Sunday August 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Someone must be held accountable for Kato ‘disaster’ - AG Chambers begins scrutiny of contract for possible culpability of contractor - others
By: Kiana Wilburg A “grotesque” waste of taxpayers’ monies is how Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, describes the work done on the Kato Secondary School by Kares Engineering Inc. The Minister told this newspaper, yesterday, that he is appalled at the substandard job and insists that “someone must be held accountable for this disaster.” Patterson recalled that the construction of the Kato Secondary School was conceptualized due to the recognition of several benefits. For one, he said that the school, when completed, was intended to accommodate approximately 400 students and would serve children from other communities such as Monkey Mountain; Kurukubaru; Kopinang; and Itabac. He said, “This would have led to a reduction on the strain currently seen at the Paramakatoi Secondary School. In some cases, children are forced to travel outside of the region due to overcrowding and a lack of facilities. In other cases, parents are warned that their children might have to remain in primary school. Cases like these should no longer be acceptable. The Kato Secondary School was expected to be the outlet to easing these tensions.” Patterson said that it was
The Kato Secondary School
hoped that upon its completion, the school would also have a dormitory to house more than 250 students; an industrial arts department; two science laboratories; a library; and other state-of-the-art facilities, which are all necessary towards building brighter futures. He said that the school was also a precondition for the Kato Hydropower Project, which would have benefited from nearly •2M in funding from the European Union. The Public Infrastructure Minister recalled that the contract for such an ambitious undertaking was awarded in late 2012 to Kares Engineering Inc. Work commenced in 2013, with a completion date set for April 2015. He said that
the project has been plagued with delays and a subsequent audit of it revealed severe structural defects. From the findings, Patterson said that it was revealed that approximately 60 percent of the project was in defects, with another 30 percent just over the borderline. Only about 10 percent of the project was deemed structurally sound, he said. The AFC Executive Member said that because of the shoddy work done by the contractor, some students wouldn’t get to attend secondary school for another year and parents would be forced to reorganize their plans. Patterson also stressed that there is a need to rid Guyana of unhealthy
procurement practices which he said are clearly the case with the Kato Secondary School. In this regard, he made reference to the Technical Financial Audit Report on the School which was completed by Rodrigues Architects Ltd. Patterson said that the report points out that structurally, the quality of the reinforced concrete and other elements were deemed substandard. He said that the construction was poorly done to maximize profits and the level of oversight by the supervising firm was severely lacking while the Clerk-of-
Works was negligent in the execution of duties. Patterson said that it was recommended that the corridor of the school be partially demolished and reconstructed with galvanized metal decking and for the stairways to be destroyed and be replaced with suitably designed timber. The Public Infrastructure Minister said that based on the numerous building defects, it is clear that the project design and construction did not have the benefit of Professional Architectural input. Patterson noted, too, that
the post-contract services of the supervising firm, Designs and Construction Services Limited (DCSL) failed to address the issue of amendments and extensions to the design contract buildings. The politician said that Kares Engineering Inc. simply failed to produce a completed project according to the terms of the contract as is evident by the poor quality of the building. What unnerves Patterson also is the fact that the contractor was overpaid for the current works completed and paid well in Continued on page 8
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Kaieteur News
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
THE GAMES OF THE XXXI OLYMPIAD The 2016 Olympic Games are underway. The Olympic Torch was lit and will remain lit until the Games are over. For the next two weeks, all eyes will be on the Maracana Stadium in Rio Janeiro, Brazil for the games of the XXX1 Olympiad. It is the first time the games are held in South America and Brazilians welcomed the athletes from more than 200 countries with a spectacular ceremony which showcased Brazilian talents and celebrated its culture in arts, music and robotics. It is also the first time that a group of refugee athletes would take part under the flag of the International Olympics Committee (IOC). The opening was an eye-popping spectacle that will be remembered for its uniqueness. As the relatively small contingent of athletes from Guyana marched into the stadium, Guyanese both at home and in the diaspora erupted in loud cheers for their fellow countrymen and women. The Olympic Games which are held every four years are considered the world’s foremost sports competition with more than 200 nations participating. The first modern Olympics Games was held under the auspices of the IOC at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece in 1896. Its creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games which were held in Olympia, Greece from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Greek officials and some athletes were enthusiastic about the experience of hosting an Olympic Games and wanted Athens to host the games permanently. However, the IOC, founded by Baron Pierre de Coubertin decided to rotate the games to various cities around the world. Thus the second Olympic Games were held in Paris in 1900. Beginning in the mid-20th century the IOC had to adapt to a variety of economic, political, and technological advancements. As such, the Olympics had to shift away from pure amateur athletes as envisioned by Coubertin, to allow professional athletes to participate. The two World Wars led to the cancellation of the games in 1916, 1940, and 1944. Boycotts during the Cold War era limited participation in 1980 and 1984 games. The games have grown so large that nearly every nation is now represented. Its growth has created enormous challenges and controversies including boycotts, doping, bribery, and a terrorist attack in Munich, Germany in 1972. Today, a doping scandal involving Russian athletes has banned 110 of them from the games in Rio. The Games are taking place at a time of great turmoil all over the world. Terrorism has become a daily risk for most countries; the US is engaged in a highly divisive presidential election campaign; Europe is reeling from the Brexit vote; the Middle-East remains unstable; Asia faces new tensions from North Korea, Africa remains poor and the Zika virus is ravaging South America, especially Brazil. Brazil is faced with unprecedented security challenges to protect the athletes and spectators from terrorist attacks. Also, political, social and economic tensions in Brazil have been brought into sharp focus. The Olympic Games are supposed to create good spirits and friendliness among Brazilians. But that is not the case for many Brazilians. The claim by the Olympic organizers that their budget is about one-tenth of that of London’s 2012 budget has done little to quell tensions in the country. It seems that hosting the Olympics has worsened the problems in Brazil. The world’s ninth largest economy is in a deep recession, inequality is rife, its infrastructure is poor, and unemployment and crime are high. Many nations, including Guyana are hoping for a good performance from their athletes at Rio. The games will serve as a reminder of the feats the athletes are capable of. We wish them the best at the games.
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
DESPERATE PLEA TO HAVE THIS ROAD REPAIRED IN BERBICE DEAR EDITOR, It is a colossal understatement to say that the East Bank Berbice road (from Islington Village to Edinburgh Village) is in a shabby, deplorable and completely unacceptable state. This letter does not serve to inform the Ministry of Public Infrastructure about the horrible condition of the East Bank Berbice public road since they are aware of its dilapidated condition. It has been decades now since this road is in such condition. There are innumerable potholes on this very road that cause serious damages to vehicles. The condition of this road causes much discomfort to commuters, hire and private car drivers, cyclists, motor cyclists and all the residents in those areas. There are hundreds of persons who traverse this very road on a daily basis to reach New Amsterdam and other places but what is more disheartening is that residents in those areas, motorists and even commuters would have protested and complained to the authorities on numerous occasions yet
nothing was done. When will these residents benefit from a new road? Those persons feel as though they were throwing water on duck’s back. I wish to inform this current administration that since 2013 the Regional Chairman (Region 6) and the Former President assured the residents that they will have a new road since they have approached IDB for a loan. I heard the loan was approved. Why the delay? How long more does this process take? Is this current administration following the trend of the previous one? I hope not. No doubt, this road is in dire need for work and attention. I would like the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to inform the public on the status of this road works and I say with certainty that residents, commuters, and motorists will be very much elated if your response is favourable and if works on this East Bank Berbice public road can commence any time soon. Ashan Bacchus
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
HOW TO GENERATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
GUYANA SHOULD RID ITSELF OF THE DEATH PENALTY
DEAR EDITOR; After 50 yrs of Independence Guyana narcissistic leaders have failed to impress me that they are capable of leading a country into first world status. I heard the most laughable claim of Guyana now being ranked an upper middle class country. One thing I know for sure is that we can break records. Guyana has an 89% migration rate of tertiary educated nationals aged 25 and older which is considered the highest in the world. It means that for every 100 people that complete University, CPCE or Guyana’s School of nursing only 11 will stay in Guyana. Number2 - Guyana somehow with a population of 750,000 people was able to make the ranks of the country with highest suicide rate per capita, in the world. Number 3- Guyana has a whopping 40% unemployment rate among its youths, which means that for every 10 persons that are of working age 4 cannot fund jobs, not to mention how many are underemployed. Along with this of those 11 tertiary educated that stayed in Guyana only 6.6 of them are going to be employed. Crossing my desk are applications from persons with Diplomas in Marketing and completing their first year degrees, these individuals are vying for sales reps positions that pay
maximum $50,000 monthly. Do we think jobs are a solution to the problem? With the existing structure of our economy can the government create jobs for everyone? Take four scenarios: 1. The Government is too busy trying to uncover inadequacies and misgivings of the pass administration. Is it worth doing? After 14 months in power, there is sufficient information for the Government to take necessary action and prosecute people where necessary and let the rest lie low. 2. The Government is challenged with honestly a quagmire situation where they are forced to throw money and time at problems that are not generating any revenue or fixing catastrophic ones e.g, the Guysuco fiasco and the Petro Caribe deal, forestry exploitation, improperly negotiated gold deals etc. 3. Hundreds of millions of dollars were expended in a Jubilee celebration that no doubt created positive domino effect in certain business sectors but it can be evidenced that the long term effects are nonexistent. 4. There are absolutely no public led, private investments where entrepreneurship is encouraged. It is is one thing to talk about creating your own jobs and it is another thing to show them how it is done
where their culture postindependence, is to be an employee. Business incubators are herby nonexistent The question that now comes to mind is whether the Government is capable of leading the country into first world status and will it take another hundred years before this becomes a reality. Singapore, a country with no natural resources did this in record time. United Arab Emirates made the most expensive and attractive tourist destination in the world out of literally nothing (desert sands) knowing that their oil reserves, the major source of their foreign revenues are depleting. Knowing that the politicians have proven to be either lacking the insight, incapable to execute their plans, or for some reason slothful in making the resources of knowledge available, I believe that there are three solutions. Because I learnt that if you see something you don’t like… Shut Up or Fix it. Let’s form a business incubator with the responsibility of generating entrepreneurs. Of course the goal is to attract enough funding that Continued on page 6
DEAR EDITOR; The Government of Guyana must respect human rights, at least by its laws. When state servants commit acts against basic human rights of its citizens, and fail to release people where there is no evidence of criminal acts, one knows that the Government is deliberately suffocating the rights of its citizenry. Failure to amend the governing Acts compounds the problem since such Acts get continually perpetrated ad nauseaum against people going about their daily affairs, and is to be considered lax and inexcusable. Some states participate in torture prior to a person being charged with any offence or tried by someone of competent faculties. Some of them, by killing people after they are found guilty, are really absolutely denying that such a person as a human being has a right to life. Guyana I strongly feel participates in both streams of the spectrum. As well, since some governments take a very long time to actually carry out the death penalty this, in itself, violate the human right of such a prisoner, under the cruel and inhumane criteria. Guyana, as a signatory to the United Nations International Convention on Human Rights, must not hypocritically break that Covenant – It is time therefore for us to do away with the Death Penalty. Research has been conducted for over four decades in various universities around the globe, and the result is always the same - the death penalty does not act as a deterrent. In fact, these research show the opposite – that when a person is aware that he or she can face the death penalty when a crime is being committed by them, they tend to kill rather than just maim, or leave alive their victims. If a state dabbles in censorship of the
media, whether subtly or otherwise, and dictate the public servants’ rights to challenge their suspensions or dismissals, in fair and transparent procedures, under the labour laws, it becomes obvious that the country do not believe in human rights, in principle, or otherwise. As a lawyer, I have seen over the years some detainees being held in unofficial locations – even in rooms with absolutely no ventilation or light – might as well throw such a person in a hole and cover that person up, while he or she is alive as there is no difference in such actions by state servants. I have been involved in a recent case where the police from a different area, what I would dub as “kidnapping” two little children (one 4 years old, the other two) and taking them for a “journey to some scary place”, while arresting their young mother and taking her in handcuffs some 50 miles away, into another Region, them as well as the mother into custody, despite the grandfather being there to care for the minors – what cruelty! And to compound matters, when the magistrate recognized those facts, such a state servant became only concerned with whether the children were finally released, nothing else seemed of essence. Police, over this century and the last, are known for holding detainees in stress positions, and denying food, water and medical treatment. Critical thinking by any of the Police Administrators would clearly tell them that such atrocious work ethics is unwanted and uncalled for, and not a societal norm in the world today. Thus my call is for the appropriate Minister of Government to please rid Guyana of its Death Penalty. Mohamed Zafar, Lawyer Windsor, Canada
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox Financial skullduggery has been exposed DEAR EDITOR; Reports have surfaced recently of billions stashed away locally, and investments made in reputable mainstream (Blue Chip) companies. The amounts are staggering, and made even more incredible when it is noted that a single individual is where all the tentacles reach, and who claims to be swimming, if not drowning, in cash returns. Consider this: one hundred million a year in profit is the equivalent of earning some three hundred thousand dollars per day, every day in a six day week, and year after prosperous year. I wonder…. As always if something is too good to be true, then it isn’t true and not nearly as good as touted. And if it flies in the face of all that is real and practical, then something is terribly wrong. What is being offered/ sold? What is this fabulous revenue lode that keeps rediscovering itself annually? What is the profit margin? Who are the shoppers in this dream enterprise? Where is the competition? Why are there no copycats? Also, it must be remembered that there had to be found parking place and space for those immense cash donations, construction overruns, contract splitting, and other partnership sharing with the grateful, the sponsored, and the protected. In no time, the cash would pile up to the roof. Further, given the amounts brought to these shores (remember Mr. Cash Pilot and where he was headed), the amounts siphoned off, and the numerous secret undertakings and off-thebooks and under-the-table ventures, the billions make sense, and the assets tell their own sordid story. All that was required were many phantom fronts, and
one bold front man willing to take the risk and ready to be the bagman and the fall guy, if matters spiraled out of control. There is nothing new here, as this was being said all along. To provide a comparison, I have been around some heavy hitters, and unbelievably rewarding enterprises in the heart and towers of capitalism. They fade when compared to the narrow confines, limited opportunities, undeveloped financial architecture, and much smaller dollars at work, and which serve as bases and seed money at the domestic level here. Dollar for dollar the local financial alchemists come out ahead. Now the black hole of financial shenanigans is no longer so dark, or so mysterious. It is not so well disguised as once believed by those behind them. I behold a shadowy financial panorama, slowly coming to light and that explains and solidifies many things that did not add up, that went nowhere. As matters go, it just might be possible, but more realistically reeking of the highly improbable, while stretching the limits of credulity beyond breaking point. As one wise man (Amiel) said, truth is not only violated by falsehood; it is equallyoutraged by silence. I say no more. Last, things have to be put in perspective so as to appreciate the scale of the official underground. These explosive revelations are at the local level only, and identify just one Politically Exposed Person (PEP). To be sure, there have to be other players, a raft of them chained together in brotherhood and omerta. There are also other places to park proceeds. The foreign should come to mind. GHK Lall
Kaieteur M@ilbox
NOTES ON THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT DEAR EDITOR; For decades Black activists have organized in response to police brutality, but part of the underlying reason for the visibility and nomenclature of the current Black Lives Matter movement is the fact that such problems have persisted, and even seem to escalate. The birth of the movement as a hashtag was somewhat precipitate, and to this day still remains somewhat of an enigma. Confusion swirls heavily around what BLM really is, mainly because of its dual existence both as a discrete national network of activists, and at the selfsame time as a much more amorphous movement focusing largely on police brutality. The birth of the movement was not without its growing pains as it struggled to gain recognition and momentum against its rhetorical cousins All Lives Matter and White Lives matter, a blatant evasion of the specificity of black concerns. The argument was that by exclusion therein lay the succinct suggestion that other lives mattered less. The veritable crux of the matter lay in the reality that white lives are the standards to which people of color have been and still are held accountable, and in addition those to which people of color are taught to strive and obtain. While it is true that all lives matter, it is also equally true that not all lives are understood to matter. Why must we continue to identify and name the lives that have not mattered and continue to struggle to matter in the way they deserve. Like it or not, the fact must be faced that neither Canada nor the U.S.A are unified countries, and the issue of racism no matter how well
clad or disguised it may be, is never a welcomed or accepted guest in any discussion or at any table. Plainly stated, or better put, as a society we are not prepared to confront the myriad of ways in which racism still divides us. Our social differences significantly influence our social perceptions, thereby giving credence to the truism, metaphorically speaking that we do not all see factious events the same way. It is blatantly obvious that individuals from different social backgrounds will tend to have different implicit associations, s p o n t a n e o u s personality trait inferences, and judgments of perceived similarity. This means that when individuals from different backgrounds experience the same phenomena, they can come to totally different conclusions regarding what they have seen. Sadly Black folks remain at the top of almost every imaginable statistical measure, and conversely at the bottom of most of the good ones. At the risk of being viewed as the portender of doom and gloom or merely prescient, permit me to express my nagging fear that the Black Lives Matter Movement though well founded, is not well grounded, and will ultimately fizzle out to a mere chatter. While the movement and the moment feel replete of possibility, and is being fuelled by the fierce urgency of now, nevertheless there also lurks the danger of coming up empty and unfulfilled. To make any significant headway there must be a change in strategy. Influence must be translated into policy, with a national chorus
of voices increasingly speaking as one—one cohesive force for real change. They are literally shooting themselves in the foot if attention is only being drawn to police officers accused of misconduct, as in no way is this approach going to dismantle systemic injustice, although it may however be considered a start. Rather than demanding a series of changes, the movement should instead focus on a solitary reform that could significantly reduce police violence and as a result be the forerunner for other policy changes. Like a trustworthy GPS there must be some serious recalculation and asking how to change course and go from Black Lives Matter to changing the policies that devalue Black lives. Political victories are usually won by framing an issue in a manner that points to only one reasonable solution. It is questionable whether in the face of marches and protests against continuing police brutality, that public opinion has become more sympathetic to the cause of BLACK LIVES MOVEMENT. Hardly likely, and part of this reluctance may be attributable to the fact that anything and everything that has to do with Black resistance gets dubbed “Black Lives Matter.” The ubiquity of the name itself and
the fact that it can be used by anyone is a cause for serious concern. There has to be something positive and bigger than marches and protests to move the people forward. Political strategies, meetings, campaigns, community mobilization etc. would not mean much if anything at all without a rejuvenated communal civics lesson leading the effort. We have to have an educational process, as for example, what a prosecutor does, how the justice system is structured, for the community needs to know the role of certain individuals in places of authority, how their votes matter in these places, and that people fully understand what they are voting for. The movement continues to have meetings and dialogues with elected officeholders but the community is not being educated about the roles these people play. There is an urgent need to go past unproductive dialogues about race and justifications for reproducing discrimination and marginalization and accept the challenge to regroup the various levels of communal activism, organization and thought- leadership, weaving them into one cohesive force for real change. Change never occurs at the top and that’s what really matters. Yvonne Sam
How to generate...
From page 5 we can surpass Israel and become the country with the most startups in the world. We invite the government to come and talk with us about how we can partner to make this a reality. Let us form a collaboration and place the country in the hands of people with vision. I’m willing to vie for the position of President of the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana in 2020 Lets collaborate create the future we want. Ranfred Williams General Manager Chromium Investments
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Surely GPL is not paying for this My comments on TV ads about damaged submarine cable DEAR EDITOR, In all the hustle and bustle of the news…cricket and the Rio games… one thing that has continued to keep us in the dark ages has somehow slipped us by last week. Yes, I am talking about the blackouts and the continued lack of capacity of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to manage a critical utility.It has become all too clear, with recent developments, that all is not well and above board at GPL. It appears that President David Granger and the Cabinet and the responsible minister seem not be paying too much attention to the electricity. I do believe, to be fair, that the President has not been briefed enough and it is time, for the good of this country, that GPL be handled. The people are becoming more than fed up. Take for example the breakdown of the power submarine cable that was laid across the Demerara. It was GPL after an embarrassing late night shutdown back in July which reported that the cable which links the city to West Demerara went down after faulty connection at Kingston. It was not until your newspaper reported last week that the real truth was because of damage to the cable from dredging. It would appear that had it not been your report the truth would have been buried. We have a situation now that the Chinese contractor of the cable, China
National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC), blaming dredging and not poor work for the damage. According to CMC, the Guyana Power and Light and the Supervisors for the project have signed off on their work hence it is not liable for the current problems affecting the submarine cable. At the moment, GPL is suffering financial losses as it can no longer use the full potential of the Vreed-enHoop Wartsila power plant which is the cheapest source of generation in GPL today. This means that GPL Customers are exposed to increased blackouts due to the inability of GPL to use the Vreed- en-Hoop plant. Questions are being asked as to who is to be blamed for this costly incident. CMC on its part is putting the blame solely on the dredging company, GPL and CEMCO, the supervisor who oversaw their work. However, the truth of the matter is that the supervisors have raised several concerns during the laying of the cable by CMC. One such concern pertained to the splicing of the cable which was done at the Kingstown Power station end instead of using one length of cable which was expected in the contract. Also of concern was the dragging of the cable by other ocean going vessels during construction as well the exposure of the cables due to soil erosion. It was reported
that the Chinese company did not use an armoured cable as stipulated in the contract. Questions are also being asked as to if the 3 meters required for the burial of the cable was undertaken from the hard level of the seabed or was measured from the sling mud. If it was measured from the top soil or sling mud it therefore means that every time the river will be dredged the cables will be exposed or burst. It is important that MARAD or GPL quickly respond and investigate the level this cable is buried in. The second question is who to be blamed now for the damage to the submarine cable. Any dredging requires MARAD’s approval and supervision. Government would be the party that hired the dredging firm. The navigation maps would have been marked to show where the submarine cable is. Either MARAD failed to manage the operation or the dredging company was negligent. Given this costly incident, it will be interesting to know who pays for the cost of fixing the cable. Should GPL hold MARAD, the dredging company or CMC responsible? GPL consumers, however, should not have to foot the bill. GPL and MARAD and the Minister of Infrastructure should all quickly explain who is responsible and who will pay. The cable needs to be fixed
urgently. GPL should explain who will fix the cable, the costs and the time to have this fixed. In the meanwhile, consumers may need to prepare themselves for increased blackouts. The PUC may also want to investigate this matter. Answers to this incident should be forthcoming urgently especially since the Chinese company has proudly indicated that they are tipped for the EU-IDBGPL transmission line project, even though the evaluation has not been completed. Given that the substation has reportedly encountered numerous problems since its handing over and during its construction and even though they are the third lowest bidder with a bidding price that is over 1 billion dollars over the engineers estimate and the lowest bidder, CMC seems to be very confident of being awarded the contract for the IDB-GPL contract. Recently Minister of State, Joseph Harmon has rightly indicated that contractors who have not performed on their contracts should not easily qualify for other work of a similar nature. It is left to be seen if CMC has still managed to convince the EU-IDB-GPL and government of Guyana of their readiness for this important project given their problems before and their high price. Anti Corruption Activist
Parliament sittings
DEAR EDITOR; There have been some rather ‘personal’, rude and crude comments on my letter which are not deserving of my reaction; however, I wish to make a few points that obviously escaped the commentators and which might be of further interest to the general readership and public at large : 1. The TV advertisements were directed to MPs principally and especially those living in outlying areas; they did not contain any invitation, directly nor implicitly, to the general public 2. My observations were limited to the anachronism of using the costly TV to inform/ invite MPs (and MPs only) in the current age of instant, cost-free internet communication 3. The pros and cons of an ‘open invitation’ to the general public to sittings of the Parliament are in and of themselves debatable: as a gesture to the ‘openness’ or transparency ascribed to a ‘democratic’ process there can be no quarrel; however, such laudable ascription must be tempered by the relevant logistical considerations such as available space in the public gallery plus an efficient system of screening which does not add to the perceptions of unfairness and favoritism ever so rife in our unfortunate country! It is not difficult to see how such ‘open’ invitations might work
well with residents of Georgetown and environs who might not mind being turned away because of lack of space in the public gallery etc when they attempt to enter the Parliament ‘on spec’; however one shudders to think of the plight and reactions of busloads of citizens from Essequibo or the Corentyne or Linden being refused entry in similar instances. 4. As a general rule, the installation or change of systems must be contextsensitive. In this regard it might be wise to also consider the potential fall- out from a ready-made gallery for politicians prone to ‘play to the gallery’; should we encourage additional ’politicking’ (as opposed to true ‘statesmanship’) in Parliament and further distraction from the ‘substantive business’ of the parliament of the day? I am not sure if our Parliament provides for “Question Period” as is the case in the British Parliament for example, but this might be worth considering as opportune for special invitation and ‘democratic’ involvement. 5. Perhaps a better way to achieve some citizen ‘involvement’ is to use TV, Radio and available electronic devices to broadcast all or selected parts of Parliamentary proceedings for public information and discussion. Nowrang Persaud
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Someone must be...
From page 3 excess of the present value of works on site. With the aforementioned in mind, the Public Infrastructure Minister insisted that the consultants are just as culpable of trying to hoodwink the nation. Patterson expressed that he is also encouraged by the fact that the Attorney General’s Chambers will be looking into the Kato contract with an aim to seeing “how justice can be had on such an obscenity.” Attorney General, Basil Williams, confirmed with this newspaper yesterday that his office is currently vetting the contract for the Kato Secondary School. He said that after his team provides him with a report on certain findings, he will peruse it and make a formal report to Cabinet. The move by the AG’s Chambers has found favour with several government officials who also told Kaieteur News that they are not pleased with the work that was done on the School by Kares Engineering. Meanwhile, the supervising firm recently stated that it never signed off on the poor work executed by
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson
Attorney General, Basil Williams
the contractor. In fact, DCSL’s Managing Director, Ravi Ramlakhan, made this comment in response to the draft technical report on the School. The consultant made it clear that Kares Engineering never completed the job to its satisfaction and as such, it did not issue a Certificate of Practical Completion. DCSL also reported that Kares Engineering would often report directly to the
Ministry and submit erroneous or misleading progress reports. These progress reports were designed to ensure that the then Ministry of Education could keep itself up to date with the construction, which began in 2013. According to the consultants, however, they frequently had to intervene to disprove the statements made by the firm and “(set) the record straight to the Ministry.”
I am seeking to unite Guyana; Jagdeo wants to divide it – President Granger
President David Granger
President David Granger thinks that his predecessor, Bharrat Jagdeo, is presenting himself as a stumbling block in the pathway of Guyana’s journey to social cohesiveness. The Head of State said that his government is trying to do its part to unify Guyana but noted that there are those who seemingly do not want to see the achievement of that goal. Granger said that his government knows that Guyana has a real problem of division and that is why it saw the need to set up a Ministry of Social Cohesion. While many have opined that the Ministry of Social Cohesion has done nothing significant so far in
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo connection with its mandate, Granger boasted that the Ministry has been making strides. In this regard, the President spoke of the initiatives that the Ministry has taken so far. He pointed to inter-faith forums and said that the Ministry continues to spread awareness through education. Granger said that the comments that Jagdeo made would do no good for the country and go contrary to the efforts of the Ministry of Cohesion. Jagdeo told an attentive gathering in New York that currently in Guyana, “There’s an assault on our democracy, there’s an assault on people of Indian origin, there’s an assault on supporters of the PPP (People’s Progressive Party). What we thought would never return to Guyana, in just one short year has returned with full force, and even worse in some regards than the Burnham era.” The President said, “The Leader of the Opposition needs to temper his language.” He added that it is never
good when people who are supposed to be responsible in society go about preaching divisiveness. Granger said that while his government is making every effort to promote unity, “there will be extremists who continue to speak in divisive terms and this is what we need to put an end to.” The President said that if the Leader of the Opposition has evidence that there has been wrongdoing in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana, he should present the evidence either to the government or to the court. Ironically, Granger then pointed out that Jagdeo is before the court because of the language he used and has been in court twice before for similar matters. Granger said, “I urge him (Jagdeo) to restrain his comments.” The President noted that Guyana is a multi-religious, multi-racial country. He said that the damage that racial and religious divisiveness has caused is evident around the world and Guyana does not need to be added to the list of countries with such tragedies.
