Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
High Court deems ‘stop and search’ an abuse of police power By Leonard Gildarie A groundbreaking High Court ruling and a judgment of over $2M may very well see the Guyana Police Force revisiting the manner in which they conduct business on the roadways. The judgment on October 31, by Justice William Ramlal, is also likely to raise the debate over the powers of police ranks to stop and search vehicles. There have been numerous complaints by vehicle owners of harassment by police at roadblocks. The lawsuit which was filed on October 24, 2006 by then Attorney-at-law, Navindra Singh, against Police Constable Benjamin 11712, Police Sergeant James 12496 and the Attorney General, accused the police of assault, malicious arrest, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. Singh took the stand during the seven-year trial of the action but was not crossexamined by the defense. According to the judgment by Justice Ramlal, prior to the trial, the Attorney General had moved to settle the matter for $500,000 but this was not accepted by Singh and his lawyer. The judgment is even more significant as the plaintiff, Navindra Singh, is now also a judge in the High Court. The judgment, against the police ranks and the Attorney General, was in the sum of $1,777,700 for general damages; $300,000 as special damages together with interest awarded on both sums at the rate of six per cent per annum from October 24, 2006 to October 31, 2013. After that at the rate of 4% per annum until the entire judgment sum is fully paid. Costs were also awarded to the Plaintiff in the sum of $150,000. The computations by Judge Ramlal were detailed and cited several cases, taking into account inflation and exchange rates. In his claims, Singh said that he was an attorney-at-law practicing. On May 9, 2006, he was driving his car along Charlotte Street, Georgetown, when he stopped at the edge of the road after his engine light started flashing indicating something was wrong. Singh said that before he could have spoken to his mechanic, a police vehicle pulled alongside with Police Constable James telling him that the car was obstructing the ‘free flow of traffic’. The plaintiff said he drove to another street, Croal Street, and parked in the corner when
...awards plaintiff $2M plus interest the same vehicle pulled in front of him at a 45 degrees angle. According to the plaintiff, he was directed to exit his vehicle and upon enquiring, he was told that the ranks wanted to search it. “I then asked him what was his probable cause for such a search. By this time the Number two Defendant (Police Sergeant James) was standing next to my driver’s side door with his rifle pointed at me. James who pointed the rifle at me said “This is all the reason we need”. I at that point demanded identification from the police. James asked, “You want dead? Come out you vehicle now.” ASSAULTED The lawyer said that fearing for his life, he exited his vehicle. “I was then grabbed by my shoulders from the back by the Number one defendant, Benjamin, and thrown against the right fender of my vehicle. “Benjamin entered my vehicle through the right front door, rummaged through my papers and exited through the same way and then when he spoke to James, the Number two defendant came to me and informed me that he was placing me under arrest and that I should drive my vehicle to Brickdam Police Station.” At the Brickdam Police Station, Singh said that he refused to give a statement when asked. After refusing to give a statement, Singh said that he was told by Sergeant James that he may very well have to spend the night at the station. His car keys were taken with the police saying that another search of the vehicle will be made again. He was not allowed to be present for the search. Some 30 minutes later, he was told that his vehicle fitness had expired. About 17:00hrs, three hours after his arrest, Singh said he was moved to the Enquiries Office where he was informed that charges will be laid. He was placed on $5000 bail and told to appear at the Magistrates’
Plaintiff: Narindra Singh Court on May 11, 2006. The police kept the vehicle until the next day. In court, Singh pleaded not guilty to four charges…Uncertified Motor Vehicle; Dangerous Driving; Indecent Language and negligently interrupting the free flow of traffic. About one month later, all the charges were dismissed at the “No Case” stage. Singh claimed that by this time, he had spent about $300,000 in lawyer’s fees. This is in addition to the four hours in police custody. NO CONTEST According to Justice Ramlal, it was significant that the defence failed to cross examine the plaintiff and in so doing allowed the court to determine that events as claimed were the truth. In the judgment, the Court said that its research of the Police Act found that ranks may also stop, search and detain any person who may be reasonably suspected of having or conveying in any manner anything stolen or unlawfully obtained. The instances must contemplate a situation where an offence has already been committed. “Let me say at the outset that the police have no power to stop, search, arrest and detain any citizen under Section 17 and/or Section 19 unless he has reasonable grounds for suspicion that he will find stolen or prohibited articles or that he has reasonable grounds to
Justice William Ramlal suspect that a person whom he reasonably suspected has committed an indictable offence will be found, or that any person has committed a summary or indictable offence in his view or presence or that he has credible and reliable information from someone that a person has committed a summary or indictable offence.” The court was critical that one of the charges, “negligently interrupted the free flow of traffic” was not even provided for in the particular regulation that it was filed. Rather, the regulation had to do with the “overall length of trailers.” The court judgment suggested that the police may have been untruthful when it said that the lawyer’s car was blocking traffic as the statements suggest otherwise. The court also questioned how the police ranks moved from traffic offences to searching for guns and ammunition. “This was about the police exhibition of power with utmost disregard of the Plaintiff’s fundamental rights. This, likewise, strengthens the “malice” with which the police exercised their powers. The stop, search and arrest (Continued on page 61)
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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
Ramotar needs to define his own vision The second anniversary of the swearing-in of President Donald Ramotar passed almost unnoticed earlier this week. Indeed there was not even an acknowledgment of the anniversary from the President himself who was present and spoke at one major national event. The Constitution of Guyana allows for presidential elections every five years and re-election only once after. President Ramotar is in now in his third year of a first term. Even one of the most fervent supporters of the PPP/C, pollster Vishnu Bisram, has been sounding fears that the PPP/C can lose the plurality and therefore President Ramotar may not enjoy a second term, assuming that he would wish re-election at the next elections, whenever they are called. This paper does not wish to engage in such speculation at this stage; there are far too many variables that would require extensive analysis. What we wish to do is examine the Ramotar Presidency to date and how it has defined the man himself, and as a precursor of his legacy, whenever that time comes. The fairest way of doing so is to assess him by the standards and promises which he and his PPP/C promised in the 2011 Manifesto. The next PPP/Civic Government, the manifesto boasted, aims to achieve a modern Guyana, where rights and freedoms are enhanced, where individual and national wellbeing is secured. In reality, security for everyone one, whether in the home or on the streets, has deteriorated, as has the judicial system to the extent that a man is caught on camera shooting at another and walks free. Too many of our youths, products of a dysfunctional social and educational system, are being killed in highly questionable circumstances; too many guns are at large, a consequence of a corrupt licensing system and the suspected smuggling of guns into the country. We were promised a nation that is united in spirit and in purpose, and a nation whose long heralded potential is fulfilled.Instead the wishes of the electorate have been translated into gridlock where nothing gets done and stalemate is the order of the day. The Constitution whose continuing flaws were so grimly exposed by Ramotar’s malevolent predecessor remains untouched and continues to be violated, albeit in a less vulgar manner. The Manifesto promised to “ensure, within one year of the 2011 general elections, that local government elections are held.” Two years on, this fundamental value of the Constitution, remains as elusive as ever. We are left with many of the local organs of democracy without a functioning governing body, even as the capital city wallows in filth. Fortunately, the economy has remained buoyant, helped in no small measure by high gold prices and the Petrocaribe Agreement with Venezuela. Our exchange rate has remained stable and the rate of inflation modest. But the spectre of blacklisting of the country for its failure to have internationally approved money-laundering prevention legislation hangs like a darkening shadow over the immediate future of the country. But perhaps President Ramotar’s biggest failure was to embrace, blindly, the prestige projects of Jagdeo which were conceived to enrich the few at the expense of the rest of the people. The demise of the disastrous Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project was sealed by an act of God after the deception of the Privatisation Unit. The NIS is another fiasco which no amount of band aid will cure. Instead of putting money into the education system, the Administration sold the very profitable shares in GT&T to invest in a Casino and Hotel with a private partner whose identity has yet not been disclosed. This newspaper does not believe that Mr. Ramotar’s presidency is doomed. He can redeem himself if he acts and acts decisively. We remind him of the words he used at his inauguration when he said that it was now time to “cast aside the partisan cloak” and “put on national garb”. He “invited Guyanese from all our political parties and all or civic and religious groups” to engage in the further development of the country over the next five years. He needs to start by defining and articulating his own vision for Guyana, not Jagdeo’s. He needs to embrace an economic policy for the country as a whole not the few plutocrats. He needs to deal with the corruption within his own party and government rather than hurl abuse at those who point out corruption. He needs to surround himself with persons of integrity and competence, not sycophants. And he needs to start now.
Sunday December 08, 2013
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This Minister must give details of how the sum was legally expended DEAR EDITOR, I am surprised at the extent of coverage awarded by the Stabroek News to the Ministry of Finance phantom spokesperson in the article “Government denies withholding budgeted funds from Public Servants” published in the Stabroek News dated Saturday December 7, 2013. Such an extensive coverage has not been given to anyone from the Guyana Public Service Union who commented on the topic pertaining to the matter at caption. Further, anyone writing on this issue should be proud, professional and decent enough to be identify himself/herself with what he/ she is saying. However, there are still many things left unsaid and unanswered by the phantom.
