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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
Creating conflict when there is none It is always worrying when in the height of a campaign of one sort or another something untoward happens to one or more of the people against whom the campaign is directed. Immediately people on the side suspect something sinister and become swayed to support the target of the campaign. This is not unusual since most people are not violenceoriented. Recently, there has been a campaign against what people see as the unlawful operations of Bai Shan Lin, a Chinese logging company operating in Guyana. Logging itself is not illegal unless the logger cuts down rare trees or young trees or simply log without the permission of the authorities. In Guyana there is another condition that makes logging beyond a certain scale illegal. That condition is predicated by the agreement signed between Guyana and the Kingdom of Norway for US$250 million over five years. In the run-up to that signing, Guyana had already moved to help protect the environment against global warming. There is enough evidence to suggest that the earth is becoming warmer and the experts say that this is due to greenhouse gases from large scale industrial activities. Guyana, with its huge rainforest, offered to halt deforestation in an effort to limit the existence of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Experts calculated the volume of forest that could be cut in each year without affecting the equilibrium. In the wake of disclosures about the operations of Bai Shan Lin the government keeps insisting that the extent of deforestation is well within the prescribed limits. No one is supposed to dispute these facts. However, similar comments by the government have been found to be far from the truth. For example, in its advertisement, the Guyana Forestry Commission claimed that everything done to facilitate the operations of Bai Shan Lin was prescribed by an Act of Parliament. It turned out that he misapplied the Act. Given certain facts one will most certainly question any response provided to the media by the Guyana Forestry Commission. It is here, when the defenders appear to be caught in a quandary that distractions are created. There was one such distraction last week when someone reportedly broke into the vehicle owned by Jacy Archibald, the lawyer for the Guyana Forestry Commission. Archibald was reportedly at the National Park for a bout of exercise at the end of which he returned to his car to find it vandalized. The perpetrator reportedly removed a laptop and other documents. The immediate reaction that the vandalism was linked to the expose on Bai Shan Lin could only be intended to distract from the real issue—the legality of Bai Shan Lin’s operations. Suddenly there were reports of death threats against other members of the Forestry Commission. If there were these threats why were they not reported? The police said that they never got such reports. This then begs the question of whether these ‘threats’ were concocted. The authors of the distraction are seeking to initiate a dangerous game, one that pits investigative journalists against the government. President Donald Ramotar, at a recent press conference said that the questions about Bai Shan Lin’s operations are part of an anti-investment policy. He refused to examine the legality. Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee rather than discuss the issue, placed the investigative reporting in the light of a corrupt transaction of the media. “They probably beg for something and didn’t get it,” he said at a press conference. Without saying as much, the government has pledged its support for Bai Shan Lin to the exclusion of everything else. One can therefore see how this recent distraction would seek to fashion a conflict between the media and the government.
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
The No Confidence Motion is about Guyana’s future DEAR EDITOR, Much has already been said about the no confidence motion proposed by the AFC against the minority PPP regime that is before the nation, and if passed by Parliament could lead to a general election. This is a very serious issue that everyone must grapple with, especially the leaders of the two opposition parties. To make it realistic and in the context of replacing the PPP regime, the question of coalition politics is very important and must be given serious consideration.
If, in fact, the opposition cannot agree to coalesce, they must find a mechanism to get an agreement that will reflect the will of the majority of the people in government and in Parliament. The no confidence motion as proposed by Moses Nagamootoo of the AFC is not about the politics of today; it is about the politics of tomorrow and the next generation, and so we call on all Guyanese to take it seriously and register and vote. They cannot just sit back allow the next generation’s interest and future to be ruptured by the
politics of a callous, uncaring and corrupt PPP cabal. This cabal is so selfish and greedy that they have not only taken the best ocean front lands for themselves, but they have now pawned the country’s pristine forests to foreigners. Do the people have a choice? Yes they do! The AFC and APNU have finally found the solution to deal with the rogue PPP minority regime that can be addressed within the framework of the Parliament. The flimsy excuse given by the Minister of Finance to spend $4.5 billion of the taxpayers’
money without Parliament’s approval was the final proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. The AFC has made it very clear that it was no longer buying a pig in the bag from the PPP on this very fundamental issue because the people of this country deserve much better. Time is a very important issue, therefore we call on the Speaker to convene a special Parliament in early September to debate the “no confidence” motion. The Speaker is on record saying that “it is not such a (Continued on page 6)
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
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Kaieteur M@ilbox
THE CIOG IS NO INNOCENT BODY
DEAR EDITOR, I refer to a letter by the head of the above named organization, Mr. Fazeel Feroze (“Mr. Kissoon must be aware of the dangers of hearsay from anonymous sources,” KN, August 5, 2014.) I was drowning in the vortex of countless pursuits and could not submit an earlier response I begin my reply to Mr. Feroze with a personal reflection. In my life on this earth some of God’s most merciless, unethical creatures that should not have been part of society have come from people who either were/are preachers in their respective religions and denominations or people who were/are very religious. In my philosophical scheme of things I place no more value on the character of religious people than ordinary mortals who are not religious or who are nonbelievers. I was trained at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in Guyanese history and I can say unapologetically the Muslim, Catholic and Hindu churches have played disgraceful and destructive roles in the evolution of contemporary Guyana, the details of which need not occupy us here. Let me make it clear that these thoughts are not directed to Mr. Feroze himself, though I think they do apply to the CIOG, both in its past and present configuration.
I will forgive Mr. Feroze for his terrible advice to me to be aware of hearsay from anonymous sources. Mr. Feroze is not a media operative. If he was, he would have known that throughout the modern world, the great journalistic scoops originated from anonymous sources. That is such common knowledge throughout the world and most people know it so no need to belabour the point. However, I would offer some advice to Mr. Feroze. Since his organization is close to Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo and the present government, he should get the Chronicle and the Guyana Times to desist from printing thousands of letter penned by anonymous signatures. Now for Mr. Feroze’s assertion that the CIOG will not condone its intervention in judicial matters, I direct him to the publication of a court case in the April 24, 2010 issue of the Stabroek News. The court heard that Mrs. Shalimar Hack, the DPP and wife of Mr. Moen Hack, the leading scholar of the CIOG had ordered the arrest and charge of narcotic
trafficking against police officer Maurice Smith Smith in his testimony told the court that he felt it was malice against him because he had ordered the search of the suitcases of the Hacks at the airport and for that Mrs. Hack had written to the police to have him dismissed. Mr. Smith was freed of the charge and he was not sacked from the police force. Surely, this does not reflect positively on the image of the CIOG. In that news item, Officer Smith told the court he was summoned to appear in front of his superiors after the DPP wrote the police hierarchy about the searching. This columnist asserts most emphatically, that one of the most senior police officers in the force told a number of media operatives that a high-level CIOG official asked him to release a Muslim scholar who was at the station for investigation
of pedophilia. This columnist insists that officials from the CIOG approached a policeman and implored he not testify against the son of a wealthy Muslim businessman that he and other ranks arrested after bacchanalian revelry at Vreed-en-Hoop at 3.30 a.m. The son pulled his gun at the police party and fired. In a strange twist of fate the policeman was charged for assaulting the son. As to Mr. Feroze’s bold declaration that as commanded by Islamic law, Muslims must denounce racism, I will be cynical and react to this fiction by saying, “yea right.” I would like Mr. Ferioze to know that the racism I have seen in
Indian Muslim Guyanese equals that I have seen in all Guyanese. Apparently Mr. Feroze, it doesn’t look like Islam has a lot of influence on Muslim Indians because the election statistics from 11957 onwards show that most Indian Muslims have voted for the Indian based party the PPP and not the African based party, the PNC. Now, Mr. Feroze that surely seems to be ethnic motive in voting. Are Muslims supposed to be ethnically motivated? I hope not. Let me end by asking you a question Mr. Feroze. Are you serious enough to believe in this Dostoyevskian cemetery of
ethnic madness that Guyana was and still is that Muslims have not been equally guilty as Indian Hindus and Indian Christians? I lived in Guyana my whole life and studied Guyana my whole life, Mr. Feroze. Africans and Indians, despite their religion, have happily lived in their Shakesperian purgatory of burning contempt for each other. Hope Islam can change that in the upcoming general elections. I would be happy to work with the CIOG in that poetic pursuit Frederick Kissoon
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This correspondence is closed)
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox The Bible and Guyana’s sorry state DEAR EDITOR, To be informed about what is taking place in our beloved Guyana, a place that I call my home, I keep reading the daily newspapers and looking at the News on TV. I must confess that the information I receive leaves me to become very unhappy and concerned as to where we as a people are going. To get peace of mind I have resorted to reading the Bible and praying to God to help all the People of Guyana. Today I have been reading PROVERBS Chapter 29: and I wish to point to a few verses that struck me forcibly. (a) When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked beareth rule the people mourn. Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 4 (b) The righteous considereth the cause cause of the poor; but the wicked regarded not to know it.
Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 7. (C) If a ruler hearkens to lies all his servants are wicked. Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 12 (C) Where there is no vision the people perish, but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 18. (d) Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own Soul; he heareth cursing, and bewareth it not. Proverbs Chapter 29 verse 24. I am not accusing anybody but I am sure these portions of Scripture that I have alluded to do expose the failings of those who purport to represent us in parliament and elsewhere. The time is now ripe for all of us to consider the route our beloved Country should go. All I am asking is that we as a people pause and consider where we are going. Attorney-at-law, Jonas Coddett
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur M@ilbox Authorities ignoring my cries about this health hazard
The No Confidence Motion is about...
From page 4 bad thing if we go to the polls” and that he cannot blame the opposition. While we support the Speaker, we would also call on him to convene a special Parliament for the no confidence motion. We believe that such a significant motion cannot and should not wait until Parliament reconvenes in October when the PPP will attempt to stall the process until next year. The no confidence motion is a detailed expression of how p o w e r, p o l i t i c s a n d performance are linked together and how they are being circumvented by the PPP for personal benefits. The truth is the PPP has already done more than enough damage to the country in that they have given away our pristine forests to Bai Shan Lin and the Indian-owned Vaitarna
L o g g i n g C o m p a n y, therefore the combined opposition must pressure the Speaker to act now and reconvene Parliament in early September. Delaying the “no confidence” motion could cause more destruction to the country. It could also cause the opposition to lose the next general elections. Just listening to the Minister of Finance in Parliament explain the reasons for his illegal actions, we can only imagine the torment and frustrations that went through the minds of the opposition MPs, especially Khemraj Ramjattan, Moses Nagamootoo, Carl Greenidge and Joseph Harmon. And as we understood it, the leaders of the AFC have laid their political future on the line for the country and the people and in doing so they have put the people and country first which is unlike the PPP cabal who put their financial interests first. This is the ultimate sacrifice the AFC has made for the country and the people especially the poor and the working class
whom the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime has abandoned for more than a decade. Their primary objective of the “no confidence” motion is to put an end to the dictatorial, lawless, reckless and unrighteous PPP rule for their contempt of Parliament and the constitution and their disrespect for the people. We believe that the combined opposition has an obligation to support the aspirations of the 170,000 people who voted for them in 2011. They also have an obligation to ensure that the youths of Guyana will have a political system in which they can have a bright future and in fact have free and independent choice in the exercise of their democratic rights. Guyanese must be assured that all is not lost. Rome was not built in a day. In politics, one has to fight for his/her rights and that means Guyanese have to stand up and defend their democratic rights and freedoms by any and every legal means necessary. Asquith Rose and Harish Singh
DEAR EDITOR, I have been complaining since 2011 about the impact on my health from inhaling smoke on a daily basis but my cries have fallen on deaf ears. My next door neighbour erected a concrete structure (see photo) to burn the garbage from his liquor parlour. Due to the location of this structure I am most affected while he doesn’t have to inhale smoke and yet he is the perpetrator of this daily health hazard. This has affected my life tremendously, on numerous occasions I was forced to seek medical attention for respiratory problems and I have to use various medications for headaches, sore throat and allergies. I had to take days off from my work place and my expenses for tablets and doctor’s visits have further reduced my paltry salary. I visited and wrote several letters to the NDC (Lusignan), RDC (Region 4) and the Local Government Ministry. Apart from being harassed and mocked by
employees from the NDC I was told by an RDC official that if I develop bronchitis or cancer I should seek a cure from the Medex and the general consensus is that I have a problem with my neighbour. What learned officials we have! To complain means to be a bad sport, unfriendly and unneighbourly. I should just accept and forget since life is so cheap and inconsequential in Guyana. I do not burn my garbage because I prefer not to affect my neighbours and I know that it is bad for the environment and our health. I wait for the garbage truck. The regular garbage truck and a private company collect this neighbour’s refuse every week yet that is not enough for him, he cannot store his garbage like the rest of us. I have to be inconvenienced so that he can do his honourable duty of developing the youths with alcohol and vulgar music that degrades women. This is his livelihood and right but I don’t want the rubbish incorporated into my
body. Sir, I am a young person who does not smoke and lives a healthy lifestyle, why should I sacrifice my health and well being so that this man can burn his Styrofoam boxes, plastic items etc? The burning of these items releases many carcinogenic particles into the atmosphere which causes a range of immediate and future health problems. I do not need to be a doctor to know this, there is a wealth of information about air pollution on the internet and I experience some of the effects on a daily basis yet I am being treated like a neurotic hypochondriac! I am a taxpaying public servant who doesn’t have millions of dollars to seek overseas medical treatment in the event of a serious illness nor can I relocate to an environmentally friendly country where regulations are actually enforced. My health is my most valuable asset, is it so terrible to want to protect it? N. Deokarran
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Sierra Leone makes harbouring Ebola victims a crime
Members of a UNICEF-supported social mobilization team walk on a street, carrying posters with information on the symptoms of Ebola and best practices to help prevent its spread, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in this handout photo courtesy of UNICEF. REUTERS/Issa Davies (Reuters) - Sierra Leone’s parliament has made the harbouring of Ebola victims a crime punishable by two years’ jail in an attempt to stop the spread of the deadly virus, the justice minister said yesterday. The decision came as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the hiding of victims and the existence of “shadow zones” where medics cannot go has concealed the true scale of the epidemic. Some 1,427 people have died among 2,615 cases documented since the current outbreak - the worst since the disease’s discovery was first identified in Guinea in March, according to figures released by the WHO on Friday. Lawmakers in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown voted overwhelmingly in favour of the 2014 Public Health Amendment Act, which amends a 54-year-old public health ordinance. “The new regulation will provide for summary trial, meaning trial by a magistrate court alone,” Justice Minister Frank Kargbo told Reuters. Under-reporting of Ebola cases has been a problem particularly in Liberia and Sierra Leone, currently the two countries hardest hit by the virus. Nigeria, the fourth country affected, has reported 14 cases of the disease. Fear, stigma and denial have led many families to hide their infected loved ones from health officials. In other instances, patients have been forcibly removed from treatment facilities and isolation centres, creating the risk of the disease’s further spread. “The amendment is needed at this time taking into account the fact that when the 1960 ordinance was drafted and passed into law, a
disease such as Ebola did not exist,” said Kargbo, who also serves as Sierra Leone’s attorney general. Despite initial assertions by regional health officials that the virus had been contained in its early stages, Ebola case numbers and deaths have increased dramatically in recent months. As the outbreak has spread across borders from its initial epicentre in Guinea, governments in the region have introduced increasingly strict travel restrictions. Ivory Coast has closed its land borders Guinea and Liberia to try to prevent the virus from crossing onto its territory, the government announced late on Friday. Ivory Coast, French-speaking West Africa’s largest economy and the world’s top cocoa producer, had previously imposed a ban on flights to and from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. Liberia’s Nimba County, which shares a border with Ivory Coast, has seen the number of Ebola cases balloon in recent weeks. According to Moses Massaquoi, the head of Ebola case management at Liberia’s health ministry, 65 cases including 25 confirmed patients have now been reported there. “The number of cases in Nimba has spiked recently and it is now an area of concern,” Massaquoi told Reuters. The WHO does not recommend travel or trade restrictions for countries affected by Ebola, saying such measures could heighten food and supply shortages. But residents of Ivory Coast’s commercial capital Abidjan voiced support for the decision.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 24, 2014
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Firearm holder shoots alleged bandit who robbed sister The tinted white Toyota Premio, bearing registration number PMM 4657 which was left behind.