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Self-employment is not the answer The supporters of the APNU+AFC were promised jobs during the election campaign. They were told that young people were jobless under the PPPC government. The manifesto promised jobs for the jobless. The cry now from the coalition is that the jobs will have to come from selfemployment. In other words, forget about what was promised. You have to work with yourself. The young people are being urged to be their bosses. They are being told to go into business even though most of them have no business acumen. The President has urged that people not look towards the public service, the police and the army for jobs. He says they have to look for self-employment. It is strange that he is saying do not look to the police for jobs since the police is woefully short of ranks. The Minister of Finance addressed the issue more elegantly. He said the job of the government is to create an enabling environment for
the creation of jobs by the private sector. In other words, do not look to us, look to the private sector for the jobs. The private sector is saying that things are tight in the economy. They are claiming that money is not circulating. The jobs are therefore not available, in the numbers required, within the private sector. This is not what the supporters of the APNU+AFC had in mind when they cast their votes in May of 2015. They did not expect these explanations from the government. They expected that jobs would have been created, thousands of jobs so that the young people who were unemployed under the PPPC could gain employment. A great many unemployed persons have gotten jobs since the new government took over. A good estimate would be about three thousand persons have been employed by the government itself. They have done so, unfortunately, at the expense of other persons who were either dismissed, forced
to resign or whose contracts were either terminated or not renewed. In other words, persons have been let go to create space for others. This is not job creation. It is job substitution. One set of workers have been substituted for another set of workers. When the new government came in, they were under a lot of pressure to find jobs for their supporters. The new Ministers were spending a great deal of time meeting persons whose only mission was to either find a job for themselves or someone they knew. Also, a great many retirees suddenly decided that they wanted to work. The dismissals and terminations therefore did not represent creating new jobs. It involved making space for other persons to be employed. The PPP, so far, has failed to produce a comprehensive list of all those dismissed, forced to resign or whose contracts were not renewed. This list may run into the thousands.
Dem boys seh...
Courts give more warranty on a TV than contractors give Govt on $$B contracts Dem boys convince now beyond de shadow of a doubt wha dem talk about recently, is true. If people can’t remember dem boys seh that de govt is like a baby digestive system—a happy appetite from de mouth and no responsibility at de backside. Dem politicians in Guyana, past and present, proving this. De govt collecting taxes happily up front and de Ministers showing no responsibility at de back. De Kato school is one glaring example. It is de largest and most expensive school Guyana ever see. And this is no joke. This school cost close to $10,000,000,000. And guess what? Our government people sign a one-year defects liability fuh this school. That is equal to a one year warranty. Dem boys seh, imagine, you can go buy TV at Courts fuh $10,000 and you gun get a one year warranty. If you go to Kissoon’s Furniture fuh a bed you gun get a two year warranty. And if you got to Beharry Group of Companies and buy a Toyota pick-up you gun get a three-year warranty.
Dem boys must also let you know that de place wheh de school build got less than 500 people so dem boys want to know if de govt was catering fuh 500 ants nest to help fill de school. Dem boys hear de contractor mix creek sand, clay and scotch tape wid cement. Dem boys want know how long you expect it to stand up by itself. When dem talk bout de school, Soulja Bai grandson seh, “Granma, that school remind me of de story of de big bad wolf. “De building can’t even stand up to de big bad wolf when ee huff and puff and blow de school down. All over de world people does lost away in jail fuh lesser things than that, but in Guyana dem does get promote and over pay. And if you is a contractor you gun get more contracts. Ask BK, Kares Engineering, Benn Contracting and Cevon’s. Dem don’t have to worry wheh de money coming from. Talk half and keep that warranty in mind.
But it is obvious that thousands have been let go or are gone from their jobs since the new government took over. Despite employing so many persons, there is still a deficit in the job market. Young people in particular are not finding work. They are becoming frustrated. They do not know what to do. The supporters of the APNU+AFC, however, are restrained in criticizing the government. They do not want to make their government look bad but they are feeling the pain at the bottoms. The government’s answer is self-employment. But selfemployment in a small economy like Guyana will not create many jobs. It is not the answer. The PPP had a different plan. Their plan was to create jobs through specific investments, not through the creation of an enabling environment. The PPP felt
that they had for twenty years been creating an enabling environment and it was time for job-creating investments. They promised 10,000 new jobs. They had plans to back that promise. There were plans for industrial parks and call centers. They had gone as far as to provide buildings in rural areas which were intended to house call centers. One call center firm had a major expansion which was started under the PPP but which was completed under the new government. Another call center company which was granted approval under the PPP was established under the new government and began with over 750 jobs. So the private sector has been creating jobs. The problem is that business, as distinct from the economy, is in a slump. There, are pressures on businesses to not expand. Guyanese businesses have a reputation, second to none when it
comes to retaining workers in times of economic and business slowdown. Guyanese businesses do not usually lay off persons. So there have not been mass layoffs. This will come later this year when Wales Estate closes The government is therefore not faced with a problem of job losses. In other words, the situation is not getting worse. It is not as if there is a net decline in jobs in the economy. But the demand for jobs is so high that there is still a clamor for jobs. The government’s answer to this need for jobs is to tell the unemployed to create your own employment. This however is easier said than done. Self-employment is an excuse, not a solution. (This was first printed on August 1, 2016)
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Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Tenant accuses landlord of Commissioner to probe conditions affecting breaking home, stealing cash Army veterans and Guyana National Service A tenant residing at Lot 41 Norton Street, Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, is accusing his landlord, Lennox Cordis, of breaking into his home and stealing $150,000 while he was at work. The tenant, Glenmore Reevers, 56, is claiming that his landlord did renovation works on the building which houses three other apartments without his permission. He said that he was at work on Friday, when Cordis called him via cell phone and told him that he wanted to do some works on the premises. Reevers said that at no time during the telephone conversation did he permit his landlord to commence any works. Reevers explained that he was at work when he received the phone call and immediately consulted with his boss, whom he said, relieved him of duties for the day so that he could go home. According to Reevers, by the time he got home a wall separating his apartment from another had already been dismantled. He alleged that his entire home was ransacked and upon checking he noticed that his
Glenmore Reevers monies were missing. He also claimed that several items in his home were damaged. Reevers claimed that the missing monies were to buy construction materials for a house he is building in Timehri since the one he is residing in now is in a deplorable state. He stated
that it is unusual for him to leave large sums of monies at home. The father of one who has been occupying the apartment for the last five years said that the wall was not replaced until he reported the matter to the Providence Police Station. He said that police ranks came to the premises and had things resolved. The tenant revealed that police charged Cordis with damage to property but is unaware of the outcome of the matter involving the stolen money. However, when contacted by this publication, Cordis claimed that the allegations being made against him by Reevers are lies. Cordis claimed that he was given the “okay” by the tenant to go ahead with the renovation works. “I didn’t thief any money. Nobody wants to do him that. I ain’t no thief. I am a very respectable man. He is just trying to get vindictive,” Cordis exclaimed. Cordis confirmed that he was charged with damage to property and was released on bail. He is expected to make a court appearance on Tuesday.
Retired Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Colonel Desmond Theophilus Roberts has been appointed by Government as Commissioner to examine, advice and report on conditions and circumstances facing the veterans of the GDF, Guyana People’s Militia and the Guyana National Service (GNS) Colonel Roberts will be sworn in as Commissioner on Monday before Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He will be tasked with making recommendations to ensure their health and welfare. Roberts is a former Director General of the GNS. Born in Georgetown on July 11, 1945, Roberts was selected to hoist the flag at the National Park on Independence night May 1966. Later that year, he led his platoon to the border, after the half of Ankoko Island, which belonged to Guyana, was occupied by the Venezuelan National Armed Forces (FAN). In 1967, he gained much experience as a staff to the Chief of Staff, Colonel Ronald Pope, before being appointed OC No. 4 Company in 1968. The following year, Roberts commanded a company in the operation to quell the Rupununi rebellion. He was appointed General
Retired Colonel Desmond Roberts
Staff Officer 2 from 1970-1971; and Second in Command, 2nd Battalion in 1972. Roberts was promoted to the rank of Major and was sent as the first military director of the Guyana Youth Corps (GYC) in 1973 and Assistant Director General of the GNS in 1974. He was appointed Deputy Director General in 1976 and Director General from 1979-1981. From 1982-1984, he was appointed military attaché to Brazil but functioned out of the Defence Secretariat. In 1984, he was given the responsibility of coordinating the North Korean, Guyanese and United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) consultant terms and constructing the small Eclipse Falls Hydro-Power project. In 1986, he served as Commander, Administration and Logistics, until 1990 when he retired. Roberts organized the first GDF Athletic Sports in 1967 and served as President of the Amateur Athletic Association of Guyana (1976-1979 and 1986-1989), managing a team to the Seoul Olympics in 1988. He was also President of the Masters Athletic Association from 1982-1989 and Vice President of the Guyana Badminton Association.
Sunday August 07, 2016
MMA/ADA likely to increase land rental fees…
Fees are outdated and should be adjusted –Minister Holder
With an aim to recover millions of dollars owed to the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA), the Ministry of Agriculture is likely to increase land rental rates within the Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) area. According to reports, the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, had submitted a paper/ proposal seeking Cabinet’s approval for the increase. General Manager of the MMA/ADA, Aubrey Charles, had told another section of the media that currently, fees range between $400 per acre and $2500 per acre – per year, depending on the level of service provided. Charles also added that in some areas, the agency only provides drainage which attracts a lower charge. For drainage and irrigation, farmers are required to pay approximately $600. “Then you have drainage and irrigation, primary with secondary irrigation. Once you are getting all of those things you pay at the max, $2500 per acre per year,” Charles said. Previously, Minister Holder had stated that the rates being paid by rice farmers for the services provided by the agricultural scheme are outdated and should be adjusted to real terms if the scheme is to be
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Kaieteur News
Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder
expanded.“There has been no attempt to keep the rates of land rent and the cost of drainage and irrigation or the pay for the cost of drainage and irrigation in line with inflation. The result of that is where MMA used to be a source of income to the government, it’s now taking money out of the government
to survive; $ 237M out of the budget for this year. We have to look at raising rates to the proper levels,” the Minister told the Government Information Agency (GINA). Meanwhile, there continues to be reports of lessees subletting lands at a rate that is more than 16 times what is being charged by the MMA. Minister Holder said this is a breach of their agreement. “Some of these people are also renting that land for $40,000 a year, $20,000 per crop and that money is going not into the kitty. That is ridiculous and also illegal by the way. The Act doesn’t allow that, and the leases they have don’t allow sub-letting,” Holder explained. Recently, Charles said plans are in train to ensure farmers in the Mahaica Mahaicony area pay for the use of MMA la n d s a n d drainage and irrigation fees as required by law since much work has been done i n t h o s e areas by the agricultural authority. It was also revealed earlier last month that more than 40 percent of farmers are delinquent in rates.
Brassington spent all proceeds from GT&T on Berbice River Bridge, Marriott The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government left nothing in the public jar from the billions it made off of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) company over the years. The National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) sold the Government’s investment in GT&T in 2012 for US$30 million of which the sum of US$25 million was received. The remaining US$5 million was to be paid within a period of two years. Kaieteur News had previously reported that NICIL dumped all the money it received from the sale into the Marriott Hotel. However, it has been found that the money NICIL received from the sale of GT&T shares was not all it threw behind the Marriott Hotel. Government also utilized the money it received in dividend payments over the years. Government’s shares in NICIL began being managed by NICIL in 2002. Since then, NICIL collected and kept all dividends from GT&T. Instead of putting the money into the Consolidated
Former Director of NICIL, Winston Brassington
Fund, former Director of NICIL, Winston Brassington, kept it and treated it as NICIL’s revenues. At the end of each year, Brassington held an Annual General Meeting in accordance with the Companies Act and allocated dividends. Government, being the only shareholder in NICIL, received a portion of what Brassington treated as NICIL’s revenues. During the period 20022011, NICIL received $5.261 billion in dividends from the GT&T shares, or an average of $526.1 million per annum. Auditor Anand Goolsarran conducted a forensic audit into the affairs of NICIL. With regards to
GTT, Goolsarran noted, among other things, that “GTT proceeds were kept in NICIL’s bank account for several years before being used on the (Marriott) hotel. Goolsarran stated this based on Brassington’s own admission. Goolsarran also reported that some of the money from GTT shares was spent on the Berbice River Bridge project. So basically, all the money from GT&T dividends and the sale of the shares went into the two controversial projects. According to the audit report, there is not a cent remaining from the billions of dollars NICIL received.
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Three more towns on the cards for Guyana - Granger President of Guyana, David Granger, on Friday announced plans to create three new towns in Guyana as part of efforts to trigger economic activity and to target Caribbean and South American markets while satisfying local demand. The President was at the time delivering remarks at the commissioning ceremony of a support and oil spill cleanup vessel, which was introduced by GAICO Construction and General Services at Nismes, West Bank Demerara. He added that every single region must have a regional capital. He continued that these capitals would be established in the three main coastal regions— Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara); Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) and Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) The Government of Guyana had earlier this year, established Mabaruma, Bartica, Lethem and Mahdia as towns. This move was to enable these areas to become hubs of economic growth, population, and public services. “With the revitalization of local democracy we expect these hubs to reinforce links to new markets within the country and beyond into the Caribbean,” he said. It is the expectation of the President that manufactures and service providers will extend markets to South America and the Caribbean through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. He also noted that these towns will in turn, ‘trigger’ economic activity, the development of a single economy and the perfecting of the Single Market within CARICOM – the CSME. The President cited the need for Guyana to build an entrepreneurial class, access cheap energy, bridge the Essequibo River and diversify the national economy in order to reduce its dependence on primary products- rice, sugar, bauxite, gold, timber, fish – what he would usually refer to the ‘six sisters’.
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Canje River shooting...
Shotgun recovered as conflicting evidence emerges While new information has surfaced, many versions of the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of a West Canje teen are emerging. The shooting occurred at Catherina’s Burg, some 75 miles up the Canje River. Reports are that the dead man, 19-year-old Andel Daniels, of High Dam, Caracas, West Canje Berbice, was shot in his abdomen when a stairway collapsed under him. It was also reported that he was allegedly shot during a hunting trip. Daniels, who traversed between his residence and various points up the Canje River, from where his relatives originate was reportedly shot dead Thursday evening. He and others would reportedly do farming, at Catherina’s Burg some two miles from Ikura and a further 20 miles from Bara Cara. Reports are that after Andel got shot he was placed in boat and ferried to Ikura. From there he was placed in another boat to the medical
center at Bara Cara and then to the New Amsterdam Hospital. He reportedly died on his way to the hospital. However it was reported that the lad and others were hunting when he got shot. It was also reported that he was descending some stairs which collapsed. The police upon receiving word of the incident immediately dispatched a team led by Sergeant Grannum to conduct investigations. They first uncovered a 16gauge double barrel shotgun in an abandoned boat at Ikura. The boat which had gathered water was allegedly used to transport the wounded teen from Catherina’sburg. The police then journeyed to Catherina’s Burg where they uncovered a house in which the teen was allegedly living. The stairway as reported was detached from the house. No one seems to know exactly how the teen got shot. Reports are that he farms and lives alone at the house. However investigators are finding the information hard to believe since there were signs of multiple occupancy. They are also looking for the persons who transported the man from Catherina’s Burg.
Andel Daniels, Left, with his siblings and mother before trhe woman disappeared three years ago
Relatives had reported that they received a call some time around 21:30 hours that Andel was shot and seriously injured and that he was being transported to the New Amsterdam Hospital. They journeyed to the New Amsterdam Hospital where they waited. The body had one gunshot wound to the abdomen. There was no exit wound visible. This is the second tragedy for the family in three years. Adel’s mother, Gould Marcell Amsterdam, called ‘Massa’, 37, who was seven
months pregnant at the time, went missing since October, 2013. The woman, who was a neighbourhood police rank at the time and a mother of three, was reported missing after she left to go and visit the father of one of her children, Errol Lindo who lived next door. She has not been seen or heard from since then. The lad leaves to mourn two brothers and one sister. He was the eldest child for his mother. Investigation is ongoing.
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Parking Meter deal designed to exploit nation -M&CC agreed to grant coy sweeping tax exemptions - Min. of Finance review
Mayor Patricia Chase-Green
Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan
Town Clerk Royston King
The verdict is in on the parking meter contract and it is not looking good for Smart City Solutions, Inc. (SCSI), the private investor that arranged a 49-year-long contract to erect and manage parking meters in Georgetown, with officials from the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). In effect, however, they were seeking to create a monopoly. This is according to the Ministry of Finance in its review of the agreement. The very deal appeared exploitive in nature. “The prices appear outlandish since it is apparent that no feasibility study was done to determine break even and reasonable profit positions,” the Ministry said. “M&CC has to provide some justifications of how the parking and other fees were derived.” The Ministry also noted
that the contract stipulates that SCSI would pay no direct taxes. This includes exemption from income, corporation, Value Added Taxes (VAT), capital gains and all other levies, taxes, duties or “other imposition of similar nature.” According to the review, if assented to by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) then this will deny the Consolidated Fund an important source of funding. The Ministry also expressed doubts that the supposed benefits to come to the nation from the deal will indeed come, given how exploitative the contract is. Instead, the Ministry said that indirectly, the contract is likely to have a detrimental effect on business growth. The team pointed out that at the retail, wholesale and producer levels, workers and
consumers may change their shopping and spending patterns. The review noted that with the changes in consumer patterns, who might seek to avoid the parking meter fees likely to be attracted in Georgetown, the economic effect must be factored in. The Ministry warned about the scope which SCSI was given over fees. “The contract has given complete monopoly power to SCSI over parking within Georgetown. This control could lead to exploitation of consumers as SCSI has the power to change fees arbitrarily and determine zones.” Subterfuge The contract between National Parking Solutions/ SCSI and the M&CC was signed since November 2015. The deal only became public
Ifa Kamau Kush, with two employees and the meter. knowledge after City Hall announced that Astrolobe Technologies, which had claimed it had ‘first jump’ on the project, would not be considered. At no time were tenders invited to give companies with the capacity to execute the project an opportunity. Both the Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia ChaseGreen and Town Clerk Royston King, had defended this by saying that the council would not be investing any money, but would get 20 percent of the gross revenue. NPS is owned by USbased Guyanese, Ifa Kamau Cush, who according to the Mayor had submitted a proposal since 1996. Checks by Kaieteur News had found
that NPS did not have an office at the Park Avenue, Manhattan address that it listed on its website. There was also little information on Smart City Solutions Inc., the company with which Cush teamed up. The situation caused a visible rift between the Mayor and King and the Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan. Duncan, who also made checks on the companies, had been unequivocal in his opposition since he could find little evidence of the two companies. More controversy arose however. In June, Mayor Chase-Green, King; head of the Finance committee, Oscar Clarke; and councilor Junior Garrett, left on a “due
diligence” trip to Mexico, seven months after the contract was inked. The consortium paid for the plane tickets and hotel accommodation for the officials, who then inspected the meters. And when meters were brought for demonstrations, Smart City e m p l o y e e s stated that the meter would be charging $125 for 15 minutes of parking. ChaseGreen had disputed this, saying that the fee was being negotiated. Subsequently, Government had announced that both the Attorney General’s chambers and the Ministry of Finance would be undertaking a review of the contract.
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Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
M&CC agrees on interim container Minister Amna Ally meets with Region 5 RDC fee after meeting with PSC and GCCI The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown met with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Friday, to address the issue of the controversial “Container Fee”. According to Town Clerk, Royston King, the meeting was a success. This was the second such meeting in an effort to address the issue of container fee and other allied issues. Discussions and deliberations on the main
issue concluded with those in attendance proposing that the Council reduce the current $25,000 Container Fee to $5000 as an interim measure. According to a release from the M&CC the fees will be collected at the various Ports and Wharves, effective August, 1, 2016. The Town Clerk also said discussions were held on the possible implementation of a per-tonnage cargo fee for all “cargo within vehicles” of specific type of weights traversing the streets of the City.
According to sources, the Private Sector representatives indicated their interest in forming a Tripartite Committee between the Government of Guyana, the M&CC and the PSC to engage in continued discussions on other initiatives and to institutionalize a solid partnership to develop and modernize Georgetown. This was agreed by all parties involved. In the release it was noted that the Committee will be in place by August 15, 2016. The M&CC advised that the collection of container fees and tonnage fees are instituted by invoking section 274 (h) in conjunction with section 272 of the Municipal and District Council’s Act, Chapter 28:01. City Hall further said that the collection of revenue for container fees is an “absolute necessity” in order to execute road construction and repairs; drainage works; and other allied capital works such as the construction of bridges, etc. The M&CC noted that the aforementioned are essential Municipal services that create an enabling environment for businesses and guarantee the safety of citizens and the public health of local communities.
- to work towards further reconciliation Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, on Friday, met with members of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of MahaicaBerbice, Region Five. Minister Ally commended the officials for their positive response to President David Granger ’s call for reconciliation. She further advised them that she will be working even closer with them in the future to support the strengthening of relationships among the members. “My role here in Region Five is to guide you, to mentor you, to counsel you so that after today we can have a positive, smooth way forward,” Minister Ally said, at the meeting for the regional officials that was held at the RDC office, West Coast Berbice. According to reports, the Minister expressed pleasure that initial steps of reconciliation were taken by the RDC, after a seven-month long conflict, which disrupted the smooth functioning of the office. She said negative attitudes were at the root of the standoff and that respect must be practiced to safeguard against a recurrence. “This is not about personalities. It’s about issues and that is what we must be mindful of. Putting our shoulders to the wheel to make sure that things happen, forgetting race, forgetting cultural differences, forgetting religious beliefs because while all of those
Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally
Regional Chairman of Region Five RDC, Vickchand Ramphal
exist and they are differences, they must not be barriers,” she said. Minister Ally further noted that at this crucial time of identifying priority projects and budgeting, cooperation among members of the RDC is tantamount. “I want peace. I want the coming together because it is only if you come together and you work together that we can move Region Five. You have got to be a Region that is very progressive, we have to ensure that we do things the right way.” Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, and Regional Councillor, Carol Smith-Joseph contended that they were pleased by President Granger’s intervention in the stalemate and said that they are now looking forward to a good working relationship. Mr. Ramphal urged councilors to unite. ”Let us work as a united team, as a united Region Five for the people of our region. Let us move Region Five together.” Ms. Smith-Joseph said that she was “elated and buoyed” by the President’s mediation and by the behind-
the-scenes interceding by Minister Ally. She said that it brokered a deal that “serves to exhort all parties, to explore all avenues of social cohesion and good will aimed at working in harmony with one another for the betterment of the region”. The Region Five Region Democratic Council was plagued by controversy over the last seven months and there seemed to be no solution in sight. Regional Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal, was accused of disrespecting President David Granger by being absent at the time of the President’s visit to the region. The coalition members of the council were adamant that unless Ramphal offered an apology, be it oral or in writing, they would not recognize him as Chairman of the RDC, and so he was unable to chair meetings. Ramphal on the other hand, stated that he did not mean to be disrespectful to President Granger, and had not offered an apology. As a result of the controversy, the RDC of Region Five had been unable to deliberate on any matter for the year.
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
President Granger pays tribute to Burnham on his 31st death anniversary
From right: General Secretary of the PNC, Mr. Oscar Clarke, President David Granger, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Carl Greenidge, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock, and Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms. Amna Ally at the memorial ceremony for the late Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham
President David Granger paid tribute to Guyana’s first Executive President and founder of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of his death. The wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Mausoleum at the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens, where the former President was laid to rest. President Granger said that the late Forbes Burnham was the author of social cohesion and architect of national unity, who transformed Guyana from a divided colony to a more united and less unequal country. “He established order out of chaos and conciliation out of conflict…He fought against the marginalisation and segregation of the
colonial regime into which he was born and sought to create a society of equality and inclusivity for posterity. It was through his visionary leadership and wise stewardship that the foundation of a just and cohesive society was laid,” he said. The Head of State made reference to a public broadcast made by Forbes Burnham in 1964 after he was sworn in as President during which he said that “this Government holds that all the people of this country are equally important, whether they belong to a large group or a small group. “To us, the Amerindians are important; to us, the Chinese are important; to us, the Portuguese are important; to us, the Europeans are important. To us, the mixed races are important. To us, the Africans are important. To us,
the Indians are important. In short, all Guyanese are important and valued members of our community and we cherish them and consider that, as a Government, it is our duty and privilege to guard, protect and further the real interests of all.” President Granger said that the sentiments and precepts adumbrated in this statement by Mr. Burnham over 50 years ago are
From left: Dr. Richard Van West Charles, former Opposition Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin, Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence and Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan among the attendees at the Botanical Gardens
permanent and paramount today as his Administration proceeds along the path of national unity and social integration. “It is our Government’s duty today, as it was fifty years ago, to protect the interests of all and not of some. The people cannot be imprisoned in ethnic enclaves. The people are not the property of one or other political party. Forbes Burnham’s ideas were for all
time and for all Guyanese… “We recall Forbes Burnham’s wise counsel of cohesion today, whenever the voices of divisiveness are raised; wherever the hand of hostility tries to hit and hurt our vulnerable citizens and
by whosoever peddles the propaganda of separateness among our people,” the President said. He said that Mr. Burnham was devoted to the task of rebuilding a society that was Continued on page 63
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Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
There is enough power to service Demerara/Berbice residents GPL boss says...
While there have been a series of power outages, which coincide with the recently damaged submarine cable, GPL is adamant that there is enough power in the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) to service coastal residents. This is according to acting Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Renford Homer. He was asked whether the cable’s present inability to feed power from Vreed-en-Hoop to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected system was responsible for frequent power outages. Homer noted that the power which is currently lost due to the cable damage was classified as excess power. While he did say that it would be nice to have that excess power, he added that there is actually enough power being generated on the other side
to sustain power to customers within the DBIS. He provided assurances that the cable will be rectified. He also stated that while an assessment of the extent of the damages continued, efforts are ongoing and equipment is being brought in order to rectify the breach. The Chinese-built cable is crucial, as part of the system that connects the Berbice and Demerara grid. It means that the new power facility at Vreed-enHoop, West Demerara, which cost more than US$30M, is at present unable to lend its excess power to the other side of the river. GPL has been under pressure to reduce its outages with some of them coming at embarrassing times. 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
-Notwithstanding busted submarine cable
The ship as it laid the cable
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. The 69KV submarine cable was laid in 2012 across the Demerara River and crossed Kingston, Georgetown to Vreed-enHoop, West Bank Demerara and.
However, supervising consultants Caribbean Engineering and Management Consultants, Inc. (CEMCO) had urged that it be re-examined. “It is generally good practice to have redundant feeds for cables as the time to locate and repair faults can result in extended outages. With a submarine cable this can result in even more extended outages.” The report pointed out that in addition, it is possible that the life of the cable may have been compromised during installation due to the methods employed and possible dragging of the cables by fuel boats that were traversing the Demerara River. As an alternative to a second submarine cable, GPL may have to consider an overhead transmission line at a suitable point along the Demerara River, the consultants urged.
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Councilor deems Linden Town Council lawless Council If a motion should be moved it should be against the whole council because we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing says Councilor Gasper.
