calling for full disclosure from the power company so that they can understand the reason for the constant blackouts. “We pay our bills and if we don’t, we will have to accept being disconnected but we can’t pay our bills and still worry whether we have electricity...that is simply wrong,” said one resident. It is estimated that millions of dollars in excess power is lost from the generation by the Vreed-enHoop station because of the downed cable. Guyana first learnt of a problem with the submarine cable on July 13, when GPL disclosed in a statement, that

on the previous evening the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System experienced a shutdown as a result of a faulty connection or “Pot Head” that links the 69KV submarine cable to the overhead transmission lines at Kingston. While power was restored, the link remained down. GPL said that “every effort” is being made to restore the submarine cable link between the Vreed-enHoop station. Since then, there has been no other word from GPL on the repairs to the cable. The submarine cable was part of a larger infrastructural work by GPL to improve its efficiency. It included also, the building of seven substations and stringing of miles of new transmission lines with fiber optic across the coastlands. The entire US$40M-plus project was handled by China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC), a Chinese company which is now planning to participate in a number of other projects.

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

Carpenter drowns as 206 graduate from BIT ‘Blacka’ claims another life Programmes in Region 5

The Emancipation Day celebration took a deadly turn for one family yesterday, when a 27-year-old man drowned in the Lamaha Canal, popularly known as the “Blacka” in ‘B’ Field Sophia. The dead man has been identified as Ryan Jones, a father of one, of Charlestown, Georgetown. According to reports, Jones, a carpenter, plunged into the canal sometime around 13:40 hrs and never came up back until one of his friends dived and brought him up. He was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The dead man’s friend, Jimmy Gravesande, said that he and about six friends including Jones were playing football in Albouystown and they then decided to go take a “wash down” in the Blacka after the game. When they reached to the

Dead: Ryan Jones canal, Gravesande said that he made it his duty to ask if everyone could swim to which they all responded in the affirmative. “When I asked, he (Jones) said that he could swim and he take his comb out of his hair and jumped in behind me,” a teary Gravesande recalled. He explained that after he plunged into the water, he came up back and was about

to dive back into the water, when his other friends asked him if he was sure that the carpenter could have swam because he did not “come up” back. “When they asked I said (Jones) said that he could swim. Everybody started looking and my brother dive into the water and come up back with him,” the friend said. He explained that they immediately placed him in the vehicle and rushed him to the hospital. Another friend, who was seen crying, said that he was hitting Jones’ chest while pleading with him not to give up on life. “Water was coming out of his mouth and blood started coming out of his nose. He was not dead as yet. I was begging him to stay with us,” the friend said. He explained that while it was a norm for them to go and hang out at the Blacka after playing football, it was Jones’s first time at the canal. While a post mortem will reveal the exact cause of death, the friends said that a doctor informed them that the father of one had broken his neck. “We don’t know how he broke his neck because he jumped into the water with both feet.” Jones’s child mother was not in a position to speak to the media.

A section of the gathering; including graduates, parents and well-wishers last weekend at the Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre, Region Five. “I urge you to seize the opportunities provided to you with one hand and with the other, seek to develop your communities, which in turn will have an impact on your Region and ultimately your country. “The impetus is on all our youth and citizens to always seek the development of Guyana and to make us proud.” These were the sentiments expressed by the Chief Labour Officer of the Ministry of Social Protection, Charles Ogle, at Mahaicony last weekend. The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) graduated 206 trainees on the occasion. BIT, which falls under the Ministry of Social Protection, continues to make significant strides in the area of youth development via skills training. The graduation held at the Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre saw participation from the Ministry, parents, Regional officials, other dignitaries and well-wishers. Ogle stated that it was an honour to address the gathering which he said, comprised of determined individuals who would have remained steadfast in their quest for personal development. “These persons sacrificed many a night to be able to obtain a skill and to contribute to their personal develop-

Chief Labour Officer of the Ministry of Social Protection, Charles Ogle (Right) handing over a certificate to a graduate. ment, and the development of their families. “These persons are now equipped to join the labour force with the completion of their Training Programmes in the areas of metalwork engineering, carpentry, masonry, fitting and machining, heavy duty equipment operation, electrical installation and refrigeration, automotive electrical, information technology, welding and fabrication and supervisory management.” Ogle added that this year, the Ministry will be graduating over 1,600 persons coun-

trywide, from various BIT Programmes. These persons, he said, would have undertaken numerous skill sets ranging from Engineering and Building Trades, Information and Communication Technology, Forestry, Home Economics and Health Services. He added that the critical thrust of the programmes has never wavered. It has been supported and guided by the government to ensure that the necessary interventions are being achieved and guided to ensure maximum benefit to the youth and burgeoning labour market. BIT has also been the pioneer of a Heavy Duty Equipment Operation Programme since 2009. This Programme has generated skills needed for the mining sector in many communities countrywide, and will continue in Mahaicony this year. Another major focus of BIT has been the generation of employable skills for differently abled groups including deaf and visually impaired persons, he added.

Tuesday August 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

VENEZUELA IS RICHER THAN GUYANA Guyanese must not fool themselves into believing that there is widespread starvation in Venezuela. They must not delude themselves into believing that Venezuelans want to migrate to Guyana to escape the economic crisis in the country. They must not buy into the fears that thousands of Venezuelans are going to run over the borders into Guyana as economic refu g e s . I f Ve n e z u e l a n s wanted to run, they would go to Colombia which is far better off than we are. The least place that the Venezuelans are seeking to run to is Guyana. The per capita income of Venezuela, even in the midst of the present crisis, is more than five times that of Guyana. Venezuela is not a poor country. Its people are not escaping for economic betterment. Venezuela paid good prices for Guyana’s rice. They only stopped buying

the rice because of the political standoff between Maduro and Granger. It is not as if they cannot afford to buy our rice. They are buying instead from Suriname. But because of the political crisis in the country, they cannot offload the imported rice as fast as they want to. The situation in Venezuela is as a result of a combination of factors. First, the country has for the past fifteen years been under political and economic siege from Uncle Sam. The United States was behind attempts on two occasions to topple Hugo Chavez. After those failed, it resorted to economic sabotage. The US is behind the present economic woes of Venezuela. Barack Obama, last March, declared Venezuela as a national security threat to the United States. Venezuela is not financing terrorism. It is not

in possession of nuclear weapons. Yet the United States deemed it a threat. This was all part of tightening the screws on President Maduro who succeed Hugo Chavez. Venezuela’s economy is dependent on oil. It imports almost all of its food. The Bolivarian Revolution initiated by Chavez and continued under Maduro implemented costly social programmes aimed at helping the poor. Consumer items were heavily subsidized. This led to heavy smuggling of consumer items out of Venezuela since the subsidized items fetched a higher price in other countries. This was and still is a major problem in Venezuela. The second aspect of the economic crisis was the fall in international oil prices. The decline in oil prices affected the ability of the government to finance its extensive social

programmes. Third, the situation is worsened by economic sabotage from the powerful business class which is redirecting food supplies away from the poor, and which is also restricting imports thereby creating artificial food shortages. The government’s distribution network is underdeveloped and has not been able to get food supplies to the poor as it ought to. The opposition is powerful and it is frustrating the attempts by the government. Hoarding is rife in the country. Venezuela has enough international reserves to feed its people. It is not as if it is short of funds. Its oil revenues still exceed its food bill but it has had problems with foreign exchange flows. Last year, oil revenues plunged by about 40 per cent. Fourth, the opposition,

with support from Uncle Sam has become very powerful and is crippling the government economically and politically. It is doubtful that even if oil prices are restored to the high levels of two years ago, that things will get better in Venezuela. The people are hurting and they voted in the last parliamentary elections in favour of the opposition. It is doubtful whether Maduro can survive the pressures that are being placed on his government. He cannot fix the distribution problems which affect the access of poor communities to consumer items. He cannot prevent the sloth at the ports, even though he has asked the military for help, because the ports are controlled by the business class which is bent on toppling him. He cannot cut subsidies because this will hurt the poor more even though the subsidized items are

being smuggled. He is facing a hostile parliament. The people of Venezuela will survive the present crisis. They are not going to run from that country and not at all to Guyana which is still far poorer that Venezuela. Guyana's problems will come from another source. It will come from Caricom. Ve n e z u e l a i s p r e s e n t l y bankrolling a number of Caricom states with their oil imports. If Maduro falls, these arrangements will collapse and with it the economies of Caricom countries. The economic refugees are likely to come from these countries and not Venezuela.

JFL container truck crushes man in city In a gruesome Emancipation Day accident, an unidentified man was crushed by a John Fernandes Limited container truck near the Croal Street and Avenue of the Republic intersection. The man, who eyewitnesses described as middle aged and of Amerindian ancestry, was reportedly run over by the vehicle around 18.45 hrs, while crossing from Croal Street to Avenue of the Republic. The victim was virtually flattened, with his body parts, including what

looked like a heart, strewn around the area. Police said that the driver, Paul Taylor, related that the accident occurred while he was heading south along Avenue of the Republic on his way to the John Fernandes terminal on Mandela Avenue. He claimed that the traffic light at the intersection indicated green, and he crossed over Croal Street. He was close to Hadfield Street, and had no clue that anything was amiss until persons shouted that he had run over someone.

A vendor who was selling beverages said that the victim had passed him on the Avenue of the Republic a few minutes prior to the accident. He said that the man was staggering and almost tumbled into a gutter. About 20 minutes later, the vendor said he heard a “pop” and “squishing” sound. He then saw people running towards Croal Street and realised that an accident had occurred. Undertakers from the Lyken Funeral Home eventually took the body away.

Dem boys seh...

Cheap plane ticket cause frustration Yesterday was de day when some of dem boys great, great grandfather stop being slaves. Then dem same people rather than tek every cent dem get and buy rum, save dem money to buy property. Dem people buy whole villages. In dem days nobody use to thief people money. Everybody know wheh de village money hide up. That is why dem boys want to know wheh this thiefing come from. Dem know wheh de gun come from. It start when Jagdeo was president and it grow under him. Dem boys seh that crime was like egg under a fowl. It hatch and is more fowl. Anyhow, was de freedom thing that ketch dem boys. Even if dem didn’t know what was happening dem get a chance to understand why people celebrate. But dem can’t understand that de same people does put aside de same clothes dem proud to wear pun day like yesterday and wear de white people clothes wid tie and suit in de hot, hot sun. And while people celebrating some people was doing stupidness. A man claim how he bail he mattie thief man and when de case done de man refuse to give him back his money. Dem boys hear he beg one time too often because a man end he life wid some bullets right in front of wheh

he live.He didn’t think about celebrating he freedom; he didn’t even think about he grandparents who use to slave. And while some people celebrating some was punishing. Dem buy dem plane ticket long now because de airline advertise cheap flight. But old people always seh cheap nah good and good nah cheap. De plane tekking more than two days to travel from de States to Guyana. Eastern Airline got people sleeping fuh days at all dem airline. People tek floor mek bed at Timehri. In New York it was even wuss because is nuff people there. Florida was de same thing. People wid baby suddenly find out what is punishment and all because dem biy cheap plane ticket. One man get so vex that eh cuff de plane window and break it. He in a jail in Trinidad. De same money wha he think he save pun a plane ticket is de same money he got to spend fuh a lawyer and then he got to spend two times that amount in fine. Some scouts seh that dem never coming back to Guyana because of dem airline wid dem cheap flight and is three of dem. Talk half and remember that cheap nah good and good nah cheap

The JFL truck

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

More evidence of the PPP’s discrimination against African-Guyanese Yesterday I looked at discrimination against African Guyanese after the PPP came to power in 1992. It started with the Jagan Government, continued when Mrs. Jagan became President. But it was under Bharrat Jagdeo that racism against African Guyanese became an unofficial policy. We must remember it began with Cheddi Jagan in 1992. In a previous column, I wrote; “Jagan in office after 1992 saw immense touches of unfairness. There were witchhunts, vendettas, incestuous politics, ethnic preferences that erased the positive legacy he was once associated with.” The scale of the PPP’s witch-hunt against AfricanGuyanese cannot escape the label of racism. Under Dr. Jagan , the first seven of the Customs hierarchy were removed. Their names are on the top of the list below. The remaining names are not offered in order of seniority at the time of dismissal. 1 Clarence Chue, Harold Bahadur (African), Loris Bankcroft, William Holder, Patrick Hyman, Douglas