A man suspected of robbing a businesswoman last week is nursing gunshot wounds after he was allegedly shot yesterday by the brother of the woman he had robbed. Dexter Lindo, of Kitty, was reportedly shot three times at around 13.00 hrs after being cornered by the
- gun recovered
licensed firearm holder at the junction of Light and Sixth Streets, Alberttown. His condition is listed as critical. Two other men managed to escape. Police recovered an unlicensed firearm, a slipper and a wallet with local and foreign currency from a tinted white Toyota Premio car,
bearing registration number PMM 4657, that the suspects had allegedly used. According to reports, Lindo and others were suspects in a robbery which was committed on a businesswoman at Bourda last week. The victim’s brother, who received information of what
Forestry official’s wife renting house to Chinese logging company The relationship between a Chinese company and a senior member of the Guyana Forestry Commission is even closer than one might think. Kaieteur News has learnt that the GFC official’s wife rents a house to a Chinese company involved in the logging sector. The house, which is
located at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, was rented to the company officials for quite some time. Court records show that the property is owned by the wife of the official. The woman, according to sources, hails from Lethem. Neighbours told Kaieteur News that the Chinese nationals have been living at
the house for several months. Last week Commissioner James Singh, during a twohour press conference made valiant efforts to defend the company. Singh had urged the media to be careful in their reporting and investigations. This latest disclosure would surely raise eyebrows.
transpired, began enquiring about the suspects and their vehicle. There are reports that the men found out that the businesswoman’s brother was looking for them. “When they hear that, they went back to the store yesterday and threatened the woman. After they leave, she called her brother and he immediately started looking,” a police source said. The brother allegedly caught up with the men in Alberttown. It is alleged that one of the men shot at the brother who returned fire and wounded Lindo, who reportedly ran into a nearby shop where the police found him covered in blood. At the hospital yesterday, the suspect’s mother refused to speak to the media and prevented other relatives and friends from divulging information.
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Dem boys seh...
Brazzy alphabet seh ‘J’ is fuh jail Dem forestry people playing games and dem getting find out. De other day dem mek a lot of noise bout how people break into dem lawyer car but now dem finding out that no laptop didn’t get thief. Everything was a plan to mek de Waterfalls paper get blame because dem believe that dem boys woulda stop reporting. Dem had other plans too. One plan was fuh change de alphabet wha had li’l children saying ‘A’ is for apple and ‘B’ is for bat. De fat crook change it to seh that ‘A’ is for Amaila; ‘B’ is fuh Bai Shaan, and ‘C’ is fuh Cheddi Jagan International Airport. That was fuh indicate wheh de pocket money coming from. Of course dem boys know all de other letter of Brazzy alphabet but dem can’t remember all of dem. Fuh sure dem know that ‘J’ is fuh jail wheh Brazzy and all of dem gun end up. Donald know that alphabet very good because he learn it from de time he hear de man who look like de devil use to say it. De other day when dem boys couldn’t find he it was because he did stick up in de Mahaicony creek. He tek a boat fuh get away from all de confusion bout Bai Shaan and he stick up in de creek. He had to sit down deh because de boat run out of gas. It run out when dem was going and it break down when dem was coming back. Somebody thief de money that was to buy de gas. Dem do de same thing dem does always do when dem got government project like road wuk and construction. Dem put a li’l bit of the money in de project and de rest gone in somebody pocket. Donald know that because he did tell dem boys that dem contractors cocking he and de government. Ash Knee even seh that de government got to penalize dem engineer who got to supervise de project because dem got to see de substandard wuk. He even seh that de government don’t know bout de kok but dem boys can’t believe a word that any of dem seh. From de time dem open dem mouth is lie and that include Jagdeo. Nowadays dem telling everybody that Bai Shaan doing everything by de book but of course as dem boys know, not one word is true. That is why Guyana need a Kamla. She is a woman but she got more nuts than Donald. Talk half and remember de alphabet, ‘J’ is for jail.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 24, 2014
Marriott almost completed but not - contracts with Govt, investors many locals employed determine local employment Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in third world countries are welcomed, particularly for the creation of jobs. The situation in Guyana is no different since very often, contracts entered into by Government with investors determine the level of local employees. However, there are certain job-skills that would have to be imported. This is according to a senior official of the Ministry of Labour, who said that the desirable scenario in signing these agreements is to have local employment secured. However, foreign investors feel more comfortable with having familiar persons around. In fact, not so long ago, Government inked a construction contract for the Marriott-branded hotel in Guyana with Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) with one of the conditions being no Guyanese would be employed in the initial phases. The justification was that the Guyanese labour force
did not have the skills to build such a hotel. Incidentally, Government did not even find it necessary to include a clause that would allow the transfer of skills to prevent a similar situation in the future. Even now at the hotel, where the fence is under construction, there is no local labour evident in its construction. Government has said that the hotel would employ locals for the latter phases. In addition, Government jumped at the opportunity of lowering the cost of constructing the hotel from US$65M to US$51M at the expense of the Guyanese labour force. According to the official, the utilization of foreign labourers is monitored by the Ministry of Home Affairs- the agency that issues work permits. Personnel of the Ministry are tasked with visiting work sites to ensure investors do not employ more foreigners than the agreed number in the contract. It has been observed that
The multi-million dollar Marriott Hotel in Kingston is almost completed but there is no local labour for this fence.
foreigners have been taking on traditional jobs such as truck drivers and heavy duty operators particularly in the mining and forestry sectors. For instance, the majority of heavy duty vehicles and trucks owned by Bai Shan Lin, a Chinese company operating in Guyana’s forestry sector, are operated by Chinese nationals. Circumstances under which the foreign nationals were granted drivers’ licences were questioned since a language barrier exists.
The official said that there is a shortage of heavy-duty operators in Guyana. And, even though, there is continuous training, there seems not to be enough to satisfy the various sectors. It is unclear how many Guyanese are shortchanged with this situation since the rate of unemployment is unknown. According to the official, the Ministry of Labour is still computing data from the recently completed census. He explained that the Ministry
of Labour’s primary roles include mediation, conciliation and to ensure good working conditions exist. While, many Guyanese have gained employment with these foreign companies, the conditions under which they work are reportedly not in keeping with regulations. The official related that many persons working in the hinterland have been exploited by both foreign and local companies but the Ministry’s hands are tied and can only act once a complaint has been lodged. The official noted that the Ministry has been doing a fairly good job to help persons receive outstanding payments in the interior. For example, the Ministry was able to recover about $20M in outstanding payments to workers for this year thus far. The official pointed out that the Ministry is currently moving to get a foreign
logging company prosecuted for not paying a family for woods cut. Only recently, Bai Shan Lin was accused of paying the few locals it employs in Region 10, $500 per day- an allegation the company denies. If that were the case it would mean that the company is in violation of the new minimum wage order of $35,000 per month. According to the company, for interior locations, most of the Guyanese employed are paid based on performance, “the more you work, the more you will earn.” The performance scheme was acknowledged by some Amerindians who said they were promised payment on the size and number of logs cut. However, they were never given the opportunity to measure the size of logs. In addition, they accused the company of having outstanding payments for them.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 24, 2014
Red flags in GFC Annual Reports …
GFC illegally paid over $600M to NICIL The Annual Reports and the Audited Financial Statements of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) leaves more worrying questions than convincing answers, particularly as it relates to transparency and accountability. Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram among other critics, upon doing a detailed analysis of the Annual reports of the agency for the years, 20052012 all of which were laid in the National Assembly in November, 2013 found several alarming deficiencies and irregularities. But even in the face of these, the reports were granted “unqualified opinions” by the Auditor General. When a report is given an unqualified opinion by an auditor, it means that he has vouched for the authenticity, accuracy and transparency of the information presented to him. The reports reveal that for several years, the Commission has been transferring millions to the National Industrial & Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) and the Environmental Protection Agency, which is
“To add insult to injury, the Auditor General signs off on financial statements approved not by the Board which has the statutory duty for the financial statements but by Mr. James Singh, the Commissioner,” - Chris Ram against the law. Ram contends that for the $600 million that the GFC allowed to be paid over to NICIL, all its directors should be hauled before the courts while NICIL should be investigated and disbanded. He said that the combination of NICIL/GFC is not only an insult to the intelligence of Guyanese but a challenge and an affront to decency. To add insult to injury, Ram noted that the Auditor General signed off on financial statements approved not by the Board of Directors of GFC which has the statutory duty for the statements, but by Mr. James Singh, the Commissioner “Surely even the most docile Guyanese must have some breaking point at which they say enough is more than enough.” The Chartered Accountant on his website, Chrisram.net said that one would expect Finance
Ministers to be zealously vigilant and robustly protective of moneys payable into the country’s Consolidated Fund. “Instead, we have NICIL, under the successive chairmanship of two Finance Ministers, being used to siphon off hundreds of millions of dollars due to the Consolidated Fund. There can be no extenuating circumstances that could excuse, let alone justify such unlawful and reckless conduct, fully aware of the nescient (ignorant) state of the Auditor General’s Office,” The accountant expressed. There was also a published series on the said shortcomings of the Commission’s reports done by Janette Bulkan and John Palmer. The duo also pointed to the NICIL/GFC fiasco. In their detailed analysis, they too pointed to the fact that large amounts of monies, and large variations from year to year between line items in the Commission’s annual reports appear to have been unquestioned by the Auditor General. Bulkan and Palmer said that no explanation was offered as to why the GFC should be holding over US$4 million in cash each year, why transfers are made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NICIL, but none to the Consolidated Fund. They said too that no explanation was given by the GFC as to why it is acquiring and disposing of fixed assets
James Singh, Forest Commissioner
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram
and why it has current tax liabilities of up to US$10 million in a year – dwarfing other line items. They stressed that there is a legal requirement for the GFC to make transfers to the Consolidated Fund (Section 16 (2) in the GFC Act 2007), but no requirement to send money to the EPA or NICIL. Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Carl Greenidge, in support of their findings, said that this is an important and contentious issue. The former Finance Minister reiterated that the Forestry Act of 2009 makes no reference to either NICIL or the EPA so an explanation is definitely needed as to the relationship of the two entities and their claims on GFC funds. “We need to know what instructions or secret agreements were made to facilitate this blatant disregard for the law. Did the GFC Board actually take this decision or was it a calculated move by the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud? The people need to know,” Greenidge concluded.
A Partnership for National Unity’s Member on the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources, Joseph Harmon said too that even from a limited review of the reports of the Commission, “it seems like the GFC is another milking cow for NICIL, more food in the trough for Brassington and his crew. As these emerge, Guyanese people see clearly how the country’s resources are siphoned off to a parallel budget over which the National Assembly has no control.” Moreover, Ram had also stated that the GFC is just another example of the perpetuation of Jagdeo’s legacy of financial lawlessness, a situation that is as wide as it is deep. He said that the state of financial lawlessness created by former President Bharrat Jagdeo surely allows for the GFC’s “incomplete and deceptive” reports to be tabled and accepted by the National Assembly without any questions being asked or challenges posed. Ram asserted that the chaos created is one in which
the national accounting body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana, remains silent even as basic rules of accounting are violated with impunity. The state of lawlessness that exists, is “One in which the parliamentary bodies are paralysed by their own mediocrity. One in which we even have a mini-parallel Consolidated Fund called NICIL and where the evidence of slush funds everywhere mounts,” he added. On his website, Ram said that only a wide-ranging, independent investigation into the public financial management of this country generally and of NICIL specifically can stem the relentless decline in accounting and accountability. He opined that the Government will not allow it and the weak opposition will not ask for it but the people of Guyana must demand it. On his website, the accountant provides further details about his findings of the reports of the Commission for the years 2005 to 2012 which were all laid in Parliament in November, 2013.