Due to the recent vote of No Confidence against the Town Clerk of the Linden Mayor and Town Council, Jenellor Bowen, at the monthly statutory meeting, Councilor Lennox Gasper has said the rule of law was not followed. Gasper said his reasons for not voting in favour of the motion were that the rule of law was not followed and that there are more pressing issues to be dealt with. The councilor said that he is a stickler for principle and he believes that if they are going to do something it must be done within the confines of the law. He said that if the council really holds the interest of the people of Linden at heart the council will deal with the more pressing issues and one such pressing issue is the garbage collection. “My garbage is filled to capacity. I am practically putting garbage now in a bigger bag to the side of the garbage bin. Garbage wasn’t picked up in quite a while in my constituency. “We have a drainage problem, the drains are clogged. The Council needs to look after these things. But we rush to moving a no confidence motion. I don’t have a problem if the council wants to move a no confidence motion but whatever we do let us do it right.” According to the councilor he pleaded with the council after Councilor Derron John moved the motion, to follow the law. Gasper noted that it first came in the finance committee as a recommendation. He said that he visited the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communities, Emil Mc Garrell, to let him know that something isn’t going right. He was advised to speak with the Mayor. Councilor Gasper claimed that if you are talking about a
no confidence motion, you talk about misuse of funds, about incoherent records with regards to financial statements, and about if the TC is not following any policies that the council would have put out. “There is no policy the council put out since we have entered it. Most of the things are Administration situations and if we should examine what is going on we are operating more outside of the law than anything else as a council; and I dare say if any motion to be moved it should be one against the whole council because we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing.” On the other hand, the Deputy Mayor Waneka Arrindell said that she is receiving advice from the highest level of the council. “The highest order doesn’t have respect for the law? Three infractions they committed and the law said here in Standing Order 8 on pg 401 that it shall not be a subject of discussion until the very next ordinary meeting. “That’s an infraction. I begged and pleaded with the council not to discuss it now but to give the council time to put together their reasons. Don’t substitute speed for accuracy. You need to get it right. I want to see the council go in the confines of the law and if I am going to sit on any council it must be within the law.” Councilor Gasper was also peeved at the way the council started with commotion over who should receive the correspondence when it is clearly stated in the mandate of the Town Clerk that all correspondence go to her. “The law makers are probably turning in their graves now for what we are turning the law into or what we are interpreting it as.” While the Councilor admits that the council is a
young one, he advised that the members should take the time out and read. “We are a council who is supposed to be policy makers which would require us to consult, to research, to interact, to deliberate with people on issues before we come to a decision but everything is done haphazardly.” Gasper said the mayor does not consult with council but makes decisions and it reflects on the council and that is outside of the ambit of the
law. “If the council is not operating in the law; in my opinion that’s lawlessness. The council is a lawless council because they refuse to honour the law.” However, Gasper said although he read the law to them they disregarded it because they moved a second motion to have the Town Clerk sent on immediate Administrative leave. Gasper noted that sending the Town Clerk on Administrative leave is “utter
wrong” and it is corruption and abuse of power. He also noted that that is what made the council look like a comical council. “They are saying it is not political and talking about cohesiveness and a good life for all but yet we are talking with one mouth and we are acting in a different way. Our words and actions are not coherent. “I am standing up for right, justice, truth and transparency. Whatever we do must stand the test of
scrutiny and hold up in a court of law. I dare anyone in the council to say that the council would have operated in the law with the recent action the council would have taken. What are the facts?” On the issue of the Town Clerk being barred from entering her office, Councilor Gasper said that the constable, inspector or any other officer should be sent home. “Your direct officer to give you instructions is the Town Clerk not no councilor, Deputy Mayor or Mayor.”
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Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Minister GarridoLowe tours GPHC
Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Wendy Sandy while on a visit to the hospital.
Several indigenous persons caring for their sick in the Pediatric Ward of the country’s premier Health Institution- the Georgetown Public Hospital, on Wednesday welcomed an impromptu visit by Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe. While there, Minister Lowe interacted with the doctors, nurses, parents and relatives of the sick children. Many of the indigenous children are receiving treatment in the facility for high fever. However, two particular cases caught the attention of Minister GarridoLowe. Wendy Sandy, a resident of Caria-Caria up the Essequibo River, Region Three, is the mother of three children between the ages of six years and eight months who were admitted to the GPHC early this week with fever and vomiting. Six-year-old Akeila, twoyear-old Destiny, and eightmonth-old Divine Sandy all received treatment at the facility. The children’s mother, Wendy Sandy, told Minister Garrido-Lowe that only last Thursday she and her three children returned to CariaCaria after spending some time with a relative in Cornelia Ida (CI), West Coast Demerara. The children were in almost perfect health. However, by Saturday her eldest daughter came down with a fever followed by the two younger siblings. She subsequently sought medical attention. She noted that it seemed like a mystery since they were all in good health and before she realized what was happening she was looking at her eldest daughter, Akeila battling for her life. However, in a conversation with the doctor who is administering treatment to the children, Minister Lowe was told that the eldest daughter who was admitted to the GPHC over the weekend in a more serious condition, succumbed to her illness on Monday before a proper diagnosis could have been made. According to the doctor, an autopsy performed on the child’s body on Wednesday, revealed that she succumbed to renal failure. Further tests are being performed on the samples from daughter ’s remains. The doctor did however reveal to the Minister that upon further investigation, the child came down with a fever two weeks prior to her receiving medical attention.
The situation was compounded by a strong family background of Tuberculosis (TB). According to the Medical Practitioner, the children’s father (no name provided) fell ill and a month later began the TB treatment. That was almost a year ago. It was confirmed that he was in contact with the children. While the two younger siblings remain under observation, the doctor said two-year-old Destiny was diagnosed with Bronchopneumonia and is receiving treatment although further tests are being conducted. Tests, according to the doctor, cleared eight-monthold Divine of pneumonia but further examinations revealed that her tonsils were inflamed. She is receiving treatment. The other case that caught the attention of Minister Garrido-Lowe was that of nine-month-old Richard Henry, son of Susan Lowe from Supenaam in Region Two. Lowe explained to the Minister that a Health Professional working at the Good Hope Health Center administered the then twomonth-old with his second set of vaccines ( HB+HEPB+DPT). She said that after receiving the vaccine her son was never the same. Hours later her son began vomiting. The following day his anterior fontanelle (mole) was swollen and the area on his leg where he received the vaccine was green in appearance. Lowe said this became very disturbing and she was forced to return to the Health Facility with her son so she can receive Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe and another patient at the hospital
answers. She said she was referred to the Suddie Public Hospital where doctors there could not diagnose the reason for the discoloration. She was subsequently advised to seek further medical assistance and was given an appointment to see a doctor at the GPHC sometime in September. The mother of the ninemonth-old said that the appointment date was way too long so she decided to take matters into her own hands. It was then that she visited the medical facility (GPHC) where her son is now a patient. She is now patiently awaiting advice from health professionals at the facility on the way forward in dealing with her child’s illness. Meanwhile, Minister Garrido-Lowe indicated that while Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton is competently dealing with issues concerning the health sector, there is so much he can do in this regard. Minister Garrido-Lowe pointed out that in dealing with such a critical sector, partnerships from various stakeholders play a pivotal role in alleviating a number of difficulties experienced in this sector. In the meantime, the Welfare Department of the Ministry continues to provide support to persons from the hinterland who are patients of the facility. The Minister during her visit committed to providing much needed items to the Sandy sisters, seven-year-old Tarik Chatkha from Region Six, fouryear-old Eli Thomas, eightmonth-old Quincy Sam and Rishad Henry.
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Keeping that troubling health threat at bay By Sharmain Grainger The local health sector has been fighting a valiant battle to protect the nation from all sorts of health threats. Everything that is humanly possible here is reportedly being done. But the health sector can only do so much. Just this past week the Ministry confirmed that despite its efforts, which have included measures ranging from sensitization to fumigation, at least four pregnant women have been diagnosed with the Zika virus. Pregnant women becoming infected of course, is one of the worse known fears associated
with this mosquito and now feared sexually transmitted virus. There are birth defects such as microcephaly that can occur. This is where a baby is born with an abnormally small head. Nothing can be done at this point other than to monitor these cases, and acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, said this is just what the Ministry has been trying to do based on specific World Health Organization guidelines. Of the four pregnant women diagnosed, one is being monitored for abnormalities, another has since deliv-
ered a normal child but is still being monitored, along with her baby, one has since miscarried and the other just simply doesn’t seem willing to have her pregnancy scrutinised. As one official puts it “she has disappeared off the grid...we can’t find her at any clinic and she is supposed to be attending clinic.” But being monitored is an option. In fact, remaining pregnant after being diagnosed with the Zika virus, even with the potential birth defects, is entirely the prerogative of the woman. Abortion is an available option, but it is cer-
IMF: Light up its darker... From page 22 decline if the institution is to retain credibility”. But, the reality is that recent reforms in the voting power of the IMF still leave the European governments with enormous and undeserved power. As the Financial Times observed, rather belatedly (and perhaps with an eye to yet another unthought-of consequence of Brexit): “The EU has also yet to demonstrate that it has abandoned the traditional stitch-up by which it, in effect, appoints the head of the IMF”. The United States of America (US) aids and abets the EU in its imposition of the IMF chief in return for the right to name the President of the World Bank. Between them, they operate a cabal of control of the international financial system. The IEO report is a valuable document. Developing countries, including those in the Caribbean, should not allow its findings “to run through our leaders’ fingers like thin, white sand” as the former Greek Finance Minister vividly put it. Instead, it should be used as a beacon to shine a
bright light on the dark crannies of an organisation that was created to help countries out of dire fiscal straits, but whose prescriptions result in hurting more than it helps, except when the interests of its controllers are affected. At the World Bank/IMF meeting this autumn, the IEO report should be prominent among the items that Finance Ministers emphasize. It should become a tool for the reexamination of IMF policies and more considered discussion of the many governance issues, highlighted in the report and which, in the interests of all, have to be addressed effectively. (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. He is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are his own) Response and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com
The Baccoo Speaks This is the season when people seek to enjoy the holiday fare, but sometimes there are problems. A child would be the victim of an accident that should have been avoided if the driver of the vehicle was not intoxicated. That would not be the only sad spot. There would be another injury at a fun park. This seems all but impossible, but these things happen when people get caught up in the action. **
A fire is going to destroy a home. This fire would start in a section of the house where children were playing. Matches would be suspected.
** Berbice is always in the news for all the wrong reasons. There are criminals who are chronic lawbreakers. They are even more confident because of the restraint used by the police. A gang is going to attack a household in pursuit of money and jewellery. This attack would be based on information provided by a visitor to the very home. This would provide the police with the break they need.
tainly not mandatory. The Ministry has to support any and all pregnant women diagnosed with the virus, especially since unlike some countries, like our sister Caricom nation Jamaica, Guyana has made no demands for women to delay becoming pregnant in the wake of the virus. There are a few dozen cases of the virus that have been confirmed locally. But given the lax attitude of some people in our dear land, the possibility exists that there are many more people infected than those confirmed. Guyana is still relying on the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public HealthAgency (CARPHA) to confirm its cases. In fact, CARPHA caters to the entire Caribbean. Moreover, only random samples are even sent to CARPHA to be tested so as not to overwhelm its workload. But pregnant women have reportedly been priority. However, there is literally nothing that can be done to undo the infection treatment of symptoms could occur, but basically the only thing that is done is to monitor the pregnancy. Based on an article I read recently, scientists are currently working on a vaccine. Until then though, a pregnant woman who has been diagnosed with the Zika virus essentially becomes a study subject.
She is required to do an unprecedented number of ultrasounds before she delivers, so that health officials could deduce whether her baby is developing microcephaly. Now the health sector has assured that the situation is not one for concern at this point. But how could we not be concerned, especially since there might be so many people infected, aside from pregnant women. I think it is particularly troubling that many people opt to diagnose themselves the minute they manifest some signs and symptoms that seem to be synonymous with the virus. There may even be some pregnant women too, who are treating themselves, who knows? I say this because recently I was reliably informed that there are far more people than those diagnosed who appear to have all the signs of the virus and have not visited a single health facility. Once three to seven days of being infected has elapsed and persons commence using various symptomatic treatments, there is no way they can be diagnosed correctly at this point, I was told. Once treatment has commenced, any sample tested is likely to show a negative reading. Among the symptoms of the Zika virus are fever, rash, joint and muscle pains, nausea and/ or vomiting and conjunctivitis But while self treatment
might be reducing the burden on the health sector and increasing the sales at many pharmacies, this has not been the recommended way to go. The advisory issued by the Ministry of Public Health has clearly stated, once you or someone you know manifest symptoms, visit the nearest health care facility. But following instructions has always been a hard task for some of us Guyanese, of course until something untoward occurs. Now the way I understand it, the majority of the samples that were sent to CARPHA to be tested returned negative readings. This could mean that persons had started self-treatment or that a number of people with symptoms likened to the virus, in fact had something else altogether. One of the important things in being diagnosed properly before treatment commences is to rule out dengue in particular, since both viruses can manifest similarly. Zika, like dengue and chikungunya, is transmitted by the Aedes aegyti mosquitoes which are very popular in our part of the world. But what I have read in multiple articles is that antibodies to the dengue virus (Continued on page 26)
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Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
The delayed death touch and Miss Hazelwood By Michael Jordan Maeshel Hazelwood’s relatives woke last Tuesday to find her dead in her bedroom at Mocha, East Bank Demerara. Except for an old injury, Miss Hazelwood’s body bore not a single mark of violence. Yet her relatives say this is a case of murder. But the man they’re pointing fingers at had not been around Miss Hazelwood in 22 years. In fact, others say that he’s been dead for quite some time. I know…I know…you’re saying this sounds just a bit too strange to be true. But indulge me as I ramble a bit about Miss. Hazelwood’s death, and a very ancient way of killing. The Chinese call it Dim Mak. It means ‘death touch’ in English, and practitioners of this martial art swear that they can inflict painful death on their enemies by merely applying gentle pressure to certain vulnerable areas of the body. It’s said that in some cases, the victim is unaware that he has been given the ‘death touch,’ and may suc-
Maeshel Hazelwood cumb several days later, when the killer is miles away. There was even a theory floating around in the martial arts world that Bruce Lee met his end at the hands of a Dim Mak practitioner, who secretly applied ‘the delayed death touch’ to the kung fu master for his criticism of what
he believed to be out-dated styles. One well-known martial artist I spoke with years ago even claimed that he had put the ‘delayed death touch’ on someone. But while many in the martial arts world dismiss ‘Dim Mak’ practitioners as frauds, some medical articles suggest that certain
vulnerable areas (the solar plexus, the base of the skull, the internal carotid artery) on the body do exist, and that a highly trained fighter with knowledge of these vulnerable points can inflict ‘delayed death’ on their victims. And this brings me back to Maeshel Hazelwood. Back in 1994, Maeshel was 24, and she lived in Sophia with her seven-year-old daughter and three-year-old son. She made a living by vending at the Stabroek Market.But relatives said she also had a jealous partner. According to one of Maeshel’s aunts, this partner, a carpenter known as ‘Bull’, would become extremely upset whenever he saw Maeshel around any males. “He was jealous if he saw her sitting with her uncles. He was jealous if he saw a strange male around, without even knowing if the man was a relative. He would get vex and call her away.” ‘Bull’, was also reportedly quick with his fists, and eventually, Maeshal moved with her children to a family residence in Mocha. Sometime later, Maeshel returned home after a hard day of vending and went to take a shower in a bathroom located in the yard. About half an hour later, relatives heard her shouting “Oh God Mommy, ‘Bull’ killing me.” The shouts were followed by a ‘thumping’ sound. One child ran to the bathroom and allegedly saw ‘Bull,’ sledgehammer in hand, clubbing away at the naked Maashel. ‘Bull’ reportedly then dropped the sledgehammer and fled, leaving Maeshel Hazelwood lying motionless, but still alive, in the bathroom as blood gushed from her head. Relatives rushed her to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she was admitted to intensive care with a fractured skull. Miraculously, she survived the sledgehammer attack. Back home, her daughter, only seven at the time, had helped to put a
pot of water on the fire, with the intention of dumping the boiling contents on ‘Bull’ if he returned. But ‘Bull’ had vanished. Maeshel Hazelwood eventually left hospital and returned to vending. But now she suffered from headaches, particularly when she exerted herself. A month later, she migrated to St. Vincent, remaining there for close to 22 years before returning last July. Meanwhile, the blinding headaches intensified, and Maeshel was sometime heard to remark: “like these headaches want to kill me.” On July 14, Maeshel Hazelwood began to complain of chills. Relatives took her to the Georgetown Public Hospital. She was treated and discharged. At around four o’clock on the morning of July 23, she awoke to discover that she was paralyzed on her left side and could not speak. A CT scan showed that she had a clot in her brain. A doctor allegedly told relatives that there was little that the medical staff could do for the patient, and had her discharged. Miss Hazelwood passed away at her home last Tuesday. L a s t F r i d a y, o n t h e family’s insistence, police ordered a post mortem on Miss Hazelwood’s remains. That post mortem showed an indentation on the top of her skull. That old injury had caused the skull to press onto the brain and had caused Hazelwood’s intense headaches. But, according to the autopsy, those blows had not contributed to her death. The culprit, the autopsy report stated, was the clot in her brain. Cause of death was given as a brain infarction, which develops when something prevents
(the clot in this case) prevents the brain from receiving blood. This condition leads to tissue damage, stroke, and in Miss Hazelwood’s case, it led to her death. A medical source said that had the pathologist found signs of chronic subdural haematoma (a condition that’s associated with traumatic brain injury), that would have indicated that the blows might have caused Miss. Hazelwood’s death. And since there is no statute of limitation on murder, someone could have been charged. “But she had an infraction of the brain, which had nothing to do with the blows she sustained over 20 years ago,” the medical source said. Though disappointed, Miss Hazelwood’s relatives remain convinced that those blows to the head, some 22 years ago, finally took their toll. Some of them want the man that inflicted those sledgehammer blows to be brought to justice. According to them, a man’s unidentified body was found some years ago in Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara. They allege that ‘Bull’s’ mother insisted that the body was his, and claimed that Miss. Hazelwood’s male relatives had killed him. Miss Hazelwood’s relatives are adamant that ‘Bull’ is still very much alive. “We know that he is not dead,” one relative said. “He is in ‘the bush’ (interior) hiding. There are a lot of people who saw him. Whenever he sees somebody who knows him, he would move from the area.” If you have any information on an unusual case, please contact me at Kaieteur News on telephone numbers 22-58465, 22-58491, or 22-58473. You need not disclose your identity. You can also reach me on my email address: mjdragon@hotmail.com.
Keeping that troubling... From page 25 essentially help to enhance infection by the Zika virus. Now the whole process of how this occurs is beyond my comprehension, but it’s very clear that health officials should be relied on when symptoms occur, with no exceptions. The virus has also been linked to neurological disorders such as the Guillian Barré syndrome,
which could cause paralysis and other complications. Moreover, persons instead of treating themselves are encouraged to firstly reduce, as far as possible, breeding sites for mosquitoes in their environment. These transmitting mosquitoes still thrive best in relatively clean, stagnant water. Wearing light-coloured clothing that covers the ma-
jority of the body is also important to help safeguard oneself from bites as well as the use of repellant. Remember, many people with the virus may not manifest symptoms, so transmission could be occurring more than we even realise. So take care of yourself and environment first and let’s pray the virus-spread is kept to a minimum.
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
PAGE 27
== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
The poor and powerless get no justice in Guyana As soon as it was announced that there will be a travel ban on UG graduates who defaulted on loan repayments, those affected took to the national media and social media to denounce it. One prominent lawyer used harsh adjectives to describe the Government’s attitude, and was unsparing in her criticism of President Granger. You cannot blame such people. They are defending their interests. President Granger told the media that the ban is not supported by law. I hope the President knows that many things his government and his party do are not supported by law. If you check the laws relating to local government you will see that the APNU-AFC municipal regime in Georgetown commits frequent violations of the constitution. I wonder if it is legal to stop my access to the roads that are adjacent to Parliament, which the government does for each session of Parliament. This restriction of travel becomes more egregious when you think it was the President’s party in Parliament in 2012 that introduced a motion to remove the barriers around Parliament and the President himself, when he was opposition leader, voted for the motion, which was passed. The barriers are still there, extended to even more adjacent streets. I have learnt a very important concept in law when in 1995 I sought an injunction to stop UG from admitting law students until the applications came before the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The judge at the time is now the current bodies straight into the night skies for the Ombudsman. UG hired a high-powered team clouds to kiss. – Rex Mc Kay and Keith Massiah. At that The business community defends its intime, Anil Nandlall was a good friend; he terests every day of every year. If there is a agreed to do the case for me pro bono. McKay tax on anything that affects the business comand Massiah armunity, they quickly degued that I had no nounce it. The Government “locus standi,” moved urgently to settle meaning I was not out of court with one of the an affected party; I country’s richest men, B.K was not a law apTiwarie. The sum he will replicant. Nandlall ceive is huge. I guess B. K. contended I had has a right to claim monies locus standi beowed to him. Ask this very cause I was a memadministration that moved ber of the Board of with supersonic haste to the Faculty of Sopay Tiwarie if it showed the cial Sciences. same urgency in paying the I got the insmall contractors it owes junction. It is befor construction materials cause of locus supplied to the D’Urban standi, I haven’t Park project. taken the State to Several ministries are court over my right still to pay small busito use the streets nesses that are owed for that border Parliadifferent types of services ment. A judge will supplied to the public secFrederick Kissoon say that I live in tor. BK Tiwarie is paid, but Turkeyen, therethe Theatre Guild is yet to fore my residential and employment access is receive monies owed. Minister Roopnaraine not hindered. Coming Thursday night from made a public statement to the effect that he Kaieteur News, I had to detour because the will bring up the issue of compensation for mountainous barriers stretch out their steely my contract termination at UG which the
Ombudsman’s legal advice ruled was illegal. That was almost eight months ago. Of course I am not in the same category with Tiwarie. Tiwarie has money. Money talks. Money entices the politically powerful. The poor in this country will go on to be trampled, because the poor and powerless is a self-destructive class. They vote for their own slave-masters as the basketball icon, Charles Barkley subtly alluded to. In the local government elections, Patricia-Chase Green won her seat by a landslide. If the poor aren’t self-destructive, they are damn moronic. Days ago, it was in the news that a container-truck crushed the head of a young boy on Avenue of the Republic at a time of the night when the City Hall restrictions prevent such vehicles from being on the roadways. City Council announced five months ago, they would enforce the by-laws. They have not. Those container-trucks belong to the wealthy class. In the meantime, sand-truck owners are still prevented from using the roadways after 6 a.m. This is sickening class injustice. Here is a line from the famous Broadway musical and film, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Surely, you’re not saying We have the resources To save the poor from their lot They will be poor always Pathetically struggling Look at the good things you’ve got”
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 07, 2016
GGMC remains a preeminent Institution of State I recognize former and production, and on (The Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) celebrated its 37th Anniversary in mining Commissioners and employees of extraction of lesser known minerals, July. This is an achievement that the Commission should be justly proud of. The staff GGMC, as well as miners past and e.g. semi precious stones and rare present. All of you have made and affiliates who have been employed or otherwise associated with it, celebrated with earths monumental contributions to the (vi) To ensure that the caveats it. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael G. C. Trotman, spoke on behalf the growth, development and regarding land reclamation and good Government of Guyana. Here is an abridged version of his address) continuation of the mining industry. environmental management are I bring congratulatory greetings from adhered to by everyone involved – His Excellency President David miner and overseer alike. and for decades (in the last century) it was inadequacy of technical and financial support, Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, bauxite. In these contemporary times, it is gold and the unavailability of mining lands, Our priorities for miners include ensuring Members of Cabinet and indeed the entire that undergirds the economy. Gold particularly at the small scale level. that Occupational Health and Safety Government of Guyana. We all are declarations up to June 2016 reached 327,000 We have been eradicating these issues but requirements are met; higher yielding lands appreciative of the immense contributions you ozs with a projected target of 600,000 ozs by there are other challenges hampering the are available to all categories of miners; and have made to the development of the the end of this year. sector. We have identified two main priority promoting higher standards by encouraging extractive industries. Over the years, a areas that will guide the the use of advanced mining technologies We know that the GGMC was formed out viable gold and Commission over the which will improve product recovery. of the early British Geological Surveys to diamond mining sector The attention of the world is trained on us coming years:– discover the economic mineral resources for has emerged and 1) Continuous as we prepare to step over the privileged the benefit of the British Empire. We heard of continues to hold its improvement of the threshold of prosperity enjoyed by oil and the pioneering exploits of Robert own. Approximately GGMC’s structure and gas-producing nations. Schomburgk, the Prussian who pioneered the 1 2 0 , 0 0 0 - p l u s The anticipated benefits are plentiful, but operations surveying and mapping of those resources. individuals are 2) Regulations the burdens can be catastrophic if we Today, even with the benefit of satellites and positively affected by pertaining to miners and mismanage this opportunity. We must GPS mapping, the work in our extractive industries this industry, s t a k e h o l d e r s ’ faithfully and carefully manage every aspect is still the same – laborious, difficult and dangerous, personally and operations in the mining of the industry such as safety, security, and at the same time exciting and rewarding. commercially. A local sector which includes observance of the law, preservation of the GGMC remains a preeminent Institution of and regional Air our impending fragile environments, safeguarding the host State that has the responsibility of ensuring Services sector has and adjoining communities, and just as petroleum sector. that the patrimony of the state, the gifts of emerged as have Our organizational importantly, preserving the state’s patrimony. God as I would like to refer to them, are shared i n t e r i o r The Petroleum Division of the GGMC will priorities will be: and enjoyed equitably by all Guyanese for c o m m u n i c a t i o n / i) To enhance the soon undergo some necessary changes to today, tomorrow, and for centuries ahead. This t r a n s p o r t a t i o n image of the mining transform it into a responsive regulatory is the sacred responsibility placed into our networks by roads and Minister of Natural Resources, sector in general, and of agency able to scrutinize and hold to account hands, one that we must discharge faithfully. rivers. the GGMC in particular, the companies, local and foreign, involved in Raphael Trotman There is no avoiding, escaping or diluting it. The nation has by promoting research, drilling, storing or transporting product on or President Granger talks about the “six been watching closely surveys, efficiency, offshore. sisters”, the traditional drivers of Guyana’s and we’ve observed Very soon we will share with the public transparency, order and economy – rice, sugar, gold, diamonds, bauxite that the GGMC continues to perform well even accountability draft Legislation for your comments, then it and timber. The GGMC is responsible for three in the face of the challenging issues that (ii) To create opportunities for the further will be placed before the National Assembly of these, the three upon which Guyana totally confront you daily. We are also dealing with development of the Commission’s human later this year. The Government of the depends. This is a heavy responsibility that reports of unbecoming behaviour of a few resources Cooperative Republic of Guyana will continue should not be treated lightly. officers in the fields; we have received a litany (iii) To tackle some specific challenges to work with the management and staff of the For many centuries sugar ruled the day, of complaints from miners about the hindering the sector by developing and GGMC and its Board of Directors to ensure putting into effect a Mining Policy Framework that efficiency and integrity remain in place, are respected and upheld, and that the to inform its long-term development (iv) To urgently equip the Guyana Mining wellbeing of all stakeholders is enhanced. In this regard, I am pleased to announce School to deliver a new prospectus that will train staff and potential employees to function that the issue of the GPSU’s proposal for an across-the- board salary increase for 2015 has well in our imminent oil and gas industry (v) To place more emphasis on bauxite thankfully been resolved.