Linton, Iola Issacs, Walter Roberts, Rose Kirton, Lawrence Dundas, Brentnol Hickens, Christopher Mathias, Shelly Brian, Paul Prescod, Michelle Mathias, Georgiana Patrick Roberts, Steven Daniels, Hatty-Ann Scotland, Yonette Austin, Richard Prince, George Beaton, Dexter John, Watson Grey, Assaye Greenidge, Gordon Watson, Rhonda Glad, Rayanne Van Lewin, Paula Caleb, Ewart Austin, Howard Paul, Karen BobbSemple, Simone Herod, Fitzroy Thomas, Paula Sampson, Vanita Bovell, Keon Price, John Cameron, Julian George, Colin Moore, Dawne Benn, Gem Callender (demoted)and Jackie Payne (demoted). The pattern of decimation at Customs and Excise was replicated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. African Guyanese were systematically removed from that Ministry. Some of the names include long standing Foreign Service officers who served Guyana with distinction and without involvement in party. Dismissed or harassed or by-

passed for promotion included the following names Ronald Austin, Arnon Adams, John Hutson, David Hales, Jimmy Matheson, Rawle Lucas, Aubrey Norton, Cedric Grant, Paulette James, Sharon Collins, Donna Culpepper, Janice Benfield, O. McMillian, Colin Davies, Frank Goodman, and Elizabeth Kingston One very blatant dismissal was the then Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Hubert Thompson. Before joining the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Thompson graduated from Jackson State University with distinction in Financial Studies. He was removed from the Ministry and transferred to the Office of the President and suffered the humiliation of having to perform the duties of approving application for use of the swimming pool at Castellani House. The following African Guyanese took the Jagan Government to court over their sacking courts; Bridgette Hinds, (Palms); Gemme Hinds (Palms); Feubia Monfort (Palms); Dionne Jones (Palms); Christine

Barlow (Palms); Brian Belgrave (Min of Human Services); Clendon Fogenay (Min of Human Services); and Denise Jones (Office of the President). Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte in an eight page dossier wrote; “Having studied the available abundant evidence, I cannot but conclude that the PPP regime has mounted and is executing in a systematic and ruthless way, a project harass and marginalize persons of African descent…not only were over fifty officials of African descent dismissed summarily and unlawfully but, as an act of sheer, they were denied their termination benefits… In every government ministry the same policy of ethnic cleansing has been pursued with varying degrees of intensity ...”

Reacting not only to racist processes in the public service, Mr. Hoyte focused his attention to racism against African people in general. He went on to state; “The major enterprise now being accelerated in every Region (is) to evict persons of African descent from state lands…the policy entails the revocation of state leases and the denial of new leases to them…I am not talking only about large leases, but also house lots and small farmsteads…as the occupants are ousted or threatened with ouster, PPP supporters are being brought in from distant geographical locations to replace them…on the Essequibo Coast where I visited a few Sundays ago, I found many persons greatly agitated and distressed, their occupancy of state land had either been

Frederick Kissoon terminated or threatened …” These statistics and names tell the tragic story of Cheddi Jagan’s politics after he became President in 1992. I have consistently polemicized in the columns that what the post-Jagan protégés became when they got power under Jagdeo, they inherited from Cheddi and Janet Jagan. The Jagan underlings that took over after 1999 when relentless protests from the PNC forced Mrs Jagan out of office, knew that what they were doing were right because they saw their leader, Dr. Jagan doing it.

‘Agricola gang’ executes former murder accused

Former murder accused, Orin David, called “Malik” was gunned down in front of his Lot 89 Laing Avenue, Georgetown home around 15:00 hrs yesterday in the presence of his reputed wife and other relatives . The 33-year-old man was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), shortly after one of five men came out of a car and pumped several bullets into him. The murder weapon is believed to be an AK-47. According to reports, the 33-year-old man had a confrontation several times with an Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident who he had bailed out of jail some

Orin David called “Malik” time last year. Yesterday, David and the individual were involved in a heated argument again since the Agricola resident refused

to return the $150,000 the father of one had paid to get him out of prison. After the argument, the Agricola resident went away but later returned with four other persons in two vehicles and executed the former murder accused. The five persons have been identified by the man’s reputed wife, Joycelyn Laurie, and other relatives. Laurie, in an interview yesterday said the persons who executed David were his friends at one time who visited their home and ate. The woman explained that some time last year, her partner’s friend was jailed for a robbery. “He was calling (Continued on page 12)

Tuesday August 02, 2016

Prosecution main witnesses testifies in ‘Rabbit’ murder trial When the Rosignol Chinese restaurant murder trial continued in the Berbice High Court on Friday, the Prosecution called its two main witnesses on the witness stand. On trial for murder before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a mixed jury is Shazam Khalil, called “Rabbit”, 23, a cane harvester of 53 Shieldstown, West Bank Berbice. He is charged with killing Shazina Mohamed, 19, of Edinburgh Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice. The woman was brutally stabbed about her body around 19:00 hours on January 17, last year, in front of the Yang Yi Chinese Restaurant, at Rosignol, West Bank Berbice. The Prosecution is contending that on the day in question in a fit of rage, the accused allegedly knifed the teen who was his ex-lover to death. Attorney at law, Stacy Goodings, told the court that on the day in question; the woman was ambushed and stabbed by the accused who then fled the scene. The woman was picked up and rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital and was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital where she succumbed. First to take the stand was Latchmi Sukhdeo who said that on the day in question, she accompanied her brother to the Ritz Mall at Rosignol to unlock a cell phone. She said that they subsequently met Shazina Mohamed and after a while they walked to the Yang Yi Chinese Restaurant. Her brother bought some food and she was left sitting inside eating while her brother and Shazina were outside talking. She called her

brother and as he was entering the restaurant Shazina shouted for him. She did not see what happen because she was inside. She subsequently saw Shazina covered in blood. She assisted in placing her in a mini bus and accompanied her to the Fort Wellington Hospital. Under cross examination by defence attorney Tajenarine Ramroop, Sukhdeo stated that the deceased was taken by bus to the Fort Wellington Hospital. The deceased was subsequently taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital. She first met the deceased at the Mall where there were street lights on. Main prosecution witness Vishwa Sukhdeo, 19, was the next on the witness stand. He stated that he had known Shazina Mohamed for about three months. They met through a Digicel Chat room and would make contact by texting each other. He said that the day of the incident was the first time he met Shazina. He knew the accused, for about a year before the incident, by seeing him going to the back dam. He did not know his name, but knew him as “Rabbit”. He learnt his name when he made a report about the stabbing and when they were both at the Blairmont Police station. He never spoke to the accused, but knows that he lives at Shieldstown. He said that about 17:30 hrs on the day in question he and his sister went to the Ritz Mall at Rosignol to unlock a cell phone. They were subsequently joined by Shazina Mohamed whom he had expected. They then walked to the Yang Yi Chinese Restaurant where he bought food.

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Kaieteur News

He left his sister inside eating while he went outside and was talking with Shazina. He said that his sister subsequently called him and as he was going towards his sister he heard screams. He turned around and ran outside and saw the accused cuffing Shazina. He hollered on him and the accused turned around and looked at him before he loosed Shazina and ran away. He ran behind him, but stopped after the man ran through a cross street. The place was bright because there were lights on the buildings and the streets. He then returned to the scene where he saw Shazina in blood. He held on to her as she was about to fall. She was then placed into a minibus and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital. She was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam hospital. He made a report about the incident at the Central Police Station at New Amsterdam. Under cross examination he stated that he and Shazina were just friends. They were not in love. He said that he was not drinking on the day. He did not have a beer bottle in his hands. He was subsequently examined extensively by Ramroop and denied that he was lying. Also taking the witness stand were Detective Corporal Kofi Robinson, Detective Constable Andel Doris and police Constable Orwin Barton, continued his evidence on the witness stand. A post mortem examination which was done on the body gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds. The matter is continuing.

Emancipation 2016….

Bachelors Adventure to commemorate 183rd Anniversary of Demerara Slave Revolt As part of emancipation observance, the community of Bachelors Adventure will commemorate the 183rd anniversary of the Demerara Revolt. Given the significant milestone, organisers are hosting a three-day event this August. This will feature an intervillage road relay race from Unity Mahaica to Bachelors Adventure followed by a prize giving ceremony. According to Coordinator of the event, Aaron Blackman, the activities are in collaboration with the Paradise-Bachelors Adventure Youth Sports and Culture Club. “There will also be an address by executive director of the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) Eric Phillips and Community Outreach by Government Ministers and representatives.” Blackman said, “The activities will be held from August 18, at the ParadiseBachelors AdventureMelanie Damishana Community Centre. “It will include an inter club and inter village road relay race, lectures, cultural presentations, wreath laying ceremony at a monument erected at THE PARBAMEL Community Center Lawn commissioned by President David Granger while in opposition, and an expected

Aaron Blackman outreach to the community by Ministers of Government and their representatives on August 19,” Blackman outlined. Blackman said that renowned historian, Winston F. McGowan ,in his book “Demerara revolt, 1823” stated that “The year 1823 was the turning point in slave society and is one of the most important events in Guyanese and Caribbean history. Blackman said the book was edited by President Granger, himself. He said that “the revolt broke out on Monday August 18, 1823. A march from Mahaica commenced, destined from Georgetown to meet the Governor. The next day Governor Murray proclaimed martial law and mobilized a formidable military force comprising the 21st (North British Fusiliers) Regiment; the 1st Battalion,

Demerara Militia; the Marine Battalion; one Calvary troop; and one artillery company, and met the revolting slaves at Bachelors Adventure on East Coast Demerara on August 20.” “The revolting slaves on the other hand, despite their greater numbers, were unarmed except for cutlasses and a few muskets seized from the planters. They were untrained in military tactics and untutored in political negotiation. The Africans presumed naively, that they could plead their mistaken case for their rights supported by a mere show of strength without resort to waging a war of liberation. On August 20, there was a massacre at Plantation Bachelors Adventure. “Over 2000 rebels confronted the main body of troops under Lieutenant Colonel Leahy. After some talk the Martial Law proclamation was read and the troops were ordered to attack. “About 200 slaves had been killed.” Blackman stated that during this time of Emancipation, the village of Bachelors Adventure has decided to commemorate the martyred slaves” whose blood was not shed in vain,” since it was revolts like these that led to freedom from slavery and other systems of oppression.

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

GPHC seeks to reduce patient traffic by relying on West Dem. Hospital Reducing the patient traffic at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) has long been a matter gaining the attention of the administration of the public health facility. In order to help address this dilemma the Ministry of Public Health set in motion initiatives, such as primary health care which is designed to encourage people to utilise health care facilities within their communities. This, however, has not dissuaded many persons from opting for the service offered at the GPHC. But according to Chairman of the Hospital, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman, he intends to bring an end to this state of affairs. He is looking closely at the West Demerara Regional Hospital to remove the pressure from the GPHC. Dr. Hanoman has already theorised, that if a team of well-trained specialists is available at that hospital, it will essentially address the existing problem at the GPHC. “When patients go there (West Demerara Hospital), they wouldn’t have to run to the GPHC unless it is really for severely specialised care,” the Chairman noted. Getting this plan in motion, however, will require first addressing the situation at the West Demerara Hospital. According to Dr. Hanoman, he is aware based on reports carried in the media that “if you check the West Demerara hospital after 6pm no patient can be treated there. If the reports are true that is what has been happening.” Because of this state of affairs patients are forced to head to the GPHC thereby allowing for severe

The West Demerara Regional Hospital overcrowding. “Pregnant patients end up here, too, sometimes for maternal care...When some of them die, the GPHC is blamed. But what happens is that, sometimes people don’t take antenatal care and on the last day they come to this hospital. We then have to do many miracles here but miracles don’t always happen...so in reporting, that should be noted too,” said Dr. Hanoman. Although the work done at the GPHC is tremendous, Dr. Hanoman made it clear that it is done with very limited resources. According to him, “We do have severe problems including a nursing shortage that is taking a toll on the hospital. Unless we increase our nursing complement we will be in serious problems. “We will always have friction because frustration leads to aggression.” According to Dr. Hanoman the hospital currently has a need for about 275 nurses. But Dr. Hanoman assured

that he is currently in discussion on urgently reducing the number of people who utilise the services of the GPHC in order to make the service more efficient. In the past there were discussions about twinning the GPHC and the West Demerara Hospital. This measure was touted as a means to addressing staff shortage at either facilities and a patient exchange programme, where the patients who require less demanding services could be moved to the West Demerara hospital and be monitored there, and those in more severe cases be attended at the GPHC. It was therefore long expected that the collaboration between the GPHC and the West Demerara Hospital would have allowed for an improvement in the delivery of service. The West Demerara Regional Hospital was, in the past, the subject of many daunting concerns in terms of

its infrastructure and even services delivered. In fact, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, in an attempt to address such concerns, during an

interview with this publication, revealed that the GPHC, which has been developing its span in terms of services “has been offering to help, and I think we are

going to take them up on that offer to sort of twin the two hospitals.” This publication has not been able to ascertain whether the twinning efforts had materialised.