It is amazing that the print media has failed to insist upon the visibility of the author on such a serious matter that is of national importance. The Government’s mouthpiece, who on Friday 6 December 2013 responded to the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) insistence that the law must be upheld and answers must be given for the approximately $3 billion dollars not included in the announced five percent payout, have obviously put his or her foot in his or her mouth and/or like the proverbial ostrich has buried his/her head in the sand. Let us examine the argument put forward, viz. According to the ‘senior official’ of the Finance Ministry the $4,403,509 that was “allocated for the
revision of government employees’ pay-packets was not confined only to those already on payrolls”, but includes monies “usually set aside in the budget to cater for new recruits and employees who are promoted during the course of the year….., including employment cost shortfalls in budget agencies.” Be that as it may, if the official is suggesting that Government over the year 2013 enhanced the staffing of the Public Service and have met employment cost shortfalls to a tune of $2.947B, there is an obvious suggestion that the Minister of Finance, whose task it is to craft the budget, is incompetent or is this official being crafty, by letting us into the secret that the funds were mishandled and spent on the likes of GINA
and NCN. If so, apologies are in order. Don’t shoot the messenger. It is however clear that the Minister must give details of how the sum was legally expended. This is the crux of the matter. There has been a lot of Governmental sand dancing and vacillating on the issue of salaries and wage increases for Public Servants. If what they are saying is true, then they need to come out of the closets and put their cards on the negotiation table. This is not being done, because the truth is being hidden. They can pay more, but they want to further deprive Public Servants of decent wages and hold them hostages. Dvane Marshall GPSU Branch Chairman
Sunday December 08, 2013
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Agricultural expansion in the Canji Basin without an environmental study is criminal negligence DEAR EDITOR I am sorry that I am becoming a chronic letter writer, but I am only trying to help. In yesterday’s Stabroek News I noted that there were questions about Patil and China Paper MOU’s regarding large scale farming activities in the Canji Basin. As usual the robots on the GuySuCo board have not raised their voices in this matter. I don’t even know if they understand it, at least we have not heard about it from them, but we should have. I will not deal with the sequence of events which have led to these secret deals, I will allow Dr Roopnarine to do that in Parliament, but I want to suggest caution in their execution, especially since the Stabreok News article tells us that the DY Patil group has advanced beyond an MOU stage and have actually started cultivating 65,000 hectares of land in the Canji basin. This is a very dangerous situation and I would be very remiss if I did not bring it to the attention of the public. There is no conservancy in
East Berbice, as there is in Demerara i.e the Lama, the MMA in West Berbice, the Boerisiri in the West Demerara and the Tapacuma in the Essequibo. Every village, every sugar estate, every rice farmer including Black Bush Polder draws directly from the Canji River and even today in dry periods the level of the Canji becomes so low that salt water from the Atlantic ocean can intrude as far as where Albion draws water from it, and this includes Rose Hall and Black Bush Polder and everyone in between. In fact, expanding Skeldon without doing an Environmental Impact Assessment study [EIA] on the Canji water system was in itself criminally negligent. And the Skeldon expansion can very well impact on this situation in future, making an already bad situation there worse if it affects Rose Hall, Black Bush and Albion. And the EPA should have demanded it, if they did it and we do not have any information that they demanded that it be done, since King Jagdeo said that Skeldon must be expanded, we
do not have any information on what the findings were. If they did do an EIA and the Government overruled them if the findings were negative, it was a violation of our laws which the government is violating at an unprecedented rate today, and hopes that nobody is looking. Some years ago the Torani canal was dug to relieve the situation [this was before the expansion of Skeldon] so the problem is known to have existed before the expansion. The ToraniCanal was designed to bring water from the Berbice River to the CanjiRiver to supplement the water requirements of the sugar estates and the rice farmers, including Skeldon, and everyone who takes water from the CanjiRiver for irrigation i.e. all agricultural operations in East Berbice. The Torani Canal can be seen on a Google Earth Map if you put your cursor at 5 degrees 47 minutes 52.67 seconds north latitude and 57 degrees, 31 minutes and 22.76 degrees West longitude running from East to West. No
one can tell me what its condition is today. Most people working in Brebice do not even know that it’s there. And I have said it before, when Bharat Jagdeo asked my father, who was a director of Bookers and then GuySuCo from 1953 to 1991 as mechanical coordinator for the industry, what he thought about the Skeldon expansion. His first response was, where would you get the water from? And his second question was where would you get the labour from? I did not understand it at the time, but I do now, so Jagdeo was told that there could be a water problem and a labour problem at Skeldon if he expanded it too much. Giving out 65,000 acres of land in that area without doing an environmental Impact Assessment study is criminal negligence. There would only be two solutions to this problem. 1. We can increase the size of the Torani Canal to bring more water from the Berbice River to supplement the Canji, but we have to assess if during the extremely
dry weather of a protracted el Nino, whether salt water would not intrude high enough up the Berbice River to enter the Torani canal and contaminate the water of the Canji and halt all agricultural operations in the entire Region; or (2) That we allow the Berbice River [through the Torani canal] and the Canji River, to run into a
reservoir and build a massive conservancy there. But we certainly have not budgeted for that. Before we enter any MOU with anyone we have to know what the repercussions of all of this expansion will be, and whether the Canj Rriver can take the “load”. Tony Vieira
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BERBICE CAMPUS AUTONOMY A DAMP SQUIB DEAR EDITOR, What was to have been fireworks and sparks turned out to be a damp squib. Three meetings scheduled for the Berbice Campus on the weekend 29-30th November, 2013, rejected any and all ideas of an independent University of Guyana, Berbice, or University of Berbice, Guyana. Even the patently political attempt at ideological brinksmanship, Cheddi Jagan University, did not get far. The first meeting of the staff/faculty of the campus with members of the ad hoc committee (UG Councillors and members of the Private Sector), Friday morning 29th November, 2013, fired the first shot across the bow of the autonomy campaign. After due introductions the staff faculty was asked to respond to the demand for autonomy/independence of the campus. In a single voice, in unison, their answer was a resounding, unambiguous “NO!” What they did instead was to provide a critique of the administration of the campus over the last four years under the stewardship of Prof. Daizal Samad. The rejoinder was not without its awkward moment since most of the visitors were unaware of the deep seated sense of frustration at the campus and had come to accept what was reported in the press. As the message gradually seeped in and the staff/ faculty sensed the indecision, they mounted their charge of the campus as a “one man show” initiated by the Director from the moment of his arrival. As indication of what had been happening, they claimed that not a single
meeting of the Campus Board, deemed to be the final authority at the campus, had met in four years under the Director, while the Campus Coordinating Committee (CCC) had simply become a rubber stamp under his direction. The main problem they noted was the refusal to include the staff’/faculty in the decisions and administration of the campus. This left little room for encouragement and support while staff/faculty lost touch with their colleagues at Turkeyen. What under normal circumstances, routinely encouraged during the previous ten years, was now seen as surreptitious and under-hand. The means of control was exercised by firm institutional contact which the Director took a personal hand in directing, while ensuring that trips to Turkeyen were gradually eliminated for anyone but the Director. According to one informant, permission was refused anyone to access the overnight room at the SCR, Turkeyen, who did not have the Director ’s previous consent. The staff/faculty was, no doubt, emboldened by their colleagues from the CCC who a week earlier, 22 November, 2013, raised serious questions about the manner in which the Director was seeking to return to the campus when in fact he had publicly resigned since August 2013. At that meeting the CCC raised concerns about a story in the local press, Stabroek News, 20 November, 2013, billed as “an interview” with the previous Director of the Berbice Campus, Prof. Daizal Samad - “Prof. Samad ready
to serve at Tain Campus again”. Three issues were raised about the “interview”, presumed on considerations of due process and fairness: that once the period of application for a publicly advertised appointment to a public institution is closed everyone would be entitled to the same, even, playing field. a) Prof. Samad’s interview appeared, therefore, as unethical since he was using his privileged access to sections of the media to promote himself for the appointment of the Director to the Campus. This was not available to other applicants, including two lecturers from the Berbice campus. b) It seemed a-moral, since both Stabroek News and Dr. Samad combined to create an uneven playing field in which other contenders were excluded. Other applicants are only there, it now seems - after the interview - to provide background and seeming attention to a competitive process that is anything but fair. c) It looked illegal, since Dr. Samad was using his privileged access to the media to determine an outcome that was supposed to be the result of determinate deliberation
behind closed doors by known publicly appointed officials. The CCC suggested that the matter be sent to the campus Board for its deliberations. Unfortunately, while a meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 27th November, 2013, it had to be cancelled due to the exigencies of final exams at the Campus. Importantly, though the message appears not to have been lost on the staff/ faculty at the Campus. The second meeting later that afternoon with the ad hoc committee appears to have been a fait accompli. The Director appeared overwhelmed by what he was hearing from the Campus and seemed ill prepared to make his case for autonomy. Part of the problem may very well have been the presence of Dr. Rishee Thakur who served several terms as assistant Director of the Campus and a long standing member of the faculty since its inception in 2000. Dr. Thakur confirmed what his colleagues said earlier the morning about a “one man show” and added that: a) both the Berbice Campus and the Turkeyen administration, despite continuing disagreements and debates (maybe because
of them) over the years had worked out a modus vivendi in which the campus would function as a faculty of the University, supporting the original agreement at the Academic Board, 1999, when the campus was established; b) the campus lacked the professional staff and skills to mount an independent campus; c) the means, both material and human, were not present in Berbice to fund and found a University of its own; and d) part of the Director’s complaint were of his own making since he did not encourage staff/faculty to participate in the administration of the campus, who knew and understood “Turkeyen”, and, therefore, with the means to assist in the administration of the campus. After that the Director’s case had nowhere to go. And while he made bold efforts to respond to specific questions there was nothing on offer. Indeed, one member of the Committee while congratulating the Director for one of his development plans of the Campus, had to criticise him for his failure to follow up on it. He seemed impatient, unwilling to work with what was on the ground. Most of those on the Committee were beginning to
feel as if they had been on a wild goose chase. Despite all the spilled ink the case for a Berbice University, a University of Guyana, Berbice, even a Cheddi Jagan University had not been made. By the time of the third and last meeting, Saturday morning 30th Novembre, 2013, members of the ad hoc committee had given up and not all were present for the meeting that morning. They need not worry. Neither were Berbicians. It is estimated that there were as many members of the Committee as there were members of the audience, about eight. The only question that appeared on anyone’s mind were more degree programmes for the campus. No one seemed to remember that autonomy was the major issue for the meeting. But the issue is by no means over. Since 4th October, 2013, the campus has been functioning without a Director. The search was on for a new one. Not unexpectedly Prof. Samad has had a changed heart, withdrew his resignation and reapplied for the job, while insisting that autonomy is still on the cards. Rishi Thakur
No comprehensive explanation as to why workers can’t get more than five percent DEAR EDITOR: Rising income dispersion in Guyana is a cause for deep worry. It will be one of the primary reasons for a political explosion in Guyana. Yet the weak Ramotar Government cannot dis-engage itself such an anti-working class policy which is a brought forward from the Jagdeo regime. Anyone reading this misnomer emanating from the PPP Government that “the Treasury does not have funds to pay more than 5 percent”, can only arrive at one conclusion; under which sand dune do these people have their heads buried to voice such political poppy cock. After NIS and GRA, the workers take home G$52 a day more to their families; that cannot even buy a soft drink. This is the crux of the matter, some “pigs are more equal than others”, in a true animal farm context. Since the arrival of the
Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal, the incomes for the highest earners have raced ahead of those at the bottom of the economic ladder in antihuman development manner. This was never Jagan’s plan. He always preached a philosophy of reducing the divide between the “have’s and have nots” and it is disgusting that men like Dr. Luncheon, who has been by his side all these years, can sit in Cabinet and allow these atrocities to take place against the workers. Shame on him! Such anti-working class attitudes from the PPP demands a policy response from the majority political opposition. To date, there has been no reliable and comprehensive explanation from the Ramotar administration as to the reason why they cannot afford more than 5 percent for the workers. One cannot categorize any of the
statements from President Ramotar, Ministers of Finance and Public Service on this matter as anything close to comprehensive or reliable; they are but mere political opinions which have no “locus standi” in the debate surrounding a living wage for the workers. I say – enough of these acts of “apprentice” management of the public service ,which was confirmed by a Minister of Public Service who was reported in the press as saying “the workers should be happy with 5 percent”. The AFC Vice Chairman Mr. Nagamootoo was spot on target when he responded; “she should try to live on that five percent”. This is the time when workers have to be supported in their work to rule actions against this PPP injustice. The Unions and the political opposition should be fund raising for a “strike action fund” now so that the workers will have a meal during this period of struggle. Let me be clear, in 2011, I was one of the foremost
protagonists fighting for a 20 percent increase for the workers since from my interrogation of the 2010 Budget revealed enough pockets of funds going to the Jagdeoites that could have paid that sum. The reality is the economy has deteriorated since then as a result of gross mismanagement by the Ramotar administration. As someone who has personally spent time in the AFC’s 2013 Budget review process, it is my professional opinion that 10 percent is affordable, available and payable with limited impact on inflation. But we have to take firm action such as placing the medical supplies contract of the Ministry of Health and Georgetown Hospital to public tender and in the process save hundreds of millions of dollars. Let us use that money to add to the pool to pay the workers a better salary rather than feed the greed of one man and his best friend. If the Union settles for 5 percent in 2013, history will be very unkind to them. Sasenarine Singh
Sunday December 08, 2013
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Finance Minister fails to account Body found in for $8,000 million in five years front GPHC’s Reference lab
The budgetary allocations for Revision of Wages and Salaries for public servants is now being regarded as a slush fund given that over the past five years there is more than $8B unaccounted for. Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, has said that it is most troubled by the Ministry of Finance’s explanations. According to Ramjattan the amount budgeted for Revised Wages and Salaries for 2013 represents an almost 15 per cent increase for public servants and not the five per cent that is being touted by Government. According to Ramjattan, “This is deception being perpetrated by the Ministry and is wholly wrong this does not accord with the norms of the budgetary process at all.” He said that according to the party’s calculations at this stage it is proving that for the past several years there has
been a huge difference between what was allocated for revised wages and salaries and what was actually paid out.” “A substantial amount is definitely not accounted for,” said Ramjattan. He said that in 2012, the amount paid out was in excess of some $2.2B and for 2011 that amount is $2.7B. According to Ramjattan, this year the House approved a sum of $4.4B. He said that with only a five per cent increase being given, when computed against the total Wages and Salaries this would only amount to half of this $4.4B. According to Ramjattan, “The question must be asked: Where did the other half go? Where is this sum of money? I hope that it was not used as a slush fund to execute on projects which were not supported by the National
Assembly. “That would be criminal as per section 85 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act of 2003.” Ramjattan was quick to point out that “this amount of money is wholly controlled by the Ministry of Finance.” He was speaking to the amount being voted each year for the revision of Wages and Salaries. Ramjattan said that to top things off is the fact that the Ministry is not one that credits itself with a high level of neither reputation nor esteem these past years. Ramjattan said that the AFC will certainly be asking questions in Parliament “now that our confidence has
waned so terribly as a result of this development…We are now appreciating why the President does not want to assent that amendment to the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act namely section 85 which expands “official” to mean the Minister.” Under this amendment the Opposition is looking to expand the category of government officials that can be held accountable for the misuse of public funds. “He (Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh) is the one who ought to be made culpable for any delinquencies on this score, rather than the other officials there.