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
Guyana: Journey into the chasm of Dantean darkness This land of just over 700,000 souls of which a large percentage are children, is a quiet country with not even the hint of civil war, not even a small sign of violent unrest, and a tranquil people who couldn’t be bothered if their ruler whips his wife in public. Contrast this nation with many other territories where stability threatens the very existence of the society yet people show emotion, anger and rejection about life’s crass unfairness. It is not that Guyana is a political and social cemetery but it seems that life itself is so bizarre, grotesque, contorted, caricatured that this nation can be labeled a semi-civilized, primitive outpost. There seems to be no logic and coherence in this country. Life just seems to be out of a Gothic horror novel. Nothing makes sense in this outpost. The facts about this country just leave you numb and psychologically drained. The facts about Guyana are unbelievable. In Guyana, a second hand-car costs more than the latest Japanese model just off the line? A brand new Japanese model, outside of a special luxury vehicle, costs less than an old, ordinary
family car. In Guyana, the cheapest Japanese reconditioned car starts from US$10,000. A good model that is about seven years old goes around US$15,000. No brand new Japanese car sells for US$15,000. A majority of people in Guyana are afraid of the police? A majority of young women drivers live in fear of the average traffic cop in this land? The fear is real because the oppressing behaviour of the uniformed officer is real. School children in many public schools have to contribute to purchasing the paper on which their annual test is printed? The headmaster of one Berbice school told me that is the decision of his school, and his school is not the only one. None of the commercial banks and insurance companies in this country have washroom facilities for their customers? Go to even the smallest financial house in Georgetown and they are overcrowded with customers. This country’s stock exchange is almost comical, because Guyana has less than twelve public companies and the daily financial transactions in this country are nothing compared to
what takes place in Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados. Yet a cheque takes four consecutive days before it can be credited to your account. There is hardly a public school anywhere in the entire Guyana that has a clean washroom? A former colleague of mine told me her niece at Queen’s College was appalled at what she saw and it affected the little girl. The Faculty of Technology at UG has not had at least one functioning lab, not one, the past twenty years? Ninety-five percent of the traffic signals are dead? Since the beginning of the 20th century to August 2014, the major streets here do not have lamp lights? The two Georgetown fire service buildings look like abandoned shacks a hundred years ago. The zoo in the Botanical Gardens is a torture chamber for the dying animals. Guyana has one of the world’s highest murder rates, but does not do DNA lab testing. The Georgetown Hospital must be the only medical institution in the world where you die from a bullet wound in your buttocks. Guyana is one of the most
difficult countries in the world to travel to and from? It is far easier to get a normal flight to Iraq or Pakistan or Afghanistan than one from Guyana to North America and the Caribbean. A ticket from Guyana on Caribbean Airlines (I have no knowledge of what other locally based airlines cost) is one of the most expensive tickets in the world in terms of distance. I spent G$90,000 last August for two tickets for three days in Trinidad. Each ticket was G$45,000. This is about US$225. Do you know that is the cost of a Transatlantic flight between North America and Europe? Do you know in the 21st century the police stations in the entire country do not
operate with a database system? If John Jones is wanted for ten murders and the police stop him for reckless driving in Enmore, he is booked at the station, put on station bail, and is gone. They cannot run his name through the computer, because there are no computers at the stations. A policeman is caught on camera whipping a little boy and his mother as they lay on the ground. And he happily remains in the police force. Three policemen tortured an under-age youth and burned his reproductive parts and they are still on the job. A prosecutor tells a magistrate the accused was wrongly charged but the magistrate still remands her to jail. The magistrate is still on the job.
Frederick Kissoon In Guyana when it rains very hard continuously for three hours, the commercial stores and the streets in the downtown areas are inundated? So the helpless owners clean the stores, then the rains come the next week and its evacuation time again. Such a country actually has citizens living in it. But what kind of citizens are they? Are they humans?
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 24, 2014
Book Review…Revelatory book resurrects life of a Caribbean icon Book: John Hearne’s Life and Fiction: A Critical Biographical Study by Shivaun Hearne Reviewer: Dr Glenville Ashby John Hearne’s Life and Fiction: A Critical Biographical Study is an exposition that merges an artist with his canvas, a writer with his pen. More importantly, it examines the moulding of an artist. Shivaun Hearne offers a scholastic oeuvre that comes alive with colour and verve. It is exhaustively researched work punctuated with academic rigour. That Hearne’s work appears anachronistic, on the cusp of irrelevance, is challenged by the author. She argues, in compelling style, that a country is an amalgam
of many cultural epochs, none outstripping the other in worth. This is the crux of Hearne’s thesis John Hearne was raised in a period that was afflicted by the embers of plantocracy and the unsavoury canons on class, race and “shadism.” His was a family that enjoyed the privileges seized by society’s upper crust. Here, several observations can be gleaned. Hearne’s merit was attributed to structured familial grooming, but also his (own) personal adventurism. He attended the most prestigious schools and had the mantras of the privileged drilled into him by his elders. Indeed, his home was a replica of a highly stratified society. His work reflected that much. Colonial and post colonial societies do reflect their artists’ zeitgeist in as genuine a manner as possible. Unfortunately, social critics can be unforgiving, dismissive of yesterday’s spirit. Some are blinded by political
opportunism, thereby marginalizing achievements of the past. But Hearne’s compendium transcends politics. It is classical existentialism that bleeds with the joys and anguish of the human experience. It brilliantly portrays the crises that beset many an artist. Of Hearne’s self doubt we learn: “The internal battle between wanting to be a poet and having the talent for prose seemed to nag at Hearne more than he would admit. He continued to write, more poetry than prose…and suffered through the lulls and dry spells.” Heavy drinking soon emerged as a nemesis to his literary prowess. “Whether alcoholism was the result or the cause of his increased depression is impossible to say. What is certain is that his periods of guilt and self loathing grew and his creative writing suffered,” surmises the author. During his sojourn in London in the early 1950s he met with other West Indian literary giants such as George
Lamming, V.S. Naipaul, and Samuel Selvon. This was a period of acculturation with all its personal struggles and misgivings. The author is reserved in casting Hearne as an unapologetic conservative. And rightly so. Ever the master of framing reality within a fictional context, his “Voices under the Window,” should be explored for its sheer brilliance in creativity. In this masterpiece he casts himself as Mark Lattimer, “the light-skinned politically active lawyer.” Here, “Lattimer attempts to save a little boy from being trampled by the crowd,” and “is fatally wounded by an enraged mulatoo man” spewing racial expletives. He writes, “The black people bellowing at me to get off their necks and the whites, too, screaming nervously not so often, more refined, whenever I came nearer to certain limits.” Although Hearne might have missed the opportunity to redeem himself politically, because, “Lattimer” second guessed his motives, “Voices” speaks volumes of
the raging battle between the human conscience and the forces of revolution. Effortlessly, Hearne’s revelatory book moves us to revisit the past, without blinders. No doubt, we stand to garner profound lessons from John Hearne’s timeless artistry.
John Hearne’s Life and Fiction: A Critical Biographical Study by Shivaun Hearne Publisher: Caribbean Quarterly, UWI, Mona, Jamaica, 2013 ISBN: 978-976-41-0253-3 Rating: Highly recommended
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
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MY COLUMN
Going on a vacation could be risky In life, everyone needs a break from the daily grind, so some people who have the wherewithal pack up and leave for destinations overseas. But the vast majority of Guyanese simply take a break from work, but what they do not do is use the break to travel around the country. I recall when I was a teacher at Bartica, one of the first things I did was travel to the interior. There was a group of us who was keen on seeing Kaieteur Falls, so we combined our resources to do so. Those were what people refer to as the ‘cheap days’, because we paid ten dollars a person to travel to Mahdia by bus. Then we pooled another twenty dollars for food and other incidentals. I was earning $215 per month back then. I hasten to say that a large bottle of rum was a mere $4.25 in Bartica, but just over three dollars on the coast. In those days there were the large trucks that frequented the road between Bartica and Mahdia, and represented the only way to go to a hinterland location. Those trucks had schedules, the same way buses have
these days, so one had to plan one’s trip around the buses. The truck left and our group spent the first night at a government rest house at a location called Kangaruma. We were about 25, men and women; the men also walked with drinks because a night is no good without something to warm the spirit. The chaser was largely the water that flowed along the Potaro having tumbled off the ledge of the mighty Kaieteur. The fun really began the next day when we all boarded a ballahoo, powered by an outboard motor, up the Potaro River. There were falls along the way, so we had to portage (use the track beaten around the falls and pull the boat to the other side). There was Amatuk, then Waratuk and I learnt that ‘tuk’ meant stone. So Kaietuk was very high stone. We spent the night at Tukeit where another guest house nestled at the foot of the Kaieteur Falls. We climbed to the top of the falls along a mossy trail, spent a glorious day at the top, then climbed down to repeat those things we did on the upward journey. That was how I began to
see the hinterland, long before I could ever think of boarding an international flight which I first did to attend the University of the West Indies, Mona. But by then I had visited Kurupung, Kamarang, Waramadong, Jawalla, Paruima, Ekereku and so many other locations, not to mention the falls at Orinduik, on a river that separates Guyana from Brazil. These days people do not even consider such trips. They think of travelling to Trinidad and other Caribbean locations; many travel to North America just to say that they have been to New York, Miami or Canada. Well such travels have so much more to cause regret than heading to Guyana’s hinterland. Just Friday I read about a college student out of Trinidad going to her room and opening her suitcase to discover ten pounds of cocaine in her luggage. She called the police. I also remember Russell DeFreitas, a Guyana-born United States citizen who is now doing time in an American jail for plotting to blow up the fuel tanks at the John F Kennedy International airport, finding cocaine in
his luggage after landing at that airport. He told me that he turned back to hand over his find to the authorities, and it was a good thing that he did. An upstanding Guyanese woman on the same flight had been detained. The authorities had found two kilos of cocaine in her luggage. It was a Delta flight out of Guyana and in those days luggage was not wrapped as they are today on request. Because the stuff handed over by DeFreitas matched those found in the woman’s luggage in the way the drug was packaged, DeFreitas told me that the authorities told him that he had just saved a woman from jail. I never found out who that woman was, but Delta refunded the cost of her ticket and other expenses. I later learnt that the woman was scared to travel by air to the United States ever after. That incident was a wakeup call for me; I refuse to travel overseas with luggage. Anyone seeing me leave would simply see me pulling a carry-on piece with precious little. There are others who exhibit the same fear in the
face of efforts by some travelling companions to move cocaine to North America. A vacation is supposed to be a pleasant thing, so one needs not be afraid to proceed on the wellearned rest. I have seen people going on a two-week trip and packing two hefty suitcases. I suspect that they try to carry many of those things that they feel their overseas relatives need-things like saltfish, cassareep, mettai, pone and fried fish. These things are all available in North America, so I wonder why people go to the trouble. In any case, I fetch nothing, except for the rare occasion when one of my daughter’s friends gave me some things to carry. I was reluctant but I did, and lost my temper when I had to place my hand piece in the cargo hold and when I arrived at JFK, had to subject it to a scan. Airports are places where I hate to hang
Adam Harris about and that day I had to. Fortunately I was not on vacation. I still insist on people spending their time visiting the hinterland. People come from overseas to see those interior locations while we run from them. But then again, while we rush to see New York or Toronto, there are New Yorkers who never crossed the river to see New Jersey and vice versa. They are contented to stay where they live. For sure many of them are not breaking their necks to come to Guyana.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 24, 2014
PPP’S DESPERATION PALPABLE On Thursday June 26th last, President Donald Ramotar declared with attempted bravado that his People’s Progressive Party is duly prepared for general elections. His Excellency’s declaration came in response to the then imminent threat of the Alliance For Changepiloted no-confidence motion against his minority government. President Ramotar’s declaration has since been exposed as rhetorical camouflage for what appears
to be a dreadful despair that has enveloped Freedom House. The realization that the party is fortuitously clinging to power and will inevitably be stripped of it whenever the elections are called appears palpable in the action, words, and rhyme emanating from Robb Street. There is a cacophony of power plays. In one corner those who have reason to recognize that a post-PPP government inquiry is likely to determine
that they may not be able to legally account for their wealth, are in an obvious scramble to empanel their riches and freedom for their pending sojourn in opposition or exile. We noticed for example the refusal of one Cabinet member to join his colleagues in a walkout of an ambassadorial residence after a vulgar and repugnant outburst. Was this official caught in an act of attempted cozying up to Uncle Sam for post-electoral
protection? In another corner the ambitious among them are engaged in fitful and desultory schemes of power brokerage. Demanding that excessively photoshopped photos of themselves be plastered in classrooms and on dilapidated lantern poles is not beneath them. In a third corner the General Secretary is employing the use of a combination of bombast and fatuousness in a valiant crusade to discredit the electoral commission’s readiness. In a fourth corner the Cabinet Secretary is issuing remonstrative challenges to the electoral body to demonstrate readiness. In a fifth corner the PPPappointed GECOM commissioners are openly defiant of the organization’s public affirmations of preparedness. In a sixth corner a presidential advisor and a member of Cabinet conspired to launch that bizarre tirade against a prominent member of the diplomatic community in defiance of calls for a correction to the absurdity of
a 20-year absence of local government elections. With the no-confidence motion being inevitable and with the PPP having recognized that it will be a fatal blow to their time in government, they have been engaged in desperate and scatter-brained strategy sessions. It appears as though their latest tactic is to seek to avoid the noconfidence motion by considering the calling of elections before Parliament resumes in October. The party has put out feelers in the public domain to this effect. Such is the intense state of desperation that President Ramotar has been attempting to shape public opinion of GECOM’s readiness by openly contradicting what GECOM itself has offered. President Ramotar recently remarked, “GECOM continues to say that they are ready for the election, but I think they could very well be more ready for a national election than a local government election, because there is a different procedure that has to be going through with local government election.”
The President is now engaged in the foggy business of conjecture and supposition on as serious matters as democracy and electoral readiness. The full gamut of evidence having been considered, the conclusion is inescapable – that the People’s Progressive Party is barely and desperately clinging to power and that they are acutely aware of this. The national sentiment, most obvious in the calls for local government election, is approaching an irrepressible tide of beleaguered discontent with the ruling PPP. Whenever, and under whatever circumstances elections are called the result is inevitable – that the PPP will lose the government. The empyreal Cheddi Jagan’s party is being disassembled not as much from without as more certainly and discernibly from within. Those living within earshot of Babu John, the cremation site of Dr. Jagan, may have tales to tell. He must be weeping at the ruin of the party he spent a lifetime to build and strengthen.