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
My column
Brazil and a poor construction have lessons for all The Summer Olympics have begun in neighbouring Brazil. The opening ceremony was spectacular. Indeed it seems as if every host country tries very hard to outdo the other. Beijing put on a show that many thought could not be surpassed and in some aspects this is the case. But Brazil was also spectacular. This is a country with political problems. People have taken to the streets to protest, among other things, some economic problems. This was something that I could not understand, especially since the money spent to prepare the venues would have seen the creation of thousands of jobs. It was not easy for the hosts. The world heard about Zika, a mosquitoborne disease that is still being investigated. The spread of this disease actually had television commentators and some female athletes declining to visit the country. Environmentalists found fault with the waterways, talking about excess sewage and calling on Brazil to clean up. It was reminiscent of China, where the environmentalists spoke about the air quality that could have threatened the health of the athletes. In the end there were no problems
and the games proceeded without problems. In Brazil, there were the problems with the stadiums (stadia). There were strikes by workers to the extent that just a few months ago there were those who were calling for the Olympics to be moved from Brazil. As could be expected the United States put up its hand to be the hosts, given that it has the facilities. There is something for decency. Most of the countries took Brazil for what it was and opted to go there for the Olympics, no matter what. And as is always the case, once things got started they proceed as though nothing has happened. This made me recall Guyana’s hosting of the recent jubilee celebrations. There were those who initially claimed that Guyana was investing too much into the hosting of the jubilee. The sum was a mere US$1.5 million, minuscule when one considers what small Barbados is spending on its 50th anniversary celebrations. In the end the country benefited immensely. The amount of money that the visitors brought was a boost for the country. Taxis, hotels, vendors, artists, just about everyone made money. There was no more talk about gov-
ernment spending after that. I can imagine the economic windfall for Brazil. No one is talking about the visitors, but the numbers are large. People are talking about the crime; security is at its peak. Over the next two weeks Brazil will be talked about as a showpiece. And this brings me to some of the things that happened in this country during the tenure of the last administration. Suddenly the focus is on those contractors who undertook major projects and failed to deliver. The talking point now is the Kato Secondary School, the contract for which was awarded to Kares Engineering. A few years ago some of us questioned the cost. We were told that the contractor needed to transport building material from the coast. Minister Priya Manickchand defended the cost and accused the press of trying to make much ado about nothing. Today, we realize that our fears were justified. We now discover that the construction is so flawed that the building is unsafe. The cement mix is so substandard that some contend that the building is
slightly stronger than if it were made of paper. The wooden floor is so warped that one wondered who could do such an unprofessional job. It turned out
Adam Harris that the contractor used ‘green’ wood which when contracted after some of the moisture has been extracted, distorts the smooth finish. Instead of using sand for the concrete mix, we hear that the contractor used clay. And to think that the Inter-American Development Bank actually provided the funding. That is money that the country has to repay for nothing. We did talk about penalizing contractors, but we were told that there are systems in
place to protect the taxpayer. It seems as if this is not the case. Contractors who delivered shoddy work continued to be awarded contracts. It must have been a case of the government providing funding for ‘the boys.’ So we have a school that was to have provided for those children who are ready to pursue secondary education being closed to these children, and we do not know how that would impact their future. We hear that the previous government wanted this to be an elections project. “Finish it at all cost.” The result is the substandard work that will cost the taxpayer. As my employer noted, this project alone has prevented some people from getting the needed salary
increase. In China I have known the government to actually jail those who provide substandard work. I would like to see similar action and I expect to hear claims of witchhunt. As a child, my mother always pushed me to be the best I could, but above all, she insisted that whatever I do should be to the best of my ability. Wiping the stairs or sweeping the yard were good lessons. I wanted to play with my friends; my mother wanted me to do chores so I would try to rush through. I found out that it took longer to get out and play if I did not do the best I could. Perhaps these contractors did not have the same experience, so they have no pride in what they do. It is time they be made to learn.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 07, 2016
HOW EMANCIPATION BIRTHED A NATION This year we celebrate not only our anniversary of their arrival? They (Excerpt of an Address by His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, 50th anniversary of Independence but came because of emancipation; our 178th anniversary of President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana at Den Amstel on July 31, because it was felt than the emancipation. August 1 is our new Africans would leave the 2016 on the occaision of the 178 anniversary of Emancipation) year’s day. August 1 was the day of plantation. deliverance; deliverance from The Portuguese themselves bondage, 200 years of enslavement came on the 3rd of May, 1834, after from the time the Dutch came here, from the monument, and in 1834 there’s a monument. the Emancipation Act was passed and when great movement. 1600s to the time Africans were freed. It is the emancipation movement which Within 10 years of emancipation, over you go down by Windsor Forest you’ll see a We celebrate the day of departure, the day brought us to the 1st of August, 1838. Some 40,000 Africans had moved off of the monument. Windsor Forest is the village when we started to move away from the people like to speak about 1834; nothing plantations and were living in freed villages, where our first president was born; Arthur degradation and the domination of servitude happened in 1834 except a man called Damon and there were other movements. The labour Chung. But there’s a monument because in under plantations. We celebrate a day of raised a flag at La Belle movement; we 1853 January, the Chinese arrived at Windsor determination, the determination of our Alliance and was remember Hubert Forest, the first place they went to. forefathers to build a better life for our families executed for his trouble. So the coming of the Portuguese, the Critchlow. The political and future generations. One hundred and So, we didn’t get movement; we coming of the Indians, the coming of the seventy-eight years ago, on the 1st of August, freedom from 1834 so remember Forbes Chinese all had to do with African 1838, we made a covenant, we made a promise, don’t fool yourself, we Burnham and other emancipation. That is why I should say this; it was a promise of freedom, and freedom got freedom in 1838, and political leaders. We there is one day that all Guyanese should meant everything to our forefathers. that’s what we celebrate remember the cultural celebrate, Indians, Africans, Chinese and In Guyanese history I see five great tomorrow, but that movement, which gave Portuguese and Amerindians because it gave movements and the first great movement was e m a n c i p a t i o n us these beautiful birth not only to their immigration into this the emancipation movement; the movement movement led to other songs that this present country, but also to the liberation, and all of to be free. It was not a gift of humans. It was movements, it led to the generation is them knew that there would never be any something that our forefathers struggled for village movement, and embellishing even slavery again after the bonds of slavery were and it was a gift of God. There were great last year I passed an further, songs written broken on the 1st of August, 1838. What a revolts; 1763 led by Kofi; in 1823, and in a few order so that the 7th of by people like, R.C.G great day it was for all of us. I’ve often said, and I repeat that these days’ time we will be celebrating the great East November, every year Potter and Valerie villages which were established on the Coast Revolt and don’t ever forget, it was on could be commemorated Rodway. the 20th of August, 1823 as the enslaved as National Day of So, emancipation coastland were the single most important Africans were coming down the East Coast Villages. was important because economic, social and political development His Excellency Brigadier they were stopped at Bachelors Adventure It’s not a holiday, but it started and triggered in the history of our country. Before the village David Granger and 200 of them were slaughtered in one stamps have been all of those movements movement, before the Victorias and Buxtons morning; the greatest massacre in the history issued and it is but most importantly, I and the Bagotsvilles and the Den Amstels and of our country and then again there was the observed as the day, see emancipation not the Queenstowns and the Danielstowns, revolt in Essequibo led by Damon in 1834. which our first village, as an African festival, there was nothing but plantations. People Emancipation didn’t come easy. It is Victoria was purchased. That village although Africans are justly proud to celebrate lived in hovels, not logies, hovels, disgraceful something that people fought and died for, movement led to a $100 plantation being that day when their forefathers and mothers hovels. If they had some poultry, the poultry and in our country you commemorate those bought and made into human habitations, and were freed, but it is also the day when the was in there with them. struggles and the deaths and the executions of course Den Amstel and Fellowship and other ethnic groups found it necessary to They slept on the ground, they were in 1763, there’s a monument, in 1823 there’s a Bagotville and other villages were part of that come into Guyana, and don’t forget brothers treated like two-legged domestic animals, they and sisters, that only on the 5th of May this had no rights, they couldn’t marry, they year, the Indians celebrated the 178th couldn’t give evidence, they could be tortured and killed and we must remember emancipation anniversary of their arrival. Isn’t it a coincidence that Africans put an end to all that, but some people never celebrated their hundred and seventy-eighth emancipated themselves intellectually, or as anniversary of emancipation and the Indians our brothers told us, philosophically or celebrated a hundred and seventy-eight ideologically.
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Kaieteur News
Uterine Fibroids: A more common condition than you think By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Uterine fibroids are quickly becoming the most common tumour growth in women. Approximately 1015% of the women of reproductive age are afflicted with uterine fibroids worldwide. In Guyana it may be even higher, given my experience with initially seeing these patients. Women are often confused when they hear they have “fibroids”. Today we will shed some light on this condition to help alleviate misconceptions that are often associated with uterine fibroids. WHAT ARE FIBROIDS? Fibroids are tough balls of muscle that form in the uterus. The uterus, also called the womb, is the part of the woman’s body that holds a baby if she is pregnant. People sometimes refer to fibroids as “tumours.” But fibroids are not a form of cancer. They are simply abnormal growths in the muscle of the uterus. WHATARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FIBROIDS? Fibroids often cause no symptoms at all. When they do cause symptoms, they can cause: %Heavy periods %Pain, pressure, or a feeling of “fullness” in the belly %The need to urinate often %Too few bowel movements (constipation) %Difficulty getting pregnant ARE THERE PREVENTION OPTIONS? Yes. Women should avoid weight gain after age 18 and maintain a normal body weight compared to height. Body weight tends to increase estrogen production, thus aggravating fibroid growth. Exercise can help women control weight and additionally decrease hormone production that stimulates fibroid growth. Tobacco use has not been proven to be linked to an increase in fibroids. But quitting smoking will improve
general health and wellbeing of women that have fibroids HOW ARE FIBROIDS TREATED? There are several treatment options. Each option has its own pros and cons. The right treatment for you will depend on: %The symptoms you have %Your age (because most fibroids shrink or stop causing symptoms after menopause) %Whether you are done having children %Whether your fibroids cause so much bleeding that you have a condition called anemia %The size, number, and location of your fibroids %How you feel about the risks and benefits of the different options If you are thinking about treatment, ask your doctor which treatments might help you. Then ask what the risks and benefits of those options are. Here are the options: %Medicines – The pills, patches, vaginal rings, injections, and implants used for birth control can all reduce how much you bleed during your period. A device known as the intrauterine device, or IUD, can also make your periods lighter. There are also other medicines that can reduce the amount a woman bleeds during her period. If bleeding is your main symptom, birth control methods or medicines might help you. %Surgery to remove the fibroids (doctors call this surgery “myomectomy”) – During this operation, the doctor removes the fibroids but leaves the uterus in place. It is effective, but it is not always a permanent fix, because fibroids can come back. Myomectomy is often a good choice for women who might want (more) children. %Treatment to destroy the lining of the uterus (doctors call this procedure “endometrial ablation”) –
During this procedure, the doctor inserts a thin tube into the vagina, through the cervix and into the uterus. Then he or she uses tools inserted through that tube to destroy the lining of the uterus. This procedure reduces bleeding from heavy periods. But it is not an option for all women. It is also not appropriate for women who might want to get pregnant. %Treatment to cut off the blood supply to the fibroids (doctors call this procedure “uterine artery embolization” or “uterine fibroid embolization”) – During this procedure, the doctor inserts a thin tube into an artery in
the leg and threads it up to the uterus. Then he or she uses tiny plastic beads to block the artery that brings blood to the fibroid. After the procedure, the fibroid no longer gets blood, so it shrinks. This procedure is not appropriate for women who might want to get pregnant. %Surgery to remove the uterus (doctors call this surgery “hysterectomy”) – This surgery gets rid of fibroids and the problems they cause forever. Women who have this surgery cannot have fibroids come back. But they can never bear children. HOW DO I CHOOSE WHICH OPTION
IS RIGHT FOR ME? You work with your doctor to understand how the different treatment options would affect you. Then the two of you work together to choose the option that’s right for you. For women who might still want to have children, medicines or myomectomy is often the best choice. Women who do not want to have (more) children can often choose from all the options. One thing to consider is that fibroidrelated symptoms often go away with menopause.
Dr. Zulfikar Bux Having said all of this, the best option is always prevention. Eating healthy, preventing weight gain and exercising are the best ways to minimize your risks of getting uterine fibroids
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SUNDAY MULTIBILLION DOLLAR ACCOUNTS, SHARES IN BIG COMPANIES, PROPERTIES ACROSS GUYANA … ARE JUST SOME OF THE ASSETS IN THE NAME OF PERMANENT SECRETARY, OMAR SHARIFF How has a Permanent Secretary been able to accumulate billions of dollars? That’s the question in the minds of investigators looking into the Omar Shariff case. In any event, it has become quite obvious that there is more to Shariff than what meets the eye. Shariff, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Presidency is no stranger to negative publicity. But further to revelations that the public servant had billions of dollars in a number of accounts at local banks, there is now information that he has invested some of his money in shares at a few thriving establishments. In 2010, Shariff and his reputed wife, Sabeita Hardeo, acquired thousands of shares in three major companies across Guyana. These companies are Banks DIH, Republic Bank, and Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI). In March 2010, Shariff and Hardeo bought 10,000 shares in GBTI and another 10,000 shares in Banks DIH. The very next month the famous two bought 7,500 shares in Republic Bank. When the media got word about Shariff’s billions there was no detailed information on the amounts in his various accounts. Kaieteur News has found out that Shariff has 14 accounts. Some contained millions of dollars while others had billions of dollars. The Permanent Secretary has accounts at five banks. Interestingly, Shariff withdrew as much as—and in some cases—even more than he deposited. The Permanent Secretary, who is now the subject of an investigation, deposited $1.7B in his Citizens Bank account and withdrew $173M. He has nine accounts at GBTI. The combined amount in those accounts was just over $14.9B and he withdrew $14.6B. There was a recorded overdraft from one of his GBTI accounts. Shariff has only one Republic Bank account. He had deposited over $953.6M but withdrew $953.8M. He has two Scotia Bank accounts. However, Kaieteur News was only able to get its hands on information of what was contained in one of these accounts. Shariff had deposited over $454.9M in one of his Scotia Bank accounts.
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Presidency, Omar Shariff There are figures representing an overdraft from this account as he withdrew over $455.2M GUN-TOTING BANDITS THREATEN TO KILL 4YEAR-OLD An East Canje family was relieved of cash and gold jewellery by armed bandits who stormed their home in the wee hours last Saturday morning. According to reports, the men gained entry into the 139 Gangaram, East Canje home by breaking a window. Yadram Doorsammy, who resides with his four-year-old daughter and wife, was awakened around 2:00 am by strange noises coming from outside the bedroom. According to Doorsammy, upon investigating, he was con-
fronted by two men, one armed with a gun and the other wielding a cutlass. ”Dem come in and tell we don’t mek no noise and dem ask for de money and de gold jewellery. I tell dem seh man we nah get no money or no gold.” Doorsammy added that one of the bandits then grabbed his four-year-old daughter and held her at gunpoint. ”He scramble meh daughter and point de gun to she head and seh if we nah give dem all de money and gold, dem gon shoot she,” Doorsammy related. The bandits escaped on a bicycle with an undisclosed quantity of local currency and gold jewellery. MONDAY BERBICE TRIPLE MUR-
The house where the robbery occured
DER… SMILING TEEN KILLER ‘FINISHED OFF’ VICTIMS WITH BULLETS TO HEAD The teenager who killed 15-year-old Jaikarran Chandradeo and two men was reportedly smiling as he recalled wounding his victims and then “finishing them off” with shots to the head. This is the word from sources close to the investigation into the killing two Thursdays ago of Chandradeo, Pawan Chandradeo, and Naresh Rooplall at Mibicuri. The trio was gunned down during an accidental encounter with the teenager and some of his father’s workers, who were preparing to cart off several drums of diesel from a farmer’s property. Two Thursdays ago, during nightfall, 37-year-old Pawan Chandradeo, called ‘Suresh’ of 163 Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder; 33-yearold Naresh Rooplall called ‘Ticka Bai’ of No. 77 Village, Corentyne and 15-year-old
Jaikarran Chandradeo, called ‘Kevin’ of Mibicuri North, headed to an area close to a rice farm owned by Sudaman Jagmohan called “King”, to fish. It was at around that time also, that another farmer whose land reportedly adjoins Jagmohan’s, was planning to make off with several drums of diesel from Jagmohan’s depot. The thieves arrived at the scene by boat. Just as they were about to smash off the padlock from the storeroom, the trio who were planning to fish arrived. According to one report, the thieves trained a flashlight on the trio and recognized them. Instead of retreating, the trio of fishers came closer, and the teen, who was armed with his father’s licensed shotgun, shot them. “He just fired and hit them, and he said that them boys say to ‘get rid of the evidence’, and he shot them in their heads,” a source said. Body on La Grange road… Boy 16, says he used hammer to kill handyman A16-year-old boy has reportedly confessed to using a hammer to bludgeon 49year-old James Stewart after the 49-year-old man pushed him off his bicycle. Stewart was found dead at the junction of Unity Street, La Grange, West Coast Demerara three Sundays ago. Police had at first believed that he was the victim of a hit and run accident, but a post mortem indicated that he was slain. The injuries to his head indicated that a hammer was
the murder weapon. The teen, along with another individual, was apprehended a few days after Stewart’s body was found but the Police were forced to release both persons after 72 hours. However, after receiving further information, ranks re-arrested the teen, who later confessed to the murder. According to police sources, the youth claimed that Stewart had knocked him off his bike and made him fall to the ground. In retaliation, he said that he went to a friend’s home and borrowed a hammer and returned to where he had last seen the handyman. On seeing Stewart, the teen allegedly struck him once to the head with the hammer and immediately left the scene when the man collapsed. Kaieteur News was told that residents who were going to the market around 05:30 hrs on July 17, spotted the body in a pool of blood and notified the police. SET UP COMMITTEE TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS’ MONEY FROM RECKLESS INVESTMENTS – GOOLSARRAN Given the “wild” investments made over the years by the former regime with taxpayers’ moneys, Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran believes that Government should seek to implement several investment committees. Staffed with competent, experienced and qualified individuals, Goolsarran said that such a committee would prove to be an extremely beneficial mechanism in guarding (Continued on page 33)
Sunday August 07, 2016
From page 32 against the mismanagement of tax dollars. The former Auditor General said that there are a number of instances which could easily justify why taxpayers would call for systems which ensure checks and balances. One case he pointed to was the $5.2B investment made into the Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO) Limited some years ago by the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). Goolsarran said that this money, which was recklessly invested into CLICO is yet to be recovered and no one has been held accountable for it. The Chartered Accountant is of the view that the NIS former Board members, such as Dr. Roger Luncheon, should have been “hauled over the coals.” The former Auditor General insists that an investment committee would only serve to increase transparency and accountability when it comes to the use of taxpayers’ moneys as it would be responsible for protecting the nation from risky investments. TUESDAY SCORES STRANDED AT CJIA OVER TWO DAYS – MAIN CAUSE IS INEFFICIENTAIRLINE OPERATIONS– OFFICIAL Outgoing passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) during the course of Sunday and Monday, have been an emotional rollercoaster due to the frequent delays and cancellation of flights from several Airlines. This occurrence has resulted in the authorities scampering to find solutions to the problem amidst angry passengers demanding answers from their respective flight services including Insel Air, Dynamic Airlines and Eastern Airlines. A senior official at the Airport stated Monday that the delays may have stemmed from a problem being experienced by the Americas II Cable located off the French Caribbean island of Martinique. The apparent collapse of this cable, which feeds data to SITA – an information technology (IT) company that provides IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry – rendered the Automated Airlines Check-in services inoperable resulting in airlines conducting their check-ins manually – a process that takes hours longer, the official explained. Another airline spokesperson said that 90 percent of the cancellations and delays are due to operationalisation issues on the part of the air-
lines and not the Airport. As if to solidify this claim, he pointed out that some airlines including Caribbean Airlines and Fly Jamaica were still operating effectively despite the setback. He admitted that two flights belonging to Caribbean Airlines had to ‘turn back’ but the issue was unrelated to the issue being faced but rather, the density of fog that was present Monday morning. These planes landed later. Hundreds flock the National Park to celebrate Freedom Day It has become a feature of Guyana’s Emancipation celebrations for Guyanese, particularly those of African descent, to flock to the National Park to partake in the festivities organised by the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA). This year was no different. Guyanese from all walks of life, descended onto the Park on Monday afternoon to celebrate the freedom of enslaved Africans who were uprooted from West Africa and brought to the Caribbean during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Individuals and groups stepped out dressed in their African wear which featured assorted colours and patterns. From babies to teenagers were decked out, as some families chose to dress alike in clothing made from the same material. The day’s programme began with a cultural presentation at the eastern end of the National Park. Chairing the event was media personnel Mondale Smith who kept the crowd intrigued and excited about the many acts. Cultural groups from across Guyana and abroad performed items to the delight of the large gathering. Performances included dances, poems, drumming, songs and dramatic pieces. The presentations were not short of an African flavour due to the fact, that afro-beats were incorporated with the use of pre-recorded music and live drumming. Some of the performers included the 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 afro-beat vibes. APNU+AFC govt. seeks to avoid PPP-like actions that weakened Foreign Service -
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Kaieteur News
Some of the cub scouts at the CJIA yesterday afternoon. Many of them are from several Caribbean Countries and were scheduled to be home between Sunday and yesterday Granger The APNU+AFC Government is looking to stay clear of certain moves by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government that allegedly caused a once strong Foreign Service to end up on life support. Appointments based on political loyalty as well as postings lasting decades will not happen under the new dispensation. This is according to President David Granger. He said this during the most recent Public Interest edition. On that programme, the President stressed the importance of a strong foreign service. He said that Guyana is a young nation with “serious problems; particularly with our territorial integrity.” Granger said that Guyana has always looked upon the Foreign Service as the first line of defence and because of this Guyana, from the time of Independence, has had a robust foreign policy. In this regard, the President said that there was always a need for the best possible persons to be selected
to represent Guyana overseas. ”So my main concern when speaking to the diplomats (last week) was to make sure that that they understand the national interest,” the President stated. Granger said that he needed the diplomats to understand what Guyana has to achieve though their missions overseas. ”In this regard I emphasized that they don’t represent any ethnic group or any political party. They are not being appointed as political a patronage. They are there to serve the national interest. The President said that he is convinced that the persons appointed are fully capable of doing what is expected of them. “They understood the policy and their duties.” Granger said that he sought to correct a mistake perpetuated by the former administration. ”The last administrated inherited a corps of professionals, people who have been qualified. They were removed, and many political appointees replaced them and it was clear that they (the po-
Some of the passengers including children who were stranded at the Airport for the past two days
litical appointees) did not have the same grasp of foreign policy.” Granger said that some of the new diplomats have had ties to the PNCR and other parties that form the coalition. These include Frederick Hamley Case who has been appointed Guyana’s new High Commissioner to United Kingdom, and Former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Clarissa Sabita Riehl, who has been appointed High Commissioner to Canada. WEDNESDAY BILLIONAIRE PUBLIC SERVANT SECURED NINE PROPERTIES OVER 7YEAR PERIOD The wealth and assets accumulated by public servant, Omar Shariff, continue to stun investigators. In addition to his multibillion-dollar bank accounts, the Permanent Secretary has been able to buy properties all across Guyana. He has properties in Essequibo, Eccles, Kitty, Campbellville, Lethem and Kuru Kuru. Interestingly,
Shariff has been able to secure many of his properties during a short period of time. These are only the ones that have been discovered and revealed by the ongoing investigation. In November 2007, Shariff secured two properties in close proximity to each other at Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. Two years later, in March 2009, Shariff acquired another plot of land. This one is at Lethem, Left Bank of Tabatinga Creek, Right Bank of Takutu River. Another two years after that, in 2011, Shariff stretched his hands all the way to Essequibo. He bought a property at Lot 16 Acme Scheme, Vergenoegen Co-op Society, East Bank Essequibo. The very next year, the Permanent Secretary was able to acquire more properties. This time he moved to Georgetown. In February and September 2012, Shariff bought two properties at Eccles, East Bank Demerara. One year later, in 2013, the billionaire was able to secure (Continued on page 34)
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From page 33 a property in another high end area. He bought a property at Dadanawa Sheriff Street Section “K” Campbellville. Shariff got his hands on more assets in 2014. In that year he secured another property at lot 36 Section B Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo. He also bought a property at 36 Dowding Street, Kitty. Of the nine properties that Shariff has been able to put his hands on over the sevenyear period, six are in the name of his reputed wife, Sabeita Hardeo. Efforts apace to stop pension fraud…Digitization of Old Age Pension to be enforced by Jan. 2017 The Ministry of Social Protection is moving to introduce an automated distribution system for Old Age Pension by January 2017 to ensure greater efficiency, accountability and transparency. According to information disseminated by the Ministry, all Old Age Pensioners will
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
require the new National Identification Cards to collect their Old Age Pension in 2017. As such, the Ministry is requesting that all Old Age Pensioners who do not have the nine digit identification cards issued in the last Registration Cycle by the Guyana Elections Commission, upgrade their National Identification Cards. ”The new system will only use the nine digit National Identification Cards. Pensioners are advised to capitalize on the ongoing registration process at the Guyana Elections Commission offices in their areas to have the new National Identification Cards if they have not done so already,” the Ministry outlined. In recent years, there have been accusations that the Government’s old age pension scheme was laced with fraud, with many persons collecting under false pretence. With thousands of Guyanese living abroad, there have been known cases of so-called ‘double dipping’. The monthly pension is just over $18,000.
Last June, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence had announced a plan towards digitising the pension system to make it more efficient in identifying redundancies in the system. The Minister had highlighted the incidence of ‘double dipping’ – with persons not living in Guyana accessing pension from both the Guyanese government and the country in which they live in – among the issues to be addressed through the digitization process. ”We will be putting an end to persons who are ‘double dipping’…We have persons who believe that it is their right to live in a foreign country and collect their pensions here. We are saying no, it is not going to happen,” Minister Lawrence said. She added that last year this issue was brought to the attention of the staff of the ministry, who were advised they will be held responsible and surcharged where books are issued with them knowing the persons do not live in Guyana. Persons desirous of accessing old age pension will have to be living in Guyana for a minimum of two years. BERBICE TRIPLE-MURDER… FATHER AND SON AMONG THREE REMANDED A father and son were among three men remanded to prison, after being charged in connection with the Berbice triple-murder in which the bullet-riddled bodies of Pawan Chandradeo, Naresh Rooplall and Jaikarran Chandradeo were found in the Cookrite Backdam at Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne. The accused, Carlton Chetram, 38; his son Jairam Chetram, 18; along with Tameshwar Jagmohan, 26, all
farmers of Mahaicony, were remanded to prison for the indictable offence of murder when they appeared before City Magistrate Judy Latchman. The unrepresented men will make their next court appearance on September 6, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, when the matter is called for assignment. The trio was escorted into the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts Tuesday afternoon by ranks of the Major Crime Investigation Unit. They were all clad in white shirts and bowed their heads upon seeing droves of reporters. According to reports, the bodies of Pawan Chandradeo, 37; his son Jaikarran Chandradeo, 15, both of Mibicuri Creek North and Naresh Rooplall, 33, of Number 70 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, were found on July 22. It was reported that the slain teen still had a bag with fish slug around his shoulder. The corpses reportedly bore gaping shotgun wounds to the head and upper bodies. According to reports, the
victims were found by a rice farmer of Black Bush Polder and his workmen. It was reported that 13-year-old Alvin Chandradeo, who accompanied his father Pawan and brother Jaikarran was left at a pump station on a dam, as the others went further into the Savannah to fish. The lad stayed at the pump station from where he reportedly heard gunshots. THURSDAY NEW CODE OF CONDUCT PUTS PINCH ON GOVT, MPS AND SENIOR PUBLIC OFFICERS …DRAFT CODE TO BE MERGED WITH INTEGRITY ACT – PM NAGAMOOTOO After the finishing touches have been added, the Integrity Act is expected to be “the new home” for Government’s Code of Conduct. This is according to Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo. The code states, among other things, that public officials should desist from accepting lavish or frequent entertainment from persons
with whom the government has official dealings - including from suppliers or contractors, clubs and persons to which the state may allocate resources or job assignments. The First Vice President told Kaieteur News that the Code of Conduct draft is currently with the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. He said that he received an update on Wednesday that work is still being done on it. It is to be returned quite soon. Nagamootoo said that the draft will be incorporated into the Integrity Act which already provides for the declaration of assets and gifts by Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, Permanent Secretaries and other senior public officials. ”This is already in the law. The Code of Conduct is not something that is entirely new. But what happened of late is that, we established a broad-based team to look at current legislation in the world so that we could update and bring our draft on par with international standards,” (Continued on page 35)
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From page 34 expressed the Prime Minister. He added, “So this (the draft) will supplement the existing Code within the (Integrity) legislation. This is being done because if you have a Code of Conduct standing by itself, it is likely that it will suffer from lack of enforcement…” The Prime Minister believes that having it within the Integrity Act would reinforce the ability to institute penalties etc. $1B KATO SCHOOL RIDDLED WITH DEFECTS To say that the state did not get value for money from some $1B spent to construct the Kato Secondary School complex in Region Eight is a gross understatement. During a guided tour of the facilities on Wednesday, members of the media were given a chance to view structural defects. The tour, which was facilitated by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, featured experts from Rodrigues Architects Limited, the company which conducted a technical review of the structure built by Kares Engineering. And from independent observations, the school was riddled with cracks in base structures for stairs and railings, sinking ceilings, uneven stairs, mould build-up and termite infestations.In addition, the experts, Managing Director Albert Rodrigues and Architect Navindra Doodnauth, highlighted cases of inferior concrete or even aggregate substitutes being used to build the base of the school, one of the most important features in any construction project. ”The major issue is the structural i n t e g r i t y, ” Rodrigues said. There are very serious concerns and they were demonstrated by the laboratory tests which were carried out. It showed that the concrete strength is inadequate and there were areas where the wrong reinforcement was used.” The firm conducted tests, including one where the experts used a claw hammer to get an idea of how strong and thick the second floor corridor was.According to Doodnauth, the claw hammer broke right through. Subsequent measurements indicated a corridor floor just three inches thick. Noting how under-reinforced the concrete corridor flooring was, the experts opined that it was a disaster waiting to happen - since children are prone to running - unless remedial work could be done.