A man was found dead in front the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Reference laboratory, on Thomas Street around 14:00hrs yesterday. Based on a GPHC medical report which was found in the dead man’s pocket, his name is Victor Dodson. The man, who appeared to be in his sixties, was clad in a pair of black jeans, checkered shirt, and blue slippers. He was discovered dead by security guards at the GPHC. He was found in a sitting position. Persons who asked not to be named said that the man was seen sitting in front of the Reference Lab before 07:00hrs yesterday. “I see he this morning there and he was trembling so I gave him an orange and some water but he ain’t eat it. Is just now when I peep he back then I see he dead,” a nearby vendor said. Many were of the view that the dead man was a vagrant. “It look like he come to go to the hospital and he left after they taking long to see him because he didn’t had any medication on him, only the form.”
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Indian group denies acquiring 10,000 acres land in Guyana The DY Patil Group has denied that it has started works on agricultural lands in the Canje Basin and that it is in no way connected or has any links to former President Bharrat Jagdeo. The DY Patil group yesterday responded to the allegations in the press. It said that it was still in negotiations with the Government and that no land has been handed over to the company. This is in stark contrast to the pronouncements by Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy who said that the DY Patil Group had already been allocated 10,000
…but Ramsammy says yes acres of land to develop. According to the group it is committed to making the project successful hence it is necessary for it to do a lot of due diligence, pre-viability and technical studies before it begins operations. The company explained that the final agreement is still subject to the terms and conditions that are under negotiations and will only be concluded when both parties are mutually satisfied with its contents. According to Patil, the
company already has people who are on the “ground” working on various aspects doing studies and looking into the viability of the project. During the negotiations of the agricultural project and in all their interactions with the Government of Guyana and its authorities they have been clearly told that the primary aim of this project was to create meaningful employment and economic opportunities for the people of Guyana, there is nothing secretive about these
negotiations with the Government and periodic press releases will be made on the progress of this project henceforth. The group said that it was surprised at the news of there being a connection between former President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Chairman Dr Ajeenkya D Y Patil with regards to the doctorates being awarded. “We would like to clarify that both these personalities have been awarded the doctorate by a reputed UK University at different occasions. Dr Ajeenkya D Y Patil was awarded the
doctorate many years before it was awarded to former President Bharrat Jagdeo and the same is the case of the doctorate given by the D Y Patil University in India to Former President Bharrat Jagdeo in view of his excellent work done” the group stated. Dr Ajeenkya D Y Patil was recently appointed as the Honorary Consul of Guyana in Mumbai; this position is given to eminent personalities around the world. According to the statement issued by the group, Dr Patil is greatly honoured to have been given the position and is grateful to
the “Government of Guyana and its loving people.” According to the statement, “We would like to assure everyone at large that there is complete transparency in this project and we look forward to your support to make Guyana a robust and sound economy in the entire Caribbean Region, we would also like to state that our Group is ethically bound to take up projects that better the lives of the local population and contribute to the growth of the country and we will feel most honoured and pleased to contribute to the progress of this great country.”
A Conflict of Interest to have EPA and AFC to join Natural Resources within the same Ministry public servants Attorney at Law and A Partnership of National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Joe Harmon, has expressed the fact that the Ministry of Natural Resources
and Environment (MNRE) has embedded within it, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a conflict of interest. According to Harmon, the MNRE headed
- Harmon by Minister Robert Persaud has the power to implement measures that would be counterproductive to the protection of the environment and be unopposed since it has influence over the EPA. Harmon said that the conflict comes when you have two bodies that are meant to counter balance each other being headed under one Ministry. He offered the Low Carbon Development Strategy LCDS as an example where nothing is being done or heard of LCDS in Guyana since it was championed by Bharrat Jagdeo, while there is now an influx of MOUs and agreements dealing with exploiting extractive and agricultural resources. LCDS seems to be
abandoned; and he questioned if the government is no longer concerned about reducing green house gas emissions. Harmon said that the amount of money that the administration can pilfer from the mining and extractive industries exceeds what can be made from LCDS, hence the reason why nothing is being heard about LCDS anymore and why silent contracts and MOU’s that are being done with these Indian and Chinese companies. Harmon said that had the EPA been an autonomous body that was headed by another Minister then the likelihood would have been that the Ministry of Natural Resources whose functionality deals with increasing production in the extractive industry would be (Continued on page 61)
on protest line
The Alliance For Change (AFC) has indicated that it will be playing its part in the fight to secure a better pay packet for those who work at public entities. The announcement by Government that it will be granting a five per cent increase to the wages and salaries of public servants has not been well received. Public servants have more than just stated their dissatisfaction but moved bravely to register that dissatisfaction through protest demonstrations. And even though the government has been ignoring it, the protest continues. AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan told the media that the AFC plans to “do what politicians do, lobby for better.’’ He said, too, that his party members will be on the picket lines to support those who are brave enough to stand up for what they deserve. A Partnership for National
Unity (APNU) soon after the increase was announced has noted its disappointment. Party leader, David Granger had told the media that the increase is meaningless. But the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government seems to be oblivious to the challenges facing Guyanese as the administration maintains that what was given is enough. Minster of Public Services, Jennifer Westford, even told Kaieteur News that “public servants should be happy with what they were given.” PPP General Secretary and Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee supports Westford’s comments and shot down any chance of the government reducing staggered increase. The term staggered increase is used in the context of having a higher percentage increase given to those at the bottom and less to those who already have a big pay packet.
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
Shootout at Charlestown
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Dem boys seh
Police blame ‘murder accused’, Bobby give Jagdeo residents blame police nuff kickback About 13:30 hours yesterday, families housed in a three-storey building at 33 Lyng and Howes Streets, Charlestown, were sent into a frenzy after a shootout occurred between several police ranks and a criminal suspect whom they were seeking to apprehend. This publication was informed that the suspect, who was not identified, is currently charged with attempted murder. According to reports, the police were at the time acting on information that suggested that the accused was seeking refuge in the Charlestown building. However, upon arriving at the scene and after disclosing the purpose of their visit, several shots were fired sending them running for cover. Police suspect that the shots came from the accused who was hiding out in the building. At this point, the ranks who had not yet entered the building, questioned whether it was feasible to return fire since there were several children in the building. During this time, the alleged shooter made good his escape. Meanwhile, the occupants of the building had a different story to tell. According to Hazel Smith, the property owner, it was the police who barged in, fired off several shots and terrified all present. Other occupants of the building protested that it was thoughtless and unjust for the police to violate their rights and induce fear in both adults and several children who were present at the time of the incident. Eight-year-old Ashlyn Peters told Kaieteur News how terrified she was during the encounter.
Police ranks taking suspects away from the scene. “I been watching cartoon upstairs and then the police come upstairs, about three. They were searching the place. And then shot a bullet upstairs on the roof.” The child said that during this time, she and other siblings were forced to hide under the bed. The property owner, relating her side of the story, said that the police claimed that they were in pursuit of some “murder
men”, but she denied having knowledge or harbouring any such person in her home. “They hear some murder men deh hiding here. And they ain’t got no murder men, is two li’l boys,” Smith lamented. According to her, two young boys “Henry and Blackie”, both about 17 years old who lived several houses away, were playing cards on the bottom flat of the building
when the police, without warning, forced their way in. She said that when the boys saw the police, they became afraid and bolted upstairs resulting in the ranks chasing after them. It was during the chase that the ranks allegedly fired about three shots. The boys, along with two other men, Gregory Richardson and Odell Fordyce, were then taken into police custody.
A man call Ramotar Secretary last month and ask fuh Jagdeo. De secretary in a nice voice seh that Jagdeo no longer de president. One week later de man call back and ask fuh Jagdeo. De secretary recognize de voice. “I told you last week he no longer here.” De man hang up. Last week de man call back and ask fuh Jagdeo. De secretary tell he, “I told you last week and de week before he no longer works here.” Monday de man call back again and ask fuh Jagdeo. De secretary get vex. “I told you de man DON’T wuk here anymore. Why you keep calling?” De man wid happiness in his heart and pleasure in he voice seh, “I like to hear it.” Dem boys would like to hear when Bobby and Jagdeo end up in jail. Bobby had de nerve to lie and then call pun Frank de Anthony fuh launch an investigation how de Waterfalls paper get a photo. Dem boys want tell de nation fuh initiate an investigation into how Bobby and Jagdeo and all of dem get dem wealth. People who involve in tax wuk seh that if dem tek wha Ah Kneel seh that Jagdeo had nutten before he tun President. In twelve year, pun he Jagdeo salary alone, he couldn’t own that properties he got. How he achieve dem things? That is de big question. Bobby wuss. He look like if he own nuff thing but when dem boys check dem want to believe that Bobby fronting fuh somebody. It got to be that he fronting fuh Jagdeo. He get all he deals under Jagdeo; he ain’t no family to Jagdeo; he ain’t no nephew or niece. He get all he wealth under Jagdeo. And this is no secret. A Prep A kid know that. Why would Jagdeo single he out of all Guyanese if dem nah got no kick back? Jagdeo never do nutten fuh nutten. Dem boys find out that lately and you got a doubt prove to dem boys that dem wrang. Not even dinner, lunch or breakfast wid State money he does give anybody fuh free. Yesteryear was kickback wid dem two. De coming years got back kick. Everybody know wha happening deh. Talk half and wait fuh de back kick.