Sunday August 24, 2014
SUNDAY SPECIAL BAI SHAN LIN LOGGING SCANDAL…BURNS THOUSANDS OF ABANDONED LOGS IN E’BO - SHIPS IN US$25M IN EQUIPMENT BEFORE LOGGING PERMISSION GRANTED Under-fire Chinese-owned firm, Bai Shan Lin, spent over $5B (US$25M) in equipment to conduct primary extraction activities even before it received permission to conduct large scale logging. The admission by the company last week Saturday in a statement would raise questions whether Government and its agencies promised the company that it will clear the way for it to receive state forests to conduct logging activities. Both Bai Shan Lin and the Government of Guyana are facing serious flak now over the arrangements the latter has with the company. The company has been conducting significant logging activities in especially the Upper Berbice, Region 10, area without any clear moves to establish its promised processing facilities. While Bai Shan Lin has two State Forest Exploratory Permits, it has not yet been granted the clearance to log as a number of studies have to first be completed and submitted first to the regulators. A letter from the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association has been sent to Government requesting details of Bai Shan Lin’s agreement with Government. Among other things, stakeholders want the full text of all foreign direct investment (FDI) arrangements and supplementary contracts and details of all concession licences – Timber Sales Agreements (TSA), Wood Cutting Licences (WCLs) and State Forest Permissions (SFPs). Government and the Guyana Forestry Commission are also being asked to table all Joint Venture contracts, showing signatures of government approvals on letterheads, and with dates. Meanwhile, in its joint venture concession at Kwebana, Region One, several logs which were apparently abandoned in one of the trails for months, were found to be torched. It was reported that workers of Bai Shan Lin, in an attempt to get rid of the logs which had been lying there for a while, set them afire to get rid of them. The GFC tags on several of half burned logs remained
Kaieteur News
unscathed. The Kwebana concession has reportedly been a major problem for Bai Shan Lin because it is an area in which new roads have to be built. The company is hoping to use the Waini River to help it move the cut logs out of the area. It remains to be seen whether GFC takes action over the burning of the logs. UNINSTALLED IFMAS MODULES…A CALCULATED PLAN TO ROB TREASURY - “HOUSE MUST DEMAND FINANCE MINISTER INSTALL MISSING MODULES,” – MP GREENIDGE Could it be that the true reason that the government did not install two modules belonging to a reliable accounting system, the Integrated Financial Management Accounting System (IFMAS) is because it was part of a calculated and long running plan to rob the Treasury? Carl Greenidge, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) strongly believes that this is so and that the National Assembly must demand that the Finance Minister install missing modules. The Parliamentarian recently added his views to the many others which have followed the recent statements of the IFMAS developers who refuted those made by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. Dr. Singh at a press conference held a months ago, had said that his ministry failed to implement two of the modules belonging to the IFMAS because it is suited for a more “mature” environment. MONDAY EDITION LOGGING SCANDAL DEEPENS…BAI SHAN LIN SAYS IN FULL PAGE AD APPLICATION TOOK FOUR YEARS TO PROCESS GO-INVEST HAS NO APPLICATION FOR LOGGING OR ANY RELATEDACTIVITY – OPPOSITION The recent expose by this publication on what appears to be the exploitation of Guyana’s forests by Bai Shan Lin has driven the Chinese firm and the Guyana Forestry Commission into campaigns which seek to repair their image. Through paid advertisements, the two entities have attempted to provide the public with the information some critics have refused to accept because they feel it is not the entire truth.
In one of its ads in the Kaieteur News Sunday publication, Bai Shan Lin stated that in 2008, it applied to the “Government of Guyana through the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest) and other agencies to lease lands to set up a factory to process logs and engage in value added production, such as the making of furniture, craft and hard wood flooring.” Since issuing this statement, several opposition members have said that GoInvest should publicly state its role with the said company and why it has failed as the government’s main investment agency to monitor how Guyana is benefitting from the deals struck with the company and the government. However, when contacted Sunday, Keith Burrowes, CEO of GO-invest, declined to release any information in this regard. Burrowes told this publication, “I prefer not to comment on your questions on Bai Shan Lin and considering that only recently I was appointed the CEO of this company, I can assure that I will look into it.” However, after being apprised with these comments, some opposition members said that the CEO’s response only leaves one to wonder as to why he could not answer simple questions about the company’s role regarding Bai Shan Lin. HARMON ACCEPTS GFC’S CHALLENGE FOR PUBLIC DEBATE ON BAI SHAN LIN An interesting and intense debate over the controversial Bai Shan Lin logging operation is expected to take centre stage sometime in September.
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Chairman of Chinese-owned, Bai Shan Lin, Chu Wenze
Joseph Harmon, Shadow Minister of Public Works and Telecommunications
This is because APNU Parliamentarian Joseph Harmon has accepted a challenge thrown out to him by Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission, James Singh. The debate comes in light of a series of articles and photographs by this publication on the logging activities of the Chinese Company, which does not have a logging licence. In a letter which appeared in the press, Singh said that at a meeting of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Natural Resources on July 14, all matters and areas of clarification related to forestry activities, including Bai Shan Lin’s operations, were fully addressed with relevant details provided. However, the Forestry Commission noted that there have been several reports in the local media, which contained allegations, claims and assertions that Harmon made, on various matters relating to Bai Shan Lin and the GFC’s conduct in this
regard. He said that the GFC role as a regulatory agency involves interactive and open dialogue with stakeholders. In this regard, “I like to invite you to a public debate on Bai Shan Lin’s operations and any other related forestry matter at a time that is convenient to you.” In response, Harmon, who is a member on the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources , wrote to Singh acknowledging the receipt of his letter, dated August 13, which extended an invitation to the public debate. At the centre of the issue is the stewardship of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) over the forestry sector of Guyana and the Commission’s relationship with Bai Shan Lin (BSL). TUESDAY EDITION FORMER TREASON ACCUSED, PHILIP BYNOE ABUSES, THREATENS KNEWS REPORTERS - REPORT MADE TO
POLICE Seemingly incensed and ready to put Kaieteur News in its place, former treason accused Philip Bynoe, attended a press conference hosted by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) Kingston on Monday afternoon. The press conference was called to refute the recent exposures in the media regarding the operations of Bai Shan Lin and other Asian logging companies servicing Guyana. Bynoe was not the only non-member of the media fraternity and non-employee of GFC that attended the press conference. In fact, a minibus load of Lindeners was brought to Georgetown and the passengers were in attendance. During the media conference, Bynoe and the other Lindeners shouted in agreement with the responses by various GFC officials to the press and sought to distract reporters as they posed questions. Bynoe later hurled inappropriate remarks and interrupted Kaieteur News’s reporters whilst they were posing their questions. He said, “Kaieteur News troops out today; we will deal with the troops just now, we will deal with them properly.” But Bynoe didn’t stop there. As he wagged his index finger in the direction of Kaieteur News’s reporters, he said “I gon deal with aya, I will surely deal with aya.” And so he continued throughout the press conference. When the media conference ended and Kaieteur News’s Abena Rockcliffe got up from her seat, there was Bynoe in her face shouting, “Shame on Kaieteur News, (Continued on page 43)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 24, 2014
The President must assume personal command of counter-narcotics battle Narcotics-trafficking in Guyana has been increasing over the past twenty years under the People’s Progressive Party Civic PPPC - administration. Guyana’s entry into international ‘industrial scale’ narcotics-trafficking was signalled, spectacularly, in the October 1998 ‘discovery’ of 3,148 kg (about 6,940 pounds) of cocaine valued at US$288M on the MV Danielsen in Port Georgetown. The December 2007 ‘discovery’ of the impressive 1,100m-long, illegal airstrip was another notorious event. A burnt-out Let 410 UVPE turboprop aeroplane with a payload of 1,615 kg was found on the airstrip near Wanatoba, 130 km up the Corentyne River in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region. This demonstrated Guyana’s capability to import cocaine on an industrial scale by air. The ‘discovery’ in midAugust this year of a SelfPropelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) marine vessel in the Barima-Waini Region was yet another event. The vessel had the capacity to carry a payload of over a tonne of cocaine,
demonstrating Guyana’s growing maritime narcotrafficking capability. Revelations in the international media in February this year of the existence of a Guyana-Italy cocaine conspiracy were ominous. Evidence that Guyanese narco-traffickers were working hand-in-hand with Italian Mafiosi confirmed fears that Guyana, at the international level, had already established multilateral trade links and, nationally, it was on the way to full narco-statehood. This time, two dozen suspected narco-traffickers linked to the Gambino and Bonanno crime families and the Italian Ndrangheta crime syndicate were arrested in New York and Italy during a coordinated American-Italian Operation. President Donald Ramotar is faced with reports of weekly drug busts at the international and municipal airports and elsewhere. He admitted to the United Nations General Assembly last September that the scourge of narco-trafficking has “…engendered a growth in criminal activity in our
region. The availability of guns in many societies, most of which is [sic] a by-product of the narco-trade, has contributed to the growth of gun crimes and murders in the region and beyond.” If the President knows this much, he must start to show leadership in his administration’s counternarcotics policy-making. He must take command of the counter-narcotics battle. He must become personally involved in directing the campaign to rid this country of the scourge and stigma of the drug trade. The US Department of State continues to warn – in its annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report – that “Guyana is a trans-shipment point for South American cocaine on its way to North America and Europe.” This country, under the PPPC administration, has become a warehouse and an international emporium from which narco-traffickers export their merchandise to foreign markets. Hardly a month passes that cocaine is not discovered in shipments of condiments, fruit, food and vegetables – achar; awara; boulanger; coconut milk;
mango; pineapple; rice; ochro; pepper; star-apples – and other commodities. Guyana’s counter-narcotics enforcement agencies Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit and Police Anti-Narcotics Unit - in the face of this trade, have been deliberately underfunded, underequipped and understaffed. They have never been provided with the surveillance aircraft, river and coastal patrol boats, all-terrain vehicles and trained personnel needed to secure the country’s international transit points, coasts and borders. They are incapable of locating, identifying, investigating and prosecuting the major drug cartels. It is no surprise that they have been unable to prevent the large-scale importation of illegal narcotics into the country. Their successes, if any, have been in preventing small amounts of cocaine from leaving the country. The PPPC administration currently has no effective counter-narcotics strategy. The last plan – National Drug Strategy Master Plan, 2005-2009 – was never fully implemented. It expired five years ago and was never replaced. The Plan’s essential components – the National Anti-Narcotics Co-ordinating Secretariat; National AntiNarcotics Commission; Joint
Intelligence Co-ordination Centre; Joint Anti-Narcotics Committee and Regional Anti-Drugs Units - were never established. The ten Regional AntiDrugs Units to provide information which could be passed to the Joint Intelligence Co-ordination Centre and Joint AntiNarcotics Committee were never activated. How serious can the President be about the PPPC’s war on drugs when he himself has not taken the trouble to establish the very Commission of which he is the designated Chairman? He, more than anyone else, ought to explain to the nation, why his administration’s main counter-narcotics strategy was allowed to expire without achieving its objectives and, so far, without replacement. And so the deception continues. Clement Rohee, the Minister of Home Affairs, announced three and a half years ago, in January 2011, that “arrangements have commenced” for the formulation of a new five-year Drug Strategy Master Plan. He brazenly repeated the same bogus promise, two years ago in September 2012, stating that a new drug strategy master plan was being crafted by the government. This time he told
uninformed foreigners that “our country is currently working assiduously to draft a new Drug Strategy Master Plan that would be used to guide our current and future Anti-Narcotics activities.” President Ramotar must know that narco-trafficking has been driving this country’s high rates of money-laundering, gunrunning, execution-murders and armed robberies. He must know that violent crime is scaring foreign investors, driving away the educated élite, undermining balanced economic growth, strangling legitimate manufacturing enterprise and impeding social development. The President must know that ‘execution-type killings’ - many of which are suspected to be related to the narcotics-trafficking account for about one-third of all murders. He must know that the lucrative narco-trade is estimated to contribute the equivalent of 20 per cent or more to Guyana’s GDP. President Ramotar must know a lot about narcotrafficking in this country. He must therefore accept personal responsibility for the failure of the PPPC’s counter-narcotics campaign. He must make more than ‘limited’ promises. He must commit his administration absolutely to effective performance.
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 24, 2014
Sunday August 24, 2014
From page 27 Shame!”The reporter asked, “Why are you throwing tantrums here?” To this he responded, “I will deal with Kaieteur News and Kaieteur News reporters, individually…Watch and see.”.” LOGGING SCANDAL…GFC DEFENDS DELAYS IN PROCESSING FACILITIES The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has defended its handling of logging activities in the country by saying that all is above board and nothing is wrong. During a testy press conference at its Kingston headquarters Monday, which was peppered with questions regarding the operations of foreign investors, the regulatory body in defence of the delays to invest in a timely manner in value-added processing, also said that it may be a case where producers are finding it more economical to export. Along with his senior management officials, GFC’s head, Commissioner James Singh also criticized reporting by both independentlyowned Kaieteur News and Stabroek News in their coverage of the forestry sector in recent weeks. Two companies especially – Chinese-owned Bai Shan Lin and Indian-controlled Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc. – came under intense scrutiny recently amidst reports of their logging activities. The reports had zeroed in on the absence of value-added processing which both companies have promised but have not moved into. WEDNESDAY EDITION GFC SAYS BAI SHAN LIN DID NO LOGGINGAT KWEBANA IN 2014…PHOTO EVIDENCE RUBBISHES CLAIMS Information provided by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) regarding logging activities by Chineseowned Bai Shan Lin in Kwebana, Region One, in Essequibo, is totally false. The information has raised further questions about what other information provided by GFC is also untrue. Last week, in published statements and again on Monday during a press conference at the agency’s Kingston head office, Commissioner James Singh said that for the year, no logging activities took place in the Kwebana concession – an area of 87,361 hectares that is under the control of the Chinese company. Kwebana saw some 10,188 cubic metres logged last year. However, for
Kaieteur News
this year, GFC claims that no logging activities took place there. The figure for the production provided was zero. This is a startling claim from GFC, especially since Kaieteur News flew over the area last week and saw activities ongoing. There was an entire line of Bai Shan Lin trucks with logs parked at a section of the Kwebana concession. There were GFC tags and official markings on the logs – a clear indication that logs were being harvested with the full knowledge of the forest rangers. THURSDAY EDITION NOT A BAD THING IF WE GO TO THE POLLS – SPEAKER Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman has stated that the political opposition cannot be faulted for the No-Confidence Motion which is expected to be debated in October. Asked whether he believes that the Motion which was laid in the Assembly by the Alliance For Change (AFC) is the best option for the people at this time, Trotman said, “If the Opposition feels that it has exhausted every recourse towards compromise in getting government to see its way, well then I can’t fault them.” “Certainly, there is the impression that every effort has been made to frustrate the work of the Parliament, and I would have to agree with it.” Trotman said that if the parties feel that they have had enough and have exhausted all options, then he can “understand their position.” The Speaker opined as well, “For me, every option should be explored and if there is no room for dialogue and agreement then we owe it to the people to go for a fresh mandate and if we are going to continue to be fighting for the next three years then that makes no sense.” He added, “Perhaps, it is not such a bad thing if we are to go to the polls, so we either get a clear majority or we are returned with the same situation. And if we are returned with it, we will have to find away to make it work.” “But let me say this, it is not fair and right for the people of Guyana to be made to suffer through this for another three years,” Trotman concluded. FRIDAY EDITION COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF GUYANA/ NORWAYAGREEMENT NEEDED – DR LUNCHEON Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon has said that there
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House Speaker, Raphael Trotman
needs to be a comprehensive review and examination of the Guyana/Norway Forest Agreement. According to Luncheon, this would be the best way of defining how well Guyana has performed, particularly in reference to its obligations. Luncheon, at his weekly press briefing, said that full realization of the promise behind the REDD + financing continues to elude developing countries. According to Luncheon, the government of Guyana is fully aware of the Norwegian approach. Luncheon told the media that the approach emphasizes continuous evaluation of Norway’s effort that is captured in its international climate and forest initiative. He explained that the initiative for all intents and purposes is under continuous review and there is reporting to the Norwegian Government. SATURDAY EDITION FORESTRY COMMISSION ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF JAGDEO’S LEGACY OF FINANCIALAWLESSNESS - CHRIS RAM Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, after examining the Annual Reports of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), has said that the entity is just another example of the perpetuation of Jagdeo’s legacy of financial lawlessness, a situation that is as wide as it is deep. On his website, Chrisram.net, the accountant provides further details about his findings of the reports of the Commission for the years 2005 to 2012 which were all laid in Parliament in November 2013. Ram said that the state of financial lawlessness created by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, surely allows for the GFC’s “incomplete and deceptive” reports to be tabled and accepted by the National Assembly without any questions being asked or
challenges posed. Ram asserted that the chaos created is one in which the national accounting body, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Guyana, remains silent even as basic rules of accounting are violated with impunity. The state of lawlessness that exists, is “one in which the parliamentary bodies are paralysed by their own mediocrity. One in which we even have a mini-parallel Consolidated Fund called NICIL, and where the evidence of slush funds everywhere mounts,” he added. On his website, Ram said that the Government will not allow it, and the weak opposition will not even ask for it, but only a wideranging, independent investigation into the public financial management of this country generally, and of NICIL specifically, can stem the relentless decline in accounting and accountability. “The people of Guyana must demand it.” Since the Commission tabled its annual reports for the years 2005 to 2012, it has attracted several criticisms for its glaring deficiencies and violations of best accounting practices. There was a published series on the said shortcomings of the reports done by Janette Bulkan and John Palmer. TRAVIS MC DOUGALL CHARGED WITH DREDGE OWNER’S KILLING A 24-year-old labourer has been charged with the murder of dredge owner Ashook Ragghu, who was gunned down on Vlissengen Road last Monday. Travis McDougall, of East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, was remanded when he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday. He is accused of slaying the 43-year-old businessman
while robbing the victim and his wife, Shyrazadi Ragghu, of $4M. Prosecutor Inspector Michael Grant told the court that at about 13:00 hours on August 18, last, Ragghu and his wife were travelling in motorcar PGG 8291 along Vlissengen Road, when they stopped at the traffic light at the Vlissengen Road and Regent Street junction. The court heard that the businessman and his wife were cornered by McDougall and an accomplice, who rode up with a CG motorcycle to
the driver’s side of their vehicle. After shooting Ragghu in the chest, the accused and his accomplice allegedly grabbed the victims’ cash-filled haversack, but Mrs. Ragghu held onto it. Grant reported that Mrs. Ragghu released the bag after the robbers shot her in the thigh. The men then escaped on their motorcycle. Mr. Ragghu was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, while his wife was hospitalised.
