Monday August 26, 2013
Kaieteur News
Letters... Where your views make the news
Marriott hotel equals tourism boost
DEAR EDITOR, The construction of the Marriott Hotel on the Caribbean sea and in Guyana’s capital city Georgetown has been in full swing and promises to bring to Guyana a modern, world class, state-of-the-art hotel facility of course with the added advantage of a globally recognized brand. The ascending of a new hotel here in our country amongst the others that are already present was unequivocally a risk but given the standard of the brand or name carried worldwide, it was definitely worth taking the chance in establishing another branch. The Buddy’s International Hotel, which was bought over and
renamed by the Turkish some years back will definitely fail in comparison to what’s being built, despite the one advantage of the hotel being close to the airport. On the other hand, when it comes to the Pegasus, its reasonable rates and breezy coastland area will definitely be shared with its major competition, also putting aside the fact of its location being in the vicinity of Georgetown, for even that will be shared. The Marriott is already a winner as it comprises 197 rooms, a large ballroom, conference centre, a casino, a night club, a restaurant and above that, an amicable, inviting walkway. Marriott hotels operate in many countries and with its new
resort in Guyana, it is set to attract new visitors and tourists to a relatively unknown land - a magnificent way of raising the bar and putting Guyana out there. Being the most prioritized projects c u r r e n t l y, i t ’s a l s o a n opportunity to widen the scope of tourism without taking away the attraction from some of the country’s prized assets- such as the largest single drop waterfalls and the rich green rainforest. The Marriott is actually seen as a free ticket to these various sceneries here in Guyana. This will definitely boost Guyana and be a tremendous blessing for the tourism sector. Kishana Mohabir
A thing that bothers my primary school teacher DEAR EDITOR, This letter here is at the request of one of my primary school teachers at St. Thomas Moore on Durban Street, Wortmanville many moons ago. He was one of the most likeable yet the most feared. He didn’t bring up the question of being identified when he spoke to me last Friday but I did promise him I will write about it. I plan to do an entire column on the subject. It has to do with the primitive dress code that is stipulated in many, many public institutions. For me, the worst manifestation of it is at the High Court. People who have cases in front of judges and those that have to give evidence have been turned away. Many of us have witnessed these cruel acts. For example, your shirt or Tshirt or jersey cannot have a marking on it or
the face of a person. So if you go to the High Court with a white shirt with Chris Gayle’s image at the back, you will be turned away. I have seen too many instances of these wrong things. Where is this backed by law and why are policemen permitted to be the aesthetic judges of what Guyanese must wear? In one instance, Leonard Craig refused to tuck his shirt in his pants because he argued that the fashion of the shirt which resembles a shirt-jac was not made to be inside his pants. The policeman was annoyed and threatened him with arrest. In many public places, women are not allowed with sleeveless tops or dresses. What is wrong with such a top or dress? And to think the feminist society in Guyana has not protested that absurdity. Frederick Kissoon
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Kaieteur News
Monday August 26, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
Hits and Jams should seek to work along with youths in developing them educationally DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me space in your letter column to publish this letter. August 2013 marks significant achievements as we celebrate the abolition of slavery, the 250th anniversary of the Berbice Slave Rebellion in 1763 and the 190th anniversary of the Demerara slave Revolt of 1823. Every August for the past thirteen years, the entertainers of Hits and Jams promote Summer Events commonly referred to as “Hits and Jams Summer…” Strangely, in 2013 the event takes on a new outlook, where the entertainers/ promoters of Hits and Jams have gone to the extreme to publicly announced that through “Loan Zone”, persons can access loans ranging from $60,000.00 t0 $150,000.00. What is its purpose? Mainly to purchase hair, nails, clothing and footwear! Further, I learnt that in order to be eligible, you have to solicit quotations from fashion stores, then submit the quotations to Hits and Jams to facilitate processing of the loan. What has gone into the heads of these people? Repaying the loans is as follows: $60,000.00monthly repayment of $6,700.00, while for $120,000.00 the monthly repayment is$ 11,700.00. Let us examine a few pointers; ninety-five percent (95%) of the persons hoping to attend these events will be youths. From this percentage, hypothetically forty percent (40%) are likely to be youths who are unemployed. How will they be eligible for “Loan Zone”? What mechanism/ s is/are in place to deal with this category? In addition to complete outfit, there is still costs
attached to the tickets ranging from $3,000.00, $4,000.00, $5,000.00 and as high as $10,000.00. Fellow young people when all this is spent, what happens next? How do you eat? How will the bills be paid? Etc. As young people we should be wary at the state of our highest learning institution! The University of Guyana, where most of us should aspire to attend after completing Secondary and Vocational schools in order to better our academic qualifications. It is starving for funds; the atmosphere within the classroom remains a challenge for students and Lecturers, inadequate furniture in the classrooms, along with other challenges. It would be beneficial for Hits and Jams to partner with the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) and invest monies towards the development of our young people, since the majority of students find difficulty paying their tuition, and the other necessities. This group has a poor track record of giving back and can learn from some major corporate sponsors, such as Banks DIH, DDL, GT&T, DIGICEL and others. Another fact that needs to be thoroughly examined is the accessing of soft loans from Banking Institutions to procure a motorcycle; there are a number of criteria one must satisfy; such as recommendation, job letter from an employer, inter alia inclusive of a 10% to 25% deposit, depending on the total cost for the item. If you do not satisfy the bank’s conditions, the loan is disapproved. Yet, an entertainment group is saying to youth, “go get quotations and we will ensure that you are guaranteed a loan, for Hits and Jam events”. This I
consider as “disrespectful to Guyanese Youths”. Publicly, I challenge Hits and Jams Management to take a walk through areas in Albouystown, Tiger bay; Agricola, Buxton, Sophia and Linden to observe and simultaneously ascertain from villagers what are the plight of the young people in these communities. Most times we are greeted with young men liming on the street corners, gambling, smoking, or involved in deviant acts. Why is this? Simply put the Government and even people like Hits and Jams continue to fail the young people by not ensuring that available jobs are created and putting systems in place to guide them in their career path, rather than constantly promoting parties, since this is what they perceive of the youths from one particular ethnic makeup. Young people! Let me remind you for those who have forgotten. It is under this PPP/C administration in 2011 that promises were made that two thousand (2000) jobs would be created once re-elected to office. We soon will be approaching two (2) years and are yet to see those two thousand (2000) jobs. A classic example is the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, where its current labour force is predominately nonGuyanese, while the majority of our youth remain jobless in Guyana. The Hits and Jam group should consider partnering with the Mayor and City Council in remedying the situations faced by residents in the Queenstown area. In the area, they are approximately three Government schools in the community, St. Gabriel’s Primary, New Comenius Primary and Queenstown Secondary Schools. Hits and Jams should seek to either partner or adopt one of the schools, work along with youths in developing them educationally. In concluding, I call on all young people to remember that partying is not the gateway to development. We need an improved education system; we need good paying jobs and the enhancement of our communities. It is time we stand up against oppression, suppression, depression, regression and marginalization. Annette Ferguson
Monday August 26, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Monday August 26, 2013
Monday August 26, 2013
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The fear that lingers below the surface A few weeks ago, for one day, there was a shortage of petrol in Guyana. This time there was no panic nor was there a situation whereby persons began to stockpile their personal stocks of petrol in anticipation of a shortage. However there were persons, especially the older generation, who felt a throwback to a previous era when Guyana was so broke that there were long lines stretching for miles. Motorists had to line up for days for a tank of gas.
They had to sleep in their vehicles. This went on for a long time and hire care drivers would line up for gas, full their tanks and then drain out some and keep it in their garages and join back another line just so that they would have enough gas to do what was absolutely necessary. In those days on the long petrol lines, persons with private cars would travel only if it was absolutely necessary. The subsequent generations never knew about those days
and therefore when a few weeks back the stations were closed for day, persons did not panic. It was explained later that the temporary disruptions in supply was due to the late arrival of ships from exporters. Despite the fact that the situation was quickly normalized there needs to be an investigation as to why this situation developed. A country should always have sufficient reserve stocks to cater for delays in
Dem boys seh
People talk when dem should keep quiet When people like talk dem does mislead others. Donald and Ash Kneel blame the opposition fuh killing de Amaila project. At least that is wha nuff of dem seh. De Lunch Man is one who seh that de project dead. Then Donald seh that de project ain’t dead suh dem boys wonder wha is de truth. Anyhow, people start fuh hear all kind of thing bout de project. One time dem hear that de project ain’t costing Guyana anything. Now if Guyana spending money pun a project and it can only spend taxpayers money, somebody got to be spending money. Dem also got confusion wid de Specialty Hospital. De opposition done seh that dem ain’t voting money fuh that project but Ash Knee decide that he
gun spend money from de Treasury anyhow. Prakash seh that he personally gun jail Ash Knee. Wha happen is that Prakash vote fuh support Amaila suh Ash Knee believe that if Prakash kiss he one time is okay fuh he kiss Prakash all de time. Prakash seh that he lie. Dem talk so much bout de hospital when dem can’t even fix de main hospital. Dem have people who seh that dem is nurse but dem don’t nurse nobody. Is de same people dem gun want to put to wuk in de Specialty Hospital which
suppose to cater fuh foreigners. Prakash know that he gun shame when people start to talk bout dem nurse. That is why de opposition ain’t spending money pun de project. But wha people should talk about dem ain’t talking. Dem suppose to talk about who got shares in de Marriott but dem ain’t talking; dem suppose to talk bout wheh some of dem get dem money from but dem ain’t talking. Is a strange set of people. Talk half and wait fuh de backlash
the arrival of petrol boats. And after the traumatic days of the fuel shortages of the last days of the PNC regime, steps were taken to ensure that adequate stocks would always be available to avoid shortages. It was therefore surprising to learn that for one day a few weeks ago, there was no fuel at certain pumps, not because there was no money to import fuel but because the petrol vessels from overseas were late. There needs to be an immediate investigation as to the level of stocks that are held and why this situation developed. Something like this should never have happened and explanations are needed as to the monitoring mechanisms that are in place to ensure that there are no shortages, if indeed the reasons provided were the
main reasons for the shortages. It is interesting that just after this one day shortage, there was a little spike in the prices at the pump. The public therefore needs to be assured that indeed the one –day shortage was attributable to shipping delays. If problems with the fuel shipping lines were the real cause of the delays, then there needs to be an explanation as to how the level of stocks were allowed to deteriorate to the level where the pumps were out of petrol for one day. The entire transportation system could have ground to a halt had the vessels been further delayed and this would have led to great economic losses, apart from tremendous hardships. If the shortage had been protracted the situation could have
gotten out of control. It is therefore hoped that there will be some form of investigation into what went wrong and resulting out of this exercise a plan will be developed to ensure that the situation does not happen again. Guyanese do not wish to return to the days when drivers had to sleep sometimes two nights in long snaking petrol lines. Guyanese do not wish to return to the days when petrol had to be hoarded at home because drivers could not afford to spend four days out of seven in petrol lines. Those days are behind us but the fear of returning to such a traumatic era still lingers below the surface.
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Kaieteur News
Monday August 26, 2013
I was not responsible for your five years in jail-Bynoe tells Benschop Controversial social activist Phillip Bynoe has categorically denied that he was responsible for Mark Benschop being incarcerated for five years on a treason charge. In a tell-all interview with Benschop himself, Bynoe, who was also charged for treason but remained at large until he was pardoned, explained how he managed to elude capture by those who wanted to incarcerate him, while admonishing Benschop for misunderstanding the politics of Guyana and turning himself in. He described Benschop’s move to turn himself in as poor judgement. “Mark Benschop decided on his own to listen to the advice of his attorney and turned himself in. Phillip Bynoe took his own counsel and refused to turn himself in,” Bynoe said. The treason charge stemmed from the storming of the Presidential complex on July 3rd 2002, during a protest march organized by Bynoe in protest of government’s treatment of the people of Kwakwani and other Berbice bauxite mining concerns. Two persons were shot dead in the compound when presidential guards opened fire on those who had barged in after forcing open the gate.