COMMUTERS, DRIVERS BEMOAN ‘POOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT’AT EBD EXPANSION SITES With the East Bank Demerara thoroughfare currently being expanded to accommodate additional lanes among other upgrades, commuters and drivers have both registered their disappointment with the ‘poor’ traffic management measures that are currently in place. One driver expressed his concern saying that there are no adequate demarcations in place to caution drivers in advance of the sudden rise, merges and diversions along the roadways. Also, there have been reports that drivers are stopping and removing barricades to gain access to uncompleted roadways. Vehicles are also seen driving over curbs to gain access to sidewalks endangering the lives of passengers and pedestrians. Meanwhile, vehicles are also seen encroaching the one-way roadway resulting in oncoming vehicles dashing to avoid collision. A Police spokesperson, when contacted, recently stated that the onus was on the contractors to have systems in place to manage traffic. However, the Police have been working with the contractors to have better systems in place, while operators as well as pedestrians should utilise the roadways in a careful manner so as to avoid mishaps. ”It’s common sense, if you see a barricade why would you want to remove it? It was placed there for a reason…To avoid you from driving terrain that is still under construction that can harm your vehicle and passengers,” the spokesperson said. He also called on persons witnessing these events, to report it to the police so that action can be taken.
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FRIDAY GFC BOARD VOTES TO END BAISHANLIN’S “ILLEGAL” JOINT VENTURES The new Board of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) on Thursday voted against the continuation of BaiShanLin Forest Development’s operations through its joint ventures. The Board has found these ventures to be illegal. At present, the joint ventures are the only known logging operations of BaiShanLin, as all other lands previously under the company’s control have been reverted to the State. An end to the company’s joint ventures would mean an end to its present operations in Guyana. The issue of BaiShanLin’s joint ventures has been boldly highlighted in the report of the forensic audit that Anand Goolsarran conducted into the operations of the GFC. Goolsarran had noted that BaiShanLin gained control of five major companies in the forestry sector – Sherwood Forrest Inc, Haimorakabra Logging Co., Wood Associated Industries Co. Ltd., Puruni Woods Inc. and Kwebanna Wood Products Inc. Goolsarran found the ventures to be illegal. He said that the Forests Act prohibits the transfer of ownership/control of a forest concession without the specific approval of the GFC. Goolsarran found no evidence that the specific approval of the GFC was granted in relation to the change of ownership/control of these companies. He argued that in the circumstances, the holders of the Timber Sales Agreements (TSAs) should have surrendered their authorizations to the Commission for reallocation to other potential concessionaires. In his response,
GFC Commissioner James Singh maintained that the ventures were legal. This is a stance that Singh has maintained over the years. He said this since in 2014, when questions were initially raised. Despite Singh’s stance and his submission to the Board, members found different. Kaieteur News understands that the findings of forensic audit report were considered and the GFC Board has agreed that all the takeovers by BaiShanLin of Guyanese logging licences were actually illegal, and that the licences should be revoked. GOVT. FINDS PARKING METER CONTRACT BURDENSOMEAND HEAVILY IN FAVOUR OF INVESTORS – RECOMMENDS ACCOUNTANT REVIEW FEES While noting that the terms and conditions of the controversial parking meter
contract are burdensome and heavily favour the investors, the Government has recommended that the details of the agreement be reviewed by an accountant. The recommendations were made following considerations from Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams and Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. The parking meter project contract, signed last November, has been generating heavy criticism against the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC). The contract was signed under the previous Council, by Town Clerk, Royston King, for a consortium to spend US$10M to install solar-powered parking meters around the city. However, several of the councillors, including Deputy Mayor Sherod Duncan, have been complaining of limited information regarding the agreement which provides for City Hall to receive 20 percent of the gross revenue and the investors, National Parking System (NPS) and Smart City Solutions (SCS) Inc, 80 percent. During a Post Cabinet press briefing Thursday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon announced that Cabinet had reviewed two reports submitted by Minister of Finance and the Minister of Legal Affairs on their findings of the contract. ”The sum total of the finding was that there was nothing illegal about the contract and it appeared from a review of the documents that the terms and conditions were onerous and they were heavily in favour of the concessionaire,” Harmon stated. The Minister of State said that the AG therefore recom-
mended that the Mayor and City Council hire an accountant to review the rates and fees contained in the agreement between City Hall and the investor. FOUR PREGNANT WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH ZIKA – MINISTRY FOLLOWS MONITORING GUIDELINES – ACTING CMO Four pregnant women have been diagnosed with the Zika virus. This has been confirmed by Chief Medical Officer (ag) Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle, who has given assurances that there is no reason for alarm. This, she said, is due to the fact that the Ministry is using developed guidelines to deal with such cases. There are a number of complications that have been linked to the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus including microcephaly. Microcephaly is recognised by an abnormal smallness of the head of a child born to a Zika-infected woman. There have been a number of microcephaly cases reported in Brazil, Guyana’s neighbour to the south. According to information reaching this publication, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad, confirmed that among a batch of blood samples sent to be tested for the virus, 26 were positive. Of the 26, four were samples taken from pregnant women. One of the women, this publication understands, has since had a miscarriage and at least one has given birth to a normal baby, but continued efforts are being made to monitor both mother and child. Reports suggest that (Continued on page 36)
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From page 35 a third woman has since failed to avail herself for monitoring, while the fourth pregnancy continues to be closely monitored. According to Dr. GordonBoyle, once a pregnant woman is diagnosed with the virus, she is first counselled and information about the virus is shared with her. The acting CMO made it clear that having been made aware of the possible complications, “the option is entirely hers (the pregnant woman) if she chooses to proceed with the pregnancy or not.” Part of the guidelines for monitoring infected pregnant women includes monthly ultrasounds to ascertain whether the foetus is developing normally. Dr. GordonBoyle made it clear, however, that although not all infected pregnant women will deliver babies with microcephaly; efforts are made throughout the pregnancy to “look for any
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Dr. Jennifer Westford
signs of deviations from a normal pregnancy.” Thus far, there have been no reports to suggest that there has been an abnormal pregnancy linked to the Zika virus. For this reason, Dr. Gordon-Boyle emphasised her
“no reason for alarm” stance. SATURDAY KATO SCHOOL WAS NEVER CERTIFIED BY SUPERVISING FIRM DUE TO NUMEROUS DEFECTS -CONTRACTOR MISLEAD MIN. OF EDUCATION IN PROGRESS REPORTS— CONSULTANTS The “completed” works on the Kato Secondary School by Kares Engineering never received the final stamp of approval from the supervising firm, Design and Construction Services Limited (DCSL). This is according to DCSL, the consultant tasked with ensuring that Kares constructed the school according to contract stipulations. DCSL’s Managing Director, Ravi Ramlakhan, made this comment in response to the draft technical report on the School which was com-
piled by Rodrigues Architects Limited, headed by Albert Rodrigues. The consultant said that Kares Engineering never completed the job to its satisfaction and as such, it did not issue a Certificate of Practical Completion. After a Ministry of Public Infrastructure-sponsored trip to the Kato School complex in Region Eight on Wednesday, this publication had highlighted a number defects throughout the complex. In response to these conditions being highlighted, Kares Engineering had stated that to date, it is not in receipt of a complaint or request for corrective works. DCSL, however, contradicted Kares’s claims. The supervising firm said in its report that after Kares claimed to have “practically completed” the works in April, 2015, an official was dispatched to verify this. “Our senior Project Manager, Patrick Pitt, visited the site from April 26 to April 29, 2015 and produced a Site Visit Report dated May 4, 2015. (This contained) a list of defective and outstanding works. However, the contractor failed to complete the works.” In spite of Pitt’s report to DCSL, Kares Engineering still insisted that it addressed the outstanding work. However, repeated site visits by Pitt only
served to produce more updated lists of defects. DCSL subsequently reported that Kares began to skip out on meetings between them and the Ministry of Education. “He was finally made to attend a meeting at the Ministry on August 25, 2015 and yet again, he gave a commitment to address the defective works on site. The contractor mobilized on site from September 2 to September 18, 2015, but even after this, the defective works remained to be completed.” In view of its failure to complete the job it was contracted to do, DCSL reported that the Certificate of Practical Completion was withheld. This certificate is crucial, as it marks the point where the contractor has completed his contract and can hand over the building to the Ministry. DCSL also reported that Kares Engineering would often report directly to the Ministry and submit erroneous or misleading progress reports. These progress reports were designed to ensure that the then Ministry of Education keep itself up to date with the construction, which began in 2013. According to the consultants, however, they frequently had to intervene to disprove the statements made by the firm and “(set) the record straight to the Ministry.” DCSL, which has its offices in Anira Street, Campbellville, described the company’s actions as “highly inappropriate and challenging”. The consultants also stated that Kares would
discuss and negotiate strategies and approaches for the construction directly with the Ministry. “The contractor appeared to have a substantial amount of work through other projects with the Ministry of Education and as such, was well known to the Ministry.” “Therefore, he appeared to enjoy a certain familiarity with the Ministry,” DCSL said, hastening to add that it was not suggesting anything improper. “But his direct communication and his soliciting of decisions from the Ministry at times undermined us as consultants and should not have been encouraged.” STATEATTORNEYTO PROSECUTEWESTFORD’S FRAUDCASE An Attorney-at-Law attached to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP), is scheduled to enter an appearance on behalf of the State in the case for which former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford, and her assistant Margaret Cummings are charged with the misappropriation of over $600M from the State. The announcement came Friday when the matter was called up before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The court heard that State Attorney Teeshana Lake will be prosecuting the case when it is called on the next occasion. The matter was previously in the hands of Police Prosecutors. It was adjourned to August 11, for continuation. Lake’s appointment follows a public debate on whether Police Prosecutors are equipped to debate in court with Attorneys-at-Law and Senior Counsel, in matters of interest to the State. Particular mention was made to Westford’s case in which the defendants are represented by trained Attorneys-at-Law and even Senior Counsel (SC), while the state is represented by police Prosecutors without comparative legal training; clearly disadvantageous to the state. Many lawyers raised concern over the issue.
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Reviewing the IMF - Guyana... From page 45 support for public investment. Meanwhile, the exchange rate, they noted, remained broadly stable due to offsetting positive and negative external shocks. But in spite of the aforementioned, the IMF warned that Guyana remains vulnerable to movements in commodity prices due to dependence on imported oil and the concentration of exports on a few commodities. The mission noted that exchange rate flexibility would continue to facilitate adjustment to external developments, mitigate their effect on growth, and safeguard reserves. They noted that the fiscal balance improved in 2015, reflecting one-off factors. It said that the overall nonfinancial public sector deficit narrowed to 0.2 percent of GDP in 2015 from 5.7 percent in 2014. The Mission Members expressed that Capital expenditure declined by nearly 30 percent, reflecting the late start of the public investment programme. Going forward, it said that the deficit is expected to remain between five and six percent of GDP. The IMF staff said that the authorities have an ambitious investment strategy for environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive growth. They asserted that improvements in transportation and telecommunication infrastructure and renewable energy projects will boost productivity, integrate remote regions, facilitate economic diversification, and ease key impediments to growth. These investments they stated, should stimulate economic activity, provide a durable increase in competitiveness, and ensure that the benefits of growth are more broadly distributed.
The IMF team said that discussions with authorities centred on strategies to maintain fiscal and debt sustainability, while boosting growth. They said that increasing current expenditure will crowd out space for public investment, despite significant donor support. The mission suggested moderating the growth of wages, as well as reforming public enterprises, with a view to reducing their reliance on government support. In that regard, the improved financial performance of Guyana Power and Light and the reforms proposed by the Commission of Inquiry for the Guyana Sugar Corporation are welcomed by the IMF. The team stressed that the scope and pace of reform should take into account social implications. They said, too, that containing current expenditure would provide additional space for public investment while preserving debt sustainability. It was found that the magnitude and sources of financing of the deficit have implications for growth. Statistics also indicate that domestic financing may crowd out credit to the private sector and raise interest rates. Regarding external financing, the mission welcomed the authorities’ intentions to continue to refrain from non-concessional external borrowing that would raise the interest rate burden and adversely affect debt sustainability. The group said that Government’s exclusion of possible future hydrocarbon export income from their medium-term plans was also deemed to be commendable. The IMF Mission commented that the monetary policy stance should remain accommodative. It said that lower prices for imported goods, including fuel,
continue to restrain inflation. Meanwhile, credit to the private sector had expanded at a rapid pace over the past decade, but broadly in line with economic activity and financial deepening. The IMF team said that credit growth has moderated since 2015, mainly on account of reduced lending to businesses. Members agreed that as long as inflationary pressures remain contained, a more accommodative monetary policy stance, with base and broad money growing more rapidly than nominal GDP, remains appropriate. Banks were found to be well capitalized, but heightened vigilance is warranted due to increases in nonperforming loans, they asserted. It was noted that recent changes to credit reporting legislation are welcomed and the authorities are encouraged to continue to strengthen financial sector supervision. The mission suggested tightening provisioning requirements; limitations on related lending and loan classification rules. In addition, the stresstesting toolkit, it said, could be expanded to include shocks to loan collateral values and also take into account inter-linkages among economic sectors, borrowers, and financial entities. A Financial Sector Assessment Programme mission will also visit Guyana soon to provide a more granular analysis of financial sector challenges and assist the authorities with strengthening the prudential toolkit. While recent steps towards strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism framework are welcomed, the Mission emphasized that the authorities should address remaining deficiencies promptly. It also urged the authorities to accelerate the implementation of the action plan agreed with the Financial Action Task Force.
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Fasting: health benefits and risks Fasting is commonly associated with the month of Ramadan. As you read this, billions of Muslims around the world are engaging in this declaration of faith that involves abstaining from food and drink from dawn until dusk. While fasting for Ramadan is down to spiritual beliefs, many of us choose to fast with the belief that it benefits our health. But does it? In recent years, numerous studies have suggested that intermittent fasting - abstaining or reducing food and drink intake periodically - can be good for us, making it one of the most popular diet trends
worldwide. One of the most wellknown intermittent fasting diets is the 5:2 Fast Diet - a plan that involves eating the recommended calorie intake for 5 days a week but reducing calorie intake to 25% for the remaining 2 days - to 500 calories a day for women and 600 a day for men. According to Dr. Michael Mosley - author of The Fast Diet books - this eating plan can not only help people lose weight, but it offers an array of other health benefits. “Studies of intermittent fasting show that not only do people see improvements in
blood pressure and their cholesterol levels, but also in their insulin sensitivity,” he adds. In June 2014, for example, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting periodic fasting - defined in the study as 1 day of water-only fasting a week - may reduce the risk of diabetes among people at high risk for the condition. Another study, conducted by Dr. Valter Longo and colleagues from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, found longer periods of fasting - 2-4 days - may even “reboot” the immune system, clearing out
old immune cells and regenerating new ones - a process they say could protect against cell damage caused by factors such as aging andchemotherapy. But what are the mechanisms underlying the suggested health benefits of fasting? Since the body is unable to get its energy from food during fasting, it dips into glucose that is stored in the liver and muscles. This begins around 8 hours after the last meal is consumed. When the stored glucose has been used up, the body then begins to burn fat as a source of energy, which can result in weight loss. As well as aiding weight loss, Dr. Razeen Mahroof, of the University of Oxford in the UK, explains that the use of fat for energy can help preserve muscle and reduce cholesterol levels. “A detoxification process also occurs, because any toxins stored in the body’s fat are dissolved and removed from the body,” he adds, noting that after a few days of fasting, higher levels of endorphins - “feel-good” hormones - are produced in the blood, which can have a positive impact on mental wellbeing. As mentioned previously, the study by Dr. Longo
and colleagues suggests prolonged fasting may also be effective for regenerating immune cells. “When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged,” Dr. Longo explains. In their study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the team found that repeated cycles of 2-4 days without food over a 6-month period destroyed the old and damaged immune cells in mice and generated new ones. What is more, the team found that cancer patients who fasted for 3 days prior to chemotherapy were protected against immune system damage that can be caused by the treatment, which they attribute to immune cell regeneration. “The good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting,” says Dr. Longo. “Now, if you start with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or aging, fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system.” With the potential health benefits of fasting widely
hailed by nutritionists worldwide, it is no wonder many of us are putting our love of food to one side in order to give it a try. But intermittent fasting isn’t all bells and whistles, according to some researchers and health care professionals, and there are some people who should avoid the diet altogether. According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), there are numerous health risks associated with intermittent fasting. People who fast commonly experience dehydration, largely because their body is not getting any fluid from food. As such, it is recommended that during Ramadan, Muslims consume plenty of water prior to fasting periods. Other individuals following fasting diets should ensure they are properly hydrated during fasting periods. If you are used to having breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between, fasting periods can be a major challenge. As such, fasting can increase stress levels and disrupt sleep. Dehydration, hunger or lack of sleep during a fasting period can also lead to headaches.
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President Granger pays tribute to... From page 15 free of discrimination, distrust and disorder, determined to destroy the bastions of prejudice, social injustice and inequality, vices, which sustained a stagnant colony and dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all
She said that a good example of Burnham’s policy on inclusivity is the coalition he forged between the PNC and the United Force. Minister Ally said that there is greater awareness across the country, with regard to the need for social cohesion and
gaps so that we can foster social cohesion in our communities. They are seeing the benefits...” the Minister said. She informed that her Ministry is currently engaged in a number of projects such as training programmes in the various
The burial site of Guyana’s first Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, who died on August 6, 1985. citizens to enable them to develop their talents. Similar sentiments were expressed by Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, who, in a brief comment said Forbes Burnham always advanced the concepts of working together and of national unity.
credited this to the administration’s policy and the work of her Ministry, which has embarked on a sensitisation campaign. “They [Guyanese] have begun to see the importance of us working together. They have begun to see the importance of bridging the
regions. The Ministry is also working closely with religious organisations, youths and non-governmental organisations all with the aim of fostering a more cohesive Guyanese society. Alistair Sonaram, who was one of those at the wreath laying ceremony described
CALIBUR SECURITY GUARD CRITICAL AFTER ACCIDENT
The minibus that was involved in the accident A security guard attached to Calibur Security Service had to undergo emergency surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation on Saturday morning after he was involved in an accident at Houston, East Bank Demerara. Around 10 hours, Visiting Supervisor, Gerald Fredericks, 56, of lot 101 Mandela Avenue was riding his motorcycle when he was struck by a route 32 minibus.
A hospital source told this publication that Fredericks was heading to Prettipaul Singh wharf to check on an employee when he was struck. The driver of the minibus who brought Fredericks to the hospital, was overheard saying he tried to swerve from the motorist to no avail. Details surrounding the accident are still sketchy.
the late President as a visionary, a fighter and a true leader. He said that he believes strongly that if Mr. Burnham was alive today, Guyanese would have been living in a more cohesive society rather than being segregated on the basis of ethnicity. He said that citizens need to stop looking at the colour of each other’s skin and see themselves as one. “Colour should not matter
in our nation, we have lost our way in that sense and if we are to live together, we have to accept each other for who we are.” Dakarai Griffith, a member of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement said that growing up he heard a lot about Forbes Burnham’s ideologies and strict method of leadership. “He was the foundation for Guyana and made Guyana what it is today
and I believe that this Government will make Guyana the breadbasket of the Caribbean, which was Burnham’s vision,” he said. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham served as Prime Minister of Guyana from 1964 and as President from 1980 until the time of his death in 1985 at the age of 62. He was a lawyer, a politician, a fierce freedom fighter and a father of six children.
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Fisherman succumbs to poison after chopping estranged partner, mother-in-law Bhawanie Harrinarine, called “Moon,” who consumed a poisonous substance after chopping his estranged partner and her
mother at their Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home Wednesday night, has succumbed. Harrinarine died at the
West Demerara Regional Hospital on Friday. Around 22:40 hrs, the fisherman went berserk and chopped his estranged
partner, 25-year-old Bibi Shareema Khan, and stabbed her mother, Bibi Shameela Shamshudeen, 50, when he sneaked into their home.
While Shamshudeen is in a stable condition, her daughter is battling for her life on a life support machine in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Intensive Care Unit. According to reports, the suspect broke into Shamshudeen’s home and chopped Khan while she was asleep. Her three children, who were sleeping next to her, managed to escape unhurt.
younger daughter who rushed to neighbours and informed them of what had happened. Shamshudeen’s husband, Mohamed Ibrahim, said that he was at work when one of his daughters called and urged him to rush home, since her mother and sister were bleeding profusely. “She was crying, so right away I know it was something serious and I rushed home. When I go, I saw two relatives
Dead: Bhawanie Harrinarine
However, the woman’s mother was not so lucky. She was stabbed by the suspect when she rushed to her daughter’s aid. The motive for the attack is unclear. The older woman’s sister, Waheeda, explained that she was at home when her brother called and informed her that her sibling and her daughter were attacked, and that they were in a serious state at the hospital. She recalled that when she visited the hospital, she met her sister who told her that she was asleep when she heard her daughter screaming for her. “She said that she went into the room and went on the bed and hugged her daughter. Then she felt her skin was wet. The light was off, so she couldn’t see. When she went to put the light on, this boy come and start stabbing her,” Shamshudeen said. The suspect then escaped from the house. It was the mother’s
hoisting my wife to put her in the car, and I rush upstairs and bring down my stepdaughter,” the man recounted. While Ibrahim could not say what caused the attack, he said that he was informed that his stepdaughter, (Khan) and her estranged partner had an argument sometime back, during which time he had threatened her. “He (suspect) walked out and left his girl when she was pregnant. He didn’t want the child; he said that the child was not his, so she moved back with us and we say we will take care of the baby. The child is now one year old,” the man said. He added that although the suspect refused to financially support the child, he would still go to their home to visit the baby. “He always going there and molesting her (Khan) and his family also disown this baby.” Khan has three children. Harrinarine was the father of the smallest child.
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Kaieteur News
Mandibular Tori – bony growths in the floor of the mouth Most persons are usually alarmed when they realize that they have a bony growth in their mouth. The first thing is not to panic, and then to ascertain whether there is cause for concern. It is possible that the structure is a Torus (the plural is tori). Tori are harmless bony growths found in the mouth. Tori tend to grow in three parts of the mouth: · The roof of the mouth (Palatine tori) · The inside of the lower jaw (Mandibular or lingual tori) · The cheek side of the upper molars (Buccalexostoses) According to the Maxillofacial Center for Education and Research website, mandibular tori affect approximately 27 out of every 1,000 people, and are particularly common among people of Asian descent. The prevalence of mandibular tori varies from five per cent to 40% and is less common than bony growths occurring on the palate. Mandibular tori growth may start in the teenage years as small bumps on the mandible and may grow larger as the patient gets older. The growths of bone are non-movable, smooth and hard to the touch. They vary in size and shape and can be single or multiple lumps of bone. Tori may occur unilaterally (one side) or bilaterally (both
sides) in the mouth; over 90 percent of cases occur bilaterally. In rare cases, bilateral mandibular tori may become so large that they meet at the midline of the floor of the mouth. Bilateral growth is usually even, with both sides growing roughly the same size. One side being bigger than the other, or one torus growing fast in a short time period, could indicate a problem. Tori are slow-growing and most of them do not interfere with eating or speech. Many persons have tori without knowing it. Your dentist may find a torus during an exam, or you might notice one on your own. Persons who notice tori are concerned about oral cancer but tori are not cancerous, and they also do not turn into cancer. A torus is normal bone covered with normal tissue. However, other types of growths in the mouth can turn out to be oral cancer so you should always have your dentist check any growths you find. Causes of Tori It is believed that mandibular tori are caused by several factors. Research shows they may be due to stress on the lower jaw which may be caused by teeth grinding (called bruxing) or even forceful chewing. Genetics may also play a role as tori
Dr. Neromini Fagu are found more often in men and are passed down from father to son. There is also some speculation that the underlying roots of the teeth, and the lateral pressure of roots, cause mandibular tori. However, the reasons why tori form are not fully understood, and in some cases they appear to be an indication that the patient has a condition such as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), while in other cases the growths seem completely random. The removal of tori is usually needed if: · The bumps grow so large they touch and irritate each other · The tori are interfering with speech or oral hygiene · They become bruised and painful from brushing, sharp foods, or dental trauma · The patient needs braces, dentures or other dental fittings Treatment The mode of treatment is the surgical removal of the bony lumps and this is usually not a painful process. The surgeon would make a flap into the overlying gum tissue to expose the bony growth. The excess bone is then removed and the flap is sutured back into position. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.
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Sophia teen missing A Sophia man is pleading for the safe return of his 15-year-old daughter who went missing almost a month ago. Robert Williams, of Lot 2200, ‘D’ Field Sophia is calling on the public to aid him in finding his daughter, Chrystal Williams, who left home in early July to visit an aunt who resides in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Robert told Kaieteur News that his daughter would frequently visit her aunt. However, after she failed to return home, it was revealed that the aunt had not seen Chrystal in over a year. The man opined that his daughter was going elsewhere. “I check all over, I tumble from Linden come right down...I call our relatives, I don’t know where she is,” The man said that he has already reported the matter to the police. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Chrystal Williams is asked to make contact with Robert Williams on telephone numbers, 699-8828 and 691-1829, or contact the nearest police station.