Market front choppingwoman stable, arm saved Wanita Heerelall, 31, who was brutally chopped by her exlover at the La Penitence market on Sunday, successfully underwent surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) late Sunday evening. Speaking to her reputed husband via telephone, Kaieteur News understands that doctors managed to save her arm that was almost hacked off. The man said that Heerelall suffered chops to her head and as a result sustained an injury to her skull. He noted that she is in a stable condition and even managed to eat some food. He posited that the suspect who is known as “Buckman” went with the intention of killing Heerelall because the chopping was brutal. As is her usual Sunday routine, Wanita Heerellall, went to the market around 11:00hrs to do some shopping. An eyewitness told this publication

Wanita Heerelall that she was walking along Saffon Street when the man approached the victim. He reportedly pulled her hand as though he wanted to converse with her. Several vendors along Saffon Street said that Heerellall pulled away from the individual and told him that she didn’t want anything to do with him. The man reportedly pulled out a

“chopper” and chopped Heerelall repeatedly in the head, arms and stomach. After he attacked Heerellall several vendors rushed to her aid and prevented him from chopping her to death. This newspaper learnt that the man received a sound thrashing at the hands of enraged persons before being handed over to the police. Several witnesses told this publication that the man had bought the chopper and had sharpened it at the market earlier in the morning. Heerelall’s reputed husband said that the suspect was once in a relationship with the woman and fathered her child. The reputed husband said that he usually accompanies her to the market on Sundays but this Sunday he stayed in to do some chores. The suspect remains in custody as is likely to be charged with attempted murder in the coming week.

‘Agricola gang’ executes... From page 10 (David) all the time for bail money, now when David bailed him out, he doesn’t want to pay back.” According to Laurie, every time her partner saw the Agricola resident, he would ask for his money and the two of them drifted apart because he refused to pay back the money. “They had an argument for the money and today, David see the boy and he chuck him and the boy go away and come back with two cars with some men. I tell them that y’all are friends and it ain’t call for all that. I hear when one of them ask the other one where his AK was and they went away,” the woman recalled. She said that she was at a neighbour’s home when she heard someone saying that the men had returned. “When I look, I see they patting down David to see if he had anything and all I hear was ‘pow, pow’ and I run,” Laurie said.

She added that the men escaped in both cars while her partner collapsed on the roadway. Last year February, the father of one was freed, having spent five years in prison for the 2010 murder of Mahaica farmer, Lakhram Bishundial. Bishundial, called Mohan, was shot during a robbery at Hope Turn, East Coast Demerara, as he was on his way to a nearby Ashram to make preparations for his younger brother’s wedding. David and another person, Shawn Thom, were subsequently charged for the murder. Thom was freed a week before David. On July 12, 2015, David, who had allegedly tossed a firearm in a trench during a police patrol exercise on July 9, was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun when he is not the holder of a firearm license. He was remanded to prison. Investigations are ongoing.

Tuesday August 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

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SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana p assport 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 Guytec Repairs Services & Spares to washing machines, pressure washer, dryer, stoves, refrigerator, treadmill, vacuum, etc –Call: 680-2377 Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove service and repairs. Call: 601-0595; 220-4073; 220-5785 Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!! Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

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 One 2 bedroom apartment located at Section ‘A’ Block ‘X’ Great Diamond, E.B.D. For more information, please call: 643-9286; 603-0067 2 Bedrooms bottom flat to rent lot 5 Wallers Delight, W.C.D -$45,000 monthly. Call: 6744929; 662-0187 1 Complete 3 storey building for rent at 68 Pike St. Kitty Call: 615-8176 Two bedrooms apartment located at Stanleytown, W.C.D. Call: 696-8714 One 2 bedrooms apartment, one 1 bedrooms apartment at Timehri –Call: 658-4754 1-3 bedrooms apartment bottom flat @ Norton street, Lodge $50,000 per month + 2 months security- Call: 6230076 Self- contained apartments $30,000 and $28,000 per month + security @ South Ruimveldt- Call: 623-0076 1 Snackette with warmer & glass cases, 1 grocery & bar @ 7 Durban street Lodge- Call: 690-5796 Business place in prime location, fully grilled, spacious and air conditioned @ East street, North Cummingsburg- Call: 2266592, 643-8833

Electronic Course. Starting 9th August. Hands-on training repairing all types of TVs, etc. Call: 226-6551; 225-0391 IAE: Register for full time school (Grades 7-11) CSEC lessons; adults and school leavers CXC classes. Call Mr. Roberts: 683-5742

VACANCY Vacancies exist for workers @ Ice Factory and Meadow Bank Wharf. Call: 231-1408; 642-9191 8am-2pm Janitorial Staff with experience, able to work flexible hours. Applications must be sent to PO.BOX 12329 Taxi driver wanted – Call A1 Taxi Services: 220-1000 Female room attendant. Tel: 225-0198 or visit 233 South Road, Lacytown. Assistant cook. Apply within call: 611-5615; 225-7933 or visit us at 173 Sheriff Street Part-time Babysitter with valid US visa Experience with children. Hiring on excellent recommendations ONLY. Tel# 655-1560. Two (2) Experienced Legal computer clerks- Phone: 6247087. Email: husainsaphier@yahoo.com Cook (food handler’s certificate), assistant cook. Knowledge in all cuisines. Preferably female. Salary $23,000- call:222-7334/-63 Exists for a real estate agent, stipend paid & CommissionText-648-2345

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 647-1773/660-5257

PROPERTY FOR SALE Corner property in Grove, 1 block from Main Road- Flat House, price negotiable. Call: 1905-626-2572 High value transported land and 2 bedrooms newly built house, Greater Diamond E.B.D -$16M negotiable. Call: 265-4338 Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Newly built @ Craig E.B.D (land size: 91X50 feet), (House 40X28), 3 rooms, 1 self contained. Call:718-213-6496; 679-8091 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities -Price Reduced – Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 One (2) family house lot 32 Ann’s Grove housing scheme, land 100x50 $20M negotiable- Call: 623-5423 House & land 2 storey concrete building (4 bedrooms; 2 self-contained), semi-furnished in Grove & Diamond New Scheme. Call: 216-1861 40X32 House @ Anna Catherina, W.C.D –price $13.5M negotiable- Call: 6462341; 225-7164 Property with 6 bedrooms at Pouderoyen, Coghlan Dam, WBD, Third Lot on the Left of Street -$4.5M- Call: 6787355 Property for sale at Lot 32 Princess street Werk-EnRust- Tel: 621-8767 East Ruimveldt corner $15M. East La Penitence $13.7M 2 storey, Aubrey Barker road (corner) $30M- Call Shawn (Broker) 231-2199, 618-7483

Earn a certificate in cosmetology; enroll now at Artee’s Beauty Salon & School of cosmetology. Call: 275-0267; 680-0156

TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

1 Unfurnished 2 bedrooms apartment at Eccles Park $55,000- Call: 648-7004

2010 IST -$2.6M, 2011 BLUEBIRD -$2.7M, 2011 RACTIS -$2.6M, 2009 AXIO -$2.4M, 2009 BELTA -2.4M. CALL: 617-2891 SALE! SALE! 2010 IST $2.4M, 2009 NOAH -$2.5M, ARUIS -$2.5M- CALL: 6172891 3 TON CANTER ENCLOSE AND OPEN BACK WITH 4D ENGINE, PRICE -$3.6M, NEVER REGISTERED – CALL: 617-2891 2009 RX8, Allion, Music Bus, Small bus, Motor cycle, Benz. Call: 265-4979 1 Nissan Blue Bird 2006 Model- Call: 674-2170 owner leaving country Toyota AT212, in good condition -$900,000- Call: 690-3352; 267-1308; 6262841 1 Toyota Noah Wagon – Call: 227-4339/ 227- 8772 One 2007 Fielder stick gear $2.7M negotiable. One B12 Sunny $300,000- Call: 6165974, 618-8703 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 Toyota Vigo, excellent condition, $2.1M negotiable Call: 668-4553 Model M truck GTT series $3.9M negotiable- Call: 6667380, 603-7090 ACCOMODATION Harmony Inn- furnished apartments and rooms (long term & short term) affordable prices- Call: 668-0306/6947817/ 218-1400

We have interest in buying lands at Farm & Herstelling. Call: 266-0693 Land for sale at Eccles and Diamond. Call: 609-7766 Tushen $2.2M, $3.5M, Parfaite Harmonie- Call:6421252

Bobcats & Excavator Rentals. Call: 679-0374; 683-2122 LEARN TO DRIVE

FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

VEHICLE FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE

2 bedrooms furnished top flat front house for rent Tel # 6381112, 647-3054 Hair station rental at convenient location, Georgetown, Call: 638-1106, discounts given to newcomers, persons with experienced & clients

EDUCATIONAL

Tuesday August 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj BuildingCall: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

WANTED Welders & persons to use torch set- Call: 673-7991, 6947385

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL. COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM Wings 4WD pickup rental: 679-3525 Aidan’s Car Rental: 4WD pickup. Call: 698-7807

FOR SALE Used XBOX 360 and play station 3- $35,000, plastic barrels -$4,000. Call: 6217497; 603-8643 1 Transported property, 1 5L Hilux Pickup, 1 complete music system- Call: 265-3586 LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One 6 base music set with QSC amps, RCF speakers. Call: 622-0503; 689-9932 1-Leyland 45 Truck $1.5 MContact# 650-0402 Sheep & duck for sale. Call: 695-6139 Toyota IST-$1,895,000, Toyota Fielder-$1,895,000, Toyota Spacio-$1,895,000, BMW 318i-$2.3M, Audi A4$3.7M. Contact#650-0402 1 Nissan B13 Car any good deal accepted. Call: 687-2835; 684-3195 1 Toyota Super GL minibus, (Pitbull), 2008 model, power window & fully A/C. Only 1 month old. Call: 652-4640; 664-2088 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games, applications & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:2259032;647-2943;604-5198 ADORABLE FLUFFY PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 615-0146 TO LET (2) Bedrooms, bottom flat apartment, toilet & bath inside, grilled & sealed. Location: Canvas City Linden- Call: 670-6479,6162752 2 bedrooms house to rent, new, Herstelling Call: 6847366, 617-8739 One fully furnished apartment $80,000 monthly & one unfurnished room $18,000 @ Diamond- Call: 668-0306, 694-7817

MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079 The Gent’s Spa: take time for yourself with lovely masseuses. For appointments call: 658-6677 Continue page 23

Tuesday August 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

President Granger initiates RDC reconciliation From page 13 proper administration of their communities and the country is in their hands. “Every one of you has power. It is called the vote. For the first time in nearly two decades, we were able to go to the polls, (in March 2016) to elect your neighbourhood councils, your municipalities. “Last year we went into democratic elections and you voted. It is in your power; the power is in your hands to choose leaders, who can direct the business of your neighbourhood, of your municipality, of your region and of your country,” he said. Mr. Ramphal, in an invited comment, said he is very happy that the President has intervened in the matter so that the work of the Council can proceed.