Phillip Bynoe and Mark Benschop shake hands during their first meeting after the 2002 fiasco. Based on his utterances, Bynoe was obviously aware that the state had intended to institute treason charges long before it was made out. “I don’t want to call the name of the first person who told me about treason, but the very night (after the invasion of the OP complex), the very first Guyanese that told me the people will charge you for treason, is a leading political figure. He alone knew that the people were going to charge me for treason,” Bynoe revealed, adding that the whistleblower is presently serving as an Opposition
Member of Parliament. ‘HID IN JUNGLE’ Bynoe revealed that after learning about the intended charge, he sought refuge in a “close by jungle” where he could have visited what he called phone zones, an area close to Linden where he could have gotten telephone signals to aid in his communication with civilization. “I used to talk to three attorneys. One of them said to me ‘we know that we can’t convict Mark, but we want to commit Mark because we
want get he out the way’. Another attorney, who is a leading opposition figure, told me ‘Phillip give yourself up, we’re gonna fight for you’….he said ‘I will organize a battery of lawyers and we will fight for you.’” However, the assurance did not find favour with Bynoe, who told the attorney ‘you could take your battery of lawyers and use the current and shove where the monkey shove the nut because I ain’t going no way and giving me self up.” He said that at the same time he learnt that Benschop, who was also charged with treason for the same incident, was planning to turn himself in to the authorities. “I said to myself that is poor judgement. Mark does not understand Guyana’s politics to go and do something like that. Once he gives himself up, he’s not going to be freed in a hurry.” “Mark Benschop was not a part of our struggle. I never spoke to mark and say ‘come and join this thing’. When the entire thing was finished and when people were going away, up came Mark Benschop with a bull horn, and he started to say ‘do not shoot at the protestors…’ mark only went there when things were at an end, when all the damage was done,” Bynoe stated. Benschop was charged with treason after turning himself in following a wanted bulletin that was published for his arrest, while Bynoe went into hiding. A jury returned an 11 to one verdict of not guilty at Benschop’s subsequent trial and it was not until after he had already spent five years of life that he was eventually pardoned by former President Bharat Jagdeo. Many had felt that there was not sufficient evidence to support the charge against Benschop. In fact, former Acting Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen had publicly stated that she would have discharged the matter if she found that the prosecution did not have enough evidence. Bynoe said that another contributing factor to Benschop’s extended incarceration had to do with the role played by a prominent attorney at law, now political party leader, who he said had filed a High Court motion, which successfully got the matter removed from Holder-Allen’s court. Bynoe, in the recent interview with Benschop, disclosed that the then Director of Public Prosecution
had advised that no treason charge should be instituted, since there was no evidence of treason. He claimed that there was the suggestion that charges such as unlawful entry or something relating to a riot. He also said that the same attorney who caused the then Chief Magistrate to be removed from the preliminary inquiry, had also filed a motion to have Benschop’s High Court trial delayed. “What I say here is public record, this is not my opinion. And you know what, Mark Benschop knew about this. He knew about this, he subsequently learnt about this afterward.” “If I never invited you (to be a part of the protest), how could I be a part of a set up to get you? What logic is that? So there is no way I owe you
National Congress, there was no plan to invade the Office of the President. “There was no intention to invade the Office of the President…that happened spontaneously by angry people…if you ever got involved in leading a group of people that have been whipped up into a state of angry frenzy, you will know what I’m talking about. That was a sad and unfortunate occurrence,” Bynoe said. But knowing all of this, Bynoe remained silent while Benschop was fighting the system for five years. Many persons are still of the view that Bynoe, who admitted that his communication to the outside world was not inhibited while he was in hiding, could have indicated through the media or any means necessary that,
“Mark Benschop decided on his own to listen to the advice of his attorney and turned himself in. Phillip Bynoe took his own counsel and refused to turn himself in,” Bynoe said. an apology for that.” “One thing I will say though, is that because of your own unwise counsel, because of the fact that you listened to people and turned yourself in, because of the fact that you turned up at that Office of the President when you were not invited… and you were wrongly incarcerated.because of that, what Phillip Bynoe will say is that as a fellow Guyanese and as a fellow human being, I am sorry that you went through all the suffering that you did. But put it this way boss, you called it upon yourself, and you must look in the mirror and say ‘hey Mark, you shoulda never give you self up’.” Bynoe said that Benschop should tell his listening public about the role the attorney played in his incarceration. On the programme, which was aired last week, Benschop admitted that he did confront the attorney some time in 2011 and was offered an apology which he accepted. Bynoe vowed never to again get involved in mass protest, “because when the numbers reach a certain level, you cannot control that protest any longer.” According to Bynoe, although the protest was planned at a meeting at Congress Place, the headquarters of the People’s
the state “had the wrong man.” “No one on earth can tell me what to say, how to say and when to say it….that is a decision I always make by myself. Not only did I remain silent about you (Benschop) and your trial and all that, I remained silent about the entire episode.” Bynoe said that breaking his silence was not going to serve any purpose; instead he believes that it would have complicated things further. He reiterated that when he heard that he was charged for treason, he took the decision to disappear. He stated that he knows this country like the “back of my hand”. “I can disappear anytime and go at some places where no one can find me if I don’t want to be found…and I could live in a pipe, I could live in a tree, I can sleep on the ground for many, many…weeks if it is necessary. I can live off the land, I trained myself that way,” Bynoe boasted. “Where I went, I went to a part of Guyana where no human being has ever tread before. I cleared 15 acres of land and I built a house and I lived there. You are right; I took in things to make my life comfortable. I stayed away from civilization. I did have a satellite phone, and there are two persons who I spoke with (Continued on page 22)
Monday August 26, 2013
Kaieteur News
Mystery fire leaves West Berbice family homeless
Govt. did not force UGBC Director to resign - Ramotar By Leon Suseran
The gutted building.
A family of five was left homeless on Saturday after a fire of unknown origin destroyed their two-storey wooden and concrete house at Lot 13, Number Five Village, West Coast Berbice. Homeless are 38 year old miner, Sereste George, his wife 32 year old Felicia George and their three children ages 15, 10 and six. The distraught couple stated that they moved into the well-furnished house just over one and a half years ago. The couple said that they operate a shop on the bottom flat and suffered millions in losses. According to the couple, they were traveling to Georgetown in their car and had reached Mahaicony at around 08:30 hrs when they got a call from someone who said that their house was in fire. They immediately turned back but by the time they arrived the building had already been destroyed. Residents say they saw “a ball of fire” in the couple’s room in the upper flat before the flames spread.
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Kaieteur News was told that the two younger children were at home when the fire started. The eldest, 15-year-old Naiomi Martin, had just left the house to go and buy bread from a nearby shop. The girl said that she was returning from the shop when a neighbour told her that the house was on fire. She said that she dropped the bread and money and ran towards her burning home, but neighbours collected her and took her to safety. According to Naomi, her 10 year old sister and six year old brother were playing in the yard when she had left for the shop. Ms. Felicia George stated that October would have been two years since they built the house and moved in after getting married. The land was a donation from her grandmother. Her husband, Seretse George who is a miner in the Mahdia area, lamented that he worked very hard to acquire what he had. The couple said that television sets, a washing machine,
The distraught family.
computers, furniture, and newly-purchased text books and school uniforms were destroyed. Ms. George stated that she also lost some cash in the fire. The couple had painted and installed electricity in the top flat and were in the process of doing the same in the bottom flat. They had planned to insure the house when that chore was completed. According to Ms. George, nothing was left alight. But Felicia George recalled that a few Sundays ago she and a neighbour had a misunderstanding and the woman “went down on her knees on the street, and said that something will happen to us and plenty people will come.” Meanwhile, some residents alleged that construction workers who are repairing a bridge in the Bath area delayed a fire truck for about ten minutes because they refused the vehicle a pass immediately. In the meantime, residents had used buckets in a futile attempt to extinguish the fire.
President Donald Ramotar has stated that no one forced University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) Director Professor Daizal R. Samad to resign. The Guyanese leader was pronouncing on the issue for the first time in Berbice on Friday. Prof. Samad announced his resignation with effect October 4, 2013, claiming that he could not take the “dictatorial policies” of the Turkeyen Campus. Prof. Samad has said that he cannot run the Berbice campus under the immense pressure he is facing from Turkeyen. President Ramotar stated that no one in the government or the Ministry of Education forced Professor to resign and that what will have to happen now is simply that the UG Council will have to find a replacement. He stated that he was shocked to hear of the Professor’s resignation and assured that there is no tiff between the Government and the Professor. He also said that “no one is indispensable”. “The Government has not asked the goodly professor to resign, nor did they do anything that had pressured him into resigning, the President affirmed. “We have to find a replacement,” he said. When contacted, Prof. Samad stated that His Excellency Donald Ramotar is “absolutely right.” “No one in the government of Guyana forced me to resign. Indeed, I have always been thankful for the support from various Ministers of the
....Samad responds government...as well as from members of the opposition. To their credit, they have seen first-hand the work that has been done at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus for the last five years.” He added that many ministers, past and current, have visited UGBC and they saw with their own eyes the accomplishments at UGBC, including the Surinamese President who “told me publicly that he fell in love with this Campus.” The outgoing Director added that President Ramotar has been very kind to him…so have the officials of Region 6. “So His Excellency is right. He is also right on the mark when he says that no one is indispensable”, he asserted. What is missing, he said, is the Turkeyen connection. “I read in the newspapers that the University Council has struck yet another subcommittee. Good. But why are we to waste time and energy when we know that which is right and reasonable and logical? They did this in 2005—things continued to fall apart.” “Our progress here at UGBC was accomplished in spite to a rotten system and in spite of the sheer incompetence that prevails at Turkeyen. It takes a great deal of work for the servant to outperform the master. And make no mistake: UGBC is a servant; and Turkeyen is our master. I find this to be objectionable. “The system at Turkeyen does not work because it cannot work. I honestly think
that if I were to be put in charge of Turkeyen, I would not be able to duplicate what we have done at UGBC. But I do not see anyone in sight who can even come close”, Samad told this newspaper. UGBC- AWINNING HORSE He described the UGBC as “a winning horse.” “We have proved that. And the Government and all Berbicians have been greatly supportive and deeply kind. What we are asking the government to do is to give us autonomy or the University of Berbice so that we all can do more for more people. That’s all. I promise for one thing that we shall not be asking for an increase in Tuition”, he said. “We have a vision for education at all levels. Give us the chance to implement that vision”, Samad stated. ”The accomplishments here are not the work of one man. It is the work of all of us at all levels and in all corners. The private sector has been fully on board. And members of the diaspora have also been on board with all manner of donations”, he said. “I have never been shy about calling Ministers of the Government to ask for help on behalf of our citizens. And almost always that help was given—or they advised me where to go to get help for those who need that help. “ “It was our honor to have been of service to so many: the farmers, fishermen, victims of all manner of abuse, all the schools, CPCE, IDCE, the Guyana Police Force.”
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Political spite caused closure of local airline - Former GAC Head Fazal Khan By Zena Henry A former head of the nowdefunct state-owned Guyana Airways Corporation has blamed government officials for the current aviation woes gripping the country. Former GAC General Manager, Fazal Khan is adamant that political spite rather than financial or operational problems forced the closure of the airline back in the late nineties, and it is one of the major reasons Guyanese are paying exorbitant prices to travel up North. The former aviation official is convinced that Guyana’s current state of affairs is one that could have been avoided, with the continuance of the “prosperous and developing” state-owned carrier being preserved and prized for its functioning and importance to Guyanese travelers. “They didn’t know they were making a mistake because they do not understand aviation,” Khan told Kaieteur News. “They were totally clueless and had they known it was a mistake, they would have never done it, but by the time they realized, it was already too late,” he said in a recent interview at his Queenstown residence. Khan believes that he was “pushed aside” as head of the GAC for expressing his reservations about one political appointment. According to Khan, he realized that the lack of forward-thinking management would destroy the GAC and he therefore gave the then powers some eight months to reconsider their position of removing him. But he said that “reconsideration never occurred; the airline was
eventually sold and within less than a year the airline was in total chaos,” Khan charged. He said that prior to this, the state-owned entity had been making strides. “We had about 80 percent of the market shares in the country, while receiving not a cent from the government. Not even when we requested to borrow only half a million dollars from the government after running into debt that we could not avoid, did they give it.” Khan continued that despite huge expenditures, GAC was making, “three, four and five million dollars pre-tax yearly. We had very good junior and senior staff. People were sent for university education in marketing, aviation management and diploma courses.” He boasted that as far as he is aware Guyana Airways was the first regional airline to offer free headphones and alcohol on board the aircraft. He continued that Guyana Airways grew to fly five flights to New York, and three times to Toronto, weekly, while trips increased during peak summer seasons with North American Airlines having to be chartered to aid the influx of travelers. GAC was able to increase its feet of planes under his stewardship. Khan said for the first time in the country’s history there were local pilots who were captains on jets. “The first choice for passengers was Guyana Airways....no doubt about it. We had a beautiful airline. We shouldn’t be asking for nothing, we had everything ourselves, and we blew it.” He argued that while Guyana is begging CAL to lower airfares and for better treatment, GAC was ideal for Guyanese. “Passengers back
Former GAC Head Fazal Khan then paid around four and five hundred US to travel.” Nowadays, Guyanese are hounded with heavy pricing and even poor service. Recently, local authorities and executives of the Trinidadian owned Caribbean Airlines which holds the monopoly for the Guyana New York route, met to discuss what authorities consider is “less than acceptable treatment of passengers” on the financelosing carrier’s most lucrative route. Peak season fares are being offered at as much as US$1,300, almost twice the price CAL charged passengers before the pull out of US carrier Delta Airlines earlier this year. As it relates to Canada, passengers have complained about paying CAN$650 for a five hour flight to Trinidad, while an extra CAN$400 is for the remaining one-hour flight out of Trinidad to Guyana. The situation has however caused a massive stir among travelers, angering thousands in the European, North American and Caribbean diaspora wanting to travel du r i n g t h e holidays. The government even went as far as threatening CAL’s recently acquired flag carrier status. The say however, that CAL has agreed to review its price structure, flight times, and system of flight connections and the mandatory disembarking of an aircraft to New York transiting Trinidad. For now, Guyanese remain hostage to the only airline going north from Guyana. Much anticipation has grown with the emergence of Fly Jamaica; a partnership between Guyanese and Jamaican investors. The charter is already flying Jamaica-New York route and is expected to do the same as soon as FAA gives approval, bringing some competition to the CAL dominated route.
Monday August 26, 2013
Govt. agreed to pay Sithe Global interest on money already repaid …firm was also to receive additional US$17M participation fee - Chris Ram “Can you imagine any bank in which you deposit $100,000 and then withdraw $90,000 continuing to pay you interest for twenty years on the $100,000?” According to Financial Analyst, Christopher Ram, this is exactly what the Guyana Government signed onto with Sithe Global for the Hydro Project. Ram, says too, despite the public statements, when all the transactions are taken into account, “it becomes clear that Sithe planned to invest considerably less in the project than US$150M but would be paid interest as if it did.” He said it was surprising enough to learn that Sithe Global would be receiving a tax-free, 19 per cent return on its investment. What is worse, according to Ram, was learning that the 19 per cent is paid each year, calculated on the original US$158M sum deemed to have been invested, rather than the reducing balance after each repayment. He calculated that in the last five years of the project when Sithe’s investment would have been substantially repaid, it would receive interest on the balance of its investment at rates ranging from 76 per cent
in year 16, to 380 per cent in year 20. Ram who has been a fierce critic of the manner in which the project is currently structured, in his latest writings on the Amaila Project said that the public was led to believe that Sithe Global is an equity investor in the project, that is the shareholder who takes the ultimate risk in the company. In the case of insolvency, the equity is only repaid after all other debts and obligations have been met. “In fact, Sithe was allowed to design the project documents so that the repayment of its cash and inkind investment would be effected through the monthly all-in charge to be paid by GPL.” As such, Ram said, Sithe Global is not an equity shareholder but the holder of redeemable preference shares, enjoying total control of all aspects of the proposed project, the prohibitive price tag of which stands at US$858 million.” Ram further stated that a closer examination reveals that a not insignificant” part of the US$858M includes payments to, or payments contracted by Sithe. He said that Sithe Global effectively wrote all the project documents – the
Chartered Accountant and Financial Analyst, Christopher Ram shareholders’ Term Sheet, the Implementation Agreement, the Power Purchase Agreement and the Assignment of Receivables Agreement. According to Ram, Sithe Global also insisted on being paid an equity participation fee of 2 per cent of the total project cost which amounts to more than US$17M. “In effect, from Sithe’s point of view, the higher the cost, the higher the fees it would be paid.” This ‘equity participation fee,’ is separate and distinct from the 19 per cent rate of return already being asked for its equity.