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Missing: Chrystal Williams
STANDARDS IN FOCUS
Standards pivotal to rice production The harvesting of the second rice crop for 2016 will commence shortly and as the industry prepares once again to produce this vital staple, production must be supported by standards and accurate measurements. Both socially and economically, the industry impacts Guyanese positively, as rice is served as a main part of our daily menu and its production accounts directly and indirectly for the employment of many. The high production of quality rice must be maintained if Guyana is to hold on to its share of the international market and penetrate new markets. In addition, because rice is a food commodity, good production practices also have to be maintained to safeguard the health and safety of consumers of the commodity. The implementation and use of standards is very important and can be considered essential for addressing quality issues in the rice industry. For many products and services, standards improve quality, facilitate local and foreign trade, improve industrial efficiency, protect consumers’ health and safety, ensure reliable and accurate
weighing and measuring practices and equipment, improve packaging and labeling, and protect the environment. The CARICOM Standard –Specification for Rice” is available for use by stakeholders in the rice industry. It prescribes the requirements for the grades of paddy, cargo rice, milled rice, cargo parboiled rice and milled parboiled rice. The agency that regulates this standard is the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) which routinely conducts checks at rice mills countrywide to ensure that they are in compliance with available requirements. In addition, the GRBD Central Laboratory is internationally accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 Standard, which specifies competency to carry out testing. This accreditation is a huge advantage for the industry as the quality of rice can be determined locally by the Central Laboratory and results it generates are accepted internationally. Labelling and packaging of rice are also important, particularly to consumers and larger buyers. The national standard for the labelling of prepackaged foods GYS 9-9: 2003 is a useful guide for millers when labelling rice bags and other packages. Further, the implementation of
internationally recognized Management Systems Standards such as, the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems Requirements and the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for use can be order winners for rice millers and exporters. The technical support needed to implement the requirements of these standards can be provided by the GNBS at very affordable costs. The GNBS as the National Metrology Institute and possessor of the National Measurement Standards ensures that measuring devices used in the rice industry are accurate and reliable. Verification of these devices, including weighbridge scales, platform scales, hopper scales and smaller laboratory scales, is conducted periodically by the Bureau. This provides equity and traceability of measurements for rice offered for sale locally and on overseas markets. To support the prosperity of the rice industry, the GNBS will continue to work with farmers, millers, exporters and the GRDB to develop, promote and implement standards that will benefit the industry. For further information call the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0065 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org or facebook/gnbsgy
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
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CONSUMER CONCERNS
Telecoms liberalization; enforcement; GTT opens new front PAT DIAL The recent passage of the Telecommunications Bill in Parliament and the concomitant liberalization of the Telecoms Industry is a very important news event. From the time of the establishment of the Telecoms monopoly, the Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) has been struggling against its iniquities as the records of the Public Utilities Commission will attest. In the past, the iniquities of the monopoly were far greater and more blatant than they are to-day. Indeed, it was heartening to see that on the day after the Liberalization Bill was passed, GTT carried a full-page advertisement in the press admitting that the removal of the monopoly would result in “Lower International Rates; Faster Internet; Better Customer Service; and a Wider Range of Service.” In the Parliamentary debate, several speakers reiterated the benefits liberalization would bring to the Industry, the country and the consumer. Among the points made was that Guyana would be able to catch up with the advances Information and Communication Technology (ICT) had made over the years and would now be able to establish more fruitful social and economic relationships with the rest of the world. It would stimulate competition within the Industry itself to the benefit of both providers and consumers. It would allow more service providers to enter the market thereby bringing new investment into the country and at the same time having more intensive competition between companies resulting in better packages for the consumer. The Act prescribes the establishment of a
Regulatory Body which will give effect to its mandate. That Regulatory Body would be responsible for seven areas which together are comprehensive. These areas include licensing; spectrum allocation, pricing, interconnection and access to universal services, telecoms and consumer related matters. It will also address the extension of network to unserved and underserved areas in the various Regions across Guyana. It would be apposite to say a few words on two of these areas— Spectrum Allocation. “Spectrum” is a term taken from Physics and to try to explain it here would be complicated, but it is sufficient to know that it is absolutely necessary for wireless telecommunication. It is a very limited and valuable national asset. In other Caribbean jurisdictions it has been auctioned, bringing in several million US dollars. ATN/GT&T had initially been demanding that additional Spectrum be given to them free of charge, or at most a very peppercorn rental. The allocation of Spectrum is a very important responsibility since one has to be au fait with market value as well as how will Spectrum allocation affect new entrants to the market and space for competition. The other area we will mention is the extension of the network to underserved areas and the Interior. For social and economic cohesion, it is necessary that the whole country have telephonic connection. When the original contract was signed between Government and Atlantic Telenetwork (ATN) giving GTT a monopoly of the telephone services of the country, the major consideration on GTT’s part was that it would provide landline service to a number of
named Interior locations as well as install several thousand new landline telephones per year. GTT never did its part of the contract. We shall return to this issue later. The test of the validity and effectiveness of any Law is its enforcement. But the structures for the enforcement of the Telecommunications Act are not in place and this could mean the Act could not be fully enforced for many months, probably a year while structures are put in place. This would cause much disappointment and a dampening of the euphoria which the public felt on the passing of the Bill. It would seem to us that we could have a functional regulatory body in a month-andhalf if the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), a Department which is efficient and has a great deal of knowledge and experience in the field of Regulation, were regarded as the nucleus department to which the other areas are grafted on. The naming of the new Department, reclassification of staff and recruitment of some new personnel as well as working out new structures and their functions could all be done in just over a month. This would avoid embarrassing delay and the pitfalls of bureaucratization. The new Regulatory Body will perfect itself as it begins to work. Just two days after the Telecommunications Bill was passed in Parliament, GTT held a press briefing. It first
welcomed the new Liberalization Act and then immediately opened a new front with the Government of Guyana by calling upon the Government to honour what it termed the Government’s contractual obligations to them. If the Contract GTT is referring to is the one made in 1979 giving it the monopoly of the telephone services, then the GCA has long been pointing out that the main consideration ATN/GTT has offered the Government was the establishing of several thousand landline telephones per year and the placing of landline connections in several named Interior locations. GTT had never fulfilled these obligations and had breached the Contract in a very real and substantial way. Further, the renewal of the Contract in 2010 could not be legal since it was not the identical contract of 1979 which was renewed. These and other related factors will be brought to the fore from a consumer’s perspective as soon as GTT begins the engagement with Government.
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Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Two shot dead near NO WORD YET IF WOMEN, Rio Olympic venues CHILDREN IN DETAINED GROUP
Two people were killed by gunfire near Olympic sites in Rio, Brazil on the Games’ opening day on Friday, police reported. A woman was killed by muggers while she was driving by the main entrances to the Olympic Boulevard, Reuters reported. The 51-year-old was attacked by three males and received a bullet to the head after she attempted to escape perpetrators. Later, a robber was gunned down by police near the Rio Games’ main venue, the Maracana stadium. “The man was carrying out assaults when a military police officer... shot him,” the police said in a statement. An officer, who arrived in Rio from another part of the country as security reinforcement, was involved in the incident, it added. On Saturday, the bomb squad carried out a controlled detonation near the finish line of the men’s Olympic cycling road race course in Rio. A back pack, which likely belonged to a homeless man, was blown up, in accordance with protocol, police said. Some 85,000 troops and police officers are involved in providing security at the Games in the city of Rio, which is known for its high crime rate. A police presence also increased in Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Manaus, Salvador and Sao Paulo where Olympic football matches are being held.
Gynaecologist: Fear of birth defect causing women to abort (Trinidad Express) AT least four pregnant women have either undergone an abortion or are contemplating abortion as a result of being diagnosed with the Zika virus. According to gynaecologist Dr Sherene Kalloo, women who had Zika during their pregnancy were traumatised and suffered sleepless nights for fear of what could happen to their unborn child. Abortion is illegal in Trinidad and Tobago except if it poses a health risk to the pregnant mother and Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh had said there were no immediate plans to amend the law. There are now more than 200 recorded cases of Zika in Trinidad and Tobago, with at least 60 cases diagnosed in pregnant women. Kalloo told the Express: “They (pregnant women) can’t sleep at night. They are in tears, they are crying. They are upset because they don’t know if their child is going to be normal or not. So instead of waiting until their pregnancy is five months to find out, they take it upon themselves to terminate the pregnancy. Within the last few weeks, I would have had about four or five patients who would have already
either did it or making a decision regarding terminating their pregnancies and there would be another four or five to make the decision to keep the pregnancy.” Research has shown that babies born from pregnant mothers who contracted the mosquito-borne virus can be diagnosed with the birth defect microcephaly. Kalloo said: “These are patients, some have been diagnosed by blood test, some have been clinically and some are patients now being diagnosed with a pregnancy and they haven’t crossed that eight-week marker.” She said in the first trimester of a pregnancy, it would not be determined if the child would contract microcephaly. “If a woman has been with the Zika virus before she achieves a pregnancy, she should avoid getting pregnant for at least eight weeks,” she advises. The doctor added: “I think the lack of education is a problem as well as the lack of information regarding Zika is also deficient and that is still because test are ongoing.” She added further research was showing that once a person contracted the virus, that person was immune for life from it.
Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it
(Trinidad Guardian) Government was up to yesterday unable to confirm reports that the nine T&T nationals detained in Turkey include women and children. New information on the group reached the T&T Guardian on Thursday evening. The nine were detained in Turkey on July 27. Turkey’s Daily Sabah newspaper reported the nine were held with a Syrian man who was allegedly taking them to Syria to be recruited by the Isis terror network. The nine were placed at the Turkish detention centre for provincial migration management at Adana, southeast Turkey. National Security Minister Edmund Dillon subsequently said the nationality of the nine had to be confirmed and Government had put the matter in the hands of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and was awaiting word on whether the nine were in fact T&T nationals. On Thursday, acting Attorney General Stuart Young said it was confirmed the nine were T&T nationals and they were still in Turkey, adding Government was awaiting a report on the circumstances of their detention On Thursday evening, the
T&T Guardian learned women and children may be among the group, as well as men. Contacted yesterday, Young was unable to confirm any such speculation. He said Government was awaiting an official report through diplomatic channels with Turkey. Acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert, also acting head of the National Security Council in Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s absence, meanwhile said the Ministers of National Security, Foreign Affairs and the AG were “actively seeking confirmation on the true status of the individuals in question.” Imbert added, “That is, whether the nine are really involved with Isis in any way or were simply trying to make contact with, or join, family members in the region, or whether they simply overstayed their time in Turkey and/or they don’t have valid visas or travel documents.” Dillon also yesterday echoed similar statements, saying a number of processes had to be undertaken in any country to obtain the necessary information to clear up a situation like that. “Government will not go with any type of speculation on the matter—we have to get
PSC: Govt. plans a threat THE Government’s intention to establish a Police Management Authority and Police Service Inspectorate are a threat to the Police Service Commission (PSC), according to the PSC’s assessment of its status and plans for the years ahead. On June 28, the PSC published a Strategic Plan 2016 – 2018 on its website. The document listed opportunities and threats ahead for the organisation, stemming from a wideranging review exercise. The PSC set out a table listing what it deemed threats and opportunities. Among the threats listed was, “Government’s intention to establish a Police Management Authority and Police Service Inspectorate.” The document also states there was a low risk that the Government might dissolve the PSC. Further details were not given by the PSC. PSC chairman Dr Maria Therese Gomes was not immediately available last week. Among the opportunities was, “Government’s intention to amend the procedures for appointment of a Police Commissioner and his Deputies.” The PSC foresaw the possibility that its own recommendations for reform would not be approved by the Ministry of the Attorney General or the Parliament. In January, PSC chairman Dr. Maria Therese Gomes described as “disrespect” the tabling of measures by the Government to reform the recruitment process without consulting the PSC first. The new process was challenged in court by the Opposition UNC. Though the process was largely upheld, two key aspects were struck down by the High Court as being unconstitutional and in breach of the PSC’s autonomy. These related to the role of the Minister of National Security and NIPDEC. The PSC last month confirmed it would, of its own initiative, pursue an appointment of a Police Commissioner by way of open tender, but gave no further details.
the proper, official report,” Dillon said. T&T’s honorary consul to Turkey, Nusret Comert, acknowledging queries, said he had liaised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on it and would get back to the T&T Guardian. There was no reply, however. Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses did not answer calls. Former People’s Partnership security minister Gary Griffith yesterday underscored the need for transparency on the issue. “The public must be informed about situations like these, lest fear set in. We’ve already seen several developments this week— including the calls by the T&T Isis fighter to attack Christians. “If nothing is said on matters regarding security, the public would speculate all kinds of things—that the nine in Turkey are already back and ‘among us,’ that they’re ‘terrorists,’ all kinds of things. Saying nothing is not a good response in the global scenario. This is where the National Operations Centre is needed to play a significant role.” Griffith added, “This situation shouldn’t be difficult to handle since T&T has links with Turkey, with which we worked in 2014 when we had to assist a mother and her two daughters return from Turkey.” That family had been taken there in late 2014 by a
male relative who was accompanied by two boys also. The three women appealed to the then government to return home and assistance was rendered on the basis that the trio had been “lured” to the Middle East in a case of human trafficking. They returned to T&T and were kept under surveillance. The man and boys went on to Syria, joining Isis. He was confirmed as killed in 2015. One of the boys was reported to have been killed also. Griffith said, “The other question is how the nine people got to Turkey since they couldn’t have gotten there on their own and people don’t go to Syria on vacation. So we know their intentions and therefore they must be closely monitored on their return as they would be seen as persons of interest. “If they return to T&T via London, US, Panama, Brazil or Venezuela, the advanced passenger lists of the airlines will have the information on them before they land and pass it to T&T, so we’ll be updated.” While the past PP administration co-sponsored UN Resolution 2178, which makes it an offence to commit a terrorist act, former PP attorney general Garvin Nicholas says, in his tenure (early 2015 to September 2015) discussions were ongoing about using the existing antiterrorism legislation.
No criminal charges for cops in videorecorded arrest - DPP (The Gleaner) The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ruled that no criminal charges be filed against the policemen caught on video trying to subdue a St Andrew woman accused of resisting arrest. That’s according to a statement released by the Police High Command today. The High Command says the office of the DPP has instead recommended that a departmental review of the policemen’s action be conducted. It says the office of the DPP also indicated that the charges filed against the woman should be ventilated in court at the earliest opportunity and that all parties are at liberty to pursue civil remedies. The viral video, which
was captured in Gordon Town, St Andrew, last month, appears to show two policemen using force to restrain the woman after she was reportedly warned of prosecution for using indecent language. CCU says in arriving at her ruling, the office of the DPP took into consideration the lawfulness of the arrest, the presence of independent witnesses and the fact that the creator of the video is yet to come forward. Meanwhile, the Inspectorate of the Constabulary says it will now commence an internal investigations into the actions of the policemen. It is also appealing to the person who created the video to come forward and assist in their investigation.
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Air strike on Syrian hospital kills 10 - Observatory
A civil defence member runs near an ambulance after an airstrike on a hospital in the town of Meles, western Idlib city in rebel-held Idlib province, Syria August 6, 2016. REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah BEIRUT (Reuters) - An airstrike on a hospital in northwestern Syria on Saturday killed 10 people, including children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The hospital, in the town of Meles, is about 15 km from Idlib city in rebel-held Idlib province. Syrian government and allied Russian military planes operate in Syria but it is not known which aircraft carried out the strike, the Observatory said. Humanitarian groups have repeatedly called for a halt to strikes on medical facilities. Syrian opposition groups say Syrian and Russian forces deliberately target medical
buildings. Medical charity the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said that July was the worst month for attacks on healthcare centers since the beginning of Syria’s fiveyear-old conflict. “There were 43 attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria in July - more than one attack every day,” a SAMS statement said. The Syrian government has also accused rebels of hitting medical targets in the city of Aleppo. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Beirut, Lebanon, and Ammar Abdullah in Idlib, Syria; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
(Trinidad Guardian) Two corruption probes into operations at the Couva/ Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC) intensified yesterday when officers from the Central Division police and Fraud Squad arrested a Fyzabad contractor and several corporation employees. According to police reports, around 10 am, Central Division CID, led by ASP Michael Sooker, Sgt Jitindra Tooleram and Sgt Andy Mohammed, went to the office of California/ Point Lisas councillor Alif Mohammed and arrested the 78-year-old contractor for bribery. Hours later, Fraud Squad officers entered the CTTRC’s Railway Road office and arrested three employees from the technical department, following a probe into a contract for the installation of outdoor exercise equipment in San Pablo and Todd’s Road. Mohammed told the T&T Guardian that the contractor was awarded a contract to build a box drain along Pierre Street, California, but the work was poorly done. He said he raised his concern with the council and recommended that the contractor should not be paid until the work was satisfactorily done. He said a technical officer who was sent to evaluate the work concurred that the work was not done properly. While at the site on Thursday, he said, the contractor approached him and offered him the bribe. However, Mohammed instead recorded the conversation on his mobile phone and handed this over to the police.
“Most brazen, he came to me and said ‘let me talk to you young boy.’ He said, ‘Let me give you some hundreds and we will call it off.” I said ‘excuse me’ and then he said he will give me some thousands to call it off. “I asked him if he was offering me a bribe. I told him to hold on and I put my phone to tape and, without him realising that, the conversation started again. He said if not $1,000, he would give me $2,000,” Mohammed said. He said he told the contractor that it would take approximately $5,000 to correct the problems on the drains, but was again offered the money and asked not to make any objections. Contacted yesterday, CTTRC chairman Henry Awong said he did not have any information on the contractor’s arrest, as he had only heard of it through the grapevine. In the second incident, police went to the CTTRC’s office and held employees who were being investigated for corruption. Awong said while three employees were arrested, he was unclear of the allegations against them. His own investigations revealed it may be related to the installation of outdoor exercise equipment at the San Pablo Recreation Ground and the Todd’s Road Activity Centre, which was delayed. He said a contract valued at $147,500 was awarded to a contractor during the 2014/15 fiscal year, but cheques and other documents related to this were seized by Fraud Squad officers at the CTTRC last October.
CTTRC workers, contractor held in bribery sting
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Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Good Hope-(2)storey concrete building, Tain(2)storey concrete building, Tel:231-9690,231-9693 call between 8:00hrs-16:00hrs (Mon-Fri). EDUCATIONAL
SALON
3 Bedrooms concrete house located in 3rd Ave Diamond, land size 60X120, asking price -$28Million negotiable- Call: 645-6498 House & land for sale in Plantation Peter’s Hall -$8M. Call: 617-6015; 269-0493 Transported property for sale @ Logwood, Enmore, E.C.DCall(592)622-5824;(592)671-5395 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Toyota IST-$1,895,000, Toyota Fielder-$1,895,000, Toyota Spacio-$1,895,000, BMW 318i-$2.3M, Audi A4-$3.7M. Contact#6500402 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games, applications & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231
PROPERTY FOR SALE Furnished wooden house & land & neighboring land 60X100 -$20M Negotiable, Sol separately also M.M.Z, W.C.D. Call: 655-0767 Transported property, prime, furnished liquor restaurant & bar, 2 freezers, 1 pools table, double lot @ E.C.D- $20M neg. Call: 600-7228
Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc. Call:2259032;647-2943;604-5198 ADORABLE FLUFFY PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 615-0146 Elevator (good condition) Diesel Generator (23KVA, 110/220V). Call: 231-1284/ 223-9719 Antique household items, plants, ceiling fan, computer monitors, sauna and much more- Call: 223-9719/ 231-1284
LAND FOR SALE 457 Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara, Acres 457=0.295 or 12,850.259FT. Call: 609-208-8282 House lot for sale @ Triumph Railway Embankment. Call Bibi: 6173365; 603-9547; 220-6799 Transported land with fruit trees, fenced, fill high -$4.3M @ Richmond Essequibo Coast, next to School–Call: 682-5230; 628-9696
1 Frigidaire cooler, 1-2 shelves glass case, 1-3 shelves glass case. Call: 660-7790 Purple Heart: 30X80 -$25,000, 32X80 -$28,000, 34X80 $28,000, 36X80 -$28,000, Free Delivery- Call: 688-9712; 6510717; 671-2490 1-210 Hyundai excavator, good condition, any reasonable offer accepted. Call: 610-0515; 216-1390; 6128009 Baby Chicks for sale on the Essequibo Cost, lowest price anywhere. Call: 626-9589
50 Acres of land @ Plantation Elizabeth Ann, Right Bank Demerara River. Call: 680-5266
Dachshund pups (mixed) seven weeks old-$20,000. Call: 614-0562
Tushen $2.2M, $3.5M, Parfaite Harmonie- Call:642-1252
1 Perkins V8 Turbo Charge 170KVa Generator in working condition, Call 223-7380
Land for sale at Eccles and Diamond. Call: 609-7766
Sign & Copy Center Call: 695-2199.
Transported land for sale located at the Right Bank of the Essequibo River- Call (592) 622-5824; (592) 671-5395
Marathon Moto, Phase1 7½ HP & Transformer. Call: 6805266; 672-3886
Transported land for sale located on the eastern side of Palmyra, Berbice. - Call (592) 6225824; (592) 671-5395 Transported land for sale @ Heywood Enmore, E.C.DCall (592) 622-5824; (592) 6715395 TAXI SERVICE GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)
Raw loam & mix loam (any quantity) for sale. Call (592) 627-0903; (592) 671-5395 1 Steel hull cargo boat 50’X13’X6’ engine- 671-GM. Call: 691-5104; 609-3447 Crazy Deal! Dell laptops & desktop computers, loaded with lots of games & educational programs from $49,000. FutureTech: 2312206 Continue page 71
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Trump endorses Ryan amid shakeup in battleground states When freewheeling presidential nominee Donald Trump steps off script … it’s usually to actually read a script. On Friday, in Green Bay, Wisc., Mr. Trump looked at his notes and said: ”… in our shared mission, to make America great again, I support and endorse our Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan.” Then he looked up and riffed: ”And while I’m at it, I hold in the highest esteem Sen. John McCain for his service to our country in uniform and in public office, and I fully support and endorse his re-election.” He also said he’s backing New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a sometime Trump critic. They were rare concessions in a Trump speech, coming only days after the New York real estate mogul, because of various campaign spats, said he “wasn’t quite there” as far as backing the trio of powerful Republicans – all of them from states increasingly in play – in their reelection bids. Yet in its simplicity the statement revealed the core of the election at hand, as Trump prepares to begin laying out his policy vision for the economy in Detroit on Monday. Recommended: What do you know about Donald Trump? After a rough week where he went from criticizing the family of a slain Muslim US soldier to ejecting a wailing baby from a campaign event, Trump managed, polls quickly suggested, to make his own path to the presidency steeper, in part by alienating critical voters and volunteers from his own conflicted party. The result has been what amounts to a battleground state shake-up, with Hillary Clinton now dead-even or even leading rock-red states such as Arizona (which would include Trump’s proposed border fence) and Georgia, where Mrs. Clinton has a four-point lead in a state that hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since, well, her husband won it in 1992, two years before the “Republican Revolution” dyed the state red. More critically, key swing states – such as Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan and New Hampshire – where Trump has counted the core of his support – are all now in Clinton’s pocket. If the former first lady can win those, the other battlegrounds – Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin – are a moot point. In fact, her lead is so significant in Colorado, its been reported that the Clinton campaign has stopped buying ads in the Rocky Mountain state. The shifts in the 2016
presidential battleground map show Trump’s path to the White House has in some ways become more narrow, in turn forcing him to cast a broader net by looking at his first major ad buys in 17 states, many of them traditionally liberal enclaves such Maine, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. Those voters, however, will have to be significantly in a different mood than those contacted by pollsters in Pennsylvania, another state full of Trump voters, where Clinton nevertheless now has a double-digit lead after both party conventions. “In the old steel towns around Pittsburgh, a lot of people are going to vote for Trump who haven’t voted before. But for every one of those people he earns, he loses suburban independents or Republicans who are not going to be able to accept the man and what he seems to say and stand for,” says Michael Mezey, an emeritus political scientist at DePaul University, in Chicago. To be sure, for an unorthodox candidate who has already stood conventional political wisdom on its ear more times than a political scientist can count, all is not lost. Off-the-radar voters may come to the polls in droves. The ad wars have yet to begin. Events and Clinton’s low likability scores among Republicans can yet re-jigger campaign fundamentals. Still, Trump’s rapid slide must have given some pause to even the self-confident candidate himself. Rock-red Arizona, the state of “papers, please” immigration reforms and Trump friend Sheriff Joe Arpaio, is suddenly not a shoo-in for Trump. And by picking fights with GOP leaders, such as Representative Ryan, and Senators Ayotte and McCain, Trump risks alienating the kind of stateby-state organizational support a presidential candidate, at least by historical evidence, needs to win. “By all conventional calculations, you need some party unity within the state to help you win, to turn out friends and neighbors, and make sure that every Republican voter goes to the polls,” says Charles Franklin, a pollster at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Some observers predicted that the week suggested Trump has peaked. “This is what became obvious, probably fatally so: Mr. Trump is not going to get serious about running for president,” writes the Wall Street Journal’s Peggy Noonan, one of President Ronald Reagan’s speechwriters. “He does not have a second act, there are no hidden depths, there will
be no ‘pivot.’” Yet Trump seemed to respond with the Ryan endorsement, renewed attacks on “Crooked Hillary,” and announcements that he is turning toward policy prescriptions. All those are designed to play to a Republican base in states like Wisconsin, where 98 percent of Republicans have an unfavorable view of Clinton. At events in Iowa and Wisconsin on Friday, Trump seemed more disciplined and focused than usual, Politico reported. Trump at one point attacked Clinton as “the queen of corruption,” and pushed back at charges that he doesn’t have the temperament to be president.”All my life I’ve been told, ‘You have the greatest temperament,’” he said in Des Moines. His biggest shift, though, is a pivot toward policy over pizzazz. His campaign says he’ll begin that with an economic speech in Detroit on Monday, where he will explain his vision for how to improve an American economy that just this week showed some of the most solid signs of improvements in months. The plan, campaign officials said, will focus on taxes, deregulation, energy policy, and trade. But “the other problem Trump has, now he’s got to turn to issues, and when Trump talks about serious issues he’s boring, nobody pays attention,” says Mr. Mezey, at DePaul. “He makes news when he tosses red meat out to people … but that’s going to drive even more people away” from his message.