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Authorities ignore forged Ruth Baljit signatures …issue radio licence to Telecor
Member of the Media Proprietor Association, Jacob Rambarran
Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran
Some Guyanese are questioning whether there are bounds to the “greed” of the politicians of the day. Recent revelations in the media have stimulated further concerns. Guyana Media Proprietors Association (GMPA) Executive Member, Jacob Rambarran, in an invited comment, told Kaieteur News that he still cannot come to grips with the blatant and disrespectful takeover of the media landscape. His immediate reference was to the saga unfolding around Telecor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc—the communication company that was granted a Radio Licence to operate five frequencies despite the fact that it was solely owned by an overseasbased woman.
Just days before it formally received its licence, Telecor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc. appointed four Directors. This was done to ensure that more than 51 per cent of the voting powers on the board would be Guyanese residing in Guyana. But even before the company satisfied this criterion, its licence was approved by the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA). Since then the authorities have been presented with two signatures both purporting to be Ruth Baljits. One of them had to be a forgery but the authorities ignored the discrepancy in signatures when they issued the licences. Prior to the change of directors, Ruth Baljit was the
Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop sole owner of the company— she is the sister of Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud. Those who became directors, last June, are Daramchand Depoo, an Attorney-at-Law in Corentyne, Berbice; Kamini Persaud, Ryan Basdeo, Khemraj Narain and Michael George. Kamini Persaud is the niece of former President Bharrat Jagdeo and the wife of Minister Robert Persaud. Ryan Basdeo is Kamini Persaud’s brother, Bharrat Jagdeo’s nephew and also the brother-in-law of Robert Persaud. They both reside on Lamaha Street. Khemraj Narain is Robert Persaud’s best friend and
Robert Persaud’s sister Ruth Baljit lives in Miami. At the time, the Company Secretary for Telecor was Omkarananda Lochan who was the then Permanent Secretary in Minister Robert Persaud’s ministry. Rambarran said that he still cannot understand how this company, with this makeup, could have been granted a licence in the first place. He described it as a breach of fair governance on the part of Jagdeo to dish out frequencies in that manner and “ignore the rest of us…That should not have happened.” Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, also weighed in on the debate and echoed similar sentiments. He told Kaieteur News
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo that belatedly expanding the directors for the Company does not help the situation. The fact remains that all the directors are personally linked to former President, Bharrat Jagdeo and Minister Persaud—both of whom were in government at the time when it all started. He said that the addition of directors basically reflects a “cosmetic cover up…It doesn’t remedy what is seen in the eyes of the public as a major wrong and misuse of resources, so they need to come better than this cosmetic cover up.” Goolsarran said, “It is like somebody’s face is ugly, and we identify that he or she is ugly and de people just basically go and put some powder and rouge.
Guyana gets early glimpse of phenomenal leadership publication Leadership in Guyana could be on the verge of a colossal transformation if the content of a recently unveiled publication “The power of character in leadership” is fully embraced. The book which is set to be officially released next month is authored by Christian Writer, Dr. Myles Munroe. The masterpiece was prereleased during Dr Munroe’s Global Leadership Summit in Freeport, Bahamas last month. It is believed that the event, which is held annually, attracted some 500 delegates from across the globe. They included Ambassadors, former presidents, Chief Executive Officers and other prominent individuals capable of bridging a vast denominational divide. The Summit focused on a number of leadership areas including Discovering Personal Purpose; Cultivating Passion in Leadership; Corporate Purpose, Mission and Vision,
Astell Colins (right) presents a copy of the pre-released publication to Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips Effective Management Principles and Understanding Corporate Accountability. In attendance was local leadership advocate, Astell Collins, who together with his twin brother Allister Collins,
spearheads the Be the One (BD1) Leadership Development initiative. According to Astell, who returned with copies of the pre-released publication autographed by Dr. Munroe,
“The book is one that speaks to the character of a leader.” Its quality has been well recognised and underscored by the Whitaker House publishing company. A great number of religious titles are published by Destiny Publishers but according to Astell, “The publisher (Whitaker House) believes that the book is suited for politicians and various other leaders.” The recent Summit, according to Astell, saw Dr. Munroe deliberating on the notion that the crisis in leadership is nestled in the lost of character. “So the concept of the book suggests that character is the cradle of credibility and without character most of our leaders are failing...Globally our leaders are failing because of the lack of character.” He presented one of the autographed copies of the book to Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Mark Phillips, who has committed to having
senior officers commence a ‘BD1 to manifest the power of character in leadership’ seminar in the New Year. Even before taking up the reigns of the GDF, Brigadier Phillips had attended one of Astell’s many leadership seminars. He has since sought to implement the learnt leadership principles within the GDF utilising a top-down hierarchical approach. The Chief of Staff has committed to continued partnership with the Collins brothers’ ambitious leadership endeavours, which entails them travelling the country and even the world to expound on the leadership qualities required to improve the lives of citizens, nations and by extension the world. Other copies of the leadership publication, which is being readily embraced by the Collins brothers, are intended for the Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman and Caricom Secretary (Continued on page 57)
Minister Robert Persaud Goolsarran said that what is to be pointed out is the fact that “make-up” basically enhances “so when they think that they are covering up, they just showing us more.” The former Auditor General said that the government and its cohorts have to stop “grabbing everything for themselves and deceiving people in the process.” Telecor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc. is a company that was incorporated by Attorney-atLaw, Jaya Manickchand, in 2009. The company was incorporated with 500,000 shares and each annual return filed to date, lists Baljit, a US citizen, as the sole shareholder. Kaieteur News understands, too, that the company was struck off the Registrar’s Companies List for failing to file annual returns. This was denied by the company. But records show that it was restored to the Companies List in October, days before Jagdeo would have approved it for five radio frequencies. Dharamchand Depoo, the former Company Secretary, now Director, uplifted the Licence for Baljit. Several prominent, independent media entities including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, CNS 6, WRHM 7, RBS 13, Capitol News, HBTV 9 and GWTV 2 were all bypassed by Jagdeo. He approved frequencies to a number of others, but only allowed them one frequency each, thereby limiting the range to which they can broadcast. Those with multiple frequencies included the ruling party and Ramroop’s radio. The former President has also come under criticism for granting cable television licences to two companies – E-Networks Inc. and Quark Communications Inc. Both companies have Directors and shareholders with close links to him.
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Slippers human torch succumbs The mother of four who was set alight by her stepbrother over a pair of slippers almost three weeks ago at ‘D’ Field Sophia, succumbed to her injuries around 12:30 hrs yesterday in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Burns Care Unit. Samantha Schwartz, 38, of Corentyne, Berbice and Section D, South Sophia was doused with a flammable substance and then set alight by stepbrother, Brian Haywood, on November 21, last. Haywood, a cobbler, had accused his sister of stealing a pair of slippers from his shop. He reportedly threw a liquid on her and then used his cigarette lighter to start the fire, then he escaped. He was eventually caught by police two Sundays ago and was remanded to prison until January 20, 2014. Yesterday, when Kaieteur News visited the hospital, Schwartz’s husband, Joel Felix, said that he received a call from his wife’s sister yesterday, informing him about Schwartz’s death. He explained that he spoke to his wife Friday night and she sounded “ok.” “She asked me to buy some things for the house and to paint the house for the holiday and she tell me to buy a juice for her today (yesterday) when I coming to see her but I come and she is dead,” Felix stressed. Sonia Schwartz, the dead woman’s sister said that she was the first person who found out that her sister passed away.
“I went to the hospital and I see she lying straight. I keep calling for her but she didn’t answer so I called the nurse and she told me that (Samantha) just passed away.” A friend of the now dead woman, Julian Adams, told this publication that she visited Schwartz early yesterday and she seemed to be in good health. “When I go this morning (yesterday) I asked her if she drink tea and she said no so I made a cup for her and then she asked for another cup. When I was leaving, she asked me to stay back a little more with her so I stayed and help cleaned her skin and so,” Adams stressed. Samantha Schwartz leaves to mourn her husband, four children and siblings.
Dead: Samantha Schwartz
Samantha Schwartz’s husband and four children yesterday at the hospital
President Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar were the first to sign the Book of Condolence for the late Former South African President. Nelson Mandela, yesterday morning. The signing occurred at State House, Main Street.
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Enough is Enough …without public servants this nation grinds to a halt - GTUC Guyana has become a tale of two societies where income inequality is growing within the rank and file while corruption runs amok and the executive and cohorts gorge themselves; a society where human dignity is guaranteed to some and trampled for others. This is the view held by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) which has come out in condemnation of the proposed five per cent increase in salary for Public Servants. The Trades Union umbrella organisation says that it stands in solidarity with the public sector employees in their just and fair fight for equality under the Laws of Guyana. According to GTUC, for 12 years now, public servants have had to deal with the disregard for their right to Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining.
GTUC said that the proposed pay increase is in violation of the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual, protected in Article 147 of the Guyana Constitution and Section 23 of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Act. According to the union, “The revelation by the political opposition that government has not spent the budgeted amount for Public Servants, and given the squandermania of taxpayers’ money, to hear the Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford, say that the government cannot afford to pay more and that the fivepercent is adequate, smacks not only at a corrupt leadership but one that is also contemptuous of the people.” According to the public pronouncement by the GTUC, Public Servants have been the recipient of torrential
The daily scene outside of GPHC as workers continue to reject the proposed 5% pay increase vilification and demonisation over the years, and it is they who turn the State’s wheels of production. “Without them this nation grinds to a halt. Continuing to carry this great responsibility, undertaking yeoman service, giving of their sweat day in and day out, sometimes working under difficult and unhealthy
conditions, it is unacceptable to treat them with contempt. Enough is enough.” GTUC reminded that public servants are workers of the State and every government has the primary sovereign responsibility to set the tone and ensure that citizens are treated with dignity and respect. “Today where the Executive continues to display contempt for the traditional public service workers and those employed at the Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI), even as it showcased its respect for the rights and freedoms of sugar workers and their union, GAWU with the recent signing of a Wage Agreement, a message is clearly being sent to some in this country that the laws will not be respected for them.” GTUC said President Donald Ramotar, came from the bowels of the trade union movement and held executive positions in GAWU and the original FITUG.