Council member, Delon Crawford, said that while work was still being done in the Region, he believes that the President’s move to end the impasse is a good one. He is ‘excited’ for the holding of the next RDC meeting. Another Council Member, Mr. Dolston Hutson, said that he was confident that the impasse would have come to an end soon. He added that while the protest action was in defence of the Head of State, his call for it to end must be respected. One resident was visibly overjoyed at the development and said, “I feel so happy about it because now we can get things going. We can put things into place and I am happy, happy to know that today they can come together by hugging each other.”

From page 22

Regional Chairman Mr. Vickchand Ramphal and Council Member, Ms. Carol Joseph embrace in a show of reconciliation as Member of Parliament, Mr. Harry Gill looks on.

Scores stranded at CJIA over two... From page 3 management of CJIAC will continue to work with its service providers to ensure that the Airline Check-in services are returned to normalcy in the fastest possible time.” The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Compan y (GTT) also issued a release stating that the ‘cable consortium’ has been working tirelessly to restore this service and will continue to provide updates. “GTT has redundant infrastructure and is working with the airline reservation management system, SITA, to migrate to redundant routes. GTT would like to

reassure customers that the internet infrastructure is working well via the redundant paths. “Not even a glass of water...” Meanwhile back at the Airport tensions were running high. Passengers were venting their frustration at both airport and airline staff particularly those operating Eastern Airline and Dynamics Airline, demanding answers. This is the peak season that causes delays fo r some airlines. The newer airlines have not been handling their passengers efficiently causing even further delays, a

spokesman said. One passenger, Godfrey Marks, told this publication that he had arrived at the CJIA on Sunday for a 9am flight only to find that his flight was being pushed back. “From 9 (am) to 4 (pm) and they change it to 12 (midnight) then to 5am then they told us to wait till some time after 10 am. They did not say anything while we stayed in the waiting area and then we decide to go out while other passengers were quarrelling up to find out what was going on,” the man stated. Marks added that

Emancipation energy will... From page 14 of the Government. We also want to do some literacy work in the village here. The problem of literacy is all over Guyana, but we want to do something about it here in Buxton.” “We are thinking about training some young people into a literacy brigade so that they can go about (their peers) and help to improve literacy. So this energy that you see here, we are not going to let it die. We are going to use it to help redevelop and restore this village.” Following the libation ceremony, a stage show organized by the Buxton First of August Movement got underway. It featured legendary performer Dave Martin, who sang some of his biggest hits including ‘Boyhood days’ and ‘Not a blade of grass.’ His stage presence was enough to infuse Buxtonians with excitement, as hit after hit had the crowd cheering. In addition, there were storytelling activities, poems and dances.

A villager pours coconut water on the Emancipation monument during the libation ceremony

among the passengers that were ‘stranded’ were several Cub Scouts who were present in Guyana for the 14th Cuboree. According to reports, some 800 to 1000 scouts had arrived in Guyana last week and were scheduled to return home last Sunday. “They (cub scouts) still here; sleeping on the ground. They didn’t even offer us a glass of water since we here, or anything to eat. All the reps (airline representatives) not responding to our calls. The number that we usually call them on is ringing out and the people here are very angry.” Kaieteur News under-

stands that some passengers were given their baggage and were told to return today. Marks is questioning who is going to pay for transportation and accommodation since many passengers are required to stay one more day in the country. Meanwhile, there were unconfirmed reports coming out of Trinidad where law enforcement officials had to be summoned to escort passengers off of aircraft after they refused to disembark. Kaieteur News has also received several distressed calls from persons overseas who are inquiring about the situation as they await the arrival of their loved ones.

Hundreds flock... From page 16 Divine Stars dance group from Berbice, the Buxton Fusion Drumming group and the Mystique Dance Group. Also, a Nigerian singer with the stage name “Esther” attached to the DP Records Label blessed the crowd with her songs. Other forms of entertainment included the National Steel Pan Orchestra representing the Ministry of Education’s Museum of African Heritage, who serenaded the crowd with a mixture of soca and afrobeat vibes. Those in attendance could have made purchases from the various booths outlining the roadside within the Park. Persons sold items inclusive of leather sandals, bracelets, chains, other accessories and clothing. A d d i t i o n a l l y, s o m e vendors sold African dishes—Conkie, Cassava pone and metemgee. As is the custom over

the years, many of the patrons would retreat to the stage area of the National Park to socialize and relax their feet after walking around the park. However, this year, free entry was denied to that Arena due to the planned concert featuring reggae superstar, Luciano. Some persons were disappointed since they were unaware of the entry cost. Some even shouted that due to their freedom they should not have to pay to enter the arena. However, the disgruntled few eventually conformed and entered the arena to await the evening’s proceedings. Ultimately, it was clear that persons were indeed happy to share in the celebrations. Wa l k i n g amongst the hundreds gathered, one could have heard exultations by persons declaring their freedom when greeting their friends and loved ones.

WANTED Buying non working appliances: washing machine, treadmill, refrigerator, pressure washer, etc. whatsapp picture: 6618802 Girls wanted to work at a popular bar in MahdiaCall:662-4738 Salesgirl & porters. Apply with written application at 1E Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellville. Fly wheel 3S gear box. Call: 609-1490; 261-3645 Wanted to buy fresh cuts Wamara & Tonka bean logs. Call: 664-5150, 648-1619 Salesgirls- apply at Dian’s Deli, Bar Street, opposite Kitty Market. Call: 225-3700 2 Experienced handyman & bar/shop workers for Interior, 1 handyman for G/ Town, age 18-35yrs. Call: 231-0363 Mon-Fri 9:00-11:30 & 1:30-4:30pm Labourers. Contact Friendship Slipway & Co. Ltd, 7 Friendship, E.B.D. Call: 266-2217; 266-0311 between 7:30am-4:30pm Experienced sand truck driver – Call: 227-8529; 2237356 Drivers/Dispatchers to work @ Gem’s Taxi Service- Call: 225-5075; 231-3709 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 ONE HANDYMAN contact 223-5273/4 Experienced cashiers needed to work in general store on the East Coast (willing to train)- Call: 6454238, 274-0285 Wanted land to buy @ Tushen, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, Parfaite Harmonie. Best price offered- Tel: 642-1252 One lorry driver, experienced in selling water Tel: 671-8909 Drivers & Labourers for garbage trucks Contact: 6707920 One used Nissan Bluebird Sylphy to purchaseCall:676-1697, 225-6138 One live-in experienced waitress 18-25 years, salary $70,000-$80,000 monthly. Boarding & lodging freeCall:610-5043 Technicians: refrigeration, washing machine, gas stove/electronic- Call: 2254822/ 629-4946

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday August 02, 2016

Tuesday August 02, 2016

Peru probes whether police killed people to earn promotions, rewards (Reuters) Prosecutors in Peru are investigating whether a group of police extrajudicially killed 27 people in a scheme to earn promotions and rewards from superiors by appearing to stop dangerous criminals, a source said yesterday. The inquiry was opened earlier this year after the interior ministry sent public prosecutors a report on what it said may be a criminal ring with dozens of police officers involved in killings between 2012 and 2015, the source in the attorney general’s office said. Prosecutors suspect the officers ordered undercover informants to set up kidnappings and robberies with suspected criminals in order to catch and kill them

under the pretense of legitimate uses of force, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The investigation was first revealed Sunday by the local investigative news show Cuarto Poder on America Television. The source said Attorney General Pablo Sanchez escalated the inquiry to a higher priority and authorized broader powers for the lead prosecutor on Monday. The case puts more pressure on President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who took office on Thursday, to reform a police force widely viewed as corrupt while meeting popular demands for tougher treatment of criminals. Kuczynski’s interior minister, Carlos Basombrio, said

on Cuarto Poder that he would publish a report on the case within 10 days. Daniel Urresti, an interior minister in the government of former President Ollanta Humala, said in broadcast comments that he had been aware of the inquiry and urged Peruvians not to jump to conclusions. The report by Cuarto Poder included the testimony of a businessman identified as Jose Candiote, who said that four men who kidnapped him did not resist arrest, even though police said the men were killed in a shootout. Candiote said he was handcuffed and left alone in the room of an abandoned house before he heard gunshots in an adjoining room

Venezuela election board okays opposition recall push first phase Venezuela’s national election council said yesterday the opposition had successfully collected 1 percent of voter signatures in every state in the first phase of their push for a recall referendum to end P r e s id e n t Nicolas Maduro’s term. But council head Tibisay Lucena asked for a judicial probe into allegations of some voter identity fraud - a major complaint of the government and did not name a date for the next phase, which would be to collect 20 percent of signatures. The timing is crucial because if the 53-year-old president were to lose a referendum this year, as polls indicate he would, that would trigger a new presidential vote, giving the opposition a chance to end 17 years of socialist rule. But should he lose a r e f e r e n d u m n e x t y e a r, Maduro would be replaced by his vice president, effectively maintaining the Socialist Party in power until the next presidential election scheduled for the end of 2018. Opposition leaders are demanding that Lucena immediately set a date for the collection of 20 percent of signatures - about 4 million - in order to trigger the actual referendum as allowed under the constitution half-way through a presidential term. “Only one step remain-

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Kaieteur News

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ing for the recall referendum. Be strong, have faith, t h e b e t t e r Ve n e z u e l a i s coming,” tweeted one opposition leader, Freddy Guevara, after the announcement. Henrique Capriles, who narrowly lost to Maduro in the 2013 presidential race and has been the main driver of the recall push, called for rallies later this week to pressure for activation of the next phase towards a referendum. The government, however, has vowed there will be no referendum this year. It has launched nearly 9,000 lawsuits around Venezuela to try to bury the referendum push, alleging massive fraud in the collection of signatures. “It is dead, from a legal standpoint,” said senior Socialist Party leader Jorge

Rodriguez, speaking outside the election council prior to Lucena’s news conference. Lucena said that 98 percent of nearly 408,000 signatures gathered by the opposition Democratic Unity (MUD) coalition — twice the minimum required of 1 percent or 200,000 — in the initial phase were validated. She requested a probe into the others. Critics blame failed socialist economic policies for Venezuela’s three-year recession, a triple-digit inflation, product shortages and long lines at shops. Maduro, a former bus driver and foreign minister who succeeded the late Hugo Chavez, said the fault lies with falling oil prices and an “economic” war by opponents.

U.S. general seeks to soothe Turkey ties strained by coup purge

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim (R) meets with U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford in Ankara, Turkey, yesterday (Reuters photo) America’s highest-ranking military officer sought yesterday to soothe strained ties with NATO ally Turkey, which was angered by the West’s response to a failed military coup and an apparent U.S. reluctance to hand over the cleric it says was responsible. The fallout from the abortive coup on July 15, in which more than 230 people died as mutinous soldiers commandeered fighter jets, helicopters and tanks, has deepened a rift between Ankara and its Western allies. President Tayyip Erdogan and many Turks have been frustrated by U.S. and European criticism of a government crackdown in the aftermath of the attempted putsch in a country vital to the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State and to stopping illegal migration to Europe. They have accused Western leaders of being more concerned about the rights of the plotters than the gravity of the threat to a NATO

member. More than 60,000 people in the military, judiciary, civil service and education have been detained, suspended or placed under investigation since the coup, prompting fears that Erdogan is cracking down on all dissent. “It is important that the United States, our friend and ally, display a clear and decisive stance against this terrorist coup attempt against our nation and democracy,” Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford during their meeting in Ankara. Condemning the failed coup in Turkey, Dunford, the principal military adviser to the American president, said his visit was to show solidarity and added that the United States supports Turkish democracy, a statement from Yildirim’s office said. Earlier yesterday, about 150 protesters marched to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara to protest Dunford’s visit. “Coup plotter Dunford get out of Turkey,” the crowd chanted.

“Dunford go home. Send us Fethullah,” said one banner, in reference to U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose network of followers in the military and state institutions are blamed by Erdogan for orchestrating the coup plot. The 75-year-old cleric, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, denies involvement in the failed coup. President Barack Obama has said Washington will extradite him only if Turkey provides evidence of wrongdoing. Dunford also met his Turkish counterpart and U.S. personnel stationed at the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey, used by the U.S.-led coalition in the fight against Islamic State. The scale of the purges, which have seen around 40 percent of generals and admirals dismissed, along with suggestions from officials that the death penalty may be reintroduced, have alarmed Western states nervous about Erdogan’s tightening grip.