Salesgirl & porters. Apply with written application at 1E Dennis & Middleton Street, Campbellville. Experienced cashiers needed to work in general store on the East Coast (willing to train)- Call: 645-4238, 2740285 Wanted land to buy @ Tushen, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt, Parfaite Harmonie. Best price offered- Tel: 642-1252 Experienced cashier, apply with written application @ Hack’s Halaal 5 Commerce Street. Driver with valid driver’s license & good command of English Language. Sales experienced will be an asset. Call: 659-1004 Merchandiser with good command of English Language, previous experience will be an asset. Call: 659-1004 Experienced fiber glass workers on E.C.D – Call: 6223250; 665-9747 Driver for canter truck must be from W.C.D -$25,000 weekly. Call: 684-8231; 6619447 2 Live in waitresses to work in Bar at Berbice– Call: 6046606; 692-4649 One driver/mechanic, one electrician with elevator wiring experienced. Call: 227-1830 Female caregiver needed for elderly woman, night job 6:30pm-6:30am. Call: 6161636; 264-2524 Female janitors between ages 30-45yrs. Call: 225-8066 Cashier to work in supermarket and one live in domestic to work in Trinidad. Call or text 1868- 683 1528
FOR SALE ROAD TO BELWASA & A DIP AT THE SANGAM. AVAILABLE @ AUSTIN’S BOOK STORE- TEL: 2267350/7 & AT LATCHMANSINGH DRUG STORE. TEL: 226-5053
1 Driver to work sweeper truck at night around town. Call: 218-1156; 218-1455 Technicians: refrigeration, washing machine, gas stove/ electronic- Call: 225-4822/ 629-4946
CAT 320 BL excavator, 428 CAT back hoe, CAT930 Front End, 9 Wheeled Pneumatic Roller -Call: 2750538; 683-7225 Double Steel Drum Compactor, CAT 215 Excavator, Leyland DAF55 Truck, 400 GLS, Bitumen Kettle. Call: 275-0538; 6837225 D4H CAT Bulldozer, Mack 8 Cubic Yard, cement mixer truck, all in working order. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
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WANTED
ACCOMODATION Harmony Inn- furnished apartments and rooms (long term & short term) affordable prices- Call: 668-0306/6947817/ 218-1400 FOR RENT Apartment for rent in Industry E.C.D- Call: 619-2388
VEHICLE FOR SALE FOR RENT 2009 RX8, Allion, Music Bus, Small bus, Motor cycle, Benz. PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, Call: 265-4979 GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, One 2007 Fielder stick gear ANNIVERSARY, ETC. $2.7M negotiable. One B12 CALL DIAMOND TENTS: Sunny $300,000- Call: 616- 216-1043; 677-6620 5974, 618-8703 Teepee Suites Apartments: AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Lot 7 Princes Street, Hilux Surf, BRR, RZ & Pit- Charlestown, Guyana. Call: 592-223-7903/email: bull, Pajero Junior, Spacio: teepeesuites@yahoo.com Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 2 Bedrooms bottom flat to rent We buy & sell vehicles for lot 5 Wallers Delight, W.C.D cash, also parts available & -$45,000 monthly. Call: 67430 seater buses; Extra Cab 4929; 662-0187 pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: Hair station rental at 680-3154 convenient location, 1 Toyota Fielder Wagon 2003 Georgetown, Call: 638-1106, in good condition $1.5M discounts given to negotiable- Call: 615-6944 newcomers, persons with experienced & clients RZ minibus $1.2M, 192 Car 2 Bedrooms apartment $850,000 and unregistered bluebird 2009, fully inside, grill, light, water, automatic, 31,000KM toilet & bath @ La Parfaite Harmonie -$30,000 monthly. $3.2M- Call: 265-0204, 676Call: 689-7701; 266-1151 5428 2005 Tacoma -$2.4M, Massey Tractor from Canada: MF 165 -$1.7M, MF 135 $1.2M –MF 265 $2.2M, 165 Loader -$2.3M – Call: 6825230; 628-9596 Unregistered Nissan Bluebird 2006 -$1.95M negotiable & 2010 Toyota Allion. Call: 644-9277 One 4 wheel drive, automatic, extra cab, Toyota Hilux, GSS series. Call: 614-0107; 6928923 Honda Civic M/Car “SS” series -$1.3M, very good condition- Call: 696-2815 Toyota Belta 1300CC, one owner, PLL 9400 + Series, 2006 model - $1.7M negotiable. Call: 655-0767 1800CC fairly new 2006 Allion, only six month in the country PVV series $3,000,000- Call: 592-641-1157
Two bedrooms upstairs apartment for rent in Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme -$45,000 monthly – Call: 602-7135 1-3 Bedrooms house upstairs and downstairs with yard space @ 61 AtlanticVille. Call: 227-3407 La Grange Public Road: 3 rooms @ top & 2 rooms @ bottom (whole/separated). Toilet & bath inside; available from September. House @ C/Lodge. Call: 6190673 258 Block ‘Y’ Section ‘C’ Golden Grove E.B.D, top flat -$60,000 monthly –Call: 6806399; 694-4276 2 Bedrooms house; upper flat with parking & E-networks available, fully grilled @ Section D Non-Pariel E.C.DCall: 678-3073 between 6:008:00pm
Pit-bull minibus, very good condition, hardly work, with mag rims, A/C, solid engine & transmission -$2,200,000. Call: 592-641-1157
One two bedrooms apartment in ‘B’ Field Sophia, parking available –Call: 6508827; 621-5781
1 AT Carina No. PFF 8179 Contact 226-2995, best offer
Space for rent @ Ashmin’s Building –ideal for commercial use/office. Call Today : 601-3395
RUSH – Call 621-7125 Price Negotiable FOR RENT One bedroom apartment @ Middle Road La Penitence $28,000 monthly. Call: 6669534; 226-6374
Two bedrooms fully furnished apartment for vacation Call: 678-6690 2 Bedrooms apartment located at 16 Stanleytown, W.B.D –Call: 696-8714
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South Africa’s ruling party suffers biggest election setback
President Jacob Zuma, center, and deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, right, attend the declaration announcement of the municipal elections in Pretoria, South Africa. (AP Photo/Herman Verwey) JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s ruling party suffered its worst election setback since taking power at the end of apartheid a generation ago, with the African National Congress losing the capital, Pretoria, and its surrounding Tshwane metropolitan area. But it won a tight race for the country’s biggest city, Johannesburg, election authorities reported Saturday night. The opposition Democratic Alliance, which named its first black party leader last year, made a strong move out of its stronghold in the city of Cape Town, winning in three of the country’s six largest municipalities. With no party reaching a majority in Johannesburg or Tshwane, the possible formation of coalition governments is the next challenge. Scandals around President Jacob Zuma came back to haunt him even as he praised a peaceful vote. As he spoke on national television, four women stood up in front of him, silently facing the crowd and holding signs that appeared to refer to his acquittal for rape in 2006. Zuma didn’t appear to respond. The election losses have threatened two decades of dominance by the ANC, the former anti-apartheid movement. Since South Africa’s first all-race election in 1994, the ANC has had widespread support on the strength of its successful fight against white-minority rule, while bringing basic amenities to many people. But its hold has been weakened by corruption scandals and a stagnant economy that has frustrated the urban middle class, while poor communities demand
better services in a country with one of the highest inequality rates in the world. “Election after election, the ANC has hung on to its past glory and kept its place in the hearts of most South Africans. ... This time round, though, it’s not enough,” the Mail & Guardian newspaper said in an editorial. On social media, South Africans mocked Zuma’s recent claim that the ANC would rule “until Jesus comes back.” In a brief address shortly before final results were announced, the 74-year-old Zuma thanked South Africans for a vote he called largely peaceful, free and fair. “Our democracy is maturing,” he said. “Let us get back to work and build our country together.” The election was notable for its peaceful power shift away from an entrenched government in Africa, where some leaders have been in office for decades. In neighboring Zimbabwe, 92year-old President Robert Mugabe has kept control since independence in 1980 with disputed elections and crackdowns on dissent. Before this election, the ANC had never lost a major black-majority municipality. Now it has lost two, including Nelson Mandela Bay, named for the ANC’s star and the country’s first black president. The Democratic Alliance already runs the country’s second largest city, Cape Town, the only major municipality where blacks are in the minority among white and mixed-race residents. The party, which has roots in the anti-apartheid movement, has declared that its brand is good governance. “For far too long, the ANC has governed South Africa
with absolute impunity,” the party’s leader, 36-year-old Mmusi Maimane, told reporters earlier Saturday. He said the idea that his party was a white one has been “completely shattered.” The Democratic Alliance angered the ANC last month by declaring that it was the only party that could realize Mandela’s dream of a “prosperous, united and non-racial South Africa.” Maimane immediately looked ahead to presidential elections. “The 2019 campaign starts now,” he said. The ANC received 53 percent of votes across the country, its lowest percentage ever, with the Democratic Alliance getting 26 percent. A more radical opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, contested the local elections for the first time and received 8 percent of the vote nationwide after promising measures it says will help the poor. The results for the ANC could put pressure on Zuma to leave office before his mandate ends in 2019, political analysts said. The ANC has said “we will reflect and introspect where our support has dropped.” It retained support in many rural areas in a country where blacks make up 80 percent of the population. Scandals swirling around Zuma have hurt the ANC. Opposition groups have seized on the revelation that the state paid more than $20 million for upgrades to Zuma’s private home. The Constitutional Court recently said Zuma violated the constitution and instructed him to reimburse the state $507,000.
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Yemen’s Hadi launches military operation east of Sanaa, peace talks end DUBAI (Reuters) - Forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi launched a new offensive east of the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday, the military command said, after United Nations-sponsored peace talks in Kuwait ended without an agreement. The offensive, which is backed by air strikes from a Saudi-led coalition, came as the Iran-allied Houthis and the party of exPresident Ali Abdullah Saleh announced a 10-member governing council, against the wishes of the U.N. The Houthis and Saleh’s General People’s Congress (GPC), hold most of Yemen’s northern half, while forces loyal to Hadi share control of the rest of the country with local tribes. The fighting in which more than 6,400 people have been killed, half of them civilians, has created a humanitarian crisis in one of the poorest countries in the Middle East. Al Qaeda and its militant rival Islamic State have exploited the war to try to recruit more followers and establish roots in the country, which controls major shipping lanes overlooking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The pro-Hadi sabanew.net news agency said that the Yemeni army and allied local tribesmen, backed by Arab coalition air strikes, began
Soldiers loyal to Yemen’s President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi riding on the back of a pick-up truck. a major operation to “liberate the district of Nehem east of Sanaa”. The area is a key route to the capital, which has been under Houthi control since 2014. “The army and the resistance have managed to liberate a number
of important military positions that had been controlled by the coup militias, most prominent of which is the Manara mount which overlooks the center of Nehem district,” the agency quoted a military spokesman as saying.
Fighting was also reported on the Yemeni-Saudi border, where a Saudi border guard was killed by fire directed from the Yemeni side, the Saudi state news agency SPA said, citing a security spokesman. A spokesman for the Saudi-led
coalition accused the Houthis of escalating attacks along the border, where the alliance had scaled back its military operations to give the Yemeni peace talks a chance to succeed. “The militias began military operations along the border after the suspension of the Yemeni consultations,” the spokesman, General Ahmed al-Asseri, told the Saudi-owned al-Hadath television, referring to the Houthis. “The Houthi militias are trying to achieve gains on the ground to make up for political losses,” he added. The comments came after the U.N. special envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed announced that talks in Kuwait had been adjourned, promising they would resume at an unspecified venue within a month. “We will leave Kuwait today, but peace consultations will continue. We will let the parties consult their leaders,” he told a news conference. Earlier in Sanaa, the Houthirun sabanews.net news agency published the names of 10 officials it said would be on a political committee to run the country. The parties would rotate the position of president and vice president, who would be chosen from within the committee, the statement said.
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N. Korea accuses US of seeking Man yelling ‘Allahu Akbar!’ wounds ‘pre-emptive nuclear strike’ two Belgian police in machete attack Seoul (AFP) - North Korea has accused Washington of planning a pre-emptive nuclear strike, after the US announced it would deploy its B-1 bomber in the Pacific for the first time in a decade. The strategic aircraft were to be deployed on Saturday on the US island of Guam, the US military said last month, describing the operation as a routine rotation with the B52 bomber. Tensions have been running high since North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a barrage of missile launches that this month reached Japanese waters directly for the first time. Pyongyang accused Washington of “becoming all the more pronounced in their moves to topple down the DPRK by mobilizing all nuclear war hardware,” using North Korea’s official title.
“The enemies are bluffing that they can mount a preemptive nuclear strike on the DPRK by letting fly B-1B over the Korean peninsula within two-three hours in contingency,” said an English-language statement on state media. “Such moves for bolstering nuclear force exposes again that the US imperialists are making a preemptive nuclear strike on the DPRK a fait accompli.” North Korea has threatened “physical action” over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US antimissile system in South Korea, known as THAAD. Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building ahead of an annual South Korea-US military exercise later this month. On July 29, the US Air Force said it would upgrade its hardware on Guam, a US territory in the western
Pacific, by sending the B-1 for the first time since April 2006. “The B-1 will provide US Pacific Command and its regional allies and partners with a credible, strategic power projection platform,” it said in a statement. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned it may carry out pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets, domestic and abroad. Ultimately, the North wants to be able to strike on the continental US. The secretive state, led by supreme leader Kim Jong-un, warned Saturday it would respond to any aggression by reducing the US to a “sea of flames”. “The ever-mounting moves of the US imperialists to ignite a nuclear war are pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula into the uncontrollable and catastrophic phase,” said the KCNA statement.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A machetewielding man yelling “Allahu Akbar!” (God is greatest) injured two female police officers before being fatally shot in the Belgian city of Charleroi on Saturday, in what the prime minister said appeared to be a terrorist act. The attacker was shot by a third officer and subsequently died of his wounds, but the police officers were out of danger, police said. “Initial indications clearly point towards terrorism,” Prime Minister Charles Michel told the television channel RTL. Public broadcaster VRT said the attacker had taken out a machete when two officers asked to search him at a checkpoint set up outside the city’s police headquarters as part of security measures imposed after major Islamist attacks in the last nine months in Belgium and neighboring France. One young man told the television station VTM that he and his friends heard five to six shots fired in rapid succession, then, 30 seconds later, three more shots. There was no immediate indication of t h e m a n ’s i d e n t i t y ; B e l g i a n m e d i a reported that the attacker had no papers
with him. A spokesman for the federal prosecutor said the authorities expected to be able to issue more information on Sunday morning. Local media reported that Michel was returning from holiday and would meet with the security services on Sunday. Belgium and its capital Brussels, home to European Union institutions and the headquarters of NATO, are currently on a security alert level of three out of a maximum four, denoting a “possible and probable” threat. Last March, Islamist bombers killed 32 people in suicide attacks at Brussels airport and a metro station. In addition, many of those who carried out the attacks on Paris last November, in which 130 people died, were based in Belgium. Saturday’s incident also follows a series of attacks in the last month, mostly in France and Germany, many of which have been claimed by the militant group Islamic State. In the worst, in the French city of Nice, 84 people were killed. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Writing by Hugh Lawson; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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Frenchman Ait Said suffers Van Avermaet strikes cycling horror break in qualifying gold, agony for Nibali (Reuters) French gymnast Samir Ait Said discovered the perils of pursuing his Olympic dreams when he suffered a broken leg that was left dangling from below his knee following a crash landing from the vault during men’s qualifying on Saturday. Ait Said covered his eyes with his right
hand as he clutched the back of his knee while lying prostrate on the crash mat before officials ran to tend to him. But it soon became apparent that he would take no further part in the Rio Games when he was lifted onto a stretcher that had been brought into the arena.
Samir Ait Said (FRA) of France suffers a broken leg. (REUTERS/DYLAN MARTINEZ)
Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) of Belgium celebrates as he crosses the finish line. (REUTERS/PAUL HANNA)
Sunday, August 07, 2016 Aries (March 21 – April 19): Your psychic sense is apt to be keen as you fill your mind with fanciful scenarios, Aries. These pictures in your head aren’t as farfetched as you might think. Today would be a good day to listen to your inner guidance. Taurus (April 20 – May 20): You may be having a difficult time getting your opinions across to others, Taurus. For some, your ideas may seem too selfcentered. For others, you may come across as insensitive to the situation. Gemini (May 21 – June 20): The emotional swings that you could feel today might put a damper on your fantasy world, Gemini. Remember that it’s up to you to nurture these dreams. Cancer (June 21 – July 22): People around you are apt to be touchy, Cancer, so be careful how you interact with them. You’ll find that they can see beyond any sort of facade and easily detect dissention within the ranks. Leo (July 23 – August 22): While other people may be confused and distressed, you’re actually the one with all the answers, Leo. Indeed, you’re best equipped to deal with the difficult situations that are likely to arise on a day like this. Virgo (August 23 – September 22): Be passionate about the thing you love the most, Virgo. Instead of trying to eat every single thing at the buffet table, just pick one or two items that you like the best and eat them with great enjoyment.
Libra (September 23 – October 22): You may feel like a skipping record, Libra. You’ve been scratched and mistreated, and now you continue to repeat the same thing over and over until you’ve driven your point home. Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): There could be some tough forces questioning your most cherished dreams, Scorpio. Be careful about confronting someone who wants to poke holes in your idealism. Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): You’re in a unique position to understand all sides of the issues, Sagittarius. While this is apt to give you a tremendous advantage over those who still have their heads stuck in the sand, this knowledge also gives you a greater responsibility to others. Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): You may be feeling rather anxious, Capricorn. Perhaps you have a big date coming up and your mind is buzzing with how to make the best impression. Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): This could be one of those days in which you feel like you just can’t get anything right, Aquarius. In an effort to appease other people, you may think you have to make some adjustments that make you feel uneasy. Pisces (February 19 – March 20): You may feel a need to add some fantasy to your daily routine today, Pisces. Do you have someone in mind you’d like Cupid’s arrow to strike? Well, don’t rely on a cherub to do your work for you.
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet snatched gold in a thrilling finish to the men’s Olympic road race, outsprinting Denmark’s Jakob Fuglsang by the Copacabana after Vincenzo Nibali’s hopes ended in a high-speed crash on Saturday. Nibali was surging towards victory following a late attack after six hours of racing around Rio’s exotic coastline when he careered out of control on the final descent. A 237.5km course, taking in 5,000m of tough climbing through lush green hills next to the rolling Atlantic, promised unpredictability and it delivered in spades as nearly half of the 144 starters failed to finish. Italian Nibali was taken to hospital with a possible fractured collarbone. After mechanical mayhem on several loops of the hilly and partly-cobbled Grumari
Sunday Football Fiesta set for... From page 82 Aruwai Resort. The second place team pockets $300,000 and the Ansa McAl trophy, while the third place team carts off $200,000 and the John Fernandes trophy. The fourth place finishers will receive $100,000 and the Ministry of State trophy. Ricks and Sari has also donated hampers which will go to the winning team, while tournament’s top goal scorer will get a three piece suite compliments of AH&L Kissoon Furniture Store. Top Brandz of Broad and High Streets, distributors of Interstate vehicle batteries, is among the key sponsors on board assisting the tournament. Aruwai Resort of the Essequibo River is also another main supporter of this year’s event and Coordinator Lennox Arthur has expressed thanks to all the sponsors. Apart from Aruwai Resort and Top Brandz, others on board include: Ansa McAl, Minister of State Joe Harmon and his ministry, John Fernandes, Ricks and Sari and AH&L Kissoon.
section the fireworks began in earnest on the Vista Chinesa circuit featuring a steep 8.9km climb the peloton tackled three times. It was predicted the race would be won there, but it was where Nibali lost it. He and fellow Italian Fabio Aru shredded the race with an audacious attack on the final ascent and Nibali looked poised to add an Olympic title to his Tour de France, Giro and Vuelta victories when calamity struck. Accelerating downhill with Colombia’s Sergio Henao and Poland’s Rafal Majka for company, Nibali hit the tarmac hard, as did Henao, leaving Majka alone with 12km to go. Majka weaved between the wreckage and looked set to win Poland’s first Olympic cycling gold but Van Avermaet, who briefly wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de France last month, and Fuglsang had other ideas. SPRINTING PROWESS They caught Majka with little more than a kilometre left and Van Avermaet used his sprinting prowess to pedal to glory. Majka hung on for the bronze five seconds back. A course that weaved through Rio’s verdant hills produced a race so unpredictable that even Van Avermaet, who suffered an early puncture, was not sure what Nibali’s crash meant. “When I saw the crash I was confused about how many riders were still up the road,” Van Avermaet, winner of Belgium’s first Olympic gold medal since 2008, told reporters. “I was working with Fuglsang. We saw Majka. We knew it was possible. I am so happy for gold. Everyone said all week it was for everyone else.”
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Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Guyana back at the Central American Championship Level
The Guyana team to the CAC event in the Dominican Republic. Statistician Charwayne Walker is extending congratulations to Mr. Nigel Hinds and members of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation for successfully hosting the recent CBC Under-16 Championships. He notes, the performance of our boys’ team was historical, it is the second time in our basketball history that a male team reached a regional finals. The first time Guyana played in a regional basketball final was 1994 when the Auric Tappin led Caricom team lost to Barbados at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The historic squad was: Auric Tappin –Captain Leon Christian Lugard Mohan Edgar Thomas Don Fletcher Sean Semple Robert Codagan Lorenzo Withrite Steven Nurse Willie Hodges Rawlin Loncke Lancelot Loncke Erik Rashaad –Coach Please note that Eion Leitch
played the opening match against Suriname scoring 11 pts. Twenty-two years later our under-16 boys proudly carried on a great legacy with an outstanding performance at the just concluded CBC tournament losing to a more experienced and superior Bahamas team in the finals. By placing second, our boys qualify for the Central American Under-17 Championship in 2017; the last time a male national team played at the Central American Championship level was May 1975 when the Mike Brusche led team competed against the best from South and Central America in the Dominican Republic. Today, Kaieteur Sports and Statistician Charwayne Walker pay tribute to the trailblazers, the men that carried the Golden Arrow Head at the (Mecca) of basketball in Central and South America. The Central American Championships, Guyana Performance 1971. Venezuela (1973), Puerto Rico (1975), in the Dominican Republic: 1971 Caracas, Venezuela Central
American Championship Guyana vs Host VenezuelaGuyana lost 96 to 77 Guyana vs El Salvador – El Salvador won 75 to 68 Guyana vs the Mighty Cuba The boys from Havana won 123 to 46 Guyana vs Puerto Rico- Puerto Rico won 72 to 51 Guyana vs Trinidad and Tobago- The Parade Ground Ballers won 72 to 51 1973 CAC Championship, San Juan Puerto Rico Guyana vs Mexico – (Roberto Clemente Coliseum) The Giants of Mexico won 130 to 64 for the Mexicans. Roberto Lua scored a game high 30 pts, Raul Palma contributed 26 pts. For Guyana: Abdulla Meusa top scored with 13 pts, skipper Mike Brusche 12 pts , Hewley Henry 10 pts, 7 rebounds, Gavin Kendall 9 pts, Harold Ceasar 7 pts, 10 rebounds. Guyana vs Panama- (Panchin Vincent Coliseum) Ponce; Panama won 124 to 56. Guyana playing a team that beat Olympic Champions Russia, had no chance. Mario Peart
Colorful march past kicks off UDFA.... From page 85 distributed to the various affiliates of the GFF. “We want to have equitable distribution of all the materials that we have been able to acquire. Every player would have a ball to their feet in another couple of weeks and that’s where we need to have meaningful development of football. So I give you my word here today and my commitment that the GFF is pursuing a very deliberate and well structured developmental programme for our youths and our senior footballers, no one is being neglected. The only thing that you have to do is be disciplined, be committed and put in the hard work and I can assure you that
you would be recgonised.” Solomon in his remarks noted that the tournament is not only timely but it is absolutely important and necessary for a sponsor in the form of NAMILCO sees it fit to invest in the prime assets of the sport, the youths. T h e U D FA h e a d a l s o congratulated the GFF for recognising the need to move in this direction while he also made a pitch to other corporate entities to follow the lead of NAMILCO and invest in youths. “We will continue to invest in our young people as we recognise that to promote football there is no better investment than the youth programme for the GFF and we want to play our part.”
Khan lauded the efforts of the GFF under Forde and the UDFA f o r e n s u r i n g t h e tournament got underway. He noted that NAMILCO has always been committed to investing in Guyana’s youth and that they have not only been doing so in football but in other sports over many years. He encouraged the players to give of their best and strive to be disciplined on and off the field of play whilst aiming to represent Guyana in the near future. Action yesterday kicked off w i t h To p p X X t a k i n g o n Milerock whilst Eagles United opposed Silver Shattas; details of those matches in another edition.
top scored for Panama with 22 pts, A. Reid 18 pts, M. Warren 14 pts. For Guyana: Philip Daniels top scored with 13 pts, Hewley Henry 11 pts, Gavin Kendall 9 pts, Harold Ceasar 7 pts, Mike Brusche 6 pts. Guyana vs Host Puerto Rico(Roberto Clemente Coliseum) Puerto Rico won 129 to 62. For the victors, Joe Hatton scored 21 pts, Ray Dalman 19 pts, Charlie Bermudez 17 rebounds. For Guyana: skipper Mike Brusche had a game high 23 pts, Winston Joseph 11 pts, Harold Ceasar 10 pts, Melroy Fitzalbert 10 pts, Hewley Henry 6 pts. Guyana vs Venezuela- (Roberto Clemente Coliseum) Venezuela won 75 to 67 for the Venoes: Cruz and Larret scored 25 pts each. Mike Brusche top scored for Guyana with 20 pts, Melroy Fitzalbert 8 pts, Hewley Henry 8 pts, Harold Ceasar 8 pts. Guyana vs Cuba – (Panchin Vincent Coliseum) Cuba won 88 to 32, skipper Ruperto Herrera top scored with 18 pts, Rafael Canzalez 12 pts Luis Calderon 12 pts. Skipper Mike Brusche, Melroy Fitzalbert and Phillip Daniels scored 8 pts each, while Harold Ceasar scored 5 pts. Guyana vs US Virgin Islands (Roberto Clemente Coliseum) US Virgin Islands won 81 to 75. For the victors, Atmore Fredericks had a game high 23 pts, Rudy Milligan 20 pts. For the Parade Ground Ballers, Mike Brusche top scored with 16 pts, Harold Ceasar 16 pts, Melroy Fitzalbert 11 pts, Winston Joseph 10 pts, Phillip Daniels 10 pts, Aubrey Chalmers 8 pts, Abdulla Mesusa 6 pts. Guyana vs Dominican Republic (Roberto Clemente Coliseum) Dominican Republic won 84 to 61. For Guyana: Mike Brusche had 18 pts, Harold Ceasar 14 pts, Melroy Fitzalbert 13 pts, Winston Joseph 10 pts. The 1973 National Team that Participated at the C.A.C Tournament Mike Brusche- Captain Melroy Fitzalbert
Ronald Pickering Winston Joseph Herman Sullivan Phillip Daniels Keith Hinds Hewley Henry Gavin Kendall Abdulla Meusa Harold Ceasar Aubrey Chalmers Raymond Goulding –Coach Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira – Manager 1975 Central American Championship Dominican Republic Guyana vs VenezuelaVenezuela won 87 to 68. Cruz Latret and Victor Mona scored 25 pts each. For Guyana: skipper Mike Brusche top scored with 20 pts, Winston Joseph 9 pts, Merton Fitzalbert 9 pts, Aubrey Chalmers 8 pts, James Devonish 7 pts. Guyana vs Host Dominican Republic played at the Clacio Olympico in front of 3000 fans. Dominican Republic won 111 to 71. For Guyana: Ronald Pickering scored 15 pts, skipper Mike Brusche 12 pts, James Devonish 10 pts, Aubrey Chalmers 9 pts. Guyana vs Puerto Rico played at the Palacio De Centro Olympico. Puerto Rico won 120 to 63. For Guyana: Melroy Fitzalbert top scored with 12 pts, Compton ‘Hofty’ Hinds 10 pts, skipper Mike Brusche 10 pts, Aubrey Chalmers 10 pts. Guyana vs Haiti played at the Palacio De Centro Olympico. Guyana won 89 to 78. Skipper Mike Brusche led all scorers with 22 pts, Melroy Fitzalbert 20 pts, Aubrey Chalmers 13 pts, Ronald Pickering 8 pts, Merton Fitzalbert 8 pts, Clifton Brusche 7 pts, Compton ‘Hofty’ Hinds 6 pts. Guyana vs El Salvador played at the Palacio De Centro Olympico. El Salvador won 88 to 65. For Guyana: Melroy Fitzalbert 13 pts, Merton Fitzalbert 10 pts, Mike Brusche 8 pts, Winston Joseph 7 pts, Clifton Brusche 6 pts.. Guyana vs Suriname played at the Palacio De Centro Olympico. Suriname won 91 to 61. For the victors, Van Vilken scored a game high 29 pts, John Chelius 23 pts. For Guyana; Mike Brusche 14 pts, Aubrey Chalmers 14 pts, Melroy Fitzalbert 13 pts, Merton Fitzalbert 9 pts. Guyana vs Bahamas played at the Palacio De Centro Olympico. Bahamas won 106 to 64. Melroy Fitzalbert top scored for Guyana with 20 pts, Merton Fitzalbert 10 pts, Clifton Brusche 10 pts, Mike Brusche 8 pts, Ronald Pickering 6 pts, Phillip Daniels 6 pts. The 1975 CAC Team Mike Brusche – Captain Melroy Fitzalbert Merton Fitzalbert Clifton Brusche Aubrey Chalmers Compton Hinds Phillip Daniels Ronald Pickering Winston Joseph Brian Gonsalves Keith Hinds James Devonish Eldon Vaughn – Coach
Sunday August 07, 2016
SEVEN SEAS ANNUAL CYCLING PROGRAMME
Anthony cops Open 35-lap race
The winners, sponsors and officials at yesterday’s Seven Seas Cycle event at the National Park. By Sean Devers National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed started the annual school vacation cycling programme at the National Park in 1976 and in 40 years he has not missed a single year, with the last 13 years being sponsored by Seven Seas. Yesterday at the National Park last year ’s winner Micheal Anthony defended his School Boys and Invitational Open 35-lap race by riding to victory in a time of 1:18:15.26 but it was not all smooth sailing for the back-to-back Champion. Anthony, Marlon Williams who finished second, and Orville Hinds began the homestretch in a three man bunch, but with about 20 meters to the finish line, Anthony got out of his saddle and out-sprinted them to win the race for the second
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year in a row. The entire School Vacation programme which began on July 11 will run for eight weeks and Hassan said he was satisfied with the overall standard of the riders. “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail and I am pleased with what I am seeing here. Most of the National riders have come through this development programme and the fact that Micheal (Anthony) successfully defended his title shows that he has been training and working hard on his own,” Hassan who is running the oldest cycling nursery in the Caribbean as a part of the Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club, which is one of founder members of the GCF. “This year I am trying to organize races for the riders because in the past we had
one race meet for the year and I would see the riders again until the next year. There is no cycling track or Veldrome to train on and would not encourage youngsters to ride on the road since its very dangerous due to reckless drivers,” Hassan lamented. Hassan thanked Seven Seas for their continued support of this programme and the company was represented by its Products Specialist Nirvana Thakur and another representative who provided free samples of their products yesterday. Hassan said today the Ricks & Sari Regan Rodrigues memorial Road Race in West Demerara will be held from 08:00hrs. The race starts at Wales, goes into La Parfaith Harmonie, then to Leonora and back to Wales. At the presentation
outstanding riders received trophies and prizes from Seven Seas. The races commenced in a drizzle at 09:00hrs with 6-9 BMX category. Results: 6-9 BMX: Jose Rodrigues, Alexander Leung, John Nile. 9-12: Sherwin Sampson, Jeremiah Harrison, Jab James. 12-14: Adealie Hodge, Tavan Garbarran, Sherwin San 12-14: Girls & Boys (3 laps): Adealie Hodge, Ronaldo Narine, Mario Elis Veterans Under-50: Ian Jackson, Lennox Jackson, Bochel Samaroo Over-50: (5 laps): Kennard Lovell, Linden Blackman, Donald Crawford Over-60: Burton John, Nigel Duguid (no 3rd place) Mountain Bike: Stephan Gobin, Jason Herbert (no 3rd place)
(Reuters) Carmine Tommasone made boxing history when he became the first fully professional fighter to compete in the Olympics on Saturday, winning his opening bout against an amateur from Mexico. Tommasone, a 32-year-old lightweight from Italy, is competing after AIBA, the sport’s governing body, made a constitutional change in June that ended 112 years of amateur exclusivity at the Games. One of only three outright pros to have qualified, he won all three rounds on Saturday against 21-year-old Lindolfo Delgado. “The Olympics is the top dream of any athlete,” said Tommasone. “I am very happy,” he added, his face still red from a gritty bout in which he struggled to penetrate the guard of his taller opponent.