“The President chairs a Cabinet that includes Minister Westford, once a militant activist of the GPSU and served as a representative on its General Council. The Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, played a leading role in changing Labour’s landscape and was once amongst the militant faction in its leadership.” GTUC recalled the 1991 Nurses strike under the Desmond Hoyte administration. In 1991 Ramotar sat with former labour colleagues at the CCWU’s Headquarters and agreed the salaries paid to nurses were inadequate, according to GTUC. That group agreed that to fix the problem, the first requirement was to establish a Real Wage after which annual increases will be
applied, with inflation factored in. The unions at the time aided in sustaining the nurses’ strike by pooling and contributing money. “In 2013 Public Service Real Wage is worse than it was in 1991. In 2013 the disrespect for the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual is worse under a party who makes claim to being working class…The society must not be fooled. What is happening today to workers under the PPP administration is naked thuggery.” GTUC in its public missive said that President Ramotar and Ministers Webster and Gopaul are called upon to demonstrate to the nation, by their actions, that their sojourn in the trade union movement was one of conviction.
Cataract surgery available at Linden Eye Clinic The Eye Clinic at the Linden Hospital Complex recently commenced offering cataract surgery. After a year of waiting, residents of Linden requiring cataract surgery could now access this service owing to the appointment of Consultant Ophthalmologist Dr. Rameeza McDonald. According to the clinic on Thursday, Eye Care Guyana/ Caribbean Council for the Blind (CCB) has been instrumental in providing equipment including operating microscope to carry out the delicate microsurgical procedure to remove cataracts and a new autoclave. These pieces of equipment allowed the commencement of the first surgical list on November 8. With help of visiting Ophthalmologist Dr. Chad Rostron (from London, UK), Dr. McDonald was able to execute 15 cataract procedures within 10 days. This has helped to start clearing the backlog of patients requiring
treatment. The release stated that to help with difficult cases, the surgeons needed a small microsurgical instrument. Thankfully, a local goldsmith, Francois Costello, fabricated the small device for them. According to the release, surgical management will also be enhanced through the donation of a Keratometer- a diagnostic instrument, which will enable more accurate optical outcomes after cataract surgery. This equipment has been donated to Dr. McDonald by Jesus in Action Charity. “So far, the results of the surgery are looking excellent, and visiting ophthalmologist,” Dr. Chad Rostron said. He added, “I am so glad to see the cataract service at last up and running in Linden. I have been very impressed with Dr. McDonald’s ophthalmic surgical skills, and am delighted that Linden has such a highly trained and competent ophthalmologist to serve their needs.”
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Kaieteur News
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Cop wins Courts car prize High rise buildings should have own parking facility - Traffic Chief
Fazil Mohamed and his brand new Mazda Demio Motorcar. A 26-year-old Police constable became the first person to walk away with the keys to a brand new “Mazda Demio” motorcar in this year’s Courts Guyana Inc. TLC, promotion. On Friday, Fazil Mohamed, was presented with the keys to his new vehicle at the Courts Main Street branch, in the presence of many well wishers. The traffic rank maintained his poise after the win but expressed satisfaction with his prize. The father of one said that the vehicle will be useful in getting his daughter to and from school. “I get a phone call this
morning from Courts telling me I win. To be honest I feel nice about it because I never really win nothing before and I could use the car to get work and take my daughter to school.” Mohammed brought a 36inch TLC Television from Courts last month. He was selected the first winner of Courts TLC Christmas Promotion on Thursday when the company awarded another customer $1 million in the Company’s “become a millionaire” promotion. This Christmas, Courts Guyana Inc, is offering fabulous giveaways, to its
customers under several brand name promotions. These include the Samsung F5500/F6400 TV series, the TLC Television series and the Whirlpool product giveaways. “Sweet deals” are being offered to customers countywide. Cellular phones and trips to the Caribbean as well as another Mazda Demio motorcar are all up for grabs as the promotions continue. With any purchase of TLC 32-inch or larger television in the series at Courts, customers can get a chance to enter the promotion. The next draw will take place at the end of December.
A section of Longden Street Thursday afternoon Inclusion of parking facilities in new high rise structures that are being erected in and around Georgetown, is the practical solution to the growing traffic congestion plaguing commuters daily. This notion was expressed by Traffic Chief, Hugh Denhart, during a recent interview. According to Denhart, every year there is an additional 10,000 vehicles on
Public Works Ministry undertakes sanitation works in Albouystown Excavator cleaning the Sussex Street canal.
The clean-up campaign which was expected to last for one week by the Ministry of Public Works has been extended. This is due to the fact that the works in the Charlestown and Albouystown areas in Georgetown have been more arduous for the contractors as opposed to any other area they have cleaned thus far. Yesterday, several contractors, and engineers were seen at Sussex Street,
overseeing the works being done on the drain. Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, explained that the initiative at first included the cleaning of several outfalls such as the one at Ruimveldt, the trenches and drains. He said, “What we are doing now is cleaning the trenches in Albouystown because these are more clogged than others. The work requires more work because of
how clogged the drains are. We are removing the garbage and other debris which will be taken to the dump site. “For drainage to be enhanced in these two areas, they will require more work than we bargained for. We brought in two excavators and both are being used to remove the garbage from the Sussex Street Canal.” The Minister added that these activities do not fall under his Ministry. He said
that it is the responsibility of the Mayor and City Council (MCC). He added that the work should be completed by the end of this new week. When asked about the cost of the project, the Minister said, “I can’t tell you that right now. At the end of it we will know. It is being funded by the Ministry of Public Works and we will disclose this figure by next week.”
the roadway. Purchasing vehicles has become easy since loans are readily accessed through commercial banks and auto dealers have very affordable arrangements. These are two main reasons for the increasing traffic, he added. He stressed that even with increasing traffic, roadways and streets in and around Georgetown are not increasing. There are instances where converting streets into one-way and widening roadways could help but those are not the solution. According to Denhart, alternative parking for vehicles would help to increase width of carriageways and provide a semblance of order. He said that high rise buildings should be built with facilities for customers and employees. This, he stressed would be a significant help to the current situation.
The idea of having buildings with parking facilities in Georgetown is not new. In fact, Professor Akbar Khan who had done a City development plan had recommended the inclusion of parking area for businesses. According to Deputy Mayor, Patricia Green, this development plan was accepted by Cabinet but the recommendations are slow to be implemented. She said that the landscape of Regent Street and other business sections of Georgetown is changing with modern buildings but parking areas are not part of the super structure. She noted that the plan took into consideration the narrowness of city streets and called for the relocation of the Georgetown’s Prison, situated on Camp Street. Green added that overhead walkways to help reduce human traffic on the roadway.
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Interesting Creatures ...
A falcon is any one of 37 species of raptor in the genus Falco, widely distributed on all continents of the world. Adult falcons have thin tapered wings, which enable them to fly at high speed and to change direction rapidly. Fledgling falcons, in their first year of flying, have longer flight feathers, which makes their configuration more like that of a general-purpose bird such as a broad wing. This makes it easier to fly while learning the exceptional skills required to be effective hunters as adults. Peregrine Falcons have been recorded diving at speeds of 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), making them the fastest-moving creatures on Earth. Other falcons include the Gyrfalcon, Lanner Falcon, and the Merlin. Some small falcons with long narrow wings are called hobbies, and some which hover while hunting are called kestrels. The falcons are part of the family Falconidae, which also i n c l u d e s
Guyana is doing everything to prove that life is cheap. For one, road users are bent on treating all public roads as private property. They ignore other vehicles and that is why a deadly accident will occur just as the Christmas rush begins. A motorist would only think about how much money he will make during the day. This would blind him to the extent that he will try an impossible overtake. ** The hinterland is
the caracaras, Laughing Falcon, forest falcons, and falconets. The traditional term for a male falcon is tercel (British spelling) or tierce (American spelling), f r o m Latin tertius = third because of the belief that only one in three eggs hatched a male bird. As is the case with many birds of prey, falcons have exceptional powers of vision; the visual acuity of one species has been measured at 2.6 times that of a normal human. In February 2005, the Canadian ornithologist Louis Lefebvre announced a method of measuring avian intelligence in terms of a bird’s innovation in feeding habits. The falcon and corvids scored highest on this scale. Falcons are roughly divisible into three or four groups. The first contains the kestrels (probably excepting t h e A m e r i c a n Kestrel); usually small and stocky falcons of mainly brown upper side colour and sometimes sexually
dimorphic; three African species that are generally grey in colour stand apart from the typical members of this group. Kestrels feed chiefly appropriate size, such as rodents, reptiles, or insects. The second group contains slightly larger (on average) and more elegant species, the hobbies and relatives. These birds are characterized by considerable amounts of dark slate-grey in their plumage; the malar area is nearly always black. They feed mainly on smaller birds. Third are the Peregrine Falcon and its relatives: variably sized powerful birds that also have a black malar area (except some very light colour morphs), and often a black cap as well. Otherwise, they are somewhat intermediate between the other groups, being chiefly medium grey with some lighter or brownish colours on the upper side. They are, on average, more delicately patterned than the hobbies and, if the hierofalcons are excluded, this
perhaps the most dangerous place to be. The police have already rated it as the murder capital of the country and this is because the lure of the gold is the bait for the moneyed and the illiterate.
Two miners are going to be killed during a robbery and another would suffer a horrible fate for indiscretions. ** There will be an electrocution in the city. The commercialism of the Christmas season dictates that the simplest of homes get certain things. One of them is something that warrants electricity. An illegal connection is going to be the source of woe.
group typically contains species with horizontal barring on the underside. As opposed to the other groups, where tail colour varies much in general but little according to evolutionary relatedness, the tails of the large falcons are quite uniformly dark grey with rather inconspicuous black banding and small white tips, though this is probably plesiomorphic. These large Falco feed on mid-sized birds and terrestrial vertebrates. Very similar to these, and sometimes included therein, are the four or so species of hierofalcons (literally, “hawk-falcons”). They represent taxa with, usually, morephaeomelanins, which impart reddish or brown
colours, and generally more strongly patterned plumage reminiscent of hawks. Notably, their undersides have a lengthwise pattern of blotches, lines or arrowhead marks. While these three or four groups, loosely circumscribed, are an informal arrangement, they probably contain several distinct clades in their entirety. A study of some kestrels identified a clade containing the Common Kestrel and related “malarstriped” species, to the exclusion of such taxa as the Greater Kestrel (which lacks a malar stripe), the Lesser Kestrel (which is very similar to the Common but also has no malar stripe),
and the American Kestrel. The latter species has a malar stripe, but its colour pattern–apart from the brownish back–and notably also the black feathers behind the ear, which never occur in the true kestrels, are more reminiscent of some hobbies. The malar-striped kestrels apparently split from their relatives in the Gelasian, roughly 2.5-2 mya, and are apparently of tropical East African origin. The entire “true kestrel” group— excluding the American species—is probably a distinct and quite young clade, as also suggested by their numerous apomorphies. (Souce: Wikipedia – The Free Online Encyclopedia)
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Kidnap victim of gunman in training? By Michael Jordan It was on December 17, 2002, that 19-year-old carpenter Heeraman Sahadeo, popularly known as Sadesh, asked his mother, Radha, for money to make a phone call to his reputed wife. He left home, returned shortly after, and this time he made what his mother considered to be a disturbing request. He informed his mother that he needed money to go into Buxton to collect his wages. “You know that place is dangerous,” Radha Sahadeo told her son, the third of four children. At the time, Buxton was teeming with gunmen who were on a spree of robbery, murder and kidnapping. Some of the abducted had turned up dead, even after ransom demands were made. Even seasoned police ranks avoided the village. But on her son’s insistence, Mrs. Sahadeo eventually gave him $60 for the journey to and from Buxton. At around 15:45 hrs Radha Sahadeo, a Special
Heeraman Sahadeo: Is he still alive? Constable, was preparing for work when the telephone rang. When she picked it up, a man with a gruff voice informed her that “we got
your son in custody.” Mrs. Sahadeo asked the caller to identify the police station where her son was being detained. The caller
replied that Heeraman was not at any police station. “You want to know wheh he deh?” With that, the caller put Heeraman Sahadeo on the line. Mrs. Sahadeo had time to hear her sobbing son say “Mommy?” before the phone was taken from him and the caller came back on the line. The man then informed Sahadeo that her son had been kidnapped. She was told that she would have to hand over $5M if she wanted him released. Radha Sahadeo assumed that the call was a hoax. She had no wealth to speak of. In fact, she was a single parent who had struggled for years to raise her children. Sahadeo responded by “cussing out” the caller before the phone went dead. But just before 20:00 hrs, the same caller again contacted Mrs. Sahadeo. This time the caller warned the Special Constable that the kidnappers would kill her son if she failed to deliver the ransom. The caller said that he knew that Sahadeo wore a “fat chain,” and described her house and its location. After the call ended, Sahadeo hurried to the Beterverwagting Police Station to report the kidnapping, though she still believed that she was the victim of a cruel hoax. While she was out, the ‘kidnapper’ called again and this time a brother of the missing carpenter answered.