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Kaieteur News
Fibroids By Dr. Kumar Sukhraj There are many females who are experiencing the signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids and they are not aware of what fibroids are. Uterine fibroids (leiomyomata) are noncancerous growths that develop in or just outside a woman’s uterus (womb). Uterine fibroids develop from normal uterus muscle cells that start growing abnormally. As the cells grow, they form a benign tumour. Uterine fibroids are extremely common in the female population. In fact, many women have uterine fibroids at some point in life. Uterine fibroids in most women are usually too small to cause any problems, or even be noticed. No one knows what causes uterine fibroids, but their growth seems to depend on estrogen, the female hormone. Uterine fibroids don’t develop until after puberty, and usually after age 30. Uterine fibroids tend to shrink or disappear after menopause, when estrogen levels fall. African-American women tend to get uterine fibroids two to three times as often as white women, and also tend to have more symptoms from uterine fibroids.
There are other factors may influence development of uterine fibroids such as; · Pregnancy: Women who have had children are less likely to get fibroids · Early menstruation: Women whose first period was before age 10 are more likely to have uterine fibroids · Women taking birth control pills are less likely to develop significant uterine fibroids · Family history: Women whose mothers and sisters have uterine fibroids are more likely to have them, too. Uterine fibroids can range in size, from microscopic to several inches across and weighing tens of pounds. Most often, uterine fibroids cause no symptoms at all - so most women don’t realize they have them. When women do experience symptoms from uterine fibroids, they can include: · Prolonged menstrual periods (7 days or longer) · Heavy bleeding during periods · Bloating or fullness in the belly or pelvis · Pain in the lower belly or pelvis · Constipation · Pain with intercourse · Reproductive problems, such as infertility, multiple miscarriages or early labour.
Sunday August 24, 2014
Mammography false alarms linked with later tumor risk
Dr. Kumar Sukhraj Moderate and large-sized uterine fibroids are often felt by a doctor during a manual pelvic examination. There are many advanced imaging techniques that can be helpful in the diagnosis. Once diagnosed, treatment is available. Contact your health care provider if you are experiencing any signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids. Please feel free to send an email to kumarsukhraj@ yahoo.com or call 6228032 for further enquiry and discussion on the topic. Patient education plays an important in the diagnosis and management of diabetes and any other illness. Please look forward for a continuation of the discussion on health issues in the next publication.
Women whose screening mammograms produce false alarms have a heightened risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer years later, but the reason remains mysterious, researchers say. An increased risk of breast cancer among women with a “false positive” mammogram has been reported before. What’s new about this study is that the authors tried to figure out how much, if any, of the extra risk is simply due to doctors missing the cancer the first time they investigated the worrisome mammogram findings. But mistakes from doctors missing cancers explained only a small percentage of the increased risk, according to lead author My von EulerChelpin, an epidemiologist from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. She told Reuters Health in a telephone interview that she could not explain most of the increased risk of later breast cancer in women with false-positive mammograms. (A mammogram is considered false positive when it suggests possible breast cancer but additional screenings or a biopsy fails to find it.) Of more than 58,000 Danish women who had mammography between 1991 and 2005, her study identified 4,743 women with suspicious findings that were eventually declared negative. By 2008, 295 of those 4,743
women had been diagnosed with breast cancer, von EulerChelpin and colleagues reported in Cancer Epidemiology. Radiologists reread the original mammograms and found that doctors had actually missed the cancer in 72 of the 295 women, for a false-negative rate of 1.5 percent. Even after taking those missed cancers into account, however, the researchers found that women with false-positive mammograms were still 27 percent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer years later, compared to women with only negative test results. The risk was slightly higher in women who had surgical biopsies that turned
out to be negative. Von Euler-Chelpin thinks a smaller percentage of American women would have an elevated risk for breast cancer after a false-positive test because the U.S. has a higher rate of false positives than Denmark. The risk of a false-positive test over 10 mammograms ranges from 58 percent to 77 percent in the U.S., while it is around 16 percent in Denmark, the study says. Dr. Michael Alvarado, a breast cancer surgeon from the University of California, San Francisco, agreed that the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer after a false positive mammogram is probably lower in the U.S. than in Denmark. (Reuters Health)
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Jim Parsons on ‘Big Bang Theory’ contract dispute and double Emmy nods At the end of last season on “The Big Bang Theory,” Sheldon finally had to cope with not getting what he wanted in his career. That’s not a problem Jim Parsons is dealing with these days. In addition to his two Emmy nominations—one for playing Sheldon Cooper, the other for Tommy Boatwright in the gut-wrenching HBO movie “The Normal Heart”— Parsons’ salary for “Big Bang” skyrocketed from $350,000 per episode to $1 million after a contract dispute that pushed back production on the eighth season. After a week-long delay, production began on Aug. 6. Parsons sees the whole brouhaha as a simple issue. “I always thought everything would be worked out by the start date [July 30],” he tells EW. “When it wasn’t, it certainly wasn’t a good feeling, but there was absolutely no getting around the fact that everything had to be dealt with and finished before we could get back.” He says reports of the dispute were overblown. “You see the word ‘strike’—’They’re walking out!’—but there was nothing to walk out from,” he says with a laugh. “That’s always hard, because part of you wants to explain to people what’s really going on. ‘Don’t worry, we’re not
leaving, we want to do the show.’” AS FOR ALL THOSE ZEROES? “I came from a family in Texas who simply never spoke about money,” he says. “When suddenly everybody is guessing, or some even getting close, to the ballpark of what you’re earning-well, that’s interesting, that everyone knows what you make. It is what it is, and the job is so wonderful that those minor oddities are well worth the ride.” Looking forward to the Emmys, Parsons has different
feelings about his very different nominations. “To be nominated again for Big Bang, is at least as touching to me, if not more so now, than it was the first time,” he says. “Look, I’m only human and therefore there’s a part of me that’s waiting for people to say, ‘Enough of you!’” As for his nomination for “Normal Heart,” “I would be lying if I said it didn’t feel really good to know that people had seen and thought it was also good work, because again, it is such a different ball of wax from the life of Sheldon.”
Miley Cyrus gig banned in Dominican Republic over morals
It seems that her twerking has offended the government in the Dominican Republic because Miley Cyrus has been banned from performing in the capital. She was scheduled to perform in Santo Domingo on 13 September. Authorities say they have stopped the gig because she “undertakes acts that go against morals and customs, which are punishable by Dominican law”. Tickets ranging in price from $27 (£16) to $370 (£223) have been on sale since July.
The Dominican Republic government commission that oversees public performances has previously banned songs from being played on the radio which it thinks are vulgar. Neither Cyrus, nor concert organisers, have yet commented on the cancellation. She is expected to appear at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, although is not set to perform. At last year’s event she drew headlines after twerking alongside singer Robin Thicke during a duet of Blurred Lines.
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Sunday August 24, 2014
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Games for PS2, PS3, XBOX360, WII, consoles also available – Call: 6722566, 265-3232 German shepherd and Doberman mixed pups – Contact: 615-0513 Dressed and mill cut lumber: Kabukalli, silverballi, greenheart, crab wood etc – Call: 688-6579 22RB Dragline, CAT 428 Back-hoe, 10-Tons compactor, CAT 320 BL Excavator, CAT 120G-MotorGrader. All in working condition – Contact: 6604021; 275-0538 Pure Bred German shepherd Puppies – European Line, father is black & mother is Black & tan – Tel:619-9643; 694-7210; 222-3560 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call:225-9032,647-2943 Clean garden earth, also Bobcat & Excavator rentals – Tel: 626-7127 Tibetan Terrier male, colours: black & white & pure white, age: 3months – Contact: 223-5892, 665-6809. Sales! Sales! 5/8 Steel Rod, Price to Go $1400 each – Tel:657-4072 One food warmer, 1 Deli Case – Tel: 696-9999 One 45ft fishing boat with ice box, 48 Yamaha engine & seine – Tel:220-7655, 2209961, 667-8921, 695-9860 One ice box, 1300lbs, 450 Banga mary seine 2¾, 2½ seine – Call:695-9860 One year old Red Macaw with cage – Tel:667-8896 Xbox 360 S with games PS3 with Games, Nintendo 3DS & Wii with games – Call: 6838386 MERCURY/QUICK SILVER, 99.99999% PURE, GREY FLASK, USA QUALITY, SEALED, BEST PRICE. CALL: 648-5281 4 Drawers Chest of drawers $20,000, 3 doors Wardrobe $52,000- Call Gopal: 267-1461, 609-9906 1 Leyland Crane truck, 1 Even rude 115Hp outboard engine – Tel: 614-2759 One double stall with overhead storage in Stabroek Market – Call: 6197925 (can be inspected)
Kaieteur News
FOR SALE Plucking machine and fingers – Call: 613-2150, 2540247 New singer sewing machine manual & electrical, model GT- 902, $50,000 – Tel:6790942/686-9056 Exclusive designed saris, Indian Made - $5000 upwards, also Shalwars, Kurta and Gharas – Tel:2161210 or 648-8961 Bread bag sealing tape - $195 each – Tel: 231-8819 15 Tyres for pick up 2E/4E Engine/Transmission, electrical motor, entrance switch, airtoons, Dewalt Miter Saw – Tel:222-4158/ 641-7526 6" Dredge complete $3,500,000 negotiable. Tel: 604-1075, 655-2860 Massey, Yanmar Ford 5000 Logging/ Agriculture Tractors, parts, Loader & Ford Truck- Call:615-1578/ 694-3595: Tools & Chainsaw668-2831 1-14" Missile (water dredge) Upper Mazaruni River – Tel: 698-0674 Cheap earth delivered to spot E.C.D, E.B.D, W.B.D Call:627-9977, 698-0182 Used Dell Note book computer, external DVD player/ burner & cannon printer - $65,000 – Tel:6869056 Garden Earth & builders waste our service also includes Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing & leveling - Call: 616-0617, 6633285
LAND FOR SALE 1500 Acres Transported Land near Bartica Essequibo River Front to Potaro Road – Contact Mark Hack: 6031266 or 704-465-2222 Parfaite Harmonie (100ftX50ft) Diary Bridge) $2.2M $1M – Tel: 675-7292 At Eccles Housing Scheme – price $6.5M – negotiable – Call: 616-6000 Transported corner lot, @ Lot 90 Garnett & Republic Street, Newtown Kitty – Tel:645-0616 ACCOMODATION Harmony Inn Apartments and car rental, furnished & air conditioned apartments for local & overseas guest – Tel: 668-0306, 218-1400, 694-7817
PROPERTY FOR SALE 1 – 2storey wooden & Concrete house with 5 bedrooms upper flat & lower flat 4 apartments located@ Shell Road, kitty - $34M – Tel:642-7898 One 2 bedroom house for sale, Cornelia Ida, W.C.D – Tel:233-2456, 601-6952 Two storey concrete house (26X45 ft), 4 bedrooms, 3 washrooms, grilled with electronic security @ Granville Park, Beterverwagting - Tel: 6726169 Property on double lot at 100 Side Line Dam, Sister’s Village, W.B.D – Tel: 680-6136 Wooden and concrete house in excellent condition on double Lot in D’Aguiar’s Park – Call: 686-1368. Kitty - $32M, West Bank $20M, Lamaha Garden $55M, AA Eccles - $55M – Contact Diana:227-2256, 6269382 House & Land @ Canal No. 2 (7Acres) - $13,000,000 negotiable – Call: 686-4994/ 255-3070
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WANTED Experienced Roti/Puri cooks, curry cooks, counter servers, cleaners. Apply @ Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Street. Salesgirls apply in person at Forever Young Collection, 12 Wellington Street opposite Gizmos & Gadgets Salesperson, male & female – Contact: 227-1042 One experienced babysitter, Female between 20-35 years old must be residing on EBD Contact Vashti on 233-5927 / 693-2565 Properties & Land wanted in Eccles, Providence, Better Hope, LBI, Mon-Repos, Cummings Lodge, Liliendaal – Tel: 675-7292 Females to work in Bakery located in Best Village W.C.D – Tel:254-1399, 627-2515 Handy boys to work – 16years and older, live in accommodation and fee meals – Tel:228-5655, 628-1756 Workers for land dredge, one male bahier - $80,000 monthly – Tel:694-2310 Female between ages 2035yrs to work in snackette & bar, must know to cook – Call: 647-7432; 223-5798 Live out domestic babysitter and live in babysitter – Call:225-0188, 225-6070 (Monday to Saturday ) (8:15am-4:15pm)
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Newly constructed house / apartment furnished & unfurnished in Healthy and safe environment – Call: 698-6496 GT TOOL RENTALS: CONTRACTORS; CARPENTER, HOME OWNERS, RENT ANY TOOLS, FREE DELIVERY, SAWS, HILTI & MORE – CALL: 675-0767, 627-5098
One part time or full time gardener/handyman- to work in Bel-Air Gardens – Tel: 2256070 Carpenters and mason – Contact: 615-7526, 668-9863 Receptionist with computer and cosmetology experience. Hairstylist with haircutting and barbering experienceCall 2264573
Decent office to share Tel:617-3851 Fully furnished ranch style property @ residential area, Eccles with 3 bedrooms, hot & cold, garage, boardroom & office, etc – Tel: 233-2486 One small house for rent @ Ruimzeight W.C.D, 1-F150 Windshield for sale – Tel: 6283173 2 Bedrooms apartment to rent in La Parfaite Harmonie – Call: 645-0489 or 682-4076 Short term, 1 bedroom self contained apartment @ Shell Road, E.B.D - $30,000 monthly – Tel: 658-5452 DRESSMAKING
EDUCATION
Jean offers courses in Dressmaking, curtains, floral arrangements, cake decoration @ 153 Barr St Kitty – Tel:670-2653, 618-1706
IAE (Secondary Educational) 194 Camp Street, register for Forms 15, Lessons, CXC Adult Classes for repeaters & beginners – Tel:223-0604; 683-5742
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
Toyota Voxy - $1.8M, Toyota Premio - $2.3M, Toyota Spacio $2.1M, all vehicle are fully loaded – Tel: 617-2891 VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 669-4755/ 695-9880 International Cruiseline Purser officer, waitresses, waiters, cooks, receptionist, storekeeper, cleaners, electrician, carpenter, plumber, musicians etc – Tel: 650-9880 One shop attendant – Call: 625-5322 FAST GROWING FOOD DISTRIBUTION COMPANY SEEKING A CANTER DRIVER, POLICE CLEARANCE IS REQUIRED IF HIRED – CALL: 231-8344, 223-1034, 223-1035 One night security, apply in writing with a valid Police Clearance to GCC Ground, Bourda. Sales representatives in G/ Town to sell Groceries & beverages. Send application to Maya @ Kaieteur News, 24 Saffon Street. Cashiers @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Porters, moulders and wood mizers operator, sawmill mill wright, timber grant manager – Call Richard: 609-7675/ 6741705/233-2614 One domestic cleaner @ People’s Choice Café Contact: 679-9449 or 2313059 Accounts/Office Clerk: Entry Level, with Quick-Books & Book-keeping knowledge, R e s u m e : j o b KN@AlertPrinting.com, application close August 29.