Japan defence review expresses ‘deep concern’ at Chinese coercion (Reuters) Japan’s annual defense review today expressed “deep concern” over what it sees as China’s coercion as a more assertive Beijing flouts international rules when dealing with other nations. Japan’s Defence White Paper comes amid heightened tension in Asia less than a month after an arbitration court in the Hague invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the disputed South China Sea, in a case brought by the Philippines. China has refused to recognize the ruling. Japan called on China to adhere to the ver-

dict, which it said was binding. Beijing retorted by warning Tokyo not to interfere. In the defence review approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government, Japan warned that “unintended consequences” could result from Beijing’s assertive disregard of international rules. “China is poised to fulfill its unilateral demands without compromise,” the government said in the review. China claims most of the 3.5-million-square-km (1.35million-square-mile) South China Sea, with Brunei, Ma-

laysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also staking claims. Japan has no territorial claims there, but it fears that Chinese military bases will bolster Beijing’s influence over a region through which $5 trillion in trade passes every year, much of it to and from Japanese ports. Rather than confront China directly by sailing warships past its man-made island bases in the sea, Japan is providing equipment and training to the Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam, which are most opposed to China’s territorial ambitions.

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

Kaieteur News

60 pregnant women Trinidadians nabbed on their way to Syria infected with Zika in T&T (Trinidad Guardian) There are over 200 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in T&T. Of this number, 60 have been diagnosed in women who are pregnant. Contacted Sunday, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said 59 cases had been recorded in Trinidad, and one in Tobago. In seeking to reassure the infected people that every possible measure was in place to ensure they received the necessary treatment, Deyalsingh has maintained his confidence in the specialist team assembled by the Ministry of Health to oversee the diagnosis and treatment of pregnant people. Asked to explain the disparity in the figures as last Friday he said he was aware there were only two Zika cases in pregnant women locally, Deyalsingh said he only received the official statistics early yesterday. Pressed to say if the ultrasounds had revealed any of the foetuses contracting microcephaly as a result of the mother being diagnosed with Zika, Deyalsingh said, “So far, there is no risk of microcephaly in any of the cases we have seen.” This was later confirmed by Dr Karen Sohan, Medical Chief of Staff, Mt Hope Women’s Hospital. Microcephaly is a medical condition where babies’ heads are abnormally small. Adopting a proactive stance in April, the specialist committee which is led by Sohan was set up to develop specific processes and procedures to respond to the diagnosis of the Zika virus in patients, with special attention being paid to pregnant women and developing foetuses. The committee is set to meet later this week to discuss how they can strengthen operating procedures. Urging citizens to continue to ensure their surroundings are free of any items that could act as a possible breeding site since the virus was spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, both Deyalsingh and Sohan agreed that the public’s response had been positive and had helped in keeping the number of cases down. The risk of more breeding sites increased with the rainy season at the beginning of June. However, Deyalsingh said, “While it has been a good thing, the public needs to keep up the pressure.” He said the ministry

would also continue its attack on various fronts including concentrated efforts by the Insect Vector Control Division to spray schools, homes and government buildings. Owners of vacant and abandoned lots have been asked to make an attempt to clean the premises also. Zika symptoms include a rash, fever, generalized pains and conjunctivitis. Responding to questions yesterday, Sohan endorsed the ministry’s policy outlining the treatment of pregnant women as she explained, “There is a national policy whereby any woman who tests positive for Zika is referred for Foetal Medicine Services at the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital.” Adding that it involved patient counseling as well as detailed ultrasounds of the baby, Sohan said, “This has been operational since the first case was diagnosed. Zika is a new pathology and therefore as the numbers increase we would need to fine tune the service.” Revealing that only one baby had so far been delivered of a mother who had been diagnosed with Zika, Sohan said, “That baby is normal so far.” She went on to confirm, “To date, no babies have been born with microcephaly secondary to Zika.” Sohan added, “The most vulnerable time for the pregnant patient appears to be the period while the brain is developing. The functioning cells of the brain are the neurons and these appear to be most vulnerable less than ten weeks gestation. There still appears to be a risk to the foetal brain although reduced, from 10 to 16 weeks. The virus has been shown to affect the growth of the baby up to 28 weeks gestation.” Stressing that new information was emerging daily about infection rates and vulnerable populations, Sohan said it was equally as important for all healthcare providers and patients to be updated. She said, “When the patient is seen, her care is

individualised depending on the period of gestation. Some patients will require only one scan whereas others require more frequent scans. At each visit, the ultrasound findings are discussed with the patient as well as a plan of management for the pregnancy. This information, including the detection of abnormalities is confidential, and involves the patient and her healthcare providers.” Sohan said while she was aware that there was also a policy for management of the babies following delivery, she was unable to comment as this was not her area of expertise. CAUTIOUSAPPROACH It was only in April that scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States concluded after careful review of existing evidence that the Zika virus was a cause of microcephaly and other severe foetal brain defects. As the Caribbean continues to battle the virus, the authorities are now struggling to tackle it head on as more than 1,650 cases have been so far diagnosed throughout the US. Florida has announced aggressive mosquito-control measures, while athletes heading to the Rio Olympics, in neighbouring Brazil next week have expressed concerns about the virus. Health officials in England have advised approximately 50,000 British citizens who are currently holidaying in Florida, to avoid having unprotected sex because of the risk of the Zika virus. In an article in The Telegraph dated July 30, the Public Health England (PHE) advised pregnant women to postpone non-essential travel to the southern US state. For those already there, the PHE advised them to refrain from unprotected sex for at least eight weeks, even if neither partner exhibited symptoms or if there is no prospect of pregnancy. On its website, the CDC advised that Zika could be spread via sex and urged people to use condoms.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – A Turkish newspaper yesterday reported that nine Trinidad and Tobago nationals were detained after the police nabbed a Syrian man suspected to attempting to smuggle them into southern Turket to join the ISIS terrorist organisation. The “Daily Sabah” reported that the police had stopped a car with a license plate from southern Mersin province when it entered south-central Adana province with 10 people, including the driver and nine Trinidad and Tobago citizens. The paper reported that after an initial probe, police found the Syrian man, Asem

H., was trying to take the Trinidad and Tobago nationals to the war-torn country, where they would have been recruited by ISIS. The Syrian suspect was remanded in custody after an appearance at a local court, while the nine Trinidad and Tobago nationals were transferred to Adana Provincial Migration Management for deportation procedures, the report said. This is not the first time that Trinidad and Tobago nationals associated with ISIS have been held by Turkish forces. In January this year, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that four Trinidad and Tobago nationals were among 961 foreign members

of ISIS captured by Turkish forces. The newspaper referred to a list published in December of persons captured from 57 countries. In April, the Trinidad and Tobago government said it was now “red-flagging” as potential threats to national security the families of men and women who went to Syria to fight for ISIS. An opposition legislator also claimed earlier this year that 400 nationals had been indoctrinated radicalised and trained by ISIS. But National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said then the blacklist list contained 105 descriptions of men, women and children who have gone to Syria.

Amnesty International: ‘Unlawful’ Venezuela decree gives military power (CNNMoney) A power shift is underway in Venezuela, where citizens could be forced to work on farms. Amidst massive food shortages and an extended state of emergency, Venezuela’s government issued a decree in late July that would force people to work in fields up to 60 days and possibly longer. Humanitarian groups are blowing the whistle, saying this is part of a larger shift by President Nicolas Maduro to transfer power to the military. Much of the authority has gone to Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino, who now leads a team that controls the country’s food supply and seaports. “What this decree and this state of emergency are doing is giving more power to the armed forces,” Erika Guevara Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, told CNNMoney’s Maggie Lake yesterday. Amnesty had previously denounced the decree as an “unlawful” act that “effectively amounts to forced labor.” In the vaguely-worded decree buried in a 48-page document from July 22, the government states that citizens could be forced to work in the fields for 60 days, and perhaps longer “if circumstances merit.” “A special transitory regimen of obligatory and strategic character is established for all the public and private companies of the country — of public and mixed ownership — [with the purpose of] contributing to the produc-

Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino tive reboot of the agricultural sector,” according to the decree. The decree states that workers can’t lose their jobs or be demoted while they work in the fields. The government will also pay their salary. Earlier in July, Maduro tapped Padrino to control the country’s food supply and distribution. It’s a huge position considering that Venezuelans can’t buy basic goods like bread, eggs and milk. Maduro’s government is refusing any help from Amnesty and other international aid organizations. He’s blocked the entry of free medicine while hospitals are severely under supplied. “For them, accepting the humanitarian assistance is in some way recognizing that the crisis is being created by the government,” Rosas argued. The crisis stems from years of government over-

spending on social welfare programs central to the socialist regime’s agenda. At the same time, Venezuela has seen its sole source of income — oil — lose more than half its value in the past two years. Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Venezuela’s economy is expected to shrink 10% this year and inflation could rise to 700%, according to the IMF. Against this backdrop, Maduro, who is battling an opposition-led Congress, is either transferring power to the military or trying to build support with it, experts say. “The country is essentially run ... by military force,” Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, told CNNMoney yesterday. “So far, the government has expressed that there is no humanitarian crisis even though they’ve taken measures that reinforce the idea of the humanitarian crisis.”

Tuesday August 02, 2016

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Kaieteur News

CRFM wants innovation within regional fisheries sector BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) – The Belize-based Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) says at a time when countries across the region are faced with economic challenges, innovation in one of its prime sectors— the fisheries and aquaculture sector—can spur the kind of growth needed to help buttress the regional economy. However, it says this kind of change won’t come overnight and it is working with member states from around the region, as they prepare to take the first steps in converting fish waste to fish wealth, a change which could multiply earnings from the sector. “Going forward, we need to make the point that proper utilization of fishery resources is not about increasing production or increasing catches, it is more about maximizing value of what we are now taking and realizing the significant benefits that is possible by focusing on value addition,” said CRFM executive director, Milton Haughton. Last week, fisheries officials and private sector representatives from 17 CRFM member states met in

Suriname for a weeklong workshop where they discussed the application of the value chain approach to the fisheries and aquaculture sector. “The objective was really to introduce participants to the value chain approach in fisheries, and we did this in collaboration with development partners from Iceland and the Faculty of Food and Agriculture at the University of the West Indies, (UWI),’ Haughton said. “Iceland has made tremendous advances in value addition in fishers and they are perhaps the world’s leaders,” Haughton said, noting that this success did not happen overnight, it arose out of a period of crisis, when the country was experiencing a decline in its fisheries after the 1960s. However, Haughton said, they were able to turn things around largely by applying the value chain approach to make better use of their resources, such as improving quality, making beauty products from fish guts and adopting a marketdriven approach to fisheries. The Icelandic economy with

a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of about US$45,000 is driven largely by the fisheries sector. “They are no longer going out to catch as much fish as they can, but they are trying to optimize the value, and satisfy the requirement of their markets” Haughton explained.

CRFM says it believes in applying the value chain approach begins with the simple things, starting with preparatory activities before the fishers go to sea, and then extending to harvesting, handling, processing, marketing and distribution. “We can catch fish in

such a way that we maximize value just by targeting ‘when, where, what size, etc.’ we catch based on market demand. Just by doing that you can improve value… In some cases, it’s just about maintaining the freshness and quality by improving the handling of the product,” said the CRFM executive

director. Whereas Caribbean countries have plenty of fisheries resources, they also import a great deal, including items such as smoked salmon for the tourism industry. Countries like Suriname are exploring ways in which they can (Continued on page 28)

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

CRFM wants innovation within... (From page 27) create viable local products to substitute for those imports. The fisheries experts who travelled to Suriname saw this first hand, as they were offered smoked “bang-bang” (snapper)—a new local delicacy served right alongside the imported product. Haughton explained why understanding the market demand is key for producers hoping to corner the market to maximize local gains. “Think more about the consumer: What is it that the consumer really wants? What is it that the consumer will pay more money for? There would be a major change overall in the way fishers and processors conduct their operations if they were to focus more on the consumers. “The modern consumer, the housewives, are looking for specific products… They are looking for good nutrition, freshness, and easy-to-prepare meals. These are things that fishers and processers will need to be thinking about. And those who have thought through it, and who have structured their operations along these lines, are making

great gains,” Haughton added. He said that in the Caribbean region, fishers and fish processing facilities start with the catch. “Their starting point is to go and catch as much as they can and when the product is landed they try to figure out how to sell it but the value chain approach looks from the other end. It starts with the question: What is the market that I want to serve? Where is the best market? What form of product the market is demanding? Then you work back from the market to determine what fish you should target and you structure all of your activities to satisfy that market,” Haughton recommended. CRFM notes that some types of non-selective fishing results in a lot of waste in the fishing industry. Many operations, such as the shrimping in the southern Caribbean, will harvest large quantities of non-target species. Haughton said that a lot of the non-target species or by-catch is discarded, since it is deemed to have low market value. However, using

science, technology and good marketing these can be converted into useful products. “I was in El Salvador recently and I was surprised to see that they were making cookies and meals for children from flour [derived] from fish that would normally be discarded,” Haughton said, indicati n g t h a t i n o t h e r places, fish guts are used to make cosmetics and pharmaceuticals—very high end products—and increasingly, companies are using fish enzymes to make creams and lotions. Haughton said that the Caribbean countries need to do much to promote the value chain approach in fisheries and aquaculture. The CRFM intends to provide the institutional support, capacity building and awareness raising that is needed. In the months ahead, the CRFM will lead the development of more case studies to document success stories from which the region can learn. These reports would be made available to consumers as well as private sector stakeholders, who will be key in driving the process forward.