Again, the ‘kidnapper’ warned that the carpenter would be killed if the family failed to deliver the ransom. He also threatened that they would burn the family’s home and kill the occupants. “When y’all kill he, call and tell we so we could bury he, but when y’all ready to come and kill, is two bad men gun reach up,” the relative retorted. That was the last call they received. By now, a frantic Radha Sahadeo had informed ranks at the Vigilance and the Cove and John police stations about the ‘kidnapping’. The carpenter who had employed her son was detained but released shortly after. He confirmed that the teen had worked with him and even showed investigators his tools. According to Mrs. Sahadeo, this man worked with another carpenter who lived in Buxton and it was to him that Sahadeo had gone to collect his wages. But she claims that despite promising to scour Buxton for her missing son, her terrified colleagues never set foot into the community. “I work with the police and yet they did not offer any sympathy or search for my son.” Frustrated at their reluctance, Mrs. Sahadeo sought assistance from the then army Chief of Staff Michael Atherley and then Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Gajraj. She received some financial assistance
from the Home Affairs Ministry but there was no word about her son’s whereabouts. Then in 2003, a strange event occurred. According to Mrs. Sahadeo, a niece of hers was passing near Buxton when she saw the missing carpenter, Heeraman Sahadeo, sitting on a bridge with two other men. The men reportedly pulled a toque over Sahadeo’s face as the niece was passing. Since then, Mrs. Sahadeo said she received several reports from other relatives who claimed to have seen Sahadeo in Buxton. She suggested that gunmen in the community were holding her son against his will while training him in the use of firearms. But if this theory is correct, why hasn’t the lad tried to escape now that the crime spree has ended? “I believe that he’s still alive. I hope that some day he will return,” she told me seven years ago. If he’s still alive, Heerman Sahadeo would be 30 years old/ If you have any information about this case or any other, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street location. You can also contact us by telephone on numbers 2258465, 22-58491, and 2258458, or contact Michael Jordan on his email address mjdragon@hotmail.com .
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 23
== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
My article for this issue of the paper was already completed. It was based on a speech President Obama gave to a liberal think tank, the Centre for American Progress, last week. In my humble opinion, it is the greatest speech of any president since the 20th century began. Since Sunday columns have to be in very early Saturday, mine was already completed. Then while watching MSNBC on channel 89, the news was announced that Nelson Mandela had died. My heart dropped. He was ailing for almost six months but even in sickness and at age 95, Mandela was too priceless to the world for you to want to see him go. It as if you are involved in an act of selfishness. You wanted him to stay alive because once he is around you know the world will produce good people who will want to emulate this phenomenally great genius of a human being. I don’t believe there is a commentator in the media, whether television or print, in any country in the world who will not devote an article to Mandela now that he is gone. I am not talking about arts and entertainment or sports. I am referring to social commentators and analysts. Maybe if someone could do a survey, I am sure there will be no exception around the world in all the countries in the world. But what can one say
about ‘Madiba’ that has not been written and spoken of the past three days? How can one strive for originality in assessing a man who probably has been exhaustively evaluated the past three days in the print and electronic media by journalists, politicians, world leaders, academics, human rights activists, statesmen and stateswomen, religious figures and many other categories of people? I like the way American icon Rev. Al Sharpton put it. He said when you are in the company of Mandela, you see the gravity, gravitas and greatness of the man. There is general consensus around the world that he was a unique human being that subsequent civilizations may never see again. It will take a really inventive mind to explain who he was and describe the essence of his character. How could anyone be like Mandela? Not an ounce of bitterness towards people who hated him and took away his freedom for twenty-seven
years. More than any other figure in history, he wanted nothing to do with political power and after having the presidency of his country forced upon him by the world, he gave it up after his term was over. I know of no other figure in history that has shown this kind of greatness. I believe Mikhail Gorbachev was not interested in presiding over an empire named the Soviet Union if it meant keeping hundreds of millions of people in nonfreedom. But Gorbachev never turned back power the way Mandela did. I don’t know about other humans, but there is something inexplicable that runs through your body when you read about Mandela. Al Sharpton and former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said you can sense the uniqueness of the man when you are in his company. In 2010, my wife’s Christmas gift to me was Mandela’ s “Conversations with Myself.” It is a book I will never ever forget and trust me
I have read countless autobiographical accounts. The one that really moved me was the mémoire of Anna Larina titled, “This I Cannot Forget.” Larina was the wife of Nikolai Bukharin, one of the founders of the 1918 Russian Revolution. Bukharin was too critical of dictator, Joseph Stalin, so Stalin framed him for treason, had him imprisoned then executed. “This I Cannot Forget,” documents the cruelty Stalin dished out to Bukharin and his wife. It is a book that literally will move you. Then in 2010, my wife gave me, “Conversations with
Myself,” by Nelson Mandela. If reading about Mandela sends an inexplicable bolt of sensation inside of you, then think of what would have happened to you if you had sat down and chatted with ‘Madiba’. This is the most superb autobiographical note I have ever read. And that is easy to understand because it features the writings of a superb human being. I cannot recommend how other countries should honour him, but I can do that for Guyana. I believe there should be a statue of Mandela in Guyana. There is one in London. This was too priceless a
Frederick Kissoon human being for future Guyanese generations not to know who he was. If President Ramotar will never do any great thing to leave a legacy, I recommend that he immediately fund this statute that should be located in the heart of the city. Goodbye Madiba, I learnt a lot from you.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 08, 2013
Book An Author’s refreshing look at Jamaican life in Britain Review: Book: Pardner money stories by Deanne Heron Critic: Dr Glenville Ashby Deanne Heron has produced a blaring narrative a compilation of short stories, replete with witty jabs, atmospheric levity and colour. Pardner Money Stories captures a q u i n t e s s e n t i a l Caribbean family - freespirited, blasé and poignantly opinionated. It portrays life in Britain, clothed and fashioned in West Indian trimmings. Heron tells an interesting tale - vivacious and vivid brewed with Jamaican colloquialism - that distinctive brand of Patois. Each rendition is marked, convincing, and meaningful hardly smothered by its wry and jocular appeal. In De Ting, Heron’s reflection of life in Jamaica through the prism of a six-year-old proves a literary gem. Its nostalgic appeal is almost hypnotic, and highlights the innocence and quaint splendour of the islands. It showcases a time when folklore held sway, and nature delivered our every need. It’s a rare glimpse of Jamaica, if not
life, stripped of its complexities, moral bankruptcy, and unfettered greed. It yearns for recall, if only we knew how. ‘DE TING’ OR ‘DE SOMET’ING’ Throughout, Jamaican argot - rich, irresistible and ever evolving, flows with reckless abandon. Discussing the code name for money, Heron recalls: “When I was growing up in Jamaica, people rarely referred to money. It was always ‘de ting’ or ‘de somet’ing’.” She reflects on her grandmother’s counsel before sending her on an errand, “When yu pass Breda Joseph, call to him and ask him to give yu de t’ing. Nuh go inna di yard, far him ha’ two fool fool daag de wi’ bite yu. Then pass by Sister Gwen and ask har fi give yu fi har t’ing to.” But life in the adopted country is where the intriguing plot unfolds. When Ferdie Dragon Stopped Walking the Trail, Heron uses satire to italicise the importance of preventative care - a shortcoming that continues to bedevil black families. Loss of virility could well be a diabetic symptom
- deadly serious - and not fodder for amusement. Clearly, this is the overriding message amidst all its humour. Family squabbles and verbal sparring are ubiquitous, but the close-knit unit is never torn asunder. And there is always that healthy dose of political commentary.An avowed pride in the political accomplishments of women is evident so much so, that cousin Babsie refuses to holiday in Jamaica upon learning that the country’s first female prime minister is no longer at the helm. While this may appear trite, it highlights the sometimes paradoxical but inextricable sociopolitical bond that the diaspora shares with the islands. There is that yearning for female empowerment on the national stage, long described and respected as the “centre pole” of the family. This matrilineal strain permeates Heron’s work. It is refreshing and instructive, especially for readers unfamiliar with the Caribbean society. Pardner Money Stories rivets with topical issues such as ageing, mortality, religion. And snapshots of the first Jamaicans in Britain are delivered with pawky humour. A salvaged
backyard barbecue with culinary delights and island sounds becomes the stage for a discourse on ethnicity, race, and nationality. “If you are born here, you are Black British, if you weren’t born here, then you are Jamaican. Yu caan be both,” one family member argues. The exchange heats up: “Why nobody nuh seem to notice how Britain andAmerica a use up poor black people, especially Jamaicans, fi win medal fi dem.” And in the same breath, we are treated with: “Dem wan’ give dem white athlete deh some callaloo an’ fresh fish. Yu t’ink Usain Bolt could an’run like dat if him maddah did bring him up on pot noodle and fish an’ chips?” Even the usually doleful funerary climate is replaced by celebratory family quibbles and reflections. And no work of this kind is complete without tackling racism (perceived or real), and police-minority relations. From Aunty Dar’s Funeral to Valentine, Pardner Money Stories triumphs on multiple levels. Its characters burst on the scene with daring and effervescence. They are unique, endearing, and memorable - a kaleidoscope of complimentary personalities and
idiosyncrasies. Sure, they are very British, but at the same time, overwhelmingly Jamaican. Heron has undoubtedly scored with this deftly written work of art.
Rating: Recommended Publisher: Hansib Publications, 2011 Follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby or email: glenvilleashby@gmail.com.