Quality of service, billing system successfully addressed in outreach programme - GWI Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has put measures in place to help consumers get greater access to billing inquires and options to make bill payments, through their customer outreach programme that they call “community connect”. Recently GWI conducted its exercise in the community of Cane Grove, Mahaica offering customers, who are unable to travel to the local GWI office at Bachelor’s Adventure, the opportunity to make water service payments, query outstanding bills, report leaks and apply for new service connections. In excess of 400 customers visited the GWI Community Connect booth stationed within the local NDC office with the majority making payments towards their service charges. A similar outreach activity was conducted earlier in August in the Bareroot Community, East Coast Demerara with in excess of 300 GWI customers in attendance. This activity also
received positive feedback from customers who indicated that it was convenient to have GWI officials in the community to address complaints and queries from customers. During these outreach activities, GWI customer service representatives also conducted door-to-door visits reminding customers about overdue bill payments and querying about the quality of their service. ‘Our objective is to avoid disconnecting any customer’s service for nonpayment,’ ‘we are reaching out to as many customers as possible in areas where revenue collection is low to ensure customers have the opportunity to make payments and avoid service disconnection’. Stated the Chief Executive Shaik Baksh, The utility’s country-wide disconnection campaign continues indefinitely as customers with any outstanding arrears are urged to make payments to avoid service disconnection. The campaign also targets
customers with illegal connections and those who reconnect their service after disconnection. GWI has commenced removing the entire service connection of repeat offenders who have consistently reconnected their service connections. Customers with large arrears can access ‘GWI’s WalletFriendly Payment Plans’ at Community Connect events to help them formulate a payback plan that as the name implies would be less taxing on them financially. The Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh urged customers, especially in rural areas, to attend all future community connect activities which are scheduled for East Bank Demerara, Berbice, West Coast Demerara and Linden. Customers attending will have access to all the services available at GWI customer services locations as Community Connect is intended to function as a mobile GWI office providing customers with added convenience.
Monday August 26, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Monday August 26, 2013
Demerara Mutual records profits of G$124M in 2012 despite Challenges Demerara Mutual Life Assurances Limited (DM) has now been established for 121 years within Guyana. It has become the leading provider of life insurance despite the recessionary nature and challenging environments that business is now conducted in. These were the sentiments expressed by DMs Chairman Richard B. Fields SC in the Annual Report of 2012 for its 121st Annual General Meeting (AGM). According to Fields, the past few years for Demerara Mutual have been extremely challenging, but due to prudent managing and hard work by their sales team, the company at the end of 2012 was able to be on top of the ladder “with a 30 per cent market share, which made us the number one Company in
the area of lives sold and annualized premium.” He said the company’s revenue for 2012 totalled G$1,790M, which is a 5% increase over the 2011 figure of G$1,705M. Keith Cholmondeley, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Demerara Mutual in his report for the AGM, stated that the company has recorded after taxes a profit of G$124M for the year 2012 which is an increase of 22 percent from 2011’s profit of G$101M. According to Cholmondeley, Demerara Mutual in Guyana has “outperformed the competition in the sector with considerably less resources than our competitors.” This was done with the use of less sales representatives than their competitors and they (Demerara Mutual) were still able to lead the industry with
30 per cent of market share in Lives and 43 per cent in Annualized Premium Income. The fact that Demerara Mutual has shown increased profits with respect to Guyana in the face of competitors the likes of Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company (GTM), Hand in Hand Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company and Caricom General Insurance Company to name a few, is testament to its development throughout the years the company has been established in Guyana. Apart from accruing financial growth and a competitive advantage, the company has also invested in the overall growth of Guyana, by improving on their fulfillments and social responsibilities. According to Cholmondeley, “the year saw
Demerara Mutual’s head office a much greater emphasis on Anti-Money Laundering and combating the Financing of Terrorism awareness in all
jurisdictions.” As well as the company honoring its corporate social responsibility by donating to institutions that are in need, one example being; the company “has been a major contributor for the rebuilding of the Mercy Hospital in Georgetown, Guyana, which suffered major damage resulting from a 2010 fire.”
“The Society is headquartered in Guyana and has Offices in St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. Since its inception in1981 as a carrier of life Assurance indemnities, Demerara Mutual has developed into a full-fledged financial institution in this new millennium” the report states.
Monday August 26, 2013
Regardless of how poor we were in rural Trinidad in the aftermath of the Second World War, life was never too grim for Grimm, the fairy-tale world peopled by courageous princes and beautiful princesses, horrible witches who eventually got their comeuppance and endings in which the protagonists, having triumphed over evil, lived happily ever after. The story of Hansel and Gretel was scary. Rumpelstiltskin, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Ugly Duckling and Cinderella were all part of the fantasy land which
Kaieteur News
helped our imaginations to soar. I liked the valiant little tailor who swatted a bunch of flies and then went around boasting that he had killed “seven at one blow”. However, the one that truly fascinated me was the story of Rapunzel, the beautiful blonde locked in the tower, who let her hair down for a prince to both visit and, as I later learnt from the unexpurgated editions of the story, impregnate her. Even now, there is something about the tale that I still find fascinating. Maybe it is the long hair. At the same time, as I read the fairy tales, I was
also part of a world in which “rationing” was real – rice, flour and sugar were scarce commodities. Language was interesting. There was the itinerant bay-rum drinker “Sweetie Jack” whose eyes had a manic spark. He walked around the village with his guitar yodeling his trademark “Oh Lay Hee” and singing what I realized later were country and western songs. It was well known that Sweetie Jack ate “dead fowl”, our word for chickens that had died from unknown causes, most likely from “pip” (a contagious disease), and left to rot at the
Repairs to MV Kimbia still incomplete By Rehanna Ramsay The release of the MV Kimbia, Guyana’s leading North West Passenger Vessel has been once again stalled. Recent news on the Kimbia confirmed that maintenance works are yet to be completed on essential mechanical and structural aspects of boat, resulting in the holdup, which consequently has a heavy impact on the North West Ferry Service. Kaieteur News understands that the maintenance crew met with some recent complications, while finalizing repairs to the age old vessel. Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) General Manager Marcellene Merchant explained that maintenance workers could not have completed their task for the newly planned release date, August 15, 2013. This was due to additional problems the crew encountered with the tank, shaft and propeller of Kimbia‘s system. “What happens with the Kimbia is because of its age. Every time workers repair one part of the vessel, they discover another fraction that needs immediate redress to secure the seaworthiness of the ferry. We want to ensure that the boat is in proper
working condition before it returns to service in the North West.” There has been a series of delays as it relates to the release of MV Kimbia. Several months ago, the vessel moored for repairs at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) dockyard. GNIC and the Transport and Harbours Department entered into an agreement on November 5, 2012 for the docking of the boat at a contract sum of $118M. The boat subsequently became a source of contention between the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) and the Engineering Company, over a demand for a notable sum of money. The money, represented payment of variation costs, which amounted to $79 million for unapproved work done to the vessel (work which, GNIC argued was deemed critical to secure the seaworthiness of the boat). TH&D was willing to approve only $10.8 million worth of the variation but later agreed to $25 million worth of the payment for repairs done to the most ‘critical’ parts of the vessel. At that stage, the issues between GNIC and TH&D were reportedly ventilated. However, this newspaper was reliably informed that
Guyana’s development... (From page 19) and investors in general to invest, therefore this need is not unique to Guyana. Urling explained too that when overseas investors invest, they by extension become part of the local private sector bringing with them skills and allowing for knowledge transfer. However, Urling maintains that an independent inquiry by a reputable international firm into the hydroelectric project remains a necessity. He is adamant that efforts must be made by the inquiring firm to assess the project based on its merits and make relevant recommendations that both the Government and opposition sides could accept with a view of allowing for forward movement.
GNIC’s portion of work is still incomplete. At the conclusion of GNIC’s repair to the vessel, an additional $20 million of the variation cost will be paid to the company. Ms Merchant explained that GNIC is finalizing their portion of repairs while TH&D workers are addressing their fraction of the repairs. The General Manager revealed that TH&D maintenance crew is working to rectify all of the necessary problems with the Kimbia, which includes “minor welding” to the main structure. TH&D is expected to procure a new vessel, the price of which amounts to approximately US $10 million. As disclosed in a previous interview, with the TH&D General Manager, steps have already been taken to accomplish a vessel of this kind, by next year. At the interim, Kimbia’s sister carrier Lady Northcote has been serving the North West district, transporting passengers and Cargo. Lady Northcote operates as a ferry service to Port Kaituma and Kumaka. It navigates to these territories once every month. When Kaieteur news visited the TH&D North West Ferry Stelling, recently, several containers and boxes of commodities had been packed in a warehouse, awaiting transport into the districts, which according to information obtained “could take some time,” since Lady Northcote is at Port Kaituma. Although some have expressed frustration over the issue, a North West businessman, who wished to remain anonymous, told this newspaper that “there is nothing that can be done apart from relying on privately owned vessels to transport the cargo, which evidently costs much more than the regular service.”
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side of the road or in the “rubbish bin”. We used the term to “dead fowl” to catch our friends “offside”. The first time as a seven-year-old I was asked, “You does eat dead fowl?” I quickly replied, “No.” The barb then went in, “So on Sunday all-you doh kill the chicken before you eat it?” Everyone laughed at me and I was so angry with myself and my classmates that I wished that like Rumpelstiltskin the ground would open up and swallow me. I realize now that in those days I was multi-lingual and did not know it. True, I spoke “Trini” and understood a little Hindi from my grandmother’s fairy tales about “Rajahs” and “Ranees” (Kings and Queens) and found out that the Rapunzel story had an Indian version. I could say “No” in Spanish (and English) but I did not realise I knew a Yoruba word. There were people in the village like Sweetie Jack and an Indian sadhu whose hair was long, matted and uncombed, who we said had “dada” hair. A Nigerian explanation for the use of “dada” is, “A child born with naturally matted or locked hair that cannot be combed. The natural hair texture is similar to dreadlocks and is not in that state by choice. The word ‘dada’ a word of Yoruba origin, has entered the widely spoken Nigerian English and can be used both as an adjective and a noun.
For example one can say, John’s friend is dada or John’s friend has dada hair.” This brings us to the “Black” Rapunzel from Trinidad. The “HUFFPOST WEIRD NEWS” recently featured fifty-year-old Asha Mandela, who “has a lock on a world record that others might dread: The world’s longest dreadlocks.” According to HUFFPOST, the 50-year-old Atlanta resident from Trinidad has earned the name “the Black Rapunzel” because she holds the Guinness World Record for “World’s Longest Dreadlocks,” which she has owned since 2008. Her dreads were officially measured to be 19 feet, 6 inches long, but an unofficial measurement found one of the strands measured a whopping 55 feet, 7 inches. Asha, who lives with her husband and son in Atlanta, stopped cutting her hair in her 20s. “I started growing my hair 25 years ago, when I started having certain dreams and visions,” she said. For her, growing dreadlocks was part of a spiritual journey to completely remake her life. She believes that it helped her to survive two heart attacks, cancer, and two strokes. “Cutting it would be
equivalent to suicide. It would be like being a zombie,” she revealed. However, life for Asha is not that easy. While she believes that her locks add “spice” to her love-life, she has to use up to six bottles of shampoo for her weekly wash and then it takes two days for the locks to dry. She has to carry her hair, which weighs 39 pounds, in a cloth baby sling when she goes out and her doctors believe that the additional weight has caused her to have a curvature of the spine. He husband and son might have no problem but Asha’s Trini mother is aghast. “My mom told me to remove the mop from my head before I am welcomed in her home again,” she recounted in an interview. “She said to me, ‘Imagine, I put nice Vaseline and lard in your hair and groom it so nicely ... now look what you did to it.’” Now that the dada hair has grown to fifty-five feet I figure that her mother’s reaction when they meet again will probably be “Oh Lard!” *Tony Deyal was last seen saying that Asha who let her hair down in a recent interview is reputedly a practicing Hindu. While she did not say what sect she follows, it has to be the Hairy Krishnas.
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Kaieteur News
Monday August 26, 2013
Woman, baby die after bus overturns in Soesdyke/Linden Highway creek A woman and a baby girl were killed and several others injured after a minibus in which they were travelling overturned yesterday in the Kairuni Creek on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The victims were identified as Anastasia Forde, 23, and Taquayyah Sheppard, who was six months old.
Among those injured are the baby’s parents- Sean Sheppard and Tinesha Victor and Anastasia Forde’s mother, Shonette Adams, 43. They were all heading to the Splashmins Fun Park for the Jamzone Summer event when the tragedy occurred. Overseas-based Dr. William Kyte, Lambert
Baveghems, 54, who are in Guyana to facilitate an outreach programme, are said to be in critical condition. Baveghems was reportedly accompanying Dr. Kyte to Georgetown to pick up his luggage. The driver, Joel Chapman; Clinton Europe of Timehri; Ouzzie Bollers, 34, of West
Bank Demerara; L. Rose, 45, of West Coast Berbice; and Shaquille Barker, 17, of Albouystown Georgetown, were also injured. Barker, who suffered a fractured hand, told Kaieteur News that he does not know what caused the accident. However, he recalled that after the minibus toppled and
water began rushing in, “somebody break a window fuh everybody come out.” Barker said that as those in front of him were “lined up” to exit the bus, and he was feeling for his haversack, when he felt something in the back seat. He explained that while he could not see what it was at the time, he is now sure that he had touched the dead woman, Anastasia Forde. Barker said that he was the last person to come out of the overturned bus, and b e t r a n s p o r t e d t o t he
hospital by public spirited persons. Some persons were taken to the hospital via ambulance. Meanwhile, upon their arrival at the hospital some of Forde’s relatives alleged that she was still alive when the undertakers wrapped her body and placed it in the hearse. It was described as a massive commotion at the Linden Hospital when about 18 injured persons were rushed to its Accident and Emergency Unit.
I was not responsible... (From page 10) in this government…they didn’t know where I was. Anybody that said they knew where I was, are the people who I took there or the people who I had carried there. Nobody knew where I was.” But were the authorities really hunting Bynoe? “Whether they wanted me or not, I always operated as though they always wanted me and there is nobody who is alive who can describe what Phillip Bynoe looked like...because I certainly didn’t look like how I look now.” He claimed that he was very comfortable in hiding. He planted both cash and permanent crops at his hideout and challenged anyone to go to the spot where they can pick all kinds of crops.