It is the first time since 1980 that fighters are competing in the Olympics without headgear. The boxing began in midmorning on the first full day of competition at the Games after a colorful opening ceremony at Rio’s Maracana stadium on the previous night. The 9000-seat boxing venue was far from full at a sprawling convention center, but enthusiastic fans cheered the early bouts between light flyweights from countries including Britain, Cameroon and Spain. The raucous home supporters were left disappointed, however, as Brazil’s Patrick Lourenco lost to Colombia’s Yurberjen Herney Martinez. The winners of the opening bouts will move forward into the round of 16.
Tommasone makes boxing history as first Games professional
Carmine Tommasone (ITA) of Italy reacts. (REUTERS/PETER CZIBORRA)
Peaty breaks one record, Hosszu eyes another – swimming RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Britain’s Adam Peaty smashed his own 100 metres breaststroke world record and Hungary’s ‘Iron Lady’ Katinka Hosszu had another in her sights on an explosive opening day in the pool at the Rio Olympics. American golden girl Katie Ledecky meanwhile set herself up for the first medal of a likely hefty haul after swimming the final leg of the 4x100 freestyle relay. On a normal day Ledecky might have been the centre of attention, but Peaty seized the limelight like a man on a mission. The 21-year-old released plenty of pent-up energy to ensure a sensational start on his Olympic debut, completing the first 50 metres 0.35 seconds inside world record pace. The crowd raised the roof as he touched out in 57.55. The world champion had set the previous record of 57.92 in London in April 2015 and is favourite to become Britain’s first male swimming gold medallist since Adrian Moorhouse in the same event in 1988. Peaty, who was not even born then, has another swim in the evening semi-finals before Sunday’s final. “Hopefully tonight I’m going to feel a little bit better and swim a little bit faster... We’re going to keep pushing the boundary,” he told reporters. Swimming earlier, Hosszu
might have beaten Peaty to the honour of setting the first record in Rio but eased off in the women’s 400 metre individual medley just as it was in her sights. The 27-year-old, who was well inside the four minutes 28.43 seconds set by China’s Ye Shiwen at the 2012 Games until the last 50 metres, still set the second fastest time ever with a European record 4:28.58. Ye failed to qualify, ending up 27th. Hosszu — world champion in 400 IM, a two times female swimmer of the year and winner of five world championship golds — is still seeking her first Olympic medal in her fourth Games but looks a solid bet this time. In the men’s 400m IM heats, Japan’s world champion Daiya Seto and compatriot Kosuke Hagino had to settle for second and third with American Chase Kalisz setting the pace in what promises to be a close battle for gold. South Korea’s Park Taehwan, the 2008 champion who won a late battle to swim at the Games after appealing against a doping ban, failed to qualify for the men’s 400 metres freestyle finals. The 2012 silver medallist was 10th overall with only eight going through. China’s world and Olympic champion Sun Yang was fourth fastest overall in a line-up led by Conor Dwyer of the United States.
Adam Peaty (GBR) after the men’s 100m breaststroke heats during the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Olympic Aquatics Stadium. (Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
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Major Stables on board as more sponsors join Guyana Cup 2016 horserace extravaganza All of the top stables have inked their names to be a part of the 10th annual Guyana Cup horserace meet which is organised by the Jumbo Jet Business Enterprise in collaboration with the Port Mourant Turf Club and slated for Sunday 14th August at the Port Mourant “Big Yard” venue. Among the stables expecting to compete are; the Jumbo Jet racing stable which is expected to lead the way with over 15 entries, Colin Elcock Delmur racing Stable, Inshan Bacchus Racing stable, the Shariff racing stables, Crawford, Habibulla, Bactowar, Carmichael, Jagdeo, Dennis DeRoop Simple Royal, Night Eyes, Nand Persaud, Mahaicony, Jagroop/ Jagmohan and Velloza, Mahaicony, Tony, Saul, and Singh racing stables among others. The excitement has been building tremendously as all the horses have been using all the available spaces to enhance preparation and get into top shape for the big day. Already a number of animals from Suriname and other countries are here to do battle, while more are expected shortly as they compete on Guyana soil for the first time. Meanwhile, two more sponsors have joined the band of sponsors for the mega event which is the largest event for the August Holidays. The proprietors of A Khan Lumber yard and Altia Investments of Georgetown were the latest to come on board. A number of added attractions and incentives have been made available including for the winners of the A class, the three year old and the two year old races. They will get an extra $500,000, $400,000 and $200,000 bonuses respectively.
The feature “A” and lower 1800M event will have a sizable $4M winners prize in addition to the Guyana Cup Trophy from a total package of $8M. The co-feature 1600M event for 3yrs old horses, bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies has a winner’s take of $2M and trophy. The two year old Guyana Bred event has a first prize of $400,000 and trophy over 1100M. The E and lower event over 1500M will see the winner taking home $800,000 and trophy over 1500M. The event for animals’ classified G1 and lower is for animals from Suriname and those from Guyana. There is a race for horses classified H and lower and West Indies bred that have not started since August 30th 2015. The distance is 1200M for a winner’s money of $400,000. Horses classified H3 and West Indies Maiden and also open To Guyana Bred trotters will have their chance to race over 1200M for a winner’s money of $400,000. The event for J and K class horses will see animals from Suriname matching their skills against the Guyanese animals over 1100M for a take home incentive of $350,000 and trophy. Horses from Suriname have also been tagged to feature in the L and lower event against those from Guyana over 1100M for a winning purse of $250,000 and trophy. The top Jockey along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the organizers and Trophy Stall. (Samuel Whyte)
Sunday Football Fiesta set for GFC today as teams hunt Mayor’s Cup quarterfinal places
Amos Ramsey
Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Steffon Hope
A mini fiesta of football today at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground will see teams hunt quarterfinal places in the Mayor’s Cup football championship in the hope of advancing to stake a claim on the Mayor’s Cup and Aruwai first prize. Four games should provide a choc-full of entertainment for fans trouping to the venue. Action starts at 3:00pm with Police taking on Camptown in what is expected to be a competitive encounter. At 5:00pm, Riddim Squad with the talented Amos Ramsey and Steffon Hope leading their charge, will look to put down Beavers of the Westside in an anticipated feisty contest. Santos then look to ‘boot’ Pouderoyen out of the competition in their contest starting at 7:00pm. But the Westside team have their own
Randolph Wagner
plans to send the City dwellers packing. An exciting match-up is anticipated. The night cap at 9:00pm should also produce another crowd pleaser when Western Tigers with the skillful Randolph Wagner heading their outfit challenge Den Amstel. Both sides are expected to come ‘tooth and nail’ in what should be a keenly competitive encounter as they look to outdo the other and secure a quarterfinal spot. Quarterfinals are scheduled for August 19 at the same venue and the winners of the respective games will advance to contest for semifinal places. The semis are set of August 21 and final and third place August 28. At stake in the championship is the top prize of $700,000 and a trophy donated by Continued on page 79
HERO CPL T20 CRICKET
TKR beat Tallawahs by 19 runs on D/L system Clash with Warriors in today’s final In the longest t20 game ever, a less than capacity crowd watched Jamaica Tallawahs beat Trinbago Knight Riders by 19 runs on D/L system in a rain interrupted Hero CPL t20 eliminator which started at 20:00hrs on Friday evening and ended at 03:02hrs yesterday morning at the Warner Park ground to advance to this evening’s final against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The Warriors have reached the final trice in the four-year history of CPL but have never won the title. Man-of-the-Match Andre Russell smashed a blistering maiden ton from just 44 balls with four fours and 11 sixes and shared in a 101-run fifth wicket stand with Shakib Al Hassan (19). The 28-year-old Russell got support from Chris Gayle’s 26-ball 35 with three sixes and two fours as the Tallawahs powered to the third highest total this season, 195-7 off 20 overs. Russell’s ton is the fastest in CPL cricket and shares the record for most sixes in a game with Gayle. Kevin Cooper had 345 for TKR. Set a revised target of 130 from 12 overs, TKR reached 110-7 despite 38 from 26 balls with six fours a six from Colin Munroe and Hashim Amla who made 37 from 28 balls with two fours and a six. Russell crowned a dream game by ending with 2-27, while Shakib Al Hassan had 3-23. After Umar Akmal (6), who survived a confident caught behind appeal when he had clearly ‘nicked’ Russell, was run out at 9-1 and it was always going to be a hard task to conjure a win. At 18-1 after three overs, rain sent the players scurrying off the field and when the game eventually resumed at 02:00 hrs they needed 112 from 54 balls. Amla and Munroe, who along with Russell and Gayle is the only batsmen with a hundred this season, added 58 in 6.5 overs with Amla who played the supporting role but despite Munroe’s urgency the job was just too much for TKR. Earlier, after an 88-minute late start due to rain, Tallawahs were asked to bat and Chadwick Walton was dropped off Guyanese pacer Ronsford Beaton in the first
over but responded by lofting him down the ground for six. Gayle cut Sunil Narine’s first ball gloriously behind point for four before repeating the shot and getting the same result as eight runs came from the second over. Walton hit Beaton for four as the ball landed just in front of Umar Akmal who misjudged the catch while Kevin Cooper, who replaced Narine was hammered for two mighty sixes by the pugnacious Gayle who went on the attack from the word go and was already looking ominous. But Cooper soon broke the 38-run stand when Walton (15) touched one that left him for Keeper Denesh Ramdin to hold a sharp catch on the second attempt. Kumar Sangakkara got an inside edge to Cooper for four to end the fourth over with the Tallawahs on 41-1. Gayle, who turns 37 next month, pulled a slower ball from Bravo over the boundary and the 50 was posted in five overs in a strong breeze. Sangakkara (5) tried to go over the top but only managed to find Akmal at long-off who took a brilliant low catch diving forward as Narine reaped success at 552 in the sixth over. But Gayle, who has struggled for form in his last few games, tried to hit his fourth six but Cooper had the last laugh when the offering was accepted by Colin Munroe as Tallawahs wobbled from a great start slipping to 58-3 in the eighth over and TKR fans were dancing in the stands. Things got progressively worse for the team for Reggae County when Rovman Powell (2) flicked Bravo, who has the best bowling figures this season (4-13), off his legs and was well taken at short square-leg at 67-4 to take the TKR Skipper past Warrior’s Sohail Tanvir’s 20 wickets. Al Hasan was joined by Russell who took his eyes off the ball and ducked into one from Bravo that didn’t bounce as he anticipated. But 28-year-old Russell, who played with an injury in Florida, clobbered teenager Anderson Phillip for a couple of explosive sixes in the 11th over which leaked 15. Narine returned and looked threatening despite
Russell’s audacity. Russell, who got married during the Florida leg, dumped Beaton into the stand over long-off before clipping the pacer to the square-leg ropes next ball. Al Hassan played the supporting role but at 99-4 after 12.3 overs rain halted proceedings for a second time. When play resumed 62 minutes later, Russell brought up the 100 with six off Beaton in an over which cost 19 and jumped on Cooper like a cat upon a mouse and deposited him for consecutive sixes and the Jamaican supporters were making ‘a whole heap’ of noise in the stands. Russell galloped to his 13th 50 from just 23 balls with six sixes and a four but again fended at a short ball from Bravo and was struck on his glove. Narine confused Russell who edged him to the third man for four as Al Hassan was the silent partner. Russell continued to hit the ball brutally and a six off Beaton cleared the small 67-yard boundary by ‘miles’ and followed it up with one that went even further to post the 150. He celebrated with another six that sailed towards Nevis as Beaton’s over cost 22. Al Hassan was bowled by Cooper at 168-5 but Russell continued to rain sixes on the hapless TKR bowlers by dumping Bravo for his 10th six. Guyanese Jonathon Foo, in his first CPL match joined Russell, who raced to his 100 with a six off of Phillip before he fell in the last over while Foo (8) was run out off the last ball. Scores: Jamaica Tallawahs 195 for 7 (Russell 100, Cooper 3-45, Narine 122) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 110 for 7 [12 overs] (Munro 38, Shakib 3-23, Russell 2-27) by 19 runs (D/ L method). (Sean Devers)
Sunday August 07, 2016
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Abdulla Hamid hosts 27th Annual American teenager Thrasher wins first gold of Games Basketball Camp in Linden RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Unflappable American teenager Virginia Thrasher won the first gold medal of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Saturday, holding her nerve against two Chinese Olympic champions to clinch the women’s 10m air rifle event. The 19-year-old U.S. college champion edged out China’s Du Li, gold in Athens in 2004, with an Olympic-record score of 208 in the sport’s new finals format. Defending Olympic champion Yi Siling, also of China, took the bronze medal. Competing in her first Olympics, Thrasher, as the first champion of the 2016 Games, was awarded her medal by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach and said the achievement was beyond her wildest dreams. The youngest of the eight finalists by several years, Thrasher established an early lead after battling with the Russian shooter Daria Vdovina, who stumbled midway through the competition and finished fifth. “About halfway through when I took the lead it kind of became clear to me that I was in contention for a medal, but I quickly pushed that thought away and focused on breathing
and taking one shot at a time,” Thrasher said. Thrasher learned to love shooting while hunting deer with her grandfather when she was in eighth grade. “I got my first deer and I liked the adrenaline of pulling the trigger,” she said. She then joined her high school air rifle team and was recruited by West Virginia University, where she became a national collegiate champion as a freshman this year. With her non-nonsense style, Thrasher seemed unfazed by her seasoned field and consistently scored in the 10 points target area over the 20 rounds. Afterwards, she noted that she had not attended the Olympics’ opening ceremony Friday night and had instead gone to bed early for her Olympic debut. Like all American shooters, Thrasher faced the inevitable question of what she thinks about gun control in the United States, a hotbutton issue in this election year. She responded matter of factly that the controversy over guns in America “really is just distracting from our sport, which is very different.”
Wolf’s Challenge Cup Softball
Several teams record victory in last Sunday action as more play set for today Coaching in session at the basketball camp. The Annual Basketball camp hosted by Abdulla Hamid in Linden has shown great improvements over the years as more youths attend and achieve accolades. According to Abdulla Hamid it all started twenty seven years ago after he made the national U17 team in 1987. Hamid said he was contemplating how to give back to the community and two years later he decided to launch a foundation “Abdulla Hamid Basketball Foundation”. “I launched the programme on August 16th 1989 and to now that programme has been sustaining basketball growth and development of youths in Linden; so I continue to do it. I have a passion for the development of youths and this is the 27th year.” Hamid boasted that all the talent coming out of Linden and have attained the highest level of basketball such as Nyota Peters, Steve Neils (jnr), Akeem Khanhai, Marvin Hartman and Stacy Hoyte among others, emerged from his foundation. He noted that as long as he has the strength and health he will keep producing quality players but says he has one dream. “One of the things in life I pray is to produce a top class College or NBA player. That is my dream so I will keep pushing as long as possible to fulfill my dream.”
Asked about how he is able to finance such a foundation, he said back in the early 90’s some friends in the USA such as Dr. Steve Carryl who was himself a basketball player at school level and his brother Michael who came to promote boxing assisted, but they lost contact. He applauded others such as Gary Stephens and John Davidson and others on a minor scale but claimed he does it all ‘from my pockets’. “Every time I travel to do my own business or FIFA appointment I buy equipment. I have no major sponsors and it is hard really hard but I love doing what I do. I don’t believe that I have to beg anyone for help when I am doing it for the community, the companies should assist.” Hamid youngest charge is 3 year old Mosi Brusche who has basketball in his genes as his grandfather Claude Brusche was a National Player. Hamid said children keep following him and noted that Steve Neils also started at that tender age. Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueria on behalf of Caring for Others International Charity donated a ball and an undisclosed sum of cash. Figueria said the Organization headed by overseas based Guyanese Eslyn Shokley is in the fight
against poverty and said he supports what Hamid is doing for the youths, especially at this time when school is out. “I am here basically to support Abdulla’s programme in this community for the past twenty odd years and I believe it is a worthwhile contribution to show selfless commitment towards the development of the sport in the community; and the young people in the community have a golden opportunity to learn from a man who has national and international experience.” Figueria said that he believes that businesses in the community should take advantage and partner with Hamid so that the programme could blossom and grow so that more national athletes can come out. “This community has been known for producing national athletes of high caliber and I believe Abdulla’s programme will continue to contribute towards enhancing sports within our Region.” According to Hamid, who thanked the Member of Parliament for his timely contribution, the camp ends on August 15th and he intends to bring a team from Georgetown and have an U15 and U17 playoff, because according to him his wards will gain ‘a challenge from’. (Jacquey Bourne)
HS Masters defeated Regal Masters by 12 runs last Sunday in action in the Wolf’s Challenge Cup Softball Cricket competition. HS Masters made 143-4 off 20 overs. Danny Mohanram 64 and B. Lakeram 25 led the scoring, while David Harper 2-26 for Regal who replied with 132-6 in their 20 overs. Mahase Chunilall hit 30 and M. Hardial 21, while B. Lakeram took 3-13 and M. Arjune 2-23 for HS Masters. In other action: Superior Woods beat Albion Masters by 60 runs. Superior Woods 156-7 off 20 overs. Surujlall Kumar 41, Rudolph Johnson 22 N.O., Peter Persaud 22; John Sumir 3-23, Permaul 2-30. Albion 96 All Out in 17 overs. B. Lanchand 36, Roy Persaud 4-8 and Peter Persaud 3-18. Wolf Warriors Masters defeated Fisherman Masters by 4 wkts. Fisherman 1399 off20 overs. G. Persaud 53. H. Dhanraj 3-20. Wolf Warriors 140-7 in 18 overs in reply. Raghunandan Narine 30 and F. Bacchus 25. In an Emancipation Day Celebration
Match at GYO ground, Wellman beat HS Masters by 28 runs. Wellman 192-9 off 20 overs. Nandram Samlall 39, Eon Lovell 41, Wayne Jones 27, Richard Persaud 25 and Rudolph Johnson 4-25. HS Masters 164-5 off 20 Overs. Peter Persaud 51, R. Johnson 32, Oslyn Batson 32, Latchman Kallicharran took 2-18 and W. Jones 2-21. Fixtures at: Malteenoes Ground today: Pitch (1): 10:00am Floodlights0 vs Savage Masters. 1:00 pm Superior Woods vs Savage Masters. Pitch (2): 10:00am Wellman vs HS Masters. 1:00pm Wellwoman vs Blue Divas. 2:30 pm 4R Lioness vs Enterprise Divas. At GYO Ground: 10: 00 am Fisherman Masters vs Regal Masters. 1:00pm Parika Defenders vs Tropical Springs. Jailing Ground: 11:00am Albion Masters vs Wolf Warriors Masters.
Romello Crawford to be GCF’s lone rep. for Junior Pan Am Track Championship Romello Crawford
The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has informed that Romello Crawford has qualified and will be Guyana’s lone representative at the Junior Pan Am Track Championships set for Trinidad and Tobago from August 27th - 31st. Crawford, who missed out on selection for the just concluded Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships that were held in St. Lucia will get his chance now to prove his class and has been registered to participate in the Sprint, Keirin, Scratch, Elimination Race, Points Race, Omnium. The GCF has further informed that President of the PSL Cycling Club of Trinidad and Tobago Mr. Desmond Roberts has been accredited by the federation to be Crawford’s Manager/Coach at the Championship. Crawford has since commenced training at the spanking new 250m Indoor Track in Trinidad under the watchful eyes of Roberts.
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Sunday August 07, 2016
Kaieteur News
Calvin Ming’s Team Pelfrey claims top grid GABF shortlists positions for Formula 1600 races in Pittsburgh Centro Basket Squad
Lugard Mohan
The top three qualifiers from Team Pelfrey in the F1600 event: Calvin Ming (right), Phillippe Denes (centre) and Kaylen Frederick during qualifying. The 3 Team Pelfrey drivers Phillippe Denes, Calvin Ming and Kaylen Frederick were very successful in qualifying for the top three grid positions yesterday morning, with all three posting times faster than the previous record for the Formula 1600 races in Pittsburgh at the lnternational Race Complex there.
Their coach, Jonathan Baker, co-ordinated a very good strategy, which undoubtedly paid off for the Team Pelfrey trio. The first of the three races was scheduled for yesterday with the remaining two fixed for today at 9:45 am and 2:45 pm.
Rough start on Rio lagoon RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) Wind and choppy waters on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake caused anxious moments for rowers on the opening day of the Olympic rowing regatta on Saturday, with gold medal contender Kimberly Brennan just avoiding a major setback. A Serbian boat sank and Egyptian rower Nadia Negm said she felt “like a Viking” as waves lapped over the boats. The tough conditions belied an otherwise glorious day in Rio de Janiero and a spectacular setting, with the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado overlooking a lake ringed by mountains and forest. The regatta kicked off with a samba band playing on the finishing line pontoon. But as the morning drew on,
Jesus Christ The Redeemer seen through Olympic Rings at Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, a rowing training session venue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil August 2, 2016. (REUTERS/IVAN ALVARADO) the winds whipped up the waters, especially in the lagoon’s less-sheltered middle section, making for slow times. It became a real test of the rowers’ skill and a lot of crabs were caught. Australian Brennan, favorite for the gold medal in the women’s single sculls, almost became an early casualty. She left it until late in her heat to overhaul Korea’s Kim Yeji for third spot and a qualifying place, avoiding the
repechage. She tipped a good bucketload of water out of her boat at the finish. Brennan, hoping to become the first nonEuropean rower to win Olympic gold in the women’s single sculls, only managed 14th place in the heat rankings, which were topped by Mexico’s Kenia Lechuga Alanis. In the men’s pairs in which all-conquering New Zealanders Eric Murray and Hamish Bond romped home, the Serbian boat crewed by
Milos Vasic and Nenad Bedic sank. Egyptian sculler Negm said the conditions were intense. “Halfway through the course this huge wave just went into my boat. It went all the way up to my face. I mean, I’m lucky I didn’t tip over,” she said. “I’ve never really raced in water like this. This was a new extreme, but it’s good experience. In the end I kind of feel like a Viking coming out of it.”
The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) announced yesterday that Lugard Mohan has been appointed Head Coach for Guyana’s male Under-15 team for the FIBA Centrobasket U15 Championship for Men. The Championship will take place from August 24 to August 28 in Patillas, Puerto
Rico. GABF and Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) will host sessions on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 beginning at 17:00h at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Twenty-three players have been shortlisted for the sessions and other under 15 players are allowed to turn up for the selection process. The final team will be named after the two-day trials. The twenty-three shortlisted players are Jordan Alphonso, Roydon Glasgow, Kwesi Roberts, Anthony Yansen, Corey Graham, Jeter Harris, Josiah Daniels, Jamal Persaud, Shaquawn Gill, Lugard Mohan, Alistair Agrippa (Georgetown), Yannick Tappin, Leon Benjamin, Kobe Tappin, Isiah Adams (Linden), Jermaine King, Matthew Samson, Rafael Sebastian (New Amsterdam), Isaiah Hintzen, Kadeem Dover, Robin Flatts, Nicholoyd Lowden, Joshua Grannum (Kwakwani)
Huge queues and angry fans mar the start of Rio Games
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) The Rio de Janeiro Olympics got off to a shambolic start on Saturday with fans queuing for hours to enter the stadium and some missing their events as many athletes competed in front of eerily empty stands. Games organisers apologised for dropping the ball on the first day of full competition, the morning after a dazzling opening ceremony, as iconic venues such as beach volleyball on the famed Copacabana beach saw only a few hundred spectators. Outside, lines stretched for several blocks as angry fans stood in the scorching sun, waiting as security staff struggled. “Indeed we have problems in some (security checkpoints) in the Olympic Park and we apologise for everybody standing in line outside the venues,” Games spokesman Mario Andrada told reporters. “We need to upgrade that part of the Games. We moved people from Rio 2016 (organisation) to speed up the mag and bag (security checks) and within the next hours we will be in much better shape.” He said he hoped no fan had missed competitions they had bought tickets for, but many Brazilians were left fuming. “I don’t believe it. It’s absurd, ridiculous,” said Rio resident Natalia Carvalho, 28, who had wanted to see Brazilian gymnast and medal hopeful Arthur Zanetti compete. Instead she entered the stadium only after he had finished his rings presentation with thousands more waiting to enter the Olympic park, site of several venues. “I always said that what I most wanted to see was Zanetti in the rings. It’s a lack of respect for the fan that bought tickets. It’s a shame,” she said. Games organisers blamed the snafu on a lack of coordination between various groups of security personnel, including the police, Games staff and private security firms. What should have been a celebration of the start of South America’s first Olympics instead turned into a damage-control operation, with Andrada vowing an immediate improvement. “It is the first morning of the Olympic crowd and some of the systems did not talk to each other. It was a problem of coordination. We need to explain to the public. We owe them an explanation and we owe them an excuse.” Only a few hundred spectators made it into the gymnastics arena, which can seat 13,500 people. The boxing venue also had many empty seats on Saturday morning as the first professionals in Olympics history entered the ring.