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 25
My column
The death of Nelson Mandela took everyone by surprise. Of course there had been false alarms. Mandela had been sick for some time and as was the case of Yasser Arafat, a death watch began. Mandela survived, though, but we all knew that it was only a matter of time. We did not wish him to die because he represented something that the world had never seen. This was the man who as a prisoner had gripped the attention of the world and when he was released from prison that Sunday in February 1990, the whole world watched. Many of us shed a tear. I am an ordinary human being and if someone were to rob me of my freedom for no reason except my beliefs then I would be hard put to forgive that person. Mandela did that and much more. He made the world realize that he was not about power. Indeed, he became President Mandela, but only for a term. I am not going to talk about Mandela, because so many others have said it so much better than me. Instead, I am going to examine the difference between people and why there are leaders who are revered and those who are despised. I have travelled a bit and I have met some world leaders. I remember when Yakubu Gowan came to Guyana in 1971. He was a flamboyant person by any standard and I was certain that he was a good leader. But soon after, he
was ousted in a coup while he was in London. Then there was Indira Gandhi. I found her to be great woman and leader. Most in India loved her, yet a group assassinated her. She was killed by her bodyguards, people who were passed to protect her life. She too had come to Guyana. There was King Moshoeshoe II, another visitor to Guyana who was later overthrown, and so many others loved by their people. I remember when Fidel Castro came. I had never seen so many security personnel in one place. He focused on Guyana’s sugar, something that is still to heed Castro’s advice and suffering to this day. It was not until I visited Cuba for the first time in 1980 that I realized how loved was Fidel. All over the country people talked about Fidel as though he was their father. Guyana had its Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan, both of them charismatic leaders who, with the passage of time, lost the sheen they had on this country. They are both dead and except for the sporadic events to mark their passing, nothing much is said about them. What made Mandela
stand out above these people was the seriousness with which he viewed reconciliation. This was a man who said that history was often determined through the eyes of the person viewing it. I have seen the recent history of Guyana and some of the people writing about things that I witnessed could only be a figment of the imagination. For example, people were critical of Burnham, but at no time could I recall this dictator giving orders to the courts. In fact, one decision by the court saw a cane cutter, Teemal, winning his case against a Burnham ruling. When this happened even Burnham’s critics lauded one of Burnham’s supporters, Keith Massiah. Such was the story of Guyana’s history. We have modern leaders these days, but no one seems to see them as leaders. In recent times I have got close to all of them, from Burnham to Ramotar. I have seen their human sides and I have seen them in their moment of weakness. I got the closest to Desmond Hoyte and we shared many intimate thoughts. But those who did not know Hoyte would conclude that he was
arrogant, a word that I doubt that Hoyte had in his vocabulary. In recent times, I have been called a lot of uncomplimentary names for giving credit to Bharrat Jagdeo for some of the things that he has done. This was a young man who had vision and had it not been for the proven allegations under his watch, he would have gone down as one of the best leaders Guyana could have had. He was liked by many world leaders, if only because he had a knack for appealing to their weaknesses and their vanities. He was also able to
wrangle deals intended to benefit Guyana, but he failed because he wanted everything to happen in a hurry. Burnham was like that; he had no patience with the slow thought process of the ordinary man. Unlike Burnham, Jagdeo dropped money with every project and today many people are financially sound because of Jagdeo. Even if they did not steal, they were allowed to overcharge and undertake poorly executed work which allowed them to pocket more money. It is to his discredit that many of his supporters did not get to share the wealth. And this is what helped to
Adam Harris make him so detested by a large section of the populace. Ramotar would never be seen in the same light as Mandela because he, to many, is not rocking the Jagdeo boat and is allowing so many things that people detested, to continue.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 08, 2013
Public servants’ woes at Christmas By Sheba Thomas RN Dedicated Public Servant In reference to the announcement of a five percent pay hike for public servants made by the Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon on November 20, 2013, and recent support of such an ‘extravagant increase’ coming from President Donald Ramotar, compelled me to give a response in my ‘gratefulness’ as a public servant for such an increase. As a nurse, I feel there is no greater honour than to serve my country. In this great country of ours, this honour is devalued and trampled
upon by the very persons we serve, and disrespected by the governments we elect to govern our affairs. As a public servant, I find it extremely offensive for the Government of Guyana to impose a mere five percent pay increase on public servants yearly and to justify this through childish games of pointing fingers. It is even more ridiculously insulting of them to say I am looking forward to my five percent increase, since us lowly public servants don’t have supersized salaries as those who actually can look forward to it. Five percent increase on a
basic Registered Nurse’s salary of $62,000 is nothing after tax, and when compared to the cost of living in Guyana, especially in this Christmas season. I would ask our dear government to put themselves in the shoes of nurses and see if they could live on such a salary. Put yourselves in the shoes of all lowly public and see if five percent is really enough. Is this what nurses and other lower-tier public servants deserve for serving our nation? And as if insulting us was not enough, they added disrespect by justifying the
reasons of the ‘extravagant’ increase as being due to budget cuts. For our President to support such a heinous action by his government is an insult to our intelligence, since it is clear and known by all that the opposition did not cut budgets for the Public Service Ministry which included wages and salaries, and also provided for a 15 percent increase for all public servants. It is my belief that this information was deliberately bypassed or escaped our government, hence the ludicrous rational and flimsy excuses as they make a simple
topic a political issue. To also blame the increase on other projects that have been cut is childish since they are not interrelated. This debacle brings me to the famous saying and comparison of the PPP/C. “We have taken Guyana forward… Guyana’s economy is now financially stable in comparison to our Caribbean countries”. If this is truly so, why then is there a mere five percent increase yearly for public servants, why is it public servants’ salaries cannot match those of the Caribbean countries? Must we first beg and grovel at the feet of Government for what is rightfully ours, before it can be given? Is this method of imposing ridiculous increases meant to keep us in some form of modern day slavery where we are grateful for whatever the Government doles out to us? The Government was elected to govern our affairs not to take advantage of us. I will continue to hope and pray that compassion reaches the heart of this government
Sheba Thomas that claims to care for every citizen of this great country of ours. I will also look forward to years when salary increases for public servants will surpass five percent and when public servants, especially those at the lower levels can earn enough to live a moderate life. With this I remind all Guyanese, the measure we serve to others is the measured served to us throughout life.
Sunday December 08, 2013
SUNDAY SPECIAL WORKERS SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH THEIR 5% INCREASE …PROTESTS WILL NOT PROMPT ANY REVIEW – MINISTER WESTFORD “What protests? I am not aware of any protests,” was the reaction of the Public Service Minister, Jennifer Westford, when asked if Government was prepared to review the five per cent increase for employees in the public sector in face of the widespread protests and outright rejection of the offer. The Minister said that she was unaware of any protests and if in fact there are any, then it is a right of citizens. According to the Minister, she is unaware of any plans to review the proposed five per cent increase. She added that this is not how a government operates. Government, she said, is not going to review the five per cent proposal because of any protests, and added that the workers should, in fact, be happy with the increase. She said that workers need to understand that Government is proposing what it can afford. Minister Westford said that the workers should be happy because Guyana is one of the few countries in the world that has been offering any salary increases to its public servants. She said that Government has been consistently giving its public servants increases on an annual basis. The Minister posited that if one were to take a look at several countries in the Caribbean and further afield, workers are in fact being laid off and some have had to take pay cuts in order to keep their jobs. MONDAY EDITION THE FINANCE MINISTER WILLANSWER TO US FOR THE MONEY HE SPENT – GRANGER The joint parliamentary opposition—A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC)—is currently in the process of reviewing a united approach in dealing with three financial papers that were laid in Parliament. The documents were laid at the first official sitting of the National Assembly since parliament came out of recess—two sittings ago. The three papers were then placed on the Order Paper for the House’s attention at the last sitting, but the absence of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh caused a delay in scrutiny during that sitting. Two of the three papers were seen by Kaieteur News.
Kaieteur News
One of the financial papers serves to inform the National Assembly that government went ahead and used $3,384,528,708 that was not approved at that level. The other is calling for an additional $1,261,596,480 as supplementary funding. APNU leader David Granger told Kaieteur News that his party will not allow the Finance Minister to get off scot- free with what he has done. This he referred to as the unapproved spending. He said that APNU and the AFC have met to discuss the way forward in dealing with the matter. He told this publication that no official course of action has been fully decided upon, but APNU and the AFC are not inclined to support the request for money simply because the Minister has already breached the law of appropriation. The Opposition Leader said that his party plans on ensuring that the Minister is sanctioned.
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The recent protest at Office of the President
RAMROOP SUMMONS MEETING WITH GCC TO IDENTIFY LEAK …BACKS OUT OF BID TO TAKEOVER GCC, GFC GROUNDS Bharrat Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby Ramroop, has withdrawn his proposal to take over the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) grounds. He has blamed Kaieteur News for exposing the leaked confidential proposal. “In the world of business, into which cricket had ventured in the present millennium, the issue of confidentiality is crucial and it is evident that this requirement will pose a problem for any joint venture between the Limacol brand and the GCC and GFC,” said Dr Ramroop in a statement. The saga of the leaked document from New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation took an interesting twist Sunday when head of the New GPC, Dr. Ramroop, asked for a meeting with the executive of GCC. At the meeting with the GCC executives summoned by Ramroop, a main condition was that every executive member walks with their copy of the letter issued that outlined the proposal. The intention was to see who still has his proposal and so ascertain who leaked the document to the media. In a statement following the disclosure, Ramroop said that he was invited by the GCC executive to take over the Bourda facility that included GFC. His comment
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby Ramroop
NICIL Boss, Winston Brassington
about being invited was similar to the explanation given by head of NICIL, Winston Brassington, when he was questioned about Ramroop being awarded the Sanata Textiles Limited.
misplaced his phone and confronted the accused who subsequently became annoyed at the allegations of the hotel owner. He said that Jagdeo was last seen in his dwelling room and his employees who had not seen him since about 17:30 hours the previous day, became concerned about his whereabouts. On November 14, the guest house’s caretaker reportedly went to clean the proprietor’s room but found it locked, so she forced her way in and was greeted with the motionless body of her employer; bound with a pillowcase and lying under his bed.
consultants were scheduled to fly in last week for the Enmore estate, union officials disclosed Monday. It is unclear what would happen to the current estate managers as GuySuCo’s senior officials remained unavailable for comment. Last year, production plummeted to a 20-year low. It seems more than likely that the downward spiral would continue this year, eclipsing the 218,000 tonnes of 2012. Government, with little answers to the underperformance of its US$200M flagship project at Skeldon, East Berbice, has been examining a number of measures, including hiring a number of consultants from Tate and Lyle, its largest European customer. However, despite placing one of them, Richard Orr, at the Skeldon estate some nine months ago, there has been no reversal of fortunes. Five others are reportedly here.