However, the former treason accused said that he never saw himself as a fugitive. He said that all over the world, administrations have used the treason charge to remove from the body politic, an opposition person who they cannot handle. “You do not pander to the state by bowing to a treason charge and go and challenge the state in a judicial system that you don’t know whether you control or they control. That is suicide. And because I did not agree to participate in that suicide, it is being said that Bynoe enjoying heself with he family, while poor mark have to suffer,” Bynoe said. “Is poor Mark mek Mark suffer, not Bynoe,” he stated. Incidentally, tomorrow marks five years since Benschop was released from prison.
Monday August 26, 2013
Kaieteur News
Monday August 26, 2013 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Just because you don't share all of someone's values doesn't mean that you and this new person in your life are completely incompatible. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You're feeling good -and eager to push yourself a little bit harder -- but be careful. Your ambition could start outpacing your capabilities, and if you push yourself too hard, you may get a nasty surprise. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Today you won't be content to live life on the surface -- you will need to understand the world around you in a deeper way than ever before. Search for the reasons people do things the way they do them, and you will comprehend more about your own life. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): When was the last time you hosted a dinner party? The stars say it might be time to assume the host role you perform so well. You don't need an excuse to socialize with your favorite people -and you certainly don't need a culinary degree! ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Inspiration abounds -- actually, it's almost like an embarrassment of riches where you're concerned. Try hanging around kids and animals, because that sort of carefree, unfettered energy will touch off an answering spark in you. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): No matter what the
weather might be like outside today, you may find yourself feeling shrouded by clouds. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Don't think twice when you're offered an invitation to join a group of people you don't normally socialize with. There are no hidden agendas to worry about. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Your ability to talk to just about anyone will be challenged today, but you will rise to the occasion brilliantly! When you're stuck having to deal with an abrasive person, keep your chin up and just keep smiling. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): You might be asked to move a few things around today to oblige people who have more influence in the world than you do. Smile and a nod, and you will be handsomely rewarded for your graciousness and flexibility. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): You've recently made some amazing headway toward repairing a major problem in your life, but you're not quite out of the woods yet. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): A lot of fun activities are going on around you today, so if you're feeling bored at any point in the day, that's your own fault! ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Common language will sound like poetry for you today, because the universe is sending you an extra large dose of aesthetic energy.
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DTV CHANNEL 8 08:25hrs. Sign On 08:30hrs. This Morning 09:00hrs. Live! With Kelly and Michael 10:00hrs. Roseanne 11:00hrs. The View 12:00hrs. World News 12:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 13:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 14:00hrs. The Talk 15:00hrs. Without a Trace 16:00hrs. Criminal Minds 17:00hrs. Charmed 18:00hrs. World News 18:30hrs. Nightly News 19:00hrs. Greetings and Announcements 20:00hrs. Channel 8 News 21:00hrs. DTV’S Summer Movie Fest Viewers’ Choice #5 23:00hrs. Sign Off MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 05:30hrs Dharan Kai AwazThe Voice of Dharma 06:00hrs Islamic Perspective 06:30hrs The Diary 07:00hrs DAY BREAK (live) 08:00hrs Dabi’s Musical Hour 08:30hrs Avon Video & DVD music hour 09:00hrs Current affairs 09:15hrs Top Notch Music Break 09:30hrs Caribbean Temptation music break 10:00hrs Amanda’s music break 10:30hrs Comfort Sleep Musical 11:00hrs Salvation Message with Pastor Kelvin 11:15hrs The View 12:00hrs Village Talk: Wales 12:30hrs The Young and The Restless 13:30hrs Days of Our lives 14:00hrs General Hospital 15:00hrs The Katie Couric Show 16:00hrs The Bold and the
Beautiful 16:30hrs Barney Show 17:00hrs Birthdays & other Greetings 17:15hrs Death Announcements/ In Memoriam 17:30hrs Sitcom
18:00hrs Aracari Resort Hour 19:00hrs CNN News 19:30hrs News Update 20:30hrs Getting it Right 21:30hrs Movie: Drift 23:00hrs News Update 22:30hrs English Movie: Drift Sign Off
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SERVICES Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool. Call: 225-9032, 647-2943 We repair LCD, Plasma, LED TV, Microwave, Washer & Dryer, Amp etc. Call:6472677/693-3277 TransponderTV: No Monthly Fees, No Hidden Fees, No Additional Charges: 250 Channels + 50 HD Channels- Call: 675-3201 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Profressional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115 CITITECH: Computer/ printer repairs (Mac & PC) IT consultation & Network installation: 125 Light St. Alberttown, G/TownCall:226-0085/693-1259
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FOR SALE
FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
500 Ton Cargo Ship with Contract- call: 687-6174
LARGE QUANTITIES O F H IGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICKSILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $15,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Pure Breed Rottweiler: All breeding lines imported, adults and pups with full pedigree for sale- Call:6852584
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753 Bobcat, cement mixer, air compressor & 31KVA generator- Call:677-9155 Electric Guitars, keyboards, speakers, 1 LCD 53 inch Phillips TV & antique brassCall:227-8519/616-5784 Ducklings and PigletsCall:688-7291/618-2708 1 Freight Liner Hauler, 1- 48ft trailer, 1 Low Bed (hauler & trailer)- Call:613-6979 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Windows, sinks, toilet bowls, table saws, grass, cutters, welders setsCall:227-8519/616-5784 White shirts (imported) $5000 per dozen. S, M, LCall:220-6909/222-3622/2206356 Pitbull Pups- Call:683-6674 Pure bred Cane Corso Mastiff Puppies: Tail crop, have shots & ready for new home- Contact Tony 6239099 1- 2.5 Ton Mitsubishi freezer canter newly registered. Owner leaving countryCall:629-5376
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
Honda welder 270 amp with 15,000 watts generator, 1 Mig Welder & 02 Tundra- Call: 220-4495/ 611-5114 Pluck chicken- Call:676-0931/ 686-7180 Plastic Fuel drums 55galContact Nicky 226-7948/6466000
House & Land for sale @ Naamryck, Parika. Price $5M- Call:226-9485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) Model M truck 4x4 with winch, barely used. GRR series- Call:226-9485/2269492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) House & land @ 47 miles Mabura road, 2 acres of fenced yard. Price $10MCall:226-9485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) 2 plots of land adjoining, 21 acres @ Hauraruni, Linden/ Soesdyke Highway. Price $7M- Call:226-9485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) 5 GALLON WATER BOTTLE CAPS IN LIMITED QUANTITYCALL: 614-8957 1 Jailing 125CC in good working condition, CF seriesContact:680-5200, BB pin 26FB-6719 to see pictures
First Class Auto: Allion, Premio, Spacio, IST, Axio, 212, Fielder, Verossa & AllexCall: 609-8188/ 602-6307 Hilux Surf, Spacio, 212Call:666-2635 1 Leyland DAF 60 single axle & dump- Call:216-1315/6136615 Toyota Altezza, PNN, tiptronic- Call:622-0108 One 2006 Toyota Tacoma GPP fully accessorized: Excellent conditionCall:647-2783/ 644-6066/ 269-1231 1 Toyota Raum excellent condition (recently sprayed over) $1.2M Neg: Contact Lisa @652-4703/267-1551 Ford F150 Spare Parts: 2004-2010 models: Breaks Pads, spark plugs, mirrors, doors, deff etc- Call:685-2584 Two Tundra, F150 truck, Suzuki sports car and one Chevrolet cargo van (2500cc)- Call: 227-8519/ 616-5784
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L-Touring Wagon HB $750,000- Call:674-8982
Electronic Course- Practical, 12 persons per class. Register early. Beginning 4th September @ Abdul Electronics- Call:226-6551 or 225-0391
One new model 212 crash on back- Call:626-1856 Pure Rottweiler- Call:2206879
Six pan food warmer and four pan food warmerCall:650-1713
Shop & guest house @ Kurupung landing. Price $5M- Call:226-9485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm) Used 1220 truck tyres, Kawasaki 600, GSX/R Susuki 750, 2 model ‘M’ foreign trucks used, heavy duty dryer- Call:662-6045 225HP Yamaha Outboard engine and 23ftx6ft boat 17 seats, price $1.6MCall:226-9485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am-4pm)
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VEHICLE FOR SALE Sale! Sale! Toyota Premio (unregistered), fully loaded $2.5M- Call: 617-2891/2202345
Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Premio, Allion, IST, Fielder- Call:652-3820/ 665-4529 1- AA60 Carina- Call:6430332/689-5254
New model Raum: Mags, TV, back camera & dark interiorCall:269-0432/686-0323
42 inch Panasonic plasma TVCall:622-0108
Register now for courses in English, Math, Social Studies, Masonry, Electricity, Cake Decoration @ AEA Centre DiamondCall:668-1908 Portuguese Language made simple- Call:664-5947/2278257
Shop/Bar & 11 rooms guest house @ Barlow landing, Eping. Price $5M- Call:2269485/226-9492 (Mon-Fri 9am4pm)
1 Honda CRV 4x4, excellent condition $1.7M- Call: 6397551/220-6380
Earth, delivery on the spot. Also Bobcat and excavator rental- call:626-7127 EDUCATIONAL I.A.E (Camp street): Register for full- time, lessons & adults CXC classes: Maths, English, Business & Science- Call: 223-0604/ 6835742
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Monday August 26, 2013
1 AE100 Toyota Corolla: Mag rims, alarm & A/C $600,000- Call:611-6632
TO LET Harmony Inn: Apartments fully furnished, airconditioned apartments: $5000 per night- Call:6680306/602-8769/694-7817 Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6797139
LAND FOR SALE House lot for sale: Friendship, Diamond EBD & drafting of house plans call:223-0733, 223-0730, 6928513 Land @ Marudi Creek 35 acres. Suitable for farming/ sand pit- Call:664-9701/6426056 Land @ lot 50 area ‘H’Albion Corentyne, Berbice- Call:6470357/651-1735 Warakabra, Linden Highway: 1,409’ x 403’ or 13.73 acres. Concrete house thereon. West of Highway- Call:6194152
Lombard street for lumber yard or other types of business- Call Richard 6097675/233-2614 1 two bedrooms apartment at Samantha Point, Grove $40,000- Call:613-7596 Bel-Air $75,000; Kitty US$750; Queenstown US$1000; Lamaha Gardens US$2500- Call Diana @2272256/626-9382 2 Bedrooms apartment for rent @ QueenstownCall:680-5817 Daily rental/ apartment & kitchen etc. Call:687-3017 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table - Call: 277-0578
Ameila’s Ward, Linden $1MCall:613-1810/697-2550 Lot 648 Friendship, East Coast Demerara: Size 9,321 Sq.Ft. Price Neg- Call:2590227 At Parfaite HarmonieCall:660-0251
PEN PAL Female seeking female friends- call:690-9063
VACANCY Refrigeration, A/C Technician. Call 231-0655/ 683-8734 Cashier, porter, sales clerks: Apply with written application @ 2J’s General Store 148-149 Regent road Bourda, G/Town- Call:2252350 1 Receptionist, within the vicinity of Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika. Tel: 638-1627
Nissan Laurel super deluxe $700,000 & Nissan Pathfinder Jeep $1.5M neg (excellent condition)- Call:698-7878/ 225-8427
1 Secretary, 1 Clerk & 1 Office Assistant- Contact the office on 265-3586
Spacio: Fully insured, drop suspension, alloy racing rims, fog lamps, body kit, alarm, DVD/ TV- Call: 647-4620
2 able bodied labour workers to work on farm at Yahurawara- Contact the office 265-3586
1 Toyota AT192, AT212, Vitz, Rav4, Tacoma, AE91 Sprinter, Hilux Pickup Solid DEF- Call: 644-5096/697-1453
MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:678-7499
1 unregistered Mercedes Benz 1,600cc- Call: 227-3042/ 676-7291
Massage/ physiotherapy for children. Brain stimulation/ physical development enhances complete wellbeing of child- Call:609-3932
2008 Tacoma 4x4 automatic, excellent condition. Off road tyres with lift kit & access cab- Call: 610-5370
The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979
Fabricator Welder, security officers, kitchen assistant, 1 cook, host/hostess & cleaners: Interested persons can contact tel:603-3993 Porters, skidder, tractor, moulder operator, wood mizer operator and lorry driver- Call Richard 609-7675/ 233-2614 (Continued on page 27)
Monday August 26, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 27
Letters... Where your views make the news
Bujagali has proven that more electricity DOES NOT translate to cheaper electricity DEAR EDITOR, I found Emile Mervin’s article titled “ The Bujagali story which started out with near tragedy and ended with triumph could be Amaila’s” (SN, August 17, 2013) very troubling, misleading and poorly researched. Mervin cannot use Bujagali, which was partly built by Sithe Global, as a success story when electricity rates were raised on Ugandans AFTER Bujagali was commissioned. Before Bujagali construction started in 2006, electricity rates were raised to cover the immense US $900 million debt incurred for Bujagali along with the guaranteed super returns and profits for Sithe Global and other financiers. Ugandans had their electricity rates raised by 24% in 2005, by 35% in June 2006 and by 41% in November 2006. AFTER Bujagali came on stream on August 1, 2012, Ugandans’ businesses had a 69% increase in electricity rates while domestic consumers suffered a 36% increase. Now in 2013, Umeme, the Ugandan electricity provider, is most egregiously asking to raise electricity tariffs again! Umeme is another poorly managed and failed institution like GPL with commercial and noncommercial losses of 26% in 2012 compared to the 30%
losses GPL suffers every year. Just like GPL, they spent hundreds of millions of US dollars preparing their grid for Bujagali and yet still after Bujagali came on stream they are still bleeding losses. GPL is the same mess. They have to pay for the power they take from the hydropower stations at a fixed high price but they lose a significant portion of that power through inefficient and failed systems, yet they will increase electricity rates on consumers to make payments to the hydropower station. It is either that or the taxpayers have to subsidize them every year. Clearly, anyone with eyes and an open mind could see the travesty the PPP was going to sink this country into. Amaila is a very similar fiasco to Bujagali just like Umeme is a very similar scandal to GPL. In fact, there is no other project that gives a more powerful glimpse into the future of what Amaila will do to this country than Bujagali. It took US $900 million to build 250 MW of hydropower at Bujagali. Currently, Amaila costs US $858 million for a measly 165 MW of hydropower. Naturally, this situation of less power for more money at guaranteed higher profits for Sithe Global and others will lead to higher tariffs for
all Guyanese. GPL will have to do like Umeme in Uganda and raise electricity rates. There is no way the Amaila debt and stupendous guaranteed investment rates of return and profits will be paid without electricity rates raised. Going by the cost escalation for the road to Amaila, by the time Amaila is done, it will cost more than US $1 billion. At that frightening price, electricity tariffs must climb higher, like they did for Ugandans after a costoverrun Bujagali. The big companies like DDL and Banks DIH that produce their own electricity will not join the grid and pay exorbitant prices for electricity. If they are forced to join the grid to pay extreme prices for electricity and to be saddled with electricity tariff increases like Ugandan companies, they will likely pack up shop and open elsewhere in the Caribbean or South America, costing this country tens of thousands of jobs. Just like Uganda, increased supply of electricity does not translate to lower price for consumers. Since they started building Bujagali, electricity prices have increased an average of 116% for consumers and yet still the electricity distributor is asking for another increase
APNU did the right thing by... From page 4 of the high toll and they used subterfuge and deception to sell this Project to the people by not telling them up front how much it would cost to cross this Bridge. Let it be known that the Berbice River Bridge is the ugliest with the most expensive toll in the world. It is Guyana’s most costly fiasco to date. Then the Jagdeo White Elephant – the Skeldon Factory was sold as the solution to turning around Guysuco. That factory is the source of why Guysuco today is turning on its head. Clear examples of the PPP’s
subterfuge, deception and untruths! Why should the people believe these sycophants today who we believe have already benefited financially from Amaila? After five years, the Skeldon Factory remains the most unreliable and inefficient sugar mill in Guyana, while the contract has been paid in full and the contractor is nowhere to be found to fix the problems. In fact, the PPP regime continues to spend the taxpayers’ money recklessly to repair a factory that the people at Skeldon described as a scrap metal factory.