One enclosed canter $750,000 negotiable – Call: 676-0455 1 Madza RX8 in good condition, owner leaving country- Tel: 667-8896 One RZ minibus BNN Series, good condition – Call: 692-5993 One RZ Mini-bus, good condition - $750,000 Negotiable – Tel: 680-3370 Toyota Noah and Voxy (unregistered) - $1.9M – Tel: 603-9700 Unregistered new Model Raum. Milage 78,000KM, selling price: $2M – Tel: 6704190. Toyota AT212, AT192, AT170, AE110, Corolla, NZE, Fun cargo, Raum, Hilux Pickup Vigo, EP71- starlet – Tel:6445096, 697-1453 Solid Diff Toyota Hilux Gasoline & Diesel Pickups, recently arrived, unregistered, in excellent condition – Tel: 691-2077 2005 Suzuki Panil Van, ideal for goods business $850,000 – Call: 617-7113 Unregistered: 2003 Premio $2.450M Neg, 2004 Spacio $2.150M, 2002 Spacio - $2.150 Neg. Tel: 616-3001, 270-5042 On 1RZ Minibus BNN series - $1.550M, negotiable, manual transmission – Contact: 628-0481 One RZ, 14 seats, A/C, fully powered, BSS series, never worked on the road - $2.6M – Tel:222-4272 , 628-8667 212 New model, Fielder Wagon, F150 Ford – Tel: 624-5632 One Bedford 4x4 Hiab Truck $3.8M, One Toyota Hilux Solid Axle - $2.4M – Tel: 667-1833 Toyota Hilux Surf, RZN-185, 4x4, Automatic, Excellent Condition – Tel: 617-0544 One Leyland DAF 4x4 Winch bush truck - $3.2M, price negotiable – Call: 667-1833
Earn a Certificate in Cosmetology or nail s alone – Call: 226-5904, 225-5360,6877566 CAR RENTAL
MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Be pampered by beautiful masseuses, new attendant Candy, four hands massages, drinks available – Tel: 657-5979
VEHICLE FOR SALE Unregistered Premio, Noah, Spacio – PRR 738 – Tel: 697-0297 Special sale on new model Spacio, with camera, TV, DVD, Spoiler, unregistered $2.1M – Tel: 617-2891
Dolly’s Car Rental - Call: 225-7126/ 226-3693 dollys autorental@yahoo.com/ w w w . d o l l y sautorental.com ProgressiveAuto Rental: Cars & SUV for rental- $4,000 & up per day- Call: 643-5122, 219-3900 ,Email:pro_ autorental @yahoo.com
We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 One Mitsubishi Canter 3½ Tons – Tel: 626-9254, 2642582 Continued on page 64
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 24, 2014
WAITRESS SHOT DEAD IN ATTEMPTED ROBBERY - bandits on CG posed as customers
From page 63
TO LET 2 Bedrooms bottom flat apartment @ 8th Street Cummings Lodge, preferably a couple without children/ single person: Call Ricky: 676-5720, 669-6862 Special Comfortable space for salon – Contact: 227-3626 (price negotiable) Business place in Newtown, Kitty – Call: 689-4143 Three bedrooms downstairs flat @ Lot 45 BB Eccles – Call: 233-2277 Campbellville - $90,000, Bel Air Park- $US750, Kitty (business) - $60,000 - Contact Diana: 227-2256, 626-9382 One 2 bedrooms house at Unity East Coast Demerara – Call: 259-3299
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 6626045 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655,683-8734 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.
Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 DaSilva’s Welding & Fabricating specializes in: Grills, Two bedroom house top or Gates, Pontoon, Lavador etc. bottom flat to let at Mc Doom Best prince in town- Call: 647EBD- Tel: 233-0044, 682-3988 6880/ 219-1680 Lodge Apartments Repairs, sales & spares air (Vlissingen /Durban): Unfurnished one bedroom - conditioning, microwaves, $50,000 monthly; furnished washer, fridges & stoves. (For Visitors) studio - $500US Ultra Cool, call:225-9032,6472943 Monthly – Tel: 677-9638 For low cost: Repairs to Lodge: Business/ fridge, freezer, A/C unit, Professional/Office Space – microwaves, TV & washing Tel: 677-9638 machine – Call: 629-4946 or One new 4 bedrooms house 225-4822 5mins from university - Eternity Investment $160,000 monthly – Tel:222- Construction Company – 4158/ 641-7526 Planning to Building or renovate your property? – Call: 615-5315/ 687-6072 School bus from Land of Canaan to Greater Georgetown and back – Call:646-5147 BrianMoe@642-3543; Computer Technician; LEARN TO DRIVE FB:Brian.Moe.165; Home and Soman Son & Outar Driving office visits at your comfort!! School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
VEHICLE FOR SALE One new Toyota Corolla Spacio - $1,950,000 – Tel: 6116632, 664-3488 Blowout Sale!! Unregistered, fully loaded Toyota IST, $2,250,000 & New model Raum- $2,250,000 – Tel:6436565; 226-9931 1 – 2007 Toyota Avensis PPP Series, Excellent condition – Tel: 698-0674
PEN PAL Male seeking reconnection for long lasting female friends – Tel: 698-6391.
For our advertising rates call: 225-8491, 225-8465, 225-8452.
The body of Debbie Blackman on the floor of the restaurant.
Bandits on a CG motorcycle shot a waitress dead at around 19.15 hrs yesterday in the Chinese Delicious Restaurant at D’Urban Street, Wortmanville. Debbie Blackman, of Critchlow Street, Tucville, was reportedly shot while standing behind the counter, after serving the bandits, who had gone there under the pretext of purchasing food. Some reports suggest that the robbers killed the mother of five because she refused to cooperate with them. It is unclear whether the robbers took anything of value. A senior police official told Kaieteur News that police were preparing to review footage from surveillance cameras at the restaurant, since it is believed that the brazen act was recorded. Kaieteur News understands that the restaurant owners were behind the counter and out of sight when the
shooting occurred. Blackman’s body remained in the restaurant for some two hours before being taken away by porters from the Lyken Funeral Parlour. The murder occurred just five days after two bandits, also on a CG motorcycle, shot dredge owner Ashook Ragghu dead and wounded his wife, Shyrazadi Ragghu, when their car stopped at the traffic light at the Vlissengen Road and Regent Street junction. The robbers escaped with a bag containing some $4M and the slain man’s licenced firearm. Travis McDougall, 24, of Lot 422 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, was charged last Friday for Ragghu’s murder. His alleged accomplice is still to be charged. Yesterday’s murder came at a time when police have reported an escalation in gunrelated crimes.
Main witness claims she wasn’t told to... (From page 60) matter is being transferred and will be called again on August 4. In fact, Barker was asked if she wants to proceed with the matter and she told the Chief Magistrate that she is prepared to go to through with it.” Henry stated that though Barker was told to return four
days later, she never appeared and the Prosecution was granted several adjournments to secure her presence. During that time, two police witnesses had testified. “What I find troubling are the comments made by the complainant that after attending court the first day, she was
confused although she told the court that she is going to go through with the matter. She told the media that she thought the matter had concluded without providing the reasons that gave rise to that conclusion? She had the benefit of asking the court, her lawyer or even the police who informed her when the matter was first being called, to pro-
vide clarification if she was confused.” “So her motive was clear and that was to create mischief and bring the integrity of the Judiciary into disrepute. If you claim that you are going to go through with this matter even if it means your life, then if you were confused why didn’t you just ask questions?” the lawyer concluded.
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Sunday August 24, 2014
Britain plans tougher laws to tackle UK jihadists (Reuters) - Britain said yesterday it planned tougher laws to deal with British Islamist militants after Islamic State (IS) fighters in the Middle East released a video showing a suspected Briton beheading U.S. journalist James Foley. British Muslims and politicians have expressed horror at the apparent involvement of a Briton in the murder, which has fed concerns about the number of Islamist militants from Britain joining conflicts overseas and then returning home radicalised. Authorities are trying to identify the man with a London accent who has been dubbed “Jihadi John” by media after sources said he was one of three Britons nicknamed the ‘Beatles’ who guarded hostages in Raqqa, the IS stronghold in eastern Syria. Home Secretary Theresa May said she was preparing new laws to tackle Islamist militants at home and to stop them going abroad to fight, adding that Britain faced a long struggle against a “deadly extremist ideology”. “We will be engaged in this struggle for many years, probably decades. We must
Theresa May give ourselves all the legal powers we need to prevail,” May wrote in the Daily Telegraph newspaper. While details are yet to be confirmed, May said the new powers would be designed to restrict the militants’ behaviour, ban involvement in groups preaching violence and require prisons, broadcasters, schools and universities to take a greater role in combating the radicalisation of Muslims. May said at least 500 British citizens have travelled to fight in Syria and Iraq, where IS has seized large swathes of territory. Some of the fighters are aged as young as 16. Britain has about 2.7 million Muslims in a total population of 63 million. The rise of Islamist militants in Britain has been a
growing concern since four Britons — two of whom had been to al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan — killed 52 people in suicide bomb attacks in London in July 2005. The murder last year of an off-duty soldier, Lee Rigby, on a London street by two British Muslim converts exacerbated the concerns. The government has already tightened up rules so it can confiscate the passports of people travelling abroad to join conflicts. So far 23 people have had their passports withdrawn. May also said 69 people had been arrested for offences in Britain relating to terrorism in Syria, with 12 charged and four prosecuted, while more than 150 people were refused entry to the United Kingdom because their behaviour was deemed unacceptable. “We intend to strengthen the law further to make it a criminal offence to travel overseas to prepare and train for terrorism,” May said. The planned new measures follows calls for more action to tackle the recruitment of Muslims in Britain to travel overseas to fight with militant groups. But some politicians have warned any short-term measures seeking popular support could erode civil liberties and deepen the alienation felt by some young Muslims from British society. “I greatly fear that we’re about to have a splurge of more laws that inhibit our freedom beyond that which is supportable,” Paddy Ashdown, a senior member of the Liberal Democrats, junior partner in Britain’s coalition government, told Reuters. “What you need is a strategy for a war, not a series of measures to preserve internal security in Britain with more draconian legislation.”