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Kaieteur News

Joel Fearon: GB bobsledder runs joint-third fastest 100m time by a Briton BBC Sport - Bobsledder Joel Fearon ran the joint-third fastest 100m by a Briton at the English Athletics Championships on Saturday. The 27-year-old Birchfield Harrier’s time of 9.96 seconds was also the quickest time by a Briton this year. Of Britons, only Linford Christie and James Dasaolu have run 100m faster. Fearon, who will not be at Rio 2016, was part of the fourman bobsleigh team that came fifth in the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Coventry-born athlete was part of the GB 4x100m relay squad at the 2013 World Championships but did not compete at the event. He had improved his 100m personal best from 10.10 to

10.04 at a meeting in Loughborough two weeks ago. Fearon becomes only the seventh British man to post an official sub-10-second time for the distance. Despite his impressive performance Fearon will not be competing at the Olympics in Rio. GB’s male 100m representatives have already been selected, with Dasaolu and Ujah joined by James Ellington. Dasaolu’s personal best is 9.91secs, achieved in 2013, while Ujah ran 9.96s in 2014. Ellington’s personal best is 10.04s. FEARON FOCUSED ON PYEONGCHANG In an interview with A t h l e t i c s We e k l y a f t e r Saturday’s race, Fearon did

not rule out pursuing his track ambitions before next y e a r ’s A t h l e t i c s Wo r l d Championships in London, but said the 2018 Winter Olympics remained his focus. “It’s a year before our Olympics so it’s up to [British Bobsleigh],” he said. “I’m their athlete so if they give me the freedom to go out and run, and if I’m in a position where I could make it, they’ll allow me to go and do it. I’ll work with the bobsleigh guys and see what we can put together. “My focus is really on the bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics. We missed out on a medal in Sochi so I’m very focused on going and redeeming that and hopefully getting that medal that we

Tuesday August 02, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Abrupt action will cause difficulties with relatives. Your generous nature could be taken advantage of. You can bet officials will be waiting for you when you do. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You are best to do something energetic with friends instead. You might find that coworkers will support your endeavors. Major moves will be emotional and not necessarily to your benefit. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Try to calm down emotionally about personal financial matters. The advice you get today may be based on false information. You will benefit by taking care of other people's concerns. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You don't want to give anyone fuel for the fire. Use your creative abilities to come up with new ideas and directions. Don't trust coworkers with important or personal information. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Talk to your emotional partner about your intentions. Try to do your job and then leave. You may have difficulty trying to get your mate to understand your position. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Children may be less than honest with you. You can make progress if you deal with the right individuals. Make changes around your

house and plan to do some entertaining. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Relatives may play an important role in your personal life. Get involved in physical activities that will stimulate you. Your emotional partner may make you angry today. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may want to pull out some of those unfinished project you've got tucked away. Home improvement projects will enhance your residence and bring the family closer together. Upheavals may occupy your day. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) However, you should be concerned about what they want in return. Your sensitive, affectionate nature will capture the heart of anyone you are attracted to. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Broaden your horizons and look into programs that will teach you awareness and relaxation. If you can include them in your plans, do so. Don't evade issues or twist the truth around. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Deception is probable if you don't use discrimination. There might be a problem with a will or with an insurance policy. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Try to put your money away for a rainy day. Sudden trips may take you by surprise; try to include your mate, mixing business with pleasure. Deceit with coworkers is apparent.

should have got.” FROM SPRINTING TO BOBSLEIGH - A WELL-TRODDEN PATH Fearon is not alone in taking his sprinting talents to the bobsleigh track. British sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis, who won Olympic gold as part of the 4x100m relay team at the 2004 Athens Games, joined the GB

Bobsleigh set-up last year in a bid to reach the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics. Fellow 2004 Olympic gold medallist Jason Gardener also competed in the 2008 GB Bobsleigh championships, while other sprinters who have made the switch include Simeon Williamson, Marcus Adam, Allyn Condon and

Beijing Olympian Craig Pickering. FASTEST BRITISH MEN OFALLTIME 1. Linford Christie 9.87 seconds 2. James Dasaolu 9.91s 3. Chijindu Ujah, Joel Fearon 9.96s 5. Dwain Chambers, Adam Gemili 9.97s 7. Jason Gardener 9.98s

Usain Bolt Powell & Smith preview... and... (From page 29) Cunningham, the 18-year-old daughter of famed football player Randall, took second at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the high jump with a leap of 1.97 meters (6’5.5) on July 3, she became the youngest U.S. track and field Olympian since 1980. One week later, 16year-old Sydney McLaughlin, a high school junior, joined the team too after taking third in the 400meter hurdles to become the youngest since 1972. Cunningham won the world indoor title in March with a jump of 1.99 meters. She turned pro after the world championship, and could be one of the youngest gold medal winners in the history of the high jump. She’ll face tough competition from U.S. Trials winner Chaunte Lowe — who, at 32, is a mother of three. McLaughlin also has a shot at a medal, not that it will be easy. She ran a world junior record of 54.15 to take third in the Trials, a time that ranks her sixth in the world this year — and two of the runners ranked in front of her failed to make the Games. The women’s high jump is on Aug. 20, and the 400 hurdles take place on Aug. 18. Ashton Eaton chases another world record in decathlon Ever since breaking the world record at the 2012 Olympic Trials, no one has come close to competing with Eaton — and Rio shouldn’t be any different. He even rebroke his own world record at the 2015 World Championships, completing the 10 events in astounding fashion: Eaton will have more on his mind than his own competition. His wife, Brianne Theisen-Eaton, is Canada’s best heptathlete and will be fighting for a gold medal of her own. Another world record may not be in the cards, but, barring disaster, Eaton is on pace for another gold. He’ll compete on Aug. 17 and 18.

(From page 26) world it is good to see that we were together as one so quick. I knew from that time that we were going to be one of the teams contending for the championship. Any T20 game is a competitive game so once

we continue to be consistent with our performances we can continue to come out on top.” It was one win each when these teams met in the group stage so it should be a close fought contest for that final spot.

(From page 30) Stepanov and his wife Yuliya Stepanova, who are now living in hiding in the United States. Adding to his thinly veiled attack on WADA, Bach said the IOC was not responsible for the accreditation or supervision of antidoping laboratories in Russia. “So therefore, the IOC

cannot be made responsible neither for the timing nor for the reasons of these incidents we have to face now and which we are addressing and have to address just a couple of days before the Olympic Games,” Bach said. The Games, with an estimated 10,500 athletes, start Friday and finish August 21.

New Russia appeal...

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

GASP EMANCIPATION SCRABBLE TOURNAMENT

Regional Under-19 Championship Belony denies Krakowsky – 2nd day, 2nd round

to return to the podium

Despite accruing 5 points and finishing among the top six in the previously s t a g e d O p e n championships, Leon Belony failed to make it on the podium by dint of a more inferior spread; that championship was won by James Krakowsky. Belony bounced back last Sunday afternoon and captured the top honours when the curtains were drawn on the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) Open championships at the Herdmanston Lodge, Anira Street Queenstown. Belony amassed an impeccable 6 points with a positive spread of 682 to relegate Krakowsky to

Leon Belony second place with 4 points and a positive spread of 395. Maurice Munru improved his performance significantly and captured

the final podium spot after amassing 4 points and a positive spread of 123. Belony defeated Kevin Williams (176), Michael Benjamin (101), Krakowsky (10), Munru (154), Wayne Cave (308) and Delon Moffatt (33). Krakowsky’s points were accrued after victories over Cave (84), Moffatt (72), Benjamin (233) and Ovid Williams (44). His two losses were at the hands of Belony (10) and Kevin Williams (28). Munru lost to Ovid Williams (9) and Belony (154) but made up with victories over Cave (32), Benjamin (81), and Kevin Williams (123). He also benefitted from a bye.

Powell & Smith preview Hero CPL Playoff 1 on Wednesday (CPL) - The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has reached the knockout stages and the four teams that have qualified now head to St Kitts & Nevis for the finals. The first match sees top of the league Guyana Amazon Warriors take on second placed Jamaica Tallawahs on Wednesday night (7pm) for a spot in the final on Sunday, 7 August. While a loss in this game will not be the end of the road for these teams, as the top two they get another shot of qualification for the final against the winner of Playoff 2, both sides are targeting a win here to ensure a final appearance. Rovman Powell of the J a m a i c a Ta l l a w a h s , a breakout star of this Hero CPL, says they want a win to get themselves one step closer to the franchise’s second title. “We really want to go to St Kitts and get the final place secured. Fort Lauderdale hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for us over the last few days but there are a lot of positives we can take from those games looking forward to the finals,” Powell says. Back-to-back losses to the St Lucia Zouks in the Florida leg will have dented the Tallawahs’ confidence

somewhat and Powell admits they need to find a way to come back strong. “It is not really a clean slate, Guyana Amazon Warriors are a good team, it is important for us to come back and get our act together. We have got the next few days to get our plans right for the finals.” Speaking of the opposition Powell says he is aware of the star men in the Amazon Warriors side but that they need to plan for playing the whole squad, not just the big names. “They have Jason Mohammad who has been batting well and Chris Lynn as an overseas player, but we are not just focusing on two players we are focusing on all 14 or 15 players. It is T20, anyone can turn up and produce a match winning performance. It is just us focusing on our game plan and not thinking about them too much.” Dwayne Smith of the Amazon Warriors says that his side is brimming with confidence having lost just three matches this season to finish top of the Hero CPL table. “I think the guys are going to be very upbeat. This is what we wanted to do, to end in the top two, and that is what we just did. It is just to go out there now in St Kitts

and perform as best we can. Even when we lost games this season the guys were still upbeat. It is one family here which is good and I hope we can carry on the performances and take it to the knockouts.” Smith says that moving from playing in Florida to Warner Park in St Kitts will not present a problem for his side and he doesn’t feel the other teams will struggle to make the transition either. “I don’t think it will be a challenge [to adapt to conditions], everyone knows how the pitch plays in St Kitts already so it is going to be good games, it is going to be tough but I am sure that we can come out on top.” The Amazon Warriors lost their captain Martin Guptill to New Zealand duty halfway through the season but the absence of their leader and star opening batsman did not unduly affect them. Smith credits the excellent team spirit the Amazon Warriors have created for this. “From the time that I went to join the team in the camp before the tournament I could see the camaraderie in the team and to see that where you have people coming from all over the Caribbean and all over the (Continued on page 25)

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – Scores at the close of the second day of the second round of threeday games in the Regional Under-19 Championship here Monday: Scores: At Arnos Vale: Leewards won by six wickets. GUYANA 42 (Kian Pemberton 4-28, Javy Benjamin 3-9) & 162 (Sherfane Rutherford 41, B h a s k a r Ya d r a m 3 7 , Malcolm Hubbard 35; Javy Benjamin 2-25, Daniel Doram 2-27)

LEEWARD ISLANDS 153 (Cameron Pennyfeather 48, Ross Powell 26; Kheshram Seyhodan 6-32) & 57 for four (Kofi James 22 not out) At Park Hill: T&T trail by 28 runs with four wickets intact. W I N D W A R D ISLANDS 204 (Othneil Lewis 82, Emmanuel Stewart 36; Jonathan Bootan 4-31, Kirstan Kallicharan 331) T R I N I D A D & TOBAGO 176 for six (Keagan Simmons 55,

Dejourn Charles 40; Othneil Lewis 2-30) At Sion Hill: Jamaica require a further 152 for victory with eight wickets intact. BARBADOS 149 (Nicholas Kirton 42, Joshua Bishop 30; Michael Frew 462, Brad Barnes 3-18) & 153 (Nicholas Kirton 59; Jeavor Royal 3-30, Javelle Glenn 223) JAMAICA 125 (Jordane Hill 38, Brad Barnes 29; Joshua Bishop 653) & one run for two wickets.