Again, who is paying these bills - not Ramotar and Jagdeo but Aunty Seema in Whim and Uncle Oscar in Buxton. So rest yourself with all this subterfuge and deception Mr. President; the majority of the people are fully aware of your inconsistent and wild game of “casino economics and leadership” with the people’s money. They do not believe in your propaganda, distortions and untruths. So we say yes to hydro power but not at any cost to the taxpayers or the huge kick-backs to some in the cabal. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
of 5-15% in 2013. Bujagali has proven that more electricity DOES NOT translate to cheaper electricity. Uganda is still suffering blackouts on a regular basis despite the commissioning of Bujagali. I have no regret in saying what follows because my patriotic blood is boiling on this Amaila disaster and I hope the Editor has the gumption to publish it. It applies to any party that makes a catastrophic economic decision like Amaila. The egotistical dunces within the PPP more concerned with craven pocket-filling, selfenrichment, brazen arrogance for arrogance sake in the face of overwhelming truth, Champion of the Earth pats on their empty skulls, misplaced agendas and white elephant political grandstanding rather than doing the right thing and making economically feasible and fiscally sound decisions, are willing to drown this nation in a sea of debt and abominable decision-making with this project. Ugandans are showing us the future and it is truly going to be messed up and financially crippling. This country needs hydropower but not at this cost and certainly not with this future of punishing electricity rate increases. See the following sources http:// www.independent.co.ug/ cover-story/7654-regulatingumeme-power-tariffs http:// w w w. t h e c e o m a g a z i n e ug.com/news/electricity-istariff-hike-a-necessaryevil.html http:// www.independent.co.ug/ news/news/7908-umeme-totake-pre-paid-metresnationwide M. Maxwell
FOR RENT Coolers and ScaffoldCall:657-0424 Cement mixer (Ransome)Call:681-5988/672-6000 Executive apartments/ houses- Call:223-8479/6473768 www.spaceseek.gy Apartments $50,000: Bills inclusive. Limited space available- Call:223-8479/6473768 www.spaceseek.gy 3 Bedrooms downstairs, 1 Self-contained: Newly renovated: Yard space: Located in Diamond H/ Scheme- Call:613-0028
(From page 26)
WANTED One rider for a Transtar motorcycle to deliver waterCall:231-4832/662-3415/6262360 Honest live in domestic (single or widowed) attractive salary offeredCall:646-1758 (between 9:00am-4:00pm) 1 female to work in Interior in shop, age 20-45 $80,000Call:664-5199 (from 8am-6pm) serious enquiry only Girls to work in Bar & kitchen helpers. Apply in person @ Evergreen Bar new road Vreed-en-Hoop Wanted experienced Taxi drivers & experience Dispatcher @ Princess Hotel- Call:265-7076/6165419 Wanted contract cars @ Atlas Taxi Service: South Ruimveldt gardens, VHF radio networkCall:661-3043
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale in Enterprise E. C. Demerara Call: 627-5416/611-7437 Lodge, corner property with business- Call:223-7181/6274900 ‘BB’ Eccles- Concrete house 3 bedrooms upstairs, downstairs 2 self contained apartments, 2 bedrooms each toilet & bath $28MCall:227-8409/660-4764 Furnished building in the interior, fully equipped along with six rooms- Call:604-6999 House and Land @ D’Edward, W.C.B.- Call: 6892973/698-3703 Property for sale by owner located at Regent Street, Georgetown- Call:225-1831 Houses for sale on E.C.D & E.B.D- Call:223-8479/6473768 www.spaceseek.gy
WANTED One three bedrooms apartment anywhere around town- Call:617-7865 Laboures and Porters: Apply @ Wieting & Richter Ltd 1 Sales Representative (Western Union) must have Maths & English CXC. Apply @ Humphrey’s Bakery 38 Ketley Street, Charlestown- Call:231-0497 1 welder/ bodywork man to work in the InteriorContact:627-6416/226-3799 (Mon-Fri 8am-4pm) Receptionist, room attendant, bar attendants, washer & presser , cook & helper– Contact: Hick’s Ville Hotel @ 231-0951/231-0953 Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665 Driver, salesperson, male merchandiser & porter needed, bring resume ( include reference) & passport photo at Vegetarian Gardens - Tele: 227-7714 One experienced general domestic, must know to cook tasty Creole dishes. Must be honest & trustworthy- Call:656-6388 Experienced male counter servers, waiters, cashiers, roti/ puri cooks & pastry makers: Apply @ Hacks Halaal 5 Commerce St. Cooks, assistant cooks, waitresses and bartenders to work in Kitty area- Call: 226-7054/ Cell:610-8269 1 Handy Man, 1 Small Engine Mechanic 3 yrs experience- call: 233-2408 One experience Hire car driver- Contact Mrs. KhanCall:226-7948 or 686-6648 Kitchen help, butcher and cleaner- Call:231-5866/2315857 One boy to work in Interior 18-30- $70,00- Call:664-5199 (from 8am-6pm) serious enquiry only Cleaner- Call:225-3234
West Ruimveldt $5M, West Bank $22M, East Bank $15M, Section ‘K’ $42M- Call Diana @227-2256/626-9382
One live in maid must know to cook & clean, preferably from country side or interiorCall:666-6836
VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community- Call:592-6248704/ 592-684-9203
One experienced driver to work in interior to drive bus & lorry- Call:666-6836 Linden highway farm looking for workers- Call Corniluse on 641-1544 or 650-0105
Page 28
Kaieteur News
Egypt arrests suspected Islamist militants CAIRO (Reuters) Egyptian authorities arrested an Islamist militant yesterday, saying he was close to the brother of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri and had supplied arms to supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi, according to security sources. Daoud Khairat was arrested in Cairo’s Nasr City district, where police broke up a pro-Mursi protest vigil on August 14 in a bloody crackdown on the Islamist president’s Muslim Brotherhood. At least five other Islamist militants were detained elsewhere. The security sources said the authorities accused Khairat of arming pro-Mursi demonstrators and described him as the “right-hand man” of Mohamed al-Zawahri, the al Qaeda leader’s brother who was himself arrested in Egypt on August 17. The Brotherhood denies using firearms and says it is a peaceful movement with no links to the jihadi al Qaeda.
More than 1,000 people, including about 100 soldiers and police, have died in violence across Egypt since Mursi’s fall, making it the bloodiest civil unrest in the republic’s 60-year history. Brotherhood supporters say the toll is much higher. Earlier yesterday, the army said it had captured five militants in Sheikh Zowayed, a town in North Sinai, saying they had been involved in attacks on security forces in the area. A son of senior Brotherhood politician Mohamed al-Beltagi was also arrested in the southern city of Beni Suef, the security sources said, in a continuing campaign against Egypt’s oldest and best-organized Islamist movement. Three Brotherhood leaders and the movement’s former arch-foe, ex-president Hosni Mubarak who fell to a popular revolt in 2011, face separate trials on similar charges of involvement in the killing of protesters.
Monday August 26, 2013
Syria lets U.N. inspect gas attack site, Washington says too late;
Britain says Syria chemical attack evidence may already be destroyed BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria agreed yesterday to let the United Nations inspect the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, but a U.S. official said such an offer was “too late to be credible” and Washington was all but certain the government had gassed its own people. The U.S. remarks appeared to signal that a military response was more likely. A senior senator said he believed President Barack Obama would ask for authorization to use force when Congress returns from recess next month. The comments follow forceful remarks from other Western powers, including Britain and France, which also believe President Bashar alAssad’s government was behind a massive poison gas attack that killed many hundreds of people last week. Foreign powers have been searching for a response
William Hague
President Barack Obama
since the killings in a Damascus suburb, which if confirmed would be the world’s worst chemical weapons attack in 25 years. The United Nations said Damascus had agreed to a ceasefire while a U.N. team of experts inspect the site from today. Syria confirmed it had agreed to allow the inspections. The scale of Wednesday’s attack has led to calls for a strong response from the United States, a year after President Barack Obama declared the use of chemical weapons to be a “red line” that would draw serious consequences. A senior U.S. official said Washington was still weighing how to respond but there was very little doubt that the Syrian government had used a chemical weapon against civilians. “Based on the reported number of victims, reported symptoms of those who were killed or injured, witness accounts and other facts gathered by open sources, the U.S. intelligence community, and international partners, there is very little doubt at this point that a chemical weapon was used by the Syrian regime against civilians in this incident,” the U.S. official said. “At this juncture, any belated decision by the regime to grant access to the U.N. team would be considered too late to be credible, including because the evidence available has been significantly corrupted as a result of the regime’s persistent shelling and other intentional actions over the last five days.” Syria’s information minister said any U.S. military action would “create a ball of fire that will inflame the Middle East”. He said Damascus had evidence chemical weapons were used by rebels fighting
to topple Assad, not by his government. That argument is given credence by Assad’s ally Moscow, but dismissed by Western countries which say they believe the rebels have no access to poison gas or the big weapons needed to deliver it. Western leaders have been phoning each other in recent days and issuing declarations promising some kind of response. “We cannot in the 21st century allow the idea that chemical weapons can be used with impunity,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague said. “We believe it’s very important that there is a strong response and that dictators ... know that the use of chemical weapons is to cross a line and that the world will respond when that line is crossed.” French President Francois Hollande’s office said: “France is determined that this act does not go unpunished.” Senator Bob Corker, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said he had spoken to the Obama administration about its plans and believed the president would seek authorization for intervention after Congress convenes on September 9. “I think we will respond in a surgical way and I hope the president as soon as we get back to Washington will ask for authorization from Congress to do something in a very surgical and proportional way,” he told Fox News Sunday. The team of U.N. chemical weapons inspectors arrived in Syria three days before Wednesday’s incident to investigate previous reports of chemical weapons use. Since Wednesday, the 20strong team has been waiting in a Damascus luxury hotel a few miles from the site of what appears to have been
the world’s worst chemical weapons attack since Saddam Hussein’s forces gassed thousands of Iraqi Kurds in 1988. Their movements must be agreed with the Syrian government, and their inability to reach the site of attacks just a short drive away was symbolic of the failure of global diplomacy to have any real impact during two and a half years of war. State television showed footage of tanks moving on Sunday into what it said was the eastern Damascus suburb of Jobar, one of the districts where the mass poisoning occurred. Opposition activists in Damascus said the army was using surface-to-surface missiles and artillery in the area. “The fact is that much of the evidence could have been destroyed by that artillery bombardment,” said Britain’s Hague. Obama met his top military and national security advisers on Saturday to debate options. U.S. naval forces have been repositioned in the Mediterranean to give Obama the option of an armed strike. Assad’s two main allies spoke out in his defense. Iran, echoing Obama’s own language, said Washington should not cross a “red line” by attacking Syria. Russia welcomed the decision to allow the U.N. investigation and said it would be a “tragic mistake” to jump to conclusions over who was to blame. It is not clear how much impact the U.N. investigation would have on decisionmaking by Western countries. In past incidents, the United States, Britain and France obtained what they said was their own proof Assad used small amounts of chemical arms. But if the U.N. team obtains independent evidence, it could be easier to build a diplomatic case for intervention. Throughout a war that has killed more than 100,000 people, the United States and its allies have yet to take direct action, despite long ago saying Assad must be removed from power. In June, after concluding that Assad’s forces had used a small amount of nerve gas, Obama authorized sending U.S. weapons to Syrian rebels. Those shipments were delayed due to fears radical Sunni Islamist groups in the opposition could gain further ground in Syria and become a threat to the West.