Sunday August 24, 2014
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Manning’s decision to blank Trinidad & Tobago national award ‘unfortunate’ - PM Kamla P O R T- O F - S PA I N , Trinidad - CMC – Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has described as “unfortunate” the decision of former prime minister Patrick Manning not to accept the country’s highest national award. Prime Minister Persad Bissessar said Thursday that she had nominated Manning and another former prime minister, Basdeo Panday, for the Order of Trinidad and Tobago in recognition of their contribution to the socioeconomic development of the twin island republic which celebrates its 52nd anniversary of political
independence from Britain on August 31. “Whatever differences we may share politically the award sought to honour Mr Manning for his decades of service as a Parliamentarian. It was meant to be a gesture of magnanimity and a moment to reach beyond the issues that divide us to acknowledge Mr Manning’s many national contributions.” But in a statement, Manning, 68, the longest serving legislator here, who served as head of government on two occasions said the primary reason for declining the award was based “firmly in my principled
All 31 senators urged to reject Bill Trinidad Guardian - Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar’s olive branch to civil society, when she invited recommendations on the proposed Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2014, was Friday rejected by 10 organisations. In an open letter to Independent senators, the groups warned that if government’s proposal became law, it would further entrench racial voting as it would entrench a two-party voting system. Speaking at a media conference at the Communication Workers Union (CWU) Henry Street building, chairman of the Constitution Reform Forum Olabisi Kuboni called not only on Independent senators to vote against the bill, but on all 31 members of the Upper House of Parliament. “Even though the debate is going to continue, fundamentally we are saying that the debate should be stopped. It should not have gone through anyway. Since it is going through and continues on Tuesday, we are asking all our senators, not just the Independent senators, but all senators who are representing the people of Trinidad and Tobago, not to make this bill pass the Upper House,” Kuboni said. Endorsing her position was the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (Fitun), Trinidad Youth Council (TYC), Government Daily Paid Retiree Association, Trinidad United Farmers’ Association, the Constitution Reform Forum (CTF), Oilfields
Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), Working Women for Social Progress, Highway Re-route Movement, Artiste Coalition of T&T and the Communication Workers Union. An advocate for constitution reform for 13 years, Kuboni said her group participated in the public consultations held by the Constitution Reform Commission and the proposed runoff ballot was never discussed. She said the burning issues for people were having an electoral system which would end race-based voting and the creating of a process that allowed more voices in Parliament. She said Government was riding roughshod over the country for selfish reasons. “It was clearly a window dressing so that ultimately at the end of the day, they could ride on the backs of the population and bring into effect whatever they want to bring into effect. We’ve all heard before that this notion of runoff was never brought up in the consultations. “I know because I was there, we participated fully. As one of the participating organisations, I would like to register our strong objection to the Government riding roughshod over the population in that manner and then coming at the end of the day to talk about power to the people. “That is absolutely not power to the people and they should not be made to get away with using a phrase that emerged out of the struggles of the people, to use it to mask their wanting to ride roughshod over the nation.”
stance to not accept any Trinidad and Tobago awards while serving as an MP. “Kamla Persad Bissessar was able to win government on May 24th 2010 through a series of sustained and vicious attacks on my character that was led personally by her. These attacks continue. Through this nomination announcement is the Hon Prime Minister retracting those venomous accusations and charges against me?” Manning said he only found out about the nomination via social media
and press reports, adding “I was made aware of this nomination through persons who saw it reported on the social media, Facebook. Prime Minister Persad Bissessar said “it is regrettable that in rejecting the nomination, Mr Manning should seek to politicise the matter. “His comments run against the grain of what was a well intended gesture. The concept of recognising the long and dedicated service of men and women who committed their lives to the people of Trinidad and Tobago must also been seen
differently as we grow and mature as a nation. “The decision to honour Patrick Manning was based on the changing philosophy that has underlined many of the reforms brought by my government inclusive of the need to honour those who have served regardless of their political affiliation, religious or other beliefs.” She said while the government acknowledges Manning’s right to reject the honour “it is my hope that the ideal of reaching beyond the divide of politics to honour those who served the nation
has not been lost”. Manning, who in 2011, suffered a stroke that left him partially paralysed, said he wanted to assure citizens that he holds “ our institutions, ceremonies and awards in the highest esteem and I pray for the day when the Hon Kamla Persad Bissessar and the PP (People’s Partnership) government demit office and we can once again “take our pride in our liberty””. Panday has made no statement since Prime Minister Persad Bissessar made the announcement on Thursday night.
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Sunday August 24, 2014
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“Who will follow Ottis Gibson?”
So, Ottis Gibson has been dismissed as head coach of West Indies. Many are not surprised at that, given the new dispensation of WI cricket; supposed accountability for efforts, especially expected success; and Gibson’s relatively poor returns over his nearly five year tenure. Much seemed to be yet out of place! Gibson had replaced Australian John Dyson, that coach who should have been instantly fired after he seemed not to understand Duckworth-Lewis computations when WI played an ODI v England at Guyana’s National Stadium in 2009. Nothing has been
heard of Dyson since leaving his WI job! Now, who is next? Already, two major names are emerging ahead of many others being mentioned. Apparently in a prime lane is Phillip Simmons, former Trinidad & Tobago and WI allrounder, who has been head coach of Zimbabwe before taking up his present, highly successful stint as head coach of ICC Associate, arguably that level’s best prepared and most productive team; Ireland. Simmons has always suggested that “it would be an honor to be the head coach of West Indies”, whom he, of course, played for.
Question is; would he want to leave Ireland now, after doing so well there? Alongside Simmons on the starting block is South African Mickey Arthur, former South Africa and Australia head coach, who is also head coach of the Jamaica Tallawahs in Caribbean Premier League, and is heavily rumored to be of great interest to West Indies Cricket Board. Indeed, there has already even been suggestions that Arthur could be favorite in these very rocky stakes, as there are thoughts that he has had preliminary talks with WICB, reference to this position!
Sunday August 24, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Uptight is the word for today, Aries. At some point you might find yourself the center of attention. While you normally might not mind, now it could make you a bit nervous. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You're likely to want to be left alone with your own thoughts today. Relaxing with a good book might be at the top of your agenda, Taurus, and you aren't liable to want to be interrupted. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Worries over money could have you edgier than usual, Gemini. While you may be doing well, you still could be insecure and think your funds might not stretch far enough. Try to consider the situation objectively. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): You probably crave solitude, Cancer. Even though you may have committed to attending a party or two, now you find the idea irritating. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Although you're normally a sociable person who feels most comfortable in the company of others, Leo, today you might rather be alone. You could feel a little under the weather or be stressed from job-related worries. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): You tend to enjoy solitude, Virgo, and today you might feel more reclusive than usual. You could be invited to go out with friends but not feel like accepting. You might even feel a little irritated by them.
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Today there might be tension in the air with no discernible cause, Libra. Family members could seem preoccupied with problems they can't quite define. Your natural inclination might be to try to cheer them up, but it probably won't work. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): You could get some mysterious phone calls today, Scorpio, like wrong numbers or hang-ups. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Confusion over money matters might come up for you today, Sagittarius. You may need to check your records in order to shed light on some past transactions. Don't panic. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Someone close to you might seem more preoccupied than usual, Capricorn, and perhaps a bit difficult to deal with. Don't take this personally. It has little if anything to do with you. He or she doesn't want to share their troubles. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): Today you might be feeling a bit tense, Aquarius, and you probably won't understand why. The secret? ********************* PISCES (Feb. 19 March 20): You probably aren't going to feel much like socializing today, Pisces, though friends might want you to go out. Your patience has worn a bit thin and you could get annoyed at incidents that normally wouldn't bother you.
But there are also so many other names which are being mentioned for this vacancy for the head coach position in WI cricket that, collectively, they can nearly make a cricket team for themselves! Jimmy Adams, former Jamaica and WI captain, now head coach of English county cricket team Kent, has had a reasonable stint there over the last few years and could well come into serious consideration. Roger Harper, former Guyana and WI all-rounder, former WI head coach and present head coach of Guyana’s Amazon Warriors in CPL, has, as the saying goes, “been there; done that!” Could he be WI head coach again? Augustine “Gus” Logie, former Trinidad & Tobago captain, former WI batsman and former WI head coach, also former head coach of Canada and Bermuda, who has just been made head coach of Trinidad & Tobago, and who was in charge when WI won its last 50-overs tournament, Champions Trophy 2004, has also been mentioned. Ironically, that success was Logie’s last input before being replaced by Australian Bennett King, another whose tenure has to be wondered at. Nothing tangible emerged from King’s time in the saddle. Even Trinidad & Tobago and former Indian all-rounder, Robin Singh, could have a look in, as he has coached fielding for India, and is the head coach of the recently successful Barbados Trident CPL team. Or, WICB could just stick with those now in temporary positions; Sir Richie Richardson as team head coach cum manager, Sir Curtley Ambrose as bowling consultant-coach, along with Stuart Williams as batting coach. That coaching trio, as a team, would not be a bad
continuing combination. Those named could make up a relatively good cricket team. But who will the new WI head coach be? Perhaps the more difficult question would be this: Who really wants this job badly enough? Whom-so-ever gets the job will have a very hard, bouncy road to travel, for WI has many important imminent assignments in the next six months, up to and including ICC blue ribbon event, its 50overs 2015 World Cup, plus England’s three Test tour to the Caribbean directly after ICC World Cup 2015. Immediately following this WI v Bangladesh series, which ends with Test No. 2; St. Lucia; on September 17, WI tours India for five ODI’s, three Tests and one T-20-I, between October 08 and November 19 next. Then West Indies goes to South Africa for a similar series there too over Christmas holidays, running from December 17, 2014 to January 28, 2015, consisting of three Tests, three T-20-I’s and five ODI’s. Anyone appointed to the head coach position of West Indies cricket will have to hit the ground sprinting, not just running. That person had better be prepared for diligent
Colin E. H. Croft says: work and to be suitably monitored. This appointment would probably come after West Indies thrashes Bangladesh over the next several weeks in the two Tests of this series, a phenomenon not altogether unexpected, given the way the Tigers have played so far, especially in ODI # 2; a seriously poor effort! There may not be the appearance of any real rush if one surveys senior personnel associated with WI cricket, yet this appointment should be done immediately, if not sooner. The senior West Indies cricket team will beat Bangladesh, but India and South Africa will present much more difficult challenges. Excitement in WI cricket is planned. It could start with appointment of a good head coach! Enjoy!
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Annual Malta Supreme Nat. Park 11-Race Meet
Sunday August 24, 2014
Letter to the Sports Editor
Hamza Eastman is new feature The Taffin Khan Schengen Visa Issue champ; Husbands is juvenile winner Team Coco’s riders dominated the marquee events when the third annual Malta Supreme 11-race Cycle Meet at the National Park came off yesterday, featuring 27 starters in the feature race. The Multi talented Hamza Eastman, who is al s o a national karate champion, outhustled two of the more seasoned riders in Guyana (Robin Persaud and Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams) to win the schools boys and invitational 35-lap contest in One hour 15 Minutes 46.26 Seconds. Robin Persaud had to
settle for second and Marlon Williams third. Occupying the other top the places sometime after the finish and in a sprint of their own were Paul De Nobrega, Jamal John and Mario King. E a s t m a n ’s t i m e w a s better than last year’s (1hr 16mins 55.54secs) set by Alonzo Greaves who was also a part of yesterday’s event but did not feature in the top brass. Greaves was also part of the Guyana team to the just concluded Commonwealth Games in England.
The top three riders separated themselves from the main pack from lap 19 and never looked back. Eastman took two of the eight primes on offer, Williams and Enzo Matthews won a similar amount while there was one each for Persaud and Michael Anthony. Stephan Husbands won the juvenile 10 lap race in 21 Minutes 47.95 seconds, Jamal John and Alanzo Ambrose copping the other two spots in that order. Following are the full results of the Meet:
Rafman Ali softball finals set or today The Better Hope Community Center ground on the East Coast of Demerara is expected to come alive today with the hosting of the finals of the Rafman Ali softball tournament. Regal Masters will battle Parika Defenders from 11:00 hrs in the over-40 final before two of the most decorated teams locally Regal and Wolf’s Warriors battle in the open finale. Regal are the favourites but cannot take their opponents lightly. Tony Ameerally, Lunsford Klass, Mahendra Arjune, Eon Abel and Yunnis Yusuf are expected to lead their batting while the likes of Mahendra Hardyal, Raymond Harper and Samuel Kingston will
spearhead their bowling department. Parika Defenders on the other hand have shown that they are capable of producing upsets. Their batting will be centered on Kabesh Persaud, Ramesh Rambharose and Mohamed Saffie. Kenrick Persaud, Devanand Kannan and Mohamed Aslam are capable bowlers. The open final should be a keen contest since both teams posses some of the leading players in the sport. Regal will depend on the experience on Richard Latiff, the hard hitting Chien Gittens, Saraz Esau, Patrick Rooplall and allrounders Mohamed Ayube and Privnauth Motilall. Their arch rivals Wolf’s Warriors
line up includes Amrit Rai, Vishnu Tammechandra, Azad Azeez, Safraz Karim, Narine Bailey and Khaimraj Ramsundar. The winning team in the over-40 category will take home a trophy and $75,000 and the runner up a trophy and $50,000. The victorious team in the open division will take home a trophy and $100,000 and the second place a trophy and $50,000. The competition is being sponsored by Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Rameez Electrical, Trophy Stall, David Poultry Farm, Better Hope/LBI NDC, Andrew Art, Shuttle Plus, Romel Sound System and Ralph and family.
DEAR EDITOR, Taffin Khan, being a member of the Guyana Chess team, applied to the Netherlands Embassy in Suriname for a Schengen visa. He was told that his name and date of birth was a match for one on an ‘alQaeda’ terrorist watch list and subsequently not issued with a visa. So far I have been silent on this issue, but in the court of public opinion he stands accused of being a possible terrorist; and in that court silence is misconstrued to be a sign of guilt. So kindly grant me an opportunity to highlight some reasons why this allegation is false. Despite my surname, I would like to make it pellucidly clear that I am not, and never was a Muslim. My son Taffin David Khan is not and never was a Muslim, and no member of my family is a Muslim. None of us belong to any Muslim organization nor do we interact with Muslims on a religious basis. My parents were both Christians who are now deceased and were buried as Christians. My son has a secondary level of education and is unemployed implying that he cannot be used as a resource person by any terrorist organization. If the social media Facebook is used as a statistical reference, Taffin is the only person in 1.11Billion users with the name Taffin Khan and if his Jewish middle name (David) is added chances are that he might be the only person in 6 billion with that name. Now the Dutch claimed that they had a matching name on an ‘al-Qaeda’ terrorist watch list. Anyone making this list would have most certainly be a Muslim fundamentalist extremist; and we are suppose to believe that this extremist would have a French first name (Taffin) and a Jewish middle name (David). This begs the question, did the
Dutch really have an ‘alQaeda’ terrorist watch list. When enquiries were made about the availability of Taffins visa after the other team members had received theirs, and he was told about his supposedly name match on the list, (at the time an Embassy official, another Guyanese and Taffin were in a room) the response was,” on Saturdays we do not work, Sundays too and Monday in Suriname is a holiday for them” meaning Taffin and the Muslims in Suriname; she further stated, “we have to do something about these terrorist”. Why should this official feel comfortable referring to my son as “them” and implying that he was a terrorist, in front of another Guyanese? In doing so she connoted that she and the third party had a common understanding with respect to my son, and that he was a Muslim terrorist. The question must now be asked, where this understanding came from. It should also be noted, that Taffin was intercepted by this third party as he was making his way to collect his visa and told that his visa was not ready yet, hence the individual demonstrating prior knowledge of the fact that my son was not going to be granted a visa. The question must now be asked, how this knowledge was obtained? Taffin was later told, back at the hotel by this individual that there was a Dutch terrorist by the name of Taffin Khan. After he explained to the other team members that he was the only person on Facebook with the name Taffin Khan, It should be noted that this individual had visited the Netherlands Embassy alone. So was my son name r e a l l y o n a n ‘al-Qaeda’ terrorist watch list or were the Netherlands authorities duped into thinking that he was an ‘al-Qaeda’ terrorist by someone they felt was
a credible source and not knowing the facts erred on the side of caution by not granting him a visa. If the Netherlands authority had an international terrorist watch list and found an individual who matched one of the names on it, they would have acted in a more decisive manner. They would have detained him on the Embassy grounds since he was on Dutch soil and would have been considered a person of interest to the Dutch intelligence or rather the International intelligence community. Instead they stated that they had to do more checks and that the internet was down and that he would have to return the coming Tuesday. When he went back the Tuesday they then claimed that they were awaiting confirmation from Norway on his participation in the Olympiad. Now Norway had a terrorist alert and the Netherlands authorities had an individual, whose name supposedly matched the name on an ‘al-Qaeda’ terrorist watch list, trying to go to Norway and they still made no effort to detain him. They give him his passport when he requested it and allowed him to walk out of their Embassy grounds. This lack of decisive action on the part of the Netherlands authorities I am grateful for, but it does not lend credibility to their claim that my sons name matched one on an ‘al-Qaeda’ terrorist watch list. As I see it, my son was collateral damage in the war on terror and the victim of a diabolical scheme aimed at assassinating his character, preventing him from going t o N o r w a y, a n d t o permanently damage his image as a three time National chess champion in which the Netherlands authorities were either willing participants or were taken for a ride? David G Khan.