Zimbabwe-Sri Lanka Tests could be replaced by tri-series

The recent Bulawayo Test against New Zealand came after a 20-month break from Test cricket for Zimbabwe © AFP ESPNCRICINFO - Just as Zimbabwe are getting back to Test cricket, they face the prospect of another lengthy stint without matches in the longest format. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Sri Lanka’s tour of Zimbabwe in OctoberNovember, pencilled into the FTP as two Tests, three ODIs and a T20I, may instead consist of a triangular ODI series featuring Sri Lanka and West Indies. A source said that “Zimbabwe never really intended for Sri Lanka to play Tests as it is not financially viable,” and that a three-team, fifty-over competition is “definitely being planned”. Should that happen,

Zimbabwe could go without Tests for another 11 months, w ith their next Tes ts scheduled as away matches in Sri Lanka in July 2017. They will also go 14 months without home Tests, until West Indies visit in October 2017. Already, Zimbabwe have gone 20 months without a Test - the gap between their series against Bangladesh in 2014 and the ongoing series against New Zealand - and almost two years without a Test at home, since last hosting South Africa in August 2014. The costs of a home tour for Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) are crippling, not only because of their growing debt, but because of the economic situation in the country as a whole. With

businesses struggling to survive, ZC battle for local sponsorship. They only turn a profit when hosting India or England, but luckily have had two successive years of limited-overs cricket against India to tide them over so far. Still, Zimbabwe are battling to meet the costs involved in running the domestic game. The franchise system has been dismantled and there is a move back to provincial cricket, which has been divided into a two-tier structure. ZC has also gone through a restructure which has involved several retrenchments and salary cuts, and it is still in discussions over how to structure player contracts.

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

PAGE 31

Rain ruins play after India declare with 304 lead

Roston Chase picked up his first five-wicket haul, West Indies v India, 2nd Test, Kingston, 3rd day, August 1, 2016 ©AFP

ESPNcricinfo - A Test match can be a bit like a puppy dog. And great players can lead it wherever they want. This West Indian XI does not have great players. They have great triers. Captain Jason Holder and coach Phil Simmons put the men on defence understandable considering the opposition had a fat lead. Despite their best efforts, the only thing that seemed to threaten India’s chances in Kingston was the weather. A tropical storm has been forecast to hit the region on the fourth day. Ajinkya Rahane found himself part of a pattern, one that has been central to India’s success on this tour of the Caribbean. They have batted eleven-and-a-half sessions in this series. And a

set batsman had been out there every time. Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin began the trend in Antigua. It continued with KL Rahul yesterday and Rahane today, as he got to his fifty with a fierce square cut to the third man boundary. It was a shot he used often and his back-foot play overall was excellent. India weren’t pushing themselves to full tilt though. The mountains on the horizon were obscured by heavy cloud. Rain came seven overs after lunch and spirited 52 minutes out of the game. Offspinning allrounder Roston Chase took two wickets in two balls and had them eight down when play resumed. The runscoring stayed sedate. Virat Kohli, sipping tea

in the dressing room, was still in his training gear. He was clearly not thinking about the declaration. Perhaps Rahane approaching a Test century away from home had something to do with that. And with only Nos. 10 and 11 for company he began to farm the strike. This was w h e r e We s t I n d i e s ’ discipline paid off. They had given away only 142 runs in 46.1 overs. They made India bat long for a lead they liked. Three hundred and four runs behind, with more than two days left, saving this Test will be incredibly hard, but with severe inclement weather around, the possibility can’t be ruled out. A good chunk of the second session and all of the third was washed off after India

had declared. Rahane squirted an outside edge between slip and the wicketkeeper in the 170th over to reach his third hundred in four innings, captured on camera by the coach Anil Kumble and celebrated vigorously by his team-mates. The locals at Sabina Park had something to cheer too when Chase induced a top edge from Umesh Yadav to wrap up his first five-for in his second Test. With a high-arm action resembling Nathan Lyon, he got the ball to dip and bounce. Amit Mishra failed to get to the pitch of one and caught at short leg. Seconds later Mohammed Shami was bowled playing down the wrong line. Chase had worn a sheepish grin yesterday when he conceded he hadn’t

liked going without a wicket on debut. Now he was leading his team off. India remain in control at Sabina Park. Their bowling strategies have been clever; their batting plans responsible. They are favourites to win back-toback Tests outside the subcontinent. The last time that happened was in 2006; they beat West Indies at this very

venue in June, waited six months for their next tour and beat South Africa in Johannesburg. The last time that happened in the same series was against Zimbabwe in 2005. Dilute that equation to include only the top-eight teams, and you end up at 1986 when they beat England at Lord’s and Leeds. History beckons, if weather permits.

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

Advantage Hamilton as Formula One breaks for summer (Reuters) Triple champion Lewis Hamilton is no stranger to speed but the rapid turnaround in his title prospects has left even the blindingly quick Briton stunned, as he heads into Formula One’s annual summer break firmly in control of the race for the championship. Hamilton goes into the four-week holiday having extended his lead over Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg to 19 points, after

sweeping to a dominant victory, leading from the first corner in his rival’s home German Grand Prix on Sunday. The win was Hamilton’s sixth from the last seven races, matching the hottest streak of his career so far, and his fourth in a row. The speed at which Hamilton has caught and overhauled Rosberg has been remarkable. The 31-year-old trailed his former childhood friend

by 43 points following May’s Spanish Grand Prix, yet just over a week ago, in Hungary, he seized the overall lead. “Kind of crazy,” said Hamilton after Sunday’s race at the Hockenheim track. “It’s gone by so quickly. “It was almost like it was only a couple of weeks ago that we were in Barcelona and I was 43 points behind thinking, jeez, I might come away 50 points behind.”

Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis National Novices Boxing Championships

GDF is best gym but Republican Joshua Joseph wins best boxer award Three nights of fistic fury came to an end last Sunday evening and when the smoke had cleared, the Guyana Defence Force accrued the most points and retained the top gym prize when the action in the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis National Novices Boxing Championships concluded at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue. The Republican Boxing Gym continues to show remarkable progress and finished as the second best gym. The institution recouped some pride after its welterweight boxer, Joshua Joseph, won the Best Boxer award following a win in the semi-finals over his gym mate Bobby Hou-yen and an impressive knockout victory over Mark Blake (GDF) in Sunday night’s finals. Yo u t h b o x e r, D u e l Augustine of the Pocket Rocket Boxing Gym (PRBG) punched his way to a unanimous verdict over Michael Edwards of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) and was eventually adjudged the Best Boxer in his category, while Akea Lamaizon (PRBG) turned in a brilliant performance to defeat Shonette McFarlane after the referee halted their 64kgs bout at 2 minutes of the second round. Lamaizon looked the more polished of the two females, dancing and jabbing while McFarlane plodded behind her with several long range punches. It was not long after the bell that Lamaizon connected with a fierce right hand that rocked her opponent and forced the referee to institute a mandatory 8 count. To her

credit, Macfarlane took her blows and courageously retaliated upon resumption but Lamaizon kept a high guard while keeping her jabs and crosses in her opponent’s face. Both boxers treaded blows in the early part of the second round but it was Lamaizon who distinguished herself with crunching blows that drifted her opponent and forced a mandatory 8 count. Macfarlane courageously continued to advance but found the skill of Lamaizon a bit too much to counter. Another straight right connected to the soldier’s head and the referee counted her and then waved the contest off. Joseph was always in line for the best boxer award and stamped his authority from the onset against Blake. Less than one minute into the fight the Republican steered his man into one of the neutral corners and dealt him several clouts that forced the referee to institute the mandatory 8 count. The soldier managed to beat the count but was given another dose, this time in the red corner. He blocked up but his guards proved to be porous and after he had received several wallops the referee decided that he had seen enough and waved the bout off 1:10secs of the first round. Rose Hall Jammers bantamweight boxer, Julius Kesney, also turned in an impressive performance that earned him a TKO victory over John Phillips (GDF). The boxers were engaged in a fair exchange during the initial stage of the bout until Kesney backed up his man in

the blue corner with pinpoint jabs and crosses. Kesney then delivered a wicked volley that rocked his man and forced the referee to count him. In round two, Kesney continued where he had left off in the preceding round and landed a wicked 4 punch combination and after administering the count, the referee decided that Phillips was too hurt to continue. The time was 44secs into the second stanza. In other results Don Cumberbatch (GDF) scored a unanimous decision over his gym mate, Reez Jahurali to win the flyweight title while Jamal Brisport (GDF) outpunched his gym mate, Triston Browne to be crowned the lightweight champion. Colin Hinds ( G D F ) w o n h i s jnr/welterweight bout against his gym mate. Leon Semple while the middleweight champion is Geraldo Phillips (REP) who defeated Joshua Fraser (GDF). Renaldo Niles was also in winners’ row and won the light/heavyweight title on points from his gym mate, Marvin Williams. Brian Leitch (REP) then won his heavyweight bout on points over Ryan Roberts before the superheavyweight bout between Floyd Cato (GDF) and his gym mate, Renee Lewis, ended in a technical knockout in favour of Cato at 1:37secs of the final round. The boxers will rest for another month to return on September 2ndfor the National Intermediate championships that culminates on September 4.

Hamilton has scored a total of 160 points from a maximum 175 on offer since claiming his maiden win of the year in the sixth race of the season in Monaco, following a difficult start to his bid for a third straight title. By contrast, Rosberg, who won each of the opening four races, has scraped together just 98 points and finished on the podium only three times in the seven races since Hamilton hit his purple patch of form. “Lewis doesn’t just seem strong in the recent grands prix,” Rosberg said after his latest defeat. “Lewis is strong — a big difference there. It’s always going to be a battle against him.” ENGINE PENALTY Despite the rate at which Hamilton has caught and passed Rosberg, the Briton cannot afford to ease off and needs to put more distance between him and his rival. He is set to collect a grid

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton sprays champagne after the German Grand Prix. (REUTERS/RALPH ORLOWSKI)

penalty or start in last place, most likely in next month’s Italian Grand Prix, after breaching rules on the number of engine components used during the season. A race win is worth 25 points and victory in the next grand prix in Belgium would give him enough of a cushion to stay in front in the event of such a scenario, putting him 26 points clear and just tantalisingly out of reach of Rosberg, even if the German

finishes second. “Do I feel like I’m properly ahead? Still not enough because I’m not a race win ahead yet,” said Hamilton, who won at Belgium’s iconic SpaFrancorchamps circuit last year and has got to be the favorite to repeat the feat when the season resumes on Aug. 28. “So I need to hope that I get the chance to get a race win ahead. I think then I would feel like I was ahead.”