Monday August 26, 2013
Kaieteur News
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe threatens British, U.S. firms over Western sanctions Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe yesterday threatened “tit-for-tat” actions against Western countries that have imposed sanctions on his rule, suggesting US and British firms could be targeted. “They should not continue to harass us,” said the 89-year-old veteran leader whose re-election last month drew Western doubts over the credibility of the polls. “We have British and American companies here and we are treating them well. There will come a time when we will lose our patience.” The United States and European Union imposed sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes on Mugabe and members of his inner circle and several companies following 2002 elections which western observers said were rigged. “They have companies here and we have not imposed controls or sanctions against them but time will come when we will say tit-for-tat. You hit me, I hit you. You impose this on me, I impose this on you,” Mugabe said. “Our attitude is not going to continue as it was in the past — passive. We have had enough and enough is enough.” Mugabe won an extension to his 33-year rule in general elections on July 31, which were slammed as “a farce” by his rival Morgan Tsvangirai and prompted serious concerns from Western nations. Local observers said the elections were fraught with irregularities but observers from the African Union and the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc were less critical. Mugabe was sworn in last week after the constitutional court declared the elections “free, fair and credible.” He has vowed to forge ahead with his controversial equity drive to force foreign companies to cede majority shares to local investors. So far mining companies including Zimplats, a subsidiary of the South African-based Impala Platinum, and Anglo American Corporation’s Unki mines have been forced to sell their majority stake to locals. Companies in the retail sector are set to follow. The EU earlier this year retained an asset freeze and travel ban on Mugabe but eased most of its decade-old
Robert Mugabe restrictions on Zimbabwe. The majority of those on the US sanctions list still remain, including a travel ban and asset freeze on individuals and entities with links to Mugabe. Mugabe was addressing mourners at the burial of Mike Karakadzai, a retired air commodore and hero of the 1970s liberation war, who died aged 56 on Tuesday. In his first public speech since Thursday’s swearingin, he targeted Tsvangirai, his former partner in a shaky powersharing government, as “an ignoramus” and “a lone stray locust.” This was in reaction to Tsvangirai’s attempt to seek a court’s help to overturn the polls and his calls to rid the security forces of officers allied to Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party. “I hope our people will never repeat the same mistake and choose an ignoramus when you have bright children who went to university. I wonder what you admire in him,” he said. On security reforms that were meant to precede the polls, he also hit out at Tsvangirai. “What sector reform can you a lone stray locust implement? When has the frog aspired to be the crocodile?” he said. The vote ended the pair’s regionally brokered compromise government forced by chaotic 2008 polls. This time round the electoral commission declared Mugabe the winner with 61 percent of the vote, against 34 percent for Tsvangirai. (AFP)
Page 29
Bo slams wife, ex-aide at trial exposing elite JINAN, China (AP) — The defense strategy of fallen Chinese politician Bo Xilai, who is battling accusations of corruption and shielding a murderer, boils down to this: One of the prosecution’s key witnesses is a liar, and the other is crazy. Four days of testimony at the trial, which has offered a glimpse into the shady inner workings of China’s elite, ended yesterday, with Bo assailing his former righthand man, much as he had done previously to his wife, the other key witness to testify against him. A court heard allegations over the weekend that Bo abused his power as the Communist Party secretary of the southern megacity of Chongqing to block an investigation into his wife’s murder of a British businessman, as well as to hide his aide’s embarrassing flight to a U.S. consulate. Bo told the Jinan Intermediate People’s Court yesterday that his former right-hand man, Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun, “constantly lied in his testimony.” He said Wang was “a person of very vile quality, who lied in court and muddied the waters.” Bo acknowledged that he made mistakes in the handling of the incidents that triggered the nation’s biggest political scandal in decades and brought shame on the Communist Party, but denied criminal misconduct. After testimony concluded yesterday, the court said all evidence in the trial had been presented. The trial was adjourned until today, when closing arguments are expected to take place. The Communist Party is using the trial to cement Bo’s downfall and wrap up a scandal that hangs over the party’s recently installed new leadership as it tries to cement its authority and fully focus on tackling serious economic and social challenges. Bo’s downfall also has been widely perceived as the result of his defeat in party infighting ahead of China’s once-adecade leadership transition last fall. In a rare show of
openness, the court has been publicizing details of the trial in a bid to lend credibility to what is widely seen as a political show trial. Bo, in return, has refrained from using the trial as a stage on which to denounce the administration and the opponents who purged him — which would likely be the leadership’s worst nightmare. “So far, the worst has been avoided,” said Ding Xueliang, a Chinese politics expert at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “He’s been trying to play the game within the limitations set up by the Chinese leadership. He does not talk about politically sensitive things, even though everybody inside and outside China knows
with the confessions and other evidence.”Today’s society faces acute contradictions, and people tend to involuntarily sympathize with those who are being attacked by the authorities, so he’s been able to portray himself as a victim, as a defeated hero,” said Zhang Lifan, a Chinese historian and political analyst. Courtroom revelations have painted a colorful picture of how Bo’s alleged misconduct enriched his family. He’s accused of providing political favors to a businessman, Xu Ming, in return for having him at his family’s beck and call. According to Bo’s wife, Xu gave the family expensive gifts that included a villa in
In this image taken from video, former Chinese politician Bo Xilai addresses a court Saturday. (AP Photo) that he’s in trouble for politics.” Still, the ousted leader mounted an unexpectedly spirited defense against charges of abuse of power and of netting $4.3 million through corruption, recanting earlier confessions and rarely expressing contrition as he sought to lay the blame for most of the misdeeds on his wife and others. He deftly cross-examined witnesses, and was selectively unable to recall key details when the questioning turned to him. It appeared to be Bo’s lastditch effort to repair the damage the scandal wrought on the clean, populist image he had so carefully cultivated for years — and might have caught by surprise prosecutors who were armed
France and international airfare to three continents. Bo is also accused of funneling $800,000 in government funds from a secret project. Bo threw his wife, Gu Kailai, under the bus for much of the corruption charges and even some aspects of the abuse of power allegation. Calling her “crazy” after she testified against him, he said he could not be held responsible for crimes she committed without his knowledge. But Chinese officialdom is familiar with the strategy of spreading out an officeholder’s illicit assets and wealth among relatives and trusted friends, so Bo’s defense is unlikely to convince the public, said Ding, the Chinese politics expert. The trial laid out how Gu
hatched a complicated plan with the help of two foreigners to hide the family’s ownership of the French villa, worth millions, and set up a chain of associates through which government funds could be embezzled discreetly. “It was the first time such a high-ranking family has put down the operation step by step,” Ding said. “This case has taught us so much about the dynamics and mechanisms in most Chinese corruption cases.” Testimony also revealed how one of the foreigners, Neil Heywood, demanded more money by threatening the safety of Bo’s son and to expose the family. Gu later killed him and received a suspended death sentence for the murder. The court also heard evidence over the weekend about the events surrounding the attempted U.S. defection bid by Wang, the police chief, in February 2012, an incident that blew the scandal into the open. Wang said he fled to the consulate fearing for his safety after he told Bo that the politician’s wife had murdered a British associate. Bo told the court that he reacted angrily to Wang’s report, slapping him in the face and smashing a cup in fury because he initially thought Wang was framing his wife for the crime. “I thought he was being duplicitous. I have zero tolerance for duplicity,” Bo said. “I slapped him in the face.” Wang, who testified Saturday, said the violent confrontation with Bo, his subsequent removal as police chief and the disappearance of his subordinates who were investigating the murder spurred him to flee to American officials. He said Bo did not slap him as much as punch him hard, causing his mouth to bleed. “It was dangerous at the time,” Wang told the court. “I was subject to violence, and my staff working closely with me and those working on the case disappeared.” Wang said he believed Bo had ordered an investigation into the police officers involved in the murder case to try to shield his wife — which Bo denied.
Page 30
Kaieteur News
Monday August 26, 2013
Merkel tries to reassure nervous German voters over Greece (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to reassure voters yesterday that Greece would not need a debt write-down but left open the option of more aid for Athens as she struggled to contain a dispute which could hurt her in next month’s election. Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble provoked a storm last week
when he told a campaign rally that a new rescue for Greece was inevitable in comments that contradicted Merkel, who has said it is too early to discuss additional aid. The subject has dominated the election campaign ever since. Merkel has tried to keep Greece out of her campaign to avoid angering Germans who fear they will foot the bill for more bailouts. She is tipped to win a third term in the September 22 poll partly because voters approve of her management of the euro zone crisis and her tough
line with struggling states. The chancellor yesterday did not rule out a further Greek bailout, saying the euro zone would look again at the situation in the country in 2014, but she told Focus magazine that she did not see a debt haircut for Greece. Asked if she would see things more clearly after the election, she said: “The election has nothing to do with it. I am expressly warning against a haircut. It could create a domino effect of uncertainty ... in the euro zone.” Many Germans are even more concerned about the direct hit they would take from a debt write-down than a third Greek bailout which would probably be far smaller than the previous rescues, though both are unpopular options.
Angela Merkel As Europe’s largest economy, Germany has the most exposure to Greece. Merkel could lose out if voters think she is being less than honest about Greek risks. Private owners of Greek debt were forced to swallow significant losses on their holdings last year, but European governments and the European Central Bank have refused to take a hit so far. Germany has argued a write-down of Greek debt held by euro zone governments would be illegal. A poll on Sunday showed that Merkel’s centreright coalition had lost its slender lead over parties on the left. If she is unable to continue her alliance with the Free Democrats (FDP), she may seek a “grand coalition”
with the Social Democrats (SPD). Opposition parties, who have long accused Merkel of hiding from German voters the truth that they will at some point have to pump more money into the euro zone, have seized on the issue. Merkel’s SPD rival Peer Steinbrueck said he would press her on the issue in coming weeks, including in a television debate in a week’s time. “(The government) has handed out sleeping tablets and tried to hush up the fact that the stabilisation of the euro zone will have a cost,” Steinbrueck told the Suedwest Presse newspaper. Pollsters, however, say while the issue of Greece is dangerous for Merkel, opposition parties may not benefit as they have backed the bailouts in parliament. On Sunday, Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said his country may need a further 10 billion euros in extra support from its euro zone partners but would not expect any loan to come with conditions attached. Analysts have long predicted Greece will need more aid, albeit on a smaller scale than previous bailouts totalling about 240 billion euros. The IMF estimated last
month Greece would face a funding gap of nearly 11 billion euros for 2014-2015. Stournaras also ruled out another haircut, the most toxic question for German voters. Schaeuble was bombarded by questions on the issue on Sunday at a news conference with ordinary citizens, as part of a government “open day”. He once again ruled out a debt write-down but reiterated the government’s stance that Greece’s partners would “decide on further measures” in 2014 if they were needed. “The truth is that it is highly probably that it will come to that,” he said. ECB Executive Board member Joerg Asmussen, a German, also warned that a debate about a second debt write-down was damaging. “The repeated discussion distracts from what must be done for budget consolidation and more growth under the current programme,” Asmussen told Die Welt am Sonntag weekly. Some economists, however, think a haircut may be unavoidable eventually. Germany’s commissioner to the European Commission, Guenther Oettinger, said on Saturday he would not rule it out in the long run.
Monday August 26, 2013
Kaieteur News
Not yet official, Shaw still ponders bid for JLP leadership Jamaica Gleaner Deputy leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Audley Shaw, is not yet decided on his bid for the leadership of the party. At a meeting yesterday in Frankfield, Clarendon, Shaw said he was at crossroads in his political life and advised that he would need more time to consult with delegates across the island over the next few weeks. He said he would make his decision known in three weeks as he urged delegates not to be afraid to build and nurture the culture of democracy within the JLP. Asserting that he was not unaware of the problems that the party face, he reminded Labourites that 20 of the 26 years he served in the JLP were as a spokesman for the Opposition and four as a minister of government.
Audley Shaw Shaw insisted that he is not a part of a plot to overthrow Holness and that he has informed the party leader of his intention. Shaw had revealed his intention to challenge Holness in a letter to party chairman, Robert Montague, Saturday.
Jamaican woman arrested on US healthcare fraud charges BUFFALO, New York CMC – The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says special agents from the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have arrested a Jamaican woman for health care fraud, identity theft and unauthorised use of social security numbers. Georgia Bowen, also known as Georgia Bennett, 38, who resides in Lackawanna near Buffalo in upstate New York, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a US$250,000 fine if convicted. According to the criminal complaint, Bowen applied for Medicaid benefits through the Erie County Department
of Social Services in December 2010. Bowen claimed to be a US citizen and used a Social Security number assigned to another person, in January 2011, Erie County terminated Bowen’s Medicaid eligibility. During that time, Medicaid, a federal-state programme was billed for more than US$7,000 for medical services rendered to Bowen. Previously, in August 2010, ICE said Bowen was sentenced in US federal court to two years in prison for identity theft. Based on that conviction, ICE initiated deportation proceedings against Bowen. The proceedings are currently being litigated before an immigration court.
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Caribbean advocates want to influence global development agenda BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Caribbean countries say they want the United Nations General Assembly to ensure that gender equality and regional priorities are at the forefront of their discussions at least over the next two years. In addition, the regional delegates who attended the two-day “Caribbean Forum on Gender Equality and the Post 2015 Agenda” say the issues should also form part of the global discussions on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreement in 2015 and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) agenda. A statement issued at the end of the meeting here, said that the delegates have agreed on a joint statement “which forms a platform for advocacy on the part of governments and civil society, stresses that in the context of the region’s social and economic challenges, there must be the recognition that women and men are affected equally but differentially. “In a cost benefit analysis, if gender-neutral policies continue to be pursued, the full realisation
Steve Blackett of Caribbean nations’ goals will not be realised. As new development policies emerge worldwide, in the context of the Caribbean, it is essential that inequalities be tackled – and that not one person is left behind.” The joint statement stresses the Caribbean Region’s right to live free from violence and the need to overcome the lack of access to social security protections in a context of severely restrained national budgets. It also outlines the Caribbean’s expectation of a global post 2015 development framework which must among other
things address the vulnerability of small island states to transnational crime including the drug trade and trade in small arms by strengthening international and national treaties as well as address inequitable access to land, water, technology and markets that inhibits women’s and youth’s involvement in agriculture. In addition the delegates want to ensure that “sociopolitical and economic factors that negatively impact boys’ participation in formal education systems are addressed and that formal certification carries equal social and economic value for both sexes” as well as support macro-economic reforms which reduce the persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women and other vulnerable groups, including adolescent mothers, single women-headed households, persons with disabilities, the elderly, indigenous peoples, domestic workers and rural women in particular. They have also called for an environment that enables the emergence of a critical mass of women, to become corporate leaders, serving on private sector boards and
involved in all formal and informal areas of economic enterprise. The meeting here was attended by delegates from 14 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries as well as representatives from a number of United Nations agencies including UN Women, UNICEF, UN Economic and Social Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Organisation of American States, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and the Caribbean Development Bank. In his address to the opening, Barbados Minister of Social Care, Steve Blackett urged all stakeholders to transform their views on the roles of men and women and to continue addresses gender equality. “The new framework should also address the barriers to women’s full economic participation and access to financial and productive resources, including women’s access to land, resources, knowledge and technology, as well as property and inheritance rights and for decent work,” Blackett said.
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‘Acts of terror’ against public officials after crackdown on illegal quarrying Trinidad Express - The crackdown of the multimillion-dollar illegal quarrying operations has resulted in a criminal backlash where gunshots were repeatedly fired at the home of a public official and death threats sent to another. Minister of the Environment and Water Resources Ganga Singh has expressed disappointment at the police response to the matter, saying this was an attack on the State and linked to the crime scourge in East Port of Spain. The Sunday Express understands that a relative of a slain gang leader from East Port of Spain was one of the key players in an illegal quarrying business which is estimated to rake in some $100,000 a day. Both Singh and Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine will be meeting with National Security officials this week to discuss the issue. The ministers confirmed to the Sunday Express that the house of director of
Ganga Singh
Kevin Ramnarine
Minerals Monty Beharry was fired at over a dozen times at around 12.35 a.m. on August 18. Beharry and his family were at home at the time when gunmen opened fire on his house and two cars parked in his driveway. The Sunday Express learnt that chairman of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Dr Allan Bachan has also received death threats with a death threat note recently being sent to him. “This has to be dealt with as an attack on the State because you have senior public servants doing their work and the criminal elements are after them,” said Singh.