All roads lead to the...
From page 71 can race away with the $800,000 top prize and trophy. The G1 and lower race is a 1200M event and a large field has been assembled to compete for the $600,000 and trophy available. Among them are Rosetta, Joyful Victory, Captain Crook, Ameera’s Joy, Compador, Traditional Man, Damacus Dream, She’s So Special, Monsoon, Miss Doubt Fire, Caisse, Red Cloud, Marathon Man,
Weekend Surprise, Appealing Harvest and Another Jet. The two year old event for Guyana bred horses features Red Steel, Slim Shady, Devil Woman and Amazon Warrior for the $600,000 price tag and trophy also over 1000M. The contenders for the H& lower 1000M race will battle for a purse of $450,000 and trophy. The ‘I’ and lower race w i t h I Wa n t R e v e n g e ,
Royal Cash, Party Time, Savion, Mary Ann, I Will Get Another and Easy To Win will gallop over 1000M for the pole position takings of $350,000 and trophy. The final race has $250,000 plus trophy at stake for the winner of the J and lower event in another 1200M gallop and will see Lady Secret, The Road Is Mine, Smarty Light, Swift Away, Natasha, Ghost Zapper, Golden Star and Affinity in contention.
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
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All roads lead to the Guyana Cup horserace meet - stunning recovery for Jockey Colin Ross
Colin Ross back in the saddles as he goes through his paces on It’s My Turn. There has been a stunning recovery for top Jockey Colin Ross who suffered a nasty fall on Sunday 10th August at the Rising Sun Race meet and had to be rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital where he was hospatilised with injuries to his head, neck, back, legs and other parts of the body. Ross made a quick recovery and is expected to be back in the saddles today at the Port
Mourant Turf Club for the Guyana Cup $25M race meet. Ross will be coming up against his colleagues and will look for an impressive showing in this the biggest horserace meet held locally. Meanwhile, a number of top jockeys in and out of Guyana confirmed their participation. Jamaican Jockey Brian Blake and Trinidadian Nicholas Patrick,
who have been in and out of Guyana acclimatizing for this big event, are among those arriving early. Also home is top overseas based Jockey Kumar Singh who has been flown in by the connections of the Jumbo Jet businesses. Kumar Singh came in from the USA. He is fresh from a successful stint in his adopted country, having ridden at Belmont/Saratoga among other places, all under the NYRA (New York Racing Authority) and other countries. Also expected are overseas based Guyanese Sunny Singh, Michael Semple and Carl Liverpool along with the likes of Rupert Ramnauth, Randolph Richmond, Yap Drepaul, Navin Ally, Rad Drepaul, Junior Semple, Andy Ramnauth, Mahendra Sukhoo, Michael Sancho, Prem Chandra, Winston Apadhu, Nascimento, T. Baker, Takurdial, Prem Chandra, Michael Sancho, Junior Sookhan, Russell Chichester and Ajai Sansarran, John Rodriguez among others. Meanwhile, with the debarring of Guyana’s top race horses Score’s Even, the
best of the rest which includes a star studded field has been assembled for the feature C1 and lower event for the $4M winner’s purse from a lavish $7.5M takings and the Guyana Cup over 1800M. The field is led by two times defending champion Elle’s Vision of the Jagdeo stable and the inform Treacle of the Dookie Stable and CP Got Even of the Elcock stable. Among the others are Swing Easy, Run Nana Run, Church House, Grande Roja, Jack Is My Style, Red
and Lovely, Money In Return and the newly imported Perfect Wind Storm and Princess She Is Not. Nine races are carded for the day. Among the other events are: the Co-feature 3 yrs. old Zenyatta Memorial Derby for Guyana and West Indies bred horses with Unsettled leading a star-studded field that includes Royal Empire, Quiet Dancer, Settling Jet, Shooting Star and Release the Beast for $2M and trophy over
1600M. The Two year old West Indies Bred horses including Storm Bird, It’s My Choice, Keep on Swinging, Atlantic Storm, Settling Star, Midnight Blue and Danger in the Park are set to take the arena for the $1.5M and trophy over 1000M. Any one of the horses entered in the E and lower 1400M event with the likes of Princess Alisha, Home Bush Baby, Right To Rule, It’s My Turn, Fresh Again, Battle Hymn, Bride Stone Corner, Mission King, Settle In Seattle and Marathon Man (Continued on page 70)
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Superstars of Guyana On Friday last, former Guyanese double world champion (IBF and IBO) Gary ‘Acid’ St. Clair made an impromptu visit to Guyanese International Cultural icon and music superstar Eddy Grant. There was a lot of friendly chat and some serious appreciation as these champions expressed views on each other ’s disciplines, boxing and music.
Sunday August 24, 2014
GUYTRAC 20/20 KO cricket bowls off today in Upper Corentyne The much anticipated Guyana Tractor & Equipment (GUYTRAC), sponsored 20/20 knockout cricket competition for teams in the Upper Corentyne area and organized by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) is expected to get on the way today with 10 matches at 5 venues. The competition was scheduled to start on June 1, 2014, but was postponed due to the inclement weather. Some 20 teams which are affiliated to the UCCA have been registered to take part in
the competition which should conclude in one month. The final and third place playoff will be played at the CWC ground at a date to be announced later. The following is the first round fixtures: At the No.70 ground - No. 70 CC will be at home to No.47 pioneer, in game number two, No. 72 All Star will play No. 70 Young Star. Over at the Crabwood Creek Ground -No. 64 Fighting Marines will engage host C.W.C Rising, the second game will pit No. 69 Red Rose verses No. 72 Cut and Load. The two games at the No.
43 ground will see No. 43 Scorpion squaring off with No. 68 Turn Team and Guytrac XI meeting No. 48 Challengers. The No. 69 Vikings Ground Game will be the venue for the No 69 Vikings Verses Young Royals, match and No. 73 Young Warriors against Springlands encounter. The final two games will be played at the No. 71 ground with Corriverton playing No. 70 MYO and No. 71 Cricket Club battling Skeldon. Action begins at 10:00hrs at each venue.
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Inclement weather forces postponement of GRFU 10s double header The inclement weather had the last say yesterday as the Guyana Football Rugby Union (GRFU) was forced to postpone the scheduled double header which was set for the National Park. According to PRO Esan Griffith, the Organisers were forced to cancel the two games in the GRFU organised 10s’ tournament after the playing conditions were deemed too dangerous for the players’ safety following rain which left certain parts of the outfield saturated with water and the ground in an unplayable state.The Organisers, however, agreed that the
games will be played at a later date and the two scheduled matches for next week will remain as planned. In the matches that were scheduled to be played, undefeated Hornets were to tackle the University of Guyana in the opening game, while the Guyana Defence Force was pitted against Caribs. Hornets who drew with Caribs in their opening encounter and then beat the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in their next fixture leads the points’ standing with six points and they are followed by UG and the GDF on four points apiece, while Caribs are in the cellar on two.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday August 24, 2014
Dexter Gonsalves has a knockout on his mind for Iwan Azore By Michael Benjamin There have been intense debates and discussions of the quality of contemporary boxers as against those of the past era and the general consensus seem to suggest that those of the past were definitely a cut above their present day counterparts. Boxing fans rooted to this view was in for a big surprise when Dexter Gonsalves faced off with Barbados based Guyanese pugilist,
Revlon Lake, on the Guyana Fight Night boxing card September last. In what was a clinical and brutal e n c o u n t e r, G o n s a l v e s blasted Lake into oblivion and stripped him of the local jnr/lightweight title in round seven. Since then, Gonsalves has been inactive and just relegated to the gym as no other boxer wanted any part of him. Iwan Azore has recently taken up the challenge and he
will clash with Gonsalves in an 8 round jnr/middleweight fight when the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) presents the Night of the Contenders at the Cliff A nderson S ports Hall (CASH), Saturday September 13 next. The fight was initially scheduled for the Banks DIH Thirst Park Sports Club this month end but promoters were forced to change the date and venue due to the inclement weather. Last Friday afternoon, Gonsalves was engaged in intense training at the Forgotten Youth Foundation Boxing Gym in Albouystown under the watchful eyes of coach, Joseph Murray. He was merely engaged in shadow boxing exercises as well as a few rounds on the heavy bag. This represented light work as Gonsalves had already done the bulk of the work earlier in the week and was merely at cruising altitude. Murray said that his charge had had several
quality rounds of sparring with former world champion, Gary St Clair and Simeon H a r d y. H e s a i d t h a t Gonsalves had stood his ground notwithstanding the disparity in experience and he believes that his charge is ready for Azore. When asked whether his fans could expect a knockout, Gonsalves replied, “That’s exactly what’s on my mind.” The uninitiated might just brush off this caustic remark as bragging but for those that witnessed the Lake bout this statement could spell curtains for Azore. Azore is no slouch and can be a dangerous fighter on his night. He had two epic encounters with Troy Lewis and while the first one ended on a no contest, Azore bounced back to take the return clash on points. He got a bit ambitious and signed to fight Hardy and lost that fight on points. Despite losing, Azore gained satisfaction that he was able to last out against Hardy, who has racked up quite a reputation as a
Gonsalves pummels the heavy bag as he whips himself in shape for the Azore clash. knockout artist; he failed to upkeep the tradition against a tough Azore. Both Gonsalves and Azore have had tenures in Trinidad and trained at the Tiger eye Gym. “I know him well after
training at the same institution and am certain that I will knock him out,” was Gonsalves noncommittal response to a question asked. Azore is currently preparing at his Trinidad base and could not respond to Gonsalves’ outbursts but those familiar with his style and temperament will admit that he could hold his own and might just surprise Gonsalves and prick his confidence. Azore is expected in Guyana within the next week. Fans will also be entertained with several other bouts and in the main attraction Dereck Richmond will square off with Jamaican Contender champion, Sakima Mullings i n a n 8 r o u n d s jnr/middleweight scrap. Richard Williamson will oppose Dexter Marques in a bantamweight 6 rounder, while Jamaican, Kamal Russell and Guyanese Winston Pompey will clash in a 6 rounds middleweight bout. Bell time remains at 20:00hrs sharp.
Sunday August 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 75
UDFA Community Cup football Tournament launched in Linden T e n d a y s o f e x c itement is expected as the Upper Demerara Football Association in collaboration with Netrockers FC launched a U20 Round Robin Community Cup Tournament on Thursday last at the Bayroc Community Ground which runs from August 22nd (Friday) to September 07th, 2014. Collis Gift said that the UDFA and Netrockers FC are instrumental in promoting and developing football for the youths. He explained that the tournament is to bring out the next generation of football not only in the Region but by extension Guyana. Gifttoldthesmall gathering of U D FA o f f i c i a l s a n d members of the various clubs that in the tournament teams have twenty four hours after a game is played to appeal anything they feel was wrong and the organisers have twenty four hours to respond. HeadcoachAbdul Hamid said the tournament came at a time when a lot of negativity is being said about football in Linden. “This tournament came at a time when youths have nothing to do, but they must forget about the negativity and move on, because at the end of the day the buck stops at you.” He reminded them that the teams must be punctual and be
Officials at the launching of the tournament.
committed to their game. Hamid also explained some of the FIFA rules to the players and encouraged them to protect the image of the sport. He also said he is willing to impart some knowledge of the spot to young players during some lectures which he will be doing during the tournament about offside, misconduct and other issues. Prizes will be given to the first, second, third and fourth place finishers, best goalkeeper and the most goal scorer . A bicycle will be given to the Most Valuable Player. Ten clubs will vie for the top spot; Netrockers FC, Botofago FC, Eagles United FC, Kara Kara FC, Vasco FC, Winners Connection FC, Coomacka Mines, West Watooka, Retrieve and Amelia’s Ward.
Treasurer of the UDFA Basil Jaipaul thanked the sponsors, noting that without them it (tournament) couldn’t be possible. Caribbean Intern a t i o n a l Distributors Inc (CIDI), Bernard Variety Store, Snooks Variety store, Chicken Stag Bar, Figgy’s Groceries, Wills Electrical, Rubis Guyana Inc., LJ shopping Zone, Rite care Pharmacy, Uncle, Foreign Links Auto Parts, Mayfield Clothing, Dexter Copeland, Randy Hall, Sox, Andy, Bunny, Abdulla Hamid and Stanley Lancaster. G a m e s w i l l a l s o be played at the Wisburg Secondary School Ground, Linden Technical Institute Ground and the Bayroc Grounds. (Jacquey Bourne)
t r o p S Annual Malta Supreme Nat. Park 11-Race Meet
Hamza Eastman is new feature P.70 champ; Husbands is juvenile winner
Superstars of Guyana P.72
Done Deal! Hamza Eastman raises his hands in triumph as he is about to cross the finish line yesterday ahead of Robin Persaud (partly hidden) and Marlon Williams.
The soggy state of the playing area at the National Park that forced the Organisers of the 10s Tournament to postpone yesterday’s double header, as some players opted for a small practice on one available part.
Inclement weather forces postponement of GRFU 10s double header P.74
Champions Meet! Guyanese International Superstar Eddy Grant shares a special moment with fellow Guyanese and former World boxing champion, Gary St. Clair.
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