Fraser-Pryce to carry Jamaica’s flag in Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony Jamaica Observer Sprint Queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will carry Jamaica’s ‘Black, Gold and Green’ during the Opening Ceremony at the 31st Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro which starts on Friday August 5. Mike Fennell, President of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) confirmed to the Jamaica Observer that Fraser-Pryce was named Saturday as Team Jamaica’s flag bearer. Fraser-Pryce received the nod ahead of Usain Bolt who carried the Jamaican flag at the 2012 London Olympics. Fraser-Pryce, 29, who will be participating in her third Olympics, is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive win in the 100m, having won in Beijing 2008 and London 2012. She is the recipient of a number of awards over the years, including the Order of Distinction, Jamaica’s sixth highest national honour. Fraser-Pryce won the RJR Foundation National Sportswoman of the Year crown three times in 2012, 2013 and 2015. In 2013, after capturing

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m at the World Championships in Moscow, Fraser-Pryce was voted IAAF World Athlete of the Year. Fraser-Pryce continues the dominance of female flag bearers in recent times as only four men — Bolt (2012), Bert Cameron (1984), Lennox Miller (1972) and Arthur Wint (1952) — have ever carried Jamaica’s flag during the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Merlene Ottey has the distinction of being the only person to carry the flag twice

in 1988 and 1992. Juliet Cuthbert who won two silver medals at the 1992 Olympic Games, was the flag bearer in 1996. Deon Hemmings who became Jamaica’s first female Olympic gold medallist when she won the 400m hurdles in 1996, was the flag bearer in 2000. Quarter-miler Sandie Richards carried the flag in 2 0 0 4 , w h i l e Ve r o n i c a Campbell-Brown who won two gold medals in the 200m and 4x100m at the 2004 Olympics, was the flag bearer in 2008.

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Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix overcame injuries to go for gold in Rio SB Nation - Every four years, the Usain Bolt show comes to television screens all over the world. The Michael Phelps of sprinting, Bolt is racing for three more gold medals in Rio in the 100, 200 and 4 x 100-meter relay. He has said Rio will be his final Olympic Games, and he leads an exciting slate of action on tap in Maracanã Stadium in his final run. The U.S. won the medal count in track and field in London with 28. Their nine golds were the most, too. Russia was second in the 2012 medal count with 16, but the track and field team was deemed ineligible for this year’s games by the International Olympic Committee due to a doping scandal (long jumper Darya Klishina is the only Russian track and field athlete allowed to compete in Rio, and she’s competing under a neutral flag.) The U.S. should have no problem taking home the most medals once again. Track and field begins on Friday, Aug. 12, and ends on the final day of the Olympics with the marathon closing out the Games on Aug. 21. Usain Bolt goes for three more golds Bolt headlines the sprints for the third consecutive Olympic Games. After setting world records in the 100 and 200 meters in Beijing in 2008 and adding a gold in the 4 x 100 meters with his Jamaican team, he followed it up by repeating as Olympic champion in all three events in London. Now Bolt is on track to add three more in Rio to up his goldmedal total to nine. Bolt did miss the Jamaican Olympic Trials with a hamstring injury, but is a safe bet to win gold as long as he’s healthy — he hasn’t lost at the World Championships or Olympics since he false-started in the 100 at the 2011 world championships in South Korea. Justin Gatlin should b e B o l t ’s t o u g h e s t competitor in both events — Gatlin took silver in the 2015

world championships in the 100 and 200. Here’s a brief schedule of Bolt’s sprints for gold (all times Eastern): 100 meters, Aug. 14, 1 0 : 2 5 p . m . 200 meters, Aug. 18, 10:30 p . m . 4 x 100 meters, Aug. 19, 10:35 p.m. Allyson Felix runs for one more This was supposed to be the year of Felix — the reigning 200-meter gold medalist was set to defend her title in that race while doubling in the 400 for one more gold. She landed on a medicine ball during a lifting session in April, tearing multiple ligaments in her right ankle and halting her training. The dream of joining Michael Johnson as a 200400 double-gold winner no longer lives, but Felix has a shot at glory in the 400 and the 4 x 400. Felix runs for 400 gold on Aug. 15 at 10:45 p.m. Mo Farah goes for double gold again Farah of Great Britain is the Bolt of the distance events. He won both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in front of his home crowd in London and is the favorite to repeat in both events. He’ll face tough competitors from Kenya and Ethiopia, along with the U.S.’s Galen Rupp, who took silver in the London 10,000. Rupp will also run the marathon — he debuted at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January and coasted to an easy win in the heat of L.A. U.S. medal hopes in the 5,000 lay in the hands of Bernard Lagat, a five-time Olympian. The 41-year-old was left for dead this season, but shocked by winning the 5,000 at the U.S. Trials with a 52-second last lap. Farah runs the 10,000 on Aug. 13, and the 5,000 on Aug. 20. Youngsters jump onto center stage W h e n Va s h t i (Continued on page 25)

Usain Bolt races for Olympic glory one last time.

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

Pirelli begins testing on wider tyres to be used in 2017 BBC Sport - Formula 1 supplier Pirelli has started on-track development work on the wider tyres to be used from next season. Ferrari are testing at their Fiorano test track on Monday and Tuesday before Red Bull take over at Mugello in Italy on Wednesday and Thursday. The new tyres are 305mm wide at the front and 405mm at the rear, 60mm and 80mm wider respectively than in 2016. Ferrari are running their 2015 car modified to simulate 2017 downforce levels. The rules to be introduced next year are aimed at making the cars up to five seconds a lap faster.

This will be achieved by increased levels of aerodynamic downforce, including a greater proportion created from the underbody, and different front and rear wings, in addition to the wider tyres. In addition, Pirelli have been told to produce tyres on which drivers can push flat-out for much longer periods. The current Pirelli tyres require careful management and can only be driven on the limit for a lap or two at a time before they overheat and irretrievably lose performance, so drivers are lapping at least a second off the pace for the vast majority of races. Ferrari’s test is primarily

Pirelli displayed their new, wider tyres for the 2017 season in July. (BBC)

aimed at trying out Pirelli’s new wet-weather tyres, although four-time

New Russia appeal as IOC rejects blame for doping crisis

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach addresses a press conference in Rio Janeiro, Brazil. RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Yulia Efimova Sunday became the third Russian swimmer to challenge her Rio Olympics ban as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rejected blame for the Russia doping crisis. Efimova, who won a 200m breaststroke bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, follows Vladimir Morozov and Nikita Lobintsev in taking her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). International swimming federation (FINA) General Secretary Cornel Marcelescu confirmed Efimova’s appeal to AFP. The cases of Morozov and Lobintsev, also medal winners in London and the Beijing Games in 2008, were to be heard by CAS on S u n d a y, a c c o r d i n g t o sporting sources. The three are among

Yulia Efimova... won a 200m breaststroke bronze medal at the 2012 LondonOlympics (Photos: AFP)

seven Russian swimmers banned from Rio by FINA after the IOC ordered sporting federations to exclude any Russian competitors implicated in an investigation into Russia’s doping scandals by Canadian lawyer, Richard McLaren. McLaren’s report for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said there was a State-organised doping scheme in Russia, with the secret service helping the sports ministry to manipulate samples at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and other major events in Russia. At least 117 of the 387 sportsmen and women that Russia had wanted to send to Rio have been excluded. In parallel, there have been recriminations over who is to blame for the shadow cast over the Rio Games. IOC President Thomas

Bach rejected suggestions at a press conference that the chaos represented a “huge failure” for the IOC. “No. And this is for very obvious reasons,” he replied. “The IOC is not responsible for the timing of the McLaren report. “The IOC is not responsible for the fact that different information which was offered to WADA already a couple of years ago was not followed up.” Russian anti-doping agency whistle-blower Vitaly Stepanov says he first began passing information to WADA in 2010. Doping in Russian athletics was exposed in a German television documentary in 2014. WADA has said it did not have the power to act on the information and insisted that its priority was to protect (Continued on page 25)

champion Sebastian Vettel did some installation laps on the untreaded ‘slick’ dryweather tyre early on Monday. Haas’ Esteban Gutierrez, who was Ferrari’s reserve driver in 2015, takes over on

Tuesday. As part of the attempt to simulate 2017 aerodynamic loads, the car they are driving is fitted with side ‘skirts’, which seal the gap between the floor and the track and increase

downforce. ‘Skirts’ were part of F1 from 1978-1982, the era of so-called ‘ground effect’ aerodynamics, before being banned on safety grounds before the 1983 season.

CPL announces match officials for Hero CPL finals The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) have announced the match official appointments for the forthcoming Hero CPL finals which start on Wednesday, 3 August in Warner Park, St. Kitts & Nevis. West Indies official Leslie Reifer will be joined by South African Johan Cloete and Australia’s John Ward for the leg of matches which take place from 3-7 August in Warner Park. Whycliffe Mitcham has been named as fourth official, while Dev Govindjee will act as Match Referee for all four games.

Umpire John Ward (Sportsfile)

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Tuesday August 02, 2016

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An anomaly that must be corrected By Edison Jefford Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) football team reached their sixth final Sunday night after an astonishing four titles, but is yet to have an opportunity to play the final at home in Linden, which is an anomaly that needs to be corrected. The Digicel Schools’ Football tournament is indisputably the benchmark for junior development in Guyana. Coordinating logistics for some 160 schools across the country this year cannot be an easy assignment, but Digicel has been doing it for six years now. Of those six years, CWSS has won four times, which ought to have given them an opportunity to host the final at least once in that illustrious history. However, the most successful team in the tournament’s history todate has had to trek to the National Stadiumin Georgetown every year for the final. In doing so, the journey from the hilly sand and clay region to the low coastal plains left behind a key component of the aura of football in any part of the world– ardent fans, many of whom opted to remain in the Mining Town as opposed to travelling to the City. Only a few supporters from Linden would make the 75 km journey to the Stadium, ensuring that whoever is the CWSS opposition outnumbers them with support; this year it was the indomitable Chase Academic Foundation, which obviously had majority support at the Stadium – a fact made clear when Job Caesar scored the eventual winning goal. The support base for the Georgetown-based Chase Academic Foundation erupted into frenzy following that lone goal in

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones (fourth, left) hands over the runner-up trophy and dummy cheque to CWSS Sunday night at the National Stadium. the 24th minute, sensing that there will be no extension of CWSS legacy. CWSS has always competed against such disadvantage with great success in the past. T h e C h r i s t i a n b u r g / Wi s m a r Secondary School has nothing to be ashamed of this year; they got back to the final for the sixth straight time with 90 percent of their experienced players out of the schools’ system. The young CWSS team got the school back to the final against Chase, which boasts 6-7 national junior p l a y er s , w h o r e ce n tl y competed in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) World Cup Qualifiers. This underscores CWSS fortitude and its excellent programme. Chase won 1-0, but one wonders what could have been if CWSS had the sea of

yellow and black to support them at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground, for example. The school, based on the western side of the Demerara River that runs through Linden, though its outstanding history in the tournament, has never hosted the final. The argument has to be one that suggests an absence of appropriate facility. But that argument is one that will not stand up to scrutiny if for instance the proposition offers the contextual history of all that the MSC Ground

has hosted. The grandeur Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament survived 20 years at the MSC Ground before moving to the National Stadium, albeit to its own detriment. The facility has hosted other mega sport events. This is not to say that the Coordinators of the Digicel tournament had given other communities the right to host the final. They have not. The final is centralised at National Stadium maybe to create a neutral and balanced

playfield. But the overarching point here would be the continued success of athletes, and sport teams, from Linden that continues to underscore the need for a sports facility that would eliminate any doubt in the minds of Coordinators as to where should host. Whether it is CWSS football team or CARIFTA long and triple jump silver medallist, Chantoba Bright, Linden’s athletes continue to perform against all odds. CWSS should remain

resolutely in the framework of the top teams in the Digicel Schools’ Football tournament. With the announcement that a sports facility is due in Linden, CWSS could extend its dominance in the championship with an entire community supporting them next year. The school could win the ultimate battle, which is due consideration for them to host the final – a justifiable reward for being the most successful team of the tournament.

t r o Sp

Rain ruins play after India declare with 304 lead

New Russia appeal as IOC rejects blame for doping crisis

Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix overcame injuries to go for gold in Rio Ajinkya Rahane plays a cut, West Indies v India, 2nd Test, Kingston, 3rd day, August 1, 2016 ©AFP

Powell & Smith preview Hero CPL Playoff 1 on Wednesday

Rovman Powell has put his mark on the CPL to date. (Randy Brooks Sports file)

Pirelli begins testing on wider tyres to be used in 2017 Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis National Novices Boxing Championships

GDF is best gym but Republican Joshua Joseph wins best boxer award

Republican Champions, L-R welterweight, Joshua Joseph, heavyweight, Bryan Leitch and middleweight Geraldo Philips pose with their hardware.

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