He said the EMA recently went unannounced and stopped an illegal quarrying operation at Runway Drive, Piarco and on the heels of that clampdown, Bachan was sent a death threat and Beharry’s home fired on. “We believe there is a direct relationship between the EMA stopping that illegal quarrying operation in Runway Drive and what is transpiring now (the crime increase),” said Singh. He questioned why the police seemed to be dragging their feet on the issues. “The police know who are the perpetrators of that illegal quarry, they are known criminals and they also have an impact on the East Port of Spain criminality that is taking place and I am really disappointed that the police have not moved with that measure of alacrity required in situations like this,” said Singh. The police, he said, cannot be fearful and need to place added pressure on these perpetrators. “When you hold the position they cannot be fearful, our public servants have demonstrated that they intend to enforce the law,” said Singh. He said he visited Beharry and his family on August 18 where two police constables were present taking a report from him. “I know that DCP (Mervyn) Richardson is aware of the circumstances but I feel there has to be an urgent and compelling response to this attack on this senior public servant and also on the threats to the chairman of the EMA,” said Singh. He said the Environment Ministry will not be intimidated by criminals and the clampdown on the illegal quarrying industry will continue. “Our position is clear, we have to put an end to illegal quarrying, we intend to work with the enforcement
authorities with a view to bringing them to an end and we will not be thwarted in our approach by any kind of criminal activity,” said Singh. Ramnarine told the Sunday Express that the attack on public servants was an “act of terror” and strong police force was needed. “I strongly condemn this as an act of terrorism against high ranking and hard working public servants who have been at the forefront of the ministry’s drive to clamp down on illegal quarrying,” said Ramnarine. “The ministry has since taken steps to provide Mr Beharry with private security, This also follows on the heels of an arson attack on the home of chairman of (National Petroleum) Neil Gosine in February,” he added. Ramnarine said illegal quarrying and illegal diesel sales were both central to financing criminal operations. “I also want to commend the EMA and Minister Ganga Singh for adopting a nononsense approach to illegal quarrying. I am working closely with Minister Singh on this matter and I have also been speaking with Attorney General (Anand) Ramlogan,” said Ramnarine. He said the Energy Ministry and the relevant agencies will not relent in dealing with these matters. DCP Richardson, speaking to the Sunday Express by phone confirmed that police were investigating the incidents against the public officials. Richardson gave the assurance that the police were on the case. “I am not happy with the current crime situation, I wish it could be better, I am not happy at all with it. But I am satisfied with the response of the police on the field thus far. I am satisfied with the police in the way they have been handling the matter and I want to give assurance to the public that we will continue to do so in a very robust and a very focused manner,” he said. “I know that the police are doing their best with respect to the whole issue of illegal quarrying. There are a number of matters before the courts and a lot of equipment have been seized thus far, so we are doing what we could but we could always ask for additional support in these areas,” he added.
Monday August 26, 2013
FORMER PILOTS: Unfair hiring at CAL Trinidad Express - Two former pilots of British We s t I n d i e s A i r w a y s (BWIA) have sought judicial review against national carrier Caribbean Airlines (CAL) for allegedly retaining foreign pilots without work permits. The application for leave was filed by Captain Anthony Hamilton and Roger Bridgeman in the High Court on August 19. The pilots claim that CAL hired six pilots and six co-pilots in contravention of section 10 (2) of the Immigration Regulations made under the Immigration Act Chapter 18:01 of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago. The pilots’ position is that they have been unfairly
overlooked for employment while CAL hired foreign workers in contravention of the law. In their affidavits, the pilots claim that having employed pilots without valid Trinidad and Tobago working permits, CAL is at risk of being downgraded as an airline in breach of Federal Aviation Authority ( FA A ) o r E u r o p e a n Av i a t i o n Safety Regulation (EASA). The application was heard by Justice Harris who determined that the application was not urgent enough to be heard during the Court’s vacation period. The claimants are being represented by attorneys at law Peter Taylor and Farid Scoon.
PM tells banks: Back hotels Barbados Nation - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart wants banks to give more support to the hotel sector. He said it did not make sense for banks to “find lending people money to buy motor cars”, a more serious investment than “investment in a sector that leads the Barbados economy” and which earns the foreign exchange on which the country depended. The willingness to invest in the hotel sector was raised informally with Stuart as he toured Ocean Tw o Resort and Residences, a Dover, Christ Church hotel Friday. Speaking to the media afterwards, the Prime Minister said investment in hotel plant was one of the
Freundel Stuart critical factors to sustaining the tourism industry, observing this was one of the reasons for the success of the hotel which has continued to maintain good occupancy levels.
CARIFESTA in need of more support PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname - CMC - Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Culture, Eleston Adams has urged the region to support the Caribbean Festival of Arts and Culture (CARIFESTA). Adams, in making the appeal also expressed disappointment with the lack of interest for the event shown by most of his colleagues. “I regret to say that I am disappointed in the participation and support of culture ministers of the Caribbean for the
CARIFESTA happening”, Adams told local newspaper ‘de Ware Tijd’. “Culture should be more prominent. If we want to reap the benefits, especially with regard to tourism, each country should have a Ministry of Culture”. He congratulated the Surinamese government, the population and the Organizing Committee for staging the event despite all the challenges. “It is an immense and costly undertaking and a challenge”, said Adams.
Monday August 26, 2013
Kaieteur News
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NATIONAL U-19 MALE VOLLEYBALL SQUAD NAMED A after a period of intense training, National Volleyball Coach Levi Nedd has released the names of the players who will comprise the National Under-19 squad for this year ’s Inter-Guiana Games (IGG), which is scheduled to be held in Paramaribo, Suriname from October 16th to 20th 2013. The squad includes five players who have represented Guyana at the U19 level in previous games with players from both Berbice and Demerara making up the squad with the majority being from the Ancient County. The full squad reads:Creston Rodney, Bepaul Bandoo, Surendra Motiepersaud, Akeem Bowling, Kevin Damon, Steven Veerapen, Van Bowling, Muaaz Inshan, Ryan Munroe, Klondyke Rodney, Suresh Kallichand, Samuel Fraser, Raju Singh, Yoganand Dhoray, Asif Emanullah, Kellon Stewart And Kemo Bess. According to Coach
Levi Nedd Nedd, five of the players are from Demerara, namely Damon, the two Rodneys, Bandoo and Munroe, while the others hail from Berbice. The coach said that the squad has been involved in practice sessions for quite a while. However those session were all held outdoors and the IGG Volleyball competition is being held indoors. He stated that arrangements are being made for the players to have practice
sessions at the National Gymnasium where there is a Taraflex Volleyball Court. Coach Nedd said it is essential that the players have the experience of playing on such a surface and the different feel of playing indoors. The sessions will be held on August 30, 31 and Sept 1st. Nedd will be assisted by National Player Quacy Matheson. Meanwhile, the Berbice Volleyball Association’s Competitions Committee is reminding all affiliated clubs to register for the Reggie Goberdhan Memorial Trophy League Competition which is scheduled to commence in September and conclude in December. Each affiliate can enter one team and the closing date for entry is Sept. 6th, clubs can contact the BVA Secretary, Levi Nedd on tel.#336-6264 or 641-9592 or President, Gregory Rambarran on telephone number 333-4014 for further information. (Samuel Whyte)
MOTILALL bags 6 wkts as Regal... From page 38 by 10 wickets. Princess took first strike and posted 79-8 in 12 overs. Shafiq Mohamed made 27 as Rawl Reid captured 3-7. Farm then blasted their way to victory as they ended on 80 without loss in 4.3 overs. Lennox Marks made 43 and Patrick Khan 20. Farm continued to maintain a clean sheet, beating Young Guns by 7 wickets in another fixture. Young Guns batted first and scored 99-9 in 11.2 overs, innings closed. Davindra Narine top scored with 37, while Yusuf Yunnis contributed 25; Sheldon Perch, Rabindra
Narine and Sheldon Perch picked up two wickets apiece. Farm responded with 100-3 in 8.3 overs with Marks leading the way with 47 while Khan chipped in with 25. In the Over-35 category, Industry went down to Savage XI by 7 wickets. N. Lall 28 and Azeemul Haniff 21 were mainly responsible for Industry total of 106-7 in 15 overs after batting first. Savage replied with 107-3 in 12 overs, Yusuf Yunnis led with 33. The game was reduced to 15 overs. Regal scraped past Super Star by 4 wickets. Super Star took first turn at the crease and rattled up 222-6 off their
allocation of 20 overs. David Budram scored 54 while Bryan Singh made 38, Suraj Ramphal 36 and Hardeo Sanichar 22. Anil Hardyal claimed 2-19. Regal in reply won the game off the last ball of the match. Needing two runs to win, Hardyal punched the ball through covers for a double to seal the issue as they finished on 223-6 in 20 overs. Lance Hinds and Mahendra Arjune with 47 each, Samuel Kingston 43 and Shaheed Mohamed 36 contributed meaningfully towards the chase. Deochan Boodram took 2 wickets.
Reds Perreira Honored by Indo... From page 39 presented by Reds Perreira. It was an enjoyable match played under perfect weather conditions, as many cricket fans showed up to pay tribute to the man of the moment Reds Perreira. In addition to a beautiful plaque presented to Reds by the ICF, he also received a glowing Proclamation from New York City Council Member Leroy Comrie, and read by New York political and labour consultant Charles “Chuck” Mohan. Later the same evening, Reds received a Citation in recognition of his contributions to Caribbean sports culture, from New York City Council Member Ruben Wills, during a Dave Martin concert at the Resorts International Casino in Queens, NY. The affable Reds Perreira has shared commentaries with world renowned broadcasters such as John Arlot, Jim Maxwell, Henry Blofeld, Alan McGilvray, Dicky Rutnagur, and Christopher Martin-Jenkins. Reds attributed much of his success as a sports broadcaster to the encouragement and support he received from his mother, who
often was his applauding audience as he did imaginary sports commentary in his room as a youngster. The author of “Living My Dreams: an autobiography that chronicles his life as a sports commentator and sports administrator, still has many stories to tell, and we all hope that the septuagenarian plans on telling those shortly. In a farewell reception hosted by the ICF and held at the offices of Frank Singh at Marine Funding, Reds Perreira held court for more than an hour, as he relived moments of his career and fielded numerous questions from a battery of inquisitive cricketing minds. The now St. Lucia resident even did an over of commentary from the 1975 Prudential World Cup Final with Clive Lloyd at bat and the West Indies down 50 for 3. His one over commentary of Lloyd arriving at the wicket and taking control of the bowling from Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thompson, was delivered so realistically, that one felt transported almost 40 years back in time, but as real as if it was streamed live at the moment. It was indeed a treat. (GCC Release)
Monday August 26, 2013
Vettel stretches lead with Belgian victory
Vettel holds his latest trophy aloft as Hamilton (right) and Alonso applaud. S P A FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium (Reuters) - Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel stamped his authority on a processional Belgian Grand Prix yesterday to chalk up his fifth win in 11 races and stretch his overall lead to 46 points. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, now his closest rival, finished second - a distant 16.8 seconds behind the Red Bull driver - after starting ninth. Vettel seized the lead from Mercedes’ pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton on the Kemmel straight after Eau Rouge and never looked back while threatened rain held off. The German now has 197 points to Alonso’s 151. “It was a fantastic race for us from start to finish really,” he said after his 31st career win. Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, winner of the previous race in Hungary and on pole for the fourth race in a row, took third place for Mercedes ahead of team mate Nico Rosberg and moved up to third overall on 139. Kimi Raikkonen’s run of 27 successive races in the points came to an end with the first retirement since his comeback last year. The Finn had started the day second in the championship but fell to fourth overall with 134 points after pulling into the pits and stopping with what looked like a brake problem. The race, on one of the fastest and most challenging circuits on the calendar, was no thriller and the outcome proved a disappointment for those fans who had hoped to see Vettel slowed on his march to a fourth successive title. “Today it was a little bit boring, we get second place but no threat to Sebastian Vettel and had no threat from behind,” said Alonso, whose team’s home Italian Grand Prix is next up. “It is an important
weekend for us and the team and we arrived fully motivated and in Monza we would like to give some smiles to our fans.” BOOS AND CHEERS There were boos from the crowd mixed with the cheers as drivers stood on the podium after the race, although reports suggested that may have been directed at protesters trying to interrupt. Greenpeace activists demonstrating against race sponsor Shell had unfurled a banner from the roof of the main grandstand, opposite the VIP area, before the race as teams readied their cars. They then remained hanging from ropes, watching the action. “We are a bit confused here because the crowd are booing and cheering and I’m not sure why,” Vettel told the crowd after spraying the champagne. The start was uneventful after last year’s mayhem, when Lotus’s Romain Grosjean took out Alonso and Hamilton at the first corner in an accident that brought the Frenchman a one race ban.
Hopes that Hamilton could hold off Vettel were short-lived. “He (Vettel) had the momentum and was able to go around Lewis and that was the decisive moment,” said Red Bull principal Christian Horner. “There’s still a long way to go but it was a dominant performance from Seb, perfect display by the team with pit stops and strategy.” Australian Mark Webber was fifth for Red Bull after a poor start in his last Belgian Grand Prix with McLaren’s Jenson Button, last year’s winner, sixth after leading early on when those ahead pitted and he stayed out. Ferrari’s Felipe Massa was seventh, Grosjean eighth and Force India’s Adrian Sutil ninth despite being caught in a clash with the Williams of Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado that took out his team mate Paul di Resta. Australian Daniel Ricciardo, frontrunner to replace Webber at Red Bull next season, climbed through the field from 19th at the start to take the final point and further burnish his credentials.
Armstrong reaches settlement with Sunday Times (Reuters) - Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has reached an agreement with the Sunday Times after it had sued the drugs-tainted American for around one million pounds ($1.56 million), the British paper announced on Sunday. “It is the final episode in a long legal battle between this newspaper and the fallen icon...” the paper said. The newspaper was forced to pay Armstrong 300,000 pounds in 2006 to settle a legal case after it had questioned his Tour de France victories in an article published two years earlier. However, after the 41-year-old was stripped of his record seven Tour wins and handed a life ban last year for cheating his way to glory, the newspaper demanded a return of the payout plus interest, as well as costs accrued in defending the case. After years of denials, Armstrong confessed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey earlier this year that he used performance-enhancing drugs to cheat his way to the Tour de France wins.
Monday August 26, 2013
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Hand-in-Hand Inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League back on board Tournament hailed as a “massive success” Hand-in-Hand Fire, Life and Motor Insurance Company with a reputation of being a reliable supporter and sponsor of motor racing has once again come forward and offered its support to the upcoming Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) Meet which is scheduled to be staged on September 8, at the South Dakota Circuit. Recently, during a simple ceremony conducted at the Company’s Head Office on Avenue of the Republic, Company representative Mark Samaroo handed over a cheque for an undisclosed sum to Manager of the Club Rayon Samaroo. Samaroo in response thanked the Company on behalf of the Club for its continued support towards the sport, adding that the entity has over the years held an unswerving stance in its obligation to assist in the development of motor racing. According to Samaroo, some 22 races are carded for the day and competitors will line up in all the different categories in what is already being touted to be a day of kee rivalry among the best in the business. The first race is set to begin at 09:00 hrs with the line up of competitiors set for 08:30 hrs.
MotoGP: Marc Marquez takes fourth straight win at Brno BBC Sport Championship leader Marc Marquez became the first rider to win five races in his debut MotoGP season with victory at Brno in the Czech Republic. The 20-year-old Spaniard took his fourth win in a row to boost his bid to take the title at the first attempt. He reeled in long-time leader Jorge Lorenzo, who had to settle for third after Dani Pedrosa also passed him. Cal Crutchlow’s hopes of a fifth podium finish of the season, after starting on pole, ended with a crash on lap eight. The Briton was running in fourth place after seeing the fast-starting Lorenzo, plus Marquez and Pedrosa, pass him on the run-in to the first corner. He was also briefly overtaken by Alvaro Bautista, but had reestablished a small gap over the Spaniard when he lost control of his Tech 3 Yamaha. “Alvaro came past and slowed the pace so much that I had to push hard,” Crutchlow told BBC Sport. “I was trying to push to get back to the front guys but I made a mistake. “We had some issues on the grid with the
Marc Marquez late overtake helps him win Czech MotoGP
bike and it was important to get away from them [at the start], but Jorge [Lorenzo] did a fantastic first lap and put us all under pressure.” Crutchlow did manage to get his bike back on the track, restarting in 20th place, but was unable to get into the points after finishing 17th. Marquez, meanwhile, extended his lead in the championship from 21 points at the outset to 26 - more than the allotted amount for a race win. The Repsol Honda rider prevailed after a tit-for-tat tussle with Lorenzo’s Yamaha in the later stages. Defending world champion Lorenzo, 35 points adrift in the standings beforehand, stormed through from fifth on the grid to take the lead at the first corner and established a healthy lead. Meanwhile Britain’s Scott Redding will take a 21-point lead in the Moto2 standings into next weekend’s race at Silverstone after finishing eighth in Brno. His closest rival, Spaniard Pol Espargaro, narrowed the gap after coming home fourth, with Finn Mika Kallio taking victory.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, – The inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League has been hailed by organisers and players as a “massive success.” The tournament ended on Saturday night in front of a full house at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad with the Jamaica Tallawahs crowned as the champions after beating the Guyana Amazon Warriors by seven wickets with 15 balls in hand. A spectacular fireworks display, confetti, champagne and pyrotechnics followed by a free concert featuring soca artistes Super Blue, Iwer George, Denise Belfon, Blaxx and Black Stalin, put an exclamation point on what has been an event jam-packed with entertainment, excitement and sport. It was the culmination of 24 matches over 26 days involving six franchise teams from across the region, with those matches played out at packed venues. “We have exceeded every benchmark we set for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League when we embarked on this project,” said the Limacol CPL Chief Executive Damien O’Donohoe. “By every measure there is no doubt it has been a massive success. “For the first time in many years venues in the Caribbean have been consistently packed to the rafters and the atmosphere the fans have generated has been incredible. “The staggering public support has been matched by unprecedented commercial support, the like of which this region has never seen for a cricketing event, with local and international business joining the party.” Even before a ball was bowled 37 commercial partners were on board, including nine league sponsors, an apparel partner and sponsors for each of the six franchises as well as four national tourism boards also supporting the event. On top of that, high profile individuals from the worlds of entertainment and business also got involved and threw their weight behind the Limacol CPL with Hollywood actors Mark Wahlberg and Gerard Butler taking equity shares in the Barbados Tridents and Jamaica Tallawahs respectively while Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group backed the Antigua Hawksbills. “We have had a global audience for the action
Limacol CPL CEO Damien O’Donohoe with Jamaica Tallawahs Captain Chris Gayle and Former Jamaica Prime Minister The Most Honourable PJ Patterson. (CPL) through outstanding broadcast coverage on television and radio, and the Limacol CPL has also enjoyed a significant presence on social media through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube,” said O’Donohoe. “I cannot thank the fans enough for showing up in their numbers each night and showing the world how we do cricket in the Caribbean. Caribbean cricket fans are like no other on the planet and their support of this Tournament played a huge, integral part in its success. We are grateful for, and inspired by their love for the game. “In addition, the commercial partners and players as well as the staff who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and the army of volunteers enlisted at each of the venues, have all contributed to the final result and everyone involved deserves thanks for their efforts. “The result has exceeded our expectations and now our task is to build on what we have achieved this year, ensure the Limacol Caribbean Premier League goes from strength to strength and that it becomes even bigger and better next year.” Ajmal Khan, Chairman of Verus International and Founder of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League said: “When we set out on
this journey we asked everyone involved to come and play – and that is exactly what has happened. “We wanted the Limacol Caribbean Premier League to be the biggest party in sport and there is no doubt we achieved it. “The players did their part by producing a host of memorable performances, the fans came and enjoyed themselves in huge numbers and our sponsors backed the event like never before in this region. “The Limacol Caribbean Premier League has shown both the West Indian public’s enduring love for cricket and the limitless potential for growth and success that there is in this region. “Within an incredibly short space of time we have established the Limacol Caribbean Premier League as something that everyone – players, fans and commercial partners – wants to be involved in. “Our task now is to ensure that we build on this success starting with the second edition next year.”
Jamaica Tallawahs captain Chris Gayle summed up the feelings of players from each of the six franchises when he said: “It has been a great tournament and I am really happy to be here at the end. “I give thanks to the fans for turning out and supporting us. I am very happy with the (Limacol) CPL and hopefully next year it will be even bigger and better – and I will be here again.” Ramnaresh Sarwan, the captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors added: “I was fortunate to play in the IPL a few years ago but I think this (Limacol Caribbean Premier League) is right up there and I can only see it getting bigger and better.” The Limacol Caribbean Premier League took place between 30 July and 24 August and involved six franchises – the Antigua Hawksbills, the Barbados Tridents, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Jamaica Tallawahs and the St. Lucia Zouks, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel - from across the region.
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Monday August 26, 2013
Cardiff stun Manchester City England win Ashes 3-0 after bad light ends Oval Test
Fraizer Campbell (left) celebrates one of his strikes. (AP) BBC Sport - Cardiff City produced a stunning win over 2011-12 champions Manchester City to claim their first victory in the Premier League. After falling behind to Edin Dzeko’s powerful 52ndminute opener, Aron Gunnarsson equalised after Joe Hart blocked Fraizer Campbell’s shot. Former Manchester United youngster Campbell then scored twice in eight minutes to put the home side in charge. Alvaro Negredo set up a grandstand finish, but Malky Mackay’s men held on. The final whistle brought with it scenes of celebration from the packed crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium as the Bluebirds won in the top flight of English football for the first time since they were last there in 1962. It was also the first topflight victory for Mackay, who guided his team to the Championship title last season. But it was a chastening experience for new Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, whose side brushed aside Newcastle 4-0 on Monday but surrendered a one-goal advantage in the Welsh capital. The one disappointing aspect of the victory over the Magpies was an injury to skipper and defensive lynchpin Vincent Kompany. And the Belgium international was sorely missed on Sunday, with midfielder Javi Garcia deployed as a makeshift defender. It was an afternoon packed with emotion - starting even before the game kicked off when a group of fans staged what they termed as a pre-match march to celebrate the club’s heritage; one that was synonymous with playing in blue rather than the red that the club’s Malaysian owners have opted for. But no matter their gripe over the
club’s identity, home fans could have had no complaints with the manner in which their players took the game to Pellegrini’s side. Cardiff had an early penalty appeal and a free-kick from Peter Whittingham that missed the target but, as the first half-hour passed, the often frenetic pace diminished and the visitors came into the game. However, Cardiff ’s defence remained alert, with Ben Turner and Campbell combining to block Yaya Toure’s close-range effort. At the other end, Campbell could not get the ball under control when well placed and saw another chance snuffed out when Hart blocked his shot. Pellegrini’s side went ahead after the restart when Sergio Aguero’s classy backheel teed up the chance and Bosnian Dzeko shot home a ferocious effort from 30 yards. Cardiff’s riposte was swift - and they levelled on the hour mark, eight minutes after conceding.
Kim Bo-Kyung ran free on the right and after Hart blocked Campbell’s effort, Gunnarsson followed up and struck from six yards. That prompted scenes to match the day the Bluebirds secured their return to English football’s highest echelon, but what followed topped it all for the home supporters. Craig Bellamy won a corner on the right that Whittingham delivered and, as Hart hesitated and Pablo Zabaleta stood still, Campbell charged in to score from two yards, the ball appearing to strike his shoulder. Campbell added his second three minutes from time, heading home following a corner with the visiting defence once more flatfooted. And although Negredo pulled one back with a quality header of his own during the six minutes of injury time, the visitors could not find an equaliser as Cardiff became the second promoted team after Hull on Saturday to win in the Premier League this season.
BBC Sport - England were denied a probable victory over Australia in the final Test when the umpires took the teams off for bad light to ensure the match ended in a draw which confirmed the hosts’ 3-0 series win. Set 227 to win by Michael Clarke’s ambitious declaration, England needed 21 more from 24 balls with five wickets in hand when play was called to a halt at 7.36pm. The Oval crowd, who had been treated to an incredible final day in which 447 runs were scored and 17 wickets fell, booed in disapproval before gathering to watch England captain Alastair Cook lift the Ashes urn. England, who have now won three Ashes series in a row for the first time since 1977-1981, celebrated with a lap of honour while fireworks blazed over the Oval pavilion. Such an absorbing and ultimately controversial conclusion to the series looked unlikely when England began the final day only four wickets down in their first innings. But the hosts’ aggressive approach on Sunday morning and Australia’s determination to give themselves a chance of a consolation victory saw Clarke declare his side’s second innings on 111-6 at tea and set England a tantalising target in 44 overs. A partnership of 64 between Cook (34) and Jonathan Trott set England on course before a buccaneering 62 off 55 balls from Kevin Pietersen established the hosts as firm favourites. After Trott (59) and Pietersen were dismissed in quick succession, Chris
Kevin Pietersen raced to fifty from just 36 balls. (Getty Images) Woakes and Ian Bell kept up the pace, but with the light fading rapidly, Australia began to complain to the umpires. When Bell was run out by Mitchell Starc for 17, the umpires consulted their light metres, and took the unpopular decision to end the match, denying the full house the finale they desired. Under International Cricket Council regulations, the umpires were obliged to take the players off once the light had faded to the same level it was at when they had stopped play on Thursday evening. England captain Alastair Cook said: “It would have been nice to finish with a win but the rules and regulations are there for a reason. The umpires have strict guidelines and, if it was day three, we would have gone off.
“This morning our job was to try and make it as difficult as possible to stop Australia from pushing on for a win and to make our chances of victory easier. The crowds have been fantastic for all five Tests and I’m privileged to captain this group of guys. Winning this series is the proudest moment of my life.” Australia skipper Clarke said: “We did our best to set up the game and hopefully we have given the fans something to enjoy. We got outplayed throughout the series and again we couldn’t get over the line today. Scores: England 377 (Root 68, Pietersen 50, Faulkner 4-51) and 206 for 5 (Pietersen 62, Trott 59) drew with Australia 492 for 9 dec (Watson 176, Smith 138, Anderson 4-95) and 111 for 6 dec (Broad 4-43).
Transfer record smashed as Real Madrid land Bale with £86 MILLION swoop Daily Mail Exclusive Gareth Bale is free to join Real Madrid after Tottenham agreed a world record £86million deal with the Spanish giants last night. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy signed off the staggering move for the PFA Player of the Year following talks with directors in the boardroom at White Hart Lane. Bale’s transfer to Real beats the previous world record of £80m which Real paid to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. Levy returned from talks in Madrid with Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett and
Tottenham director of football Franco Baldini to watch his club’s 1-0 victory over Swansea City after agreeing the deal. It is understood that the decision to travel to Madrid to meet Perez — who is known to revel in these situations — was part of a tactic designed to get the highest possible price. The fee represents an extraordinary return on the £7m Spurs paid Southampton six years ago and will only add to Levy’s reputation as the toughest negotiator in the game. It also brings to an end one of the most protracted transfer sagas in the history
of the game following a summer of talks. Sportsmail can reveal that Levy has agreed a series of discounts if Real can accelerate the three stage payments discussed during the meeting. They are staggered over the course of Bale’s incredible £300,000-aweek contract for the next six years. It means Real could splash out around 10 per cent less than the agreed £86m — but only if they are ahead of schedule with payments. Levy, along with Barnett and Baldini, thrashed out terms with Perez last week. The last act will be played out
when Levy and Perez sign a final formal document, but that is seen as a formality. Real, who play Granada in La Liga this evening, plan to officially unveil Bale in a grand ceremony at the Bernabeu on Tuesday. The deal has also been complicated by a series of bank guarantees demanded by Levy during the lengthy negotiations. Bale originally told the Spurs chairman he wanted to leave during a tense meeting at the Barclays Asia Trophy at the end of last month. By then the Spurs winger was aware Real were determined to buy him this summer after
Gareth Bale (Catherine Ivill AMA) losing out to Barcelona for Brazilian wonderkid Neymar. That prompted weeks of negotiations which have finally been concluded. Spurs had hoped to bring in left back Fabio Coentrao as part of the package, but the Real defender doesn’t want to leave Spain.