TUESDAY EDITION “BIG FOOT” ON REMAND FOR MURDER OF GUEST HOUSE OWNER Nineteen-year-old Brian Leitch, also known as “Big Foot,” was placed before the courts charged with the murder of South Central’s proprietor who was found dead in one of his guest rooms almost three weeks ago. The teenager who turned himself in after police had issued wanted bulletins, appeared Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was not required to plea to the indictable charge when Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry read it to him. The police accused Leitch of murdering the guest house owner, Joseph Jagdeo, between November 13 and 14 at the Hotel on South Road. The prosecution’s submission was delivered by Corporal Bharat Mangru who conveyed that on November 13, Leitch and a female companion had rented a room in the guest house. Mangru stated that Jagdeo had
GUYSUCO BRINGING INDIAN EXPERTS TO RESCUE INDUSTRY - PRODUCTION UNLIKELYTO REACH 200,000 TONNES With poor weather further compounding its woes, the state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is unlikely to meet an adjusted target of 203,000 tonnes of sugar. This bad news comes even as officials confirm that a number of consultants out of India have been hired to run the eight estates operating in Demerara and Berbice. At least two of these
WEDNESDAY EDITION RAMROOP OPERATING THREE RADIO STATIONS WITH ONE LICENCE -AUTHORITIES PROMISE INVESTIGATIONS The country’s regulators are moving to investigate reports that a radio company misused its licence by illegally
Leader of APNU David Granger operating three different broadcast stations on frequencies that should have been used as repeater stations for an extended broadcast. Chairperson of the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA), Bibi Shadick, also said Tuesday that the broadcast authority is hiring a number of lawyers to go after television and other broadcasters who are operating without licences. During a press conference at her South Road office, Tuesday, to update on the work of GNBA, Shadick made it clear that it would be a breach of law for any company issued with multiple frequencies to use them to transmit different content instead of being utilized specifically as relays to reach outlying areas. The company, Radio Guyana Inc. (RGI) is reportedly broadcasting on 89.3FM (Essequibo), 89.5FM (Georgetown) and 89.7FM (Berbice). Under the conditions of the licence granted, the radio station would use one frequency to broadcast with the rest to increase its signals. Observers have complained that RGI, owned by Queens Atlantic Investments Inc. (QAII), a company with close links to former President (Continued on page 37)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 08, 2013
Citizens deserve better social protection from the NIS Guyana’s National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is in jeopardy. For the first time in more than four decades of its existence, the scheme recorded a deficit of $371 million in 2011. The 8th Actuarial Reviewin December 2011 deemed the NIS to be nearing “crisis stage” and predicted that, unless reforms are implemented immediately, it will be exhausted in less than 10 years. The NIS faces several serious problems. The biggest is the failure of People’s Progressive Party Civic policy-makers who have dominated the NIS board for the past two decades to respond to changing socioeconomic conditions and deteriorating finances. They have recklessly endangered the scheme’s long-term financial sustainability.
Another problem is that NIS’s investments seemed to have been driven by political interests rather than prudential considerations especially during the last decade. They ended up compromising the quality of the investment portfolio. The scheme plunged impetuously into the illadvised investments of US$30M in the bankrupted CLICO and the US$10M funding of the Berbice River Bridge; the acquisition of the Guyana Embassy building in Paramaribo, Suriname and the Guyana Revenue Authority building in Georgetown and the granting of ‘loans’ to chosen commercial companies. Another investment mirage on the horizon, even as the scheme is failing, is the proposed multiplex cinema on the East
Coast. The danger is that, left in the hands of the PPP, caution will be thrown out the window. The Scheme’s funds will continue to be diverted away from its real goals into costly misadventures. Dr. Roger Luncheon, Chairman of the NIS Board and PPP Central Committee member who presides over the slide, could not mask the mismanagement that is enfeebling the Scheme. He confessed, on the 44th Anniversary of the National Insurance Scheme in September, “Essentially, the Scheme’s expenditure growth is outstripping revenue growth. Contribution income, the main ingredient of revenue, was G$11.32 billion in 2012, while benefits expenditure, the main ingredient of expenditure, was
G$11.33 billion.” Ms. Doreen Nelson, NIS general manager, admitted that in the wake of the deficit at the end of 2011, the trend of losses continued into 2012 with a deficit of about $474 million. It seems that there will be further losses in 2013. Nelson announced: “Contributions collected over the period January to August 2013 were approximately $7.754 billion while total expenditure over the same period was approximately $9.120 billion. The projections to the end of 2013 show that income from contributions would be approximately $11.631 billion, while the projected expenditure would be approximately $13.684 billion.” The story of the NIS is one of a dream turning into dread. It began operations in September 1969 under the People’s National Congress administration. Prime Minister Forbes Burnham had a clear vision of a welfare state which stood on three pillars – free education from the nursery to
the university, affordable housing and social protection through the creation of a national insurance scheme which would afford coverage “from the cradle to the grave.” The PNC administration, in 1969, formulated the Scheme’s mission. This was, initially, to establish a system of social security through which citizens could secure sufficient income to take the place of earnings when they are interrupted by sickness or accident. The Scheme, more generally, was designed to provide for retirement through age, sudden death of a breadwinner, and to meet exceptional expenses as those concerned with birth and death. It also had to ensure that the funds to be used for future payments would be invested in such a manner that the economy of the country would benefit. The PPPC administration today has all but shattered that dream. It must now rethink its social security
strategy, if it has one. It must try to understand the Scheme’s social roles, develop a clear sense of purpose and comprehend the consequences of its wild investment policies. The present parlous state of the NIS has had an impact on the way both employees and employers perceive social security. Few employers would have faith in contributing to a scheme if they thought that, once politicians got their hands on the funds, they would embark on reckless investments. Many employees, particularly in the sugar industry, now understand the importance of this visionary scheme on their daily lives; many have had to take to the picket lines to protect their entitlements or to protest whenever there are delays in the payment of benefits. The NIS, at present, is in a sad state. It does not now provide an adequate level of coverage to Guyana’s working and elderly population. It could return to robust health, however, if it were to become a truly autonomous institution. This would free it and its management from the heavy hand of political direction and the reckless pursuit of wild investments. The trustees of the national insurance funds must be accountable directly to the National Assembly and not to the PPPC administration. The scheme’s investment portfolio must be managed professionally and prudently in order to ensure its sustainability. Guyanese workers demand and deserve no less.
Sunday December 08, 2013
From page 27 Bharrat Jagdeo, has instead been really operating three different stations. Shadick Tuesday said she is unaware of the possible breaches but will investigate. THURSDAY EDITION LOCAL MEDIA BLAMED FOR GUYANABEING RATED SECOND MOST CORRUPT IN REGION – LUNCHEON Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, believes that the local media is a contributor to Transparency International (TI) being rather uncharitable to Government by perceiving Guyana as the second most corrupt country in the Region. Not surprisingly defending Government’s stance on corruption, Dr. Luncheon said, “Government has been making overtime leaning backwards in addressing this issue of transparency and accountability.” He emphasized, “I think they have fallen prey to some of the wickedness you members of the media perpetrate in making these unqualified and unsubstantiated conjectures about Government on corruption and lack of accountability.” But, according to Frederick Collins, Vice President, Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI) whilst presenting TI’s 2013 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for Guyana, Guyana remains at the bottom of the list, ahead of only Haiti as the most corrupt in the region. He said that the finding on Guyana is based on surveys carried out by four reputable international institutions – the International Country Guide, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and the Global Insight Country. He announced that Guyana has been ranked 136 out of 177 countries, joining Bangladesh, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Kenya with a score of 27. Guyana was ranked 133 last year. In terms of the Americas, Guyana has been ranked 28 out of 32, while for the Caribbean, only Haiti scored lower, with 19. FRIDAY EDITION MONEY SPENT ON OVERPRICED DRUGS COULD PAY 20% INCREASE TO NURSES, TEACHERS – AFC TELLS RAMOTAR The Alliance For Change (AFC) has identified that Guyana has suffered many financial disasters in the absence of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) – one being the excessive spending on overpriced drugs. Nevertheless, the party is
Kaieteur News
Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon saying that it is not too late to curb the rampant corruption in the awarding of contracts. However, the government is seemingly not willing to give up the stronghold it has on the procurement process. The AFC has long held the position that it is extremely keen on securing a level playing field for local contractors, and that one of the main measures in doing so is to ensure that Guyana gets a PPC. As the party continuously seeks the reality of a functioning PPC, AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan initiated consultations with President Donald Ramotar. On November 29, last, Ramjattan wrote Ramotar saying that Guyana is in urgent need of both the Anti Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) Bill and an operational PPC. Ramjattan stated in the letter that a PPC will have vast effects on the financial architecture of Guyana. NELSON MANDELA BIDS GOODBYE JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Former South African President Nelson Mandela died peacefully at his Johannesburg home Thursday after a prolonged lung infection, President Jacob Zuma said. Mandela, the country’s first black president and anti-apartheid icon, emerged from 27 years in apartheid prisons to help guide South Africa through bloodshed and turmoil to democracy. “Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rohlihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed,” Zuma said in a nationally televised address. “Our people have lost a father. Although we knew this day was going to come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss. His tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world.
His humility, passion and humanity, earned him their love,” he added. Mandela would receive a full state funeral, Zuma said, ordering flags to be flown at half mast. Mandela rose from rural obscurity to challenge the might of white minority apartheid government – a struggle that gave the 20th century one of its most respected and loved figures. He was among the first to advocate armed resistance to apartheid in 1960, but was quick to preach reconciliation and forgiveness when the country’s white minority began easing its grip on power 30 years later. SATURDAY EDITION RAMROOP CAUGHT IN ANOTHER LIE …TURNS TO CULTURE MINISTER FOR HELP The New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) has denied spying on Kaieteur News. This accusation for spying was made in the December 5, edition of Kaieteur News. In a statement issued the same day, Chairman of the New GPC, Dr Ranjisinghi’ Bobby’ Ramroop, said that the headline and story are misleading, “and are aimed at continuing the witch-hunt and campaign of hatred against the business sector and, more particularly, the Executive Chairman of Queens Atlantic Investment Inc (QAII).” For three days this week, staff from Ramroop’s New GPC, were going through piles of Kaieteur News some dating back to 2008. They photocopied hundreds of pages of material contained in the Kaieteur News. In his statement, Ramroop suggested that his staff were doing research on Publisher Glenn Lall. “NEW GPC also believes that the Kaieteur News is on a mission to intimidate anyone who is perceived to be conducting investigative research on the newspaper’s owner and publisher Mohan Glenn Lall,” Ramroop said. He accused the staff of the Walter Rodney Archives of taking pictures of his employees spying on Kaieteur News. He also called on Minister Dr. Frank Anthony to investigate the staff of the Archives. Mr Lall in response said, if he was the subject of the investigation why would Ramroop’s people pull up copies of ‘Dem boys seh, Freddie Kissoon’s columns and letters, etc. He said that a lot has been said about him and more will be said but that is the least of his worries. He wanted Ramroop to tell him, since when sales and accounts clerks, would do
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research for a company. Mr. Lall said that Ramroop never responded to the allegation of spying. This is in keeping with his attitude of never responding to the issues raised in the pages of Kaieteur News. “Every time he is confronted with an issue he screams foul and then resorts to character assassination…The country saw the manner in which Kaieteur News exposed the schemes involving himself and Bharrat Jagdeo and this country’s assets.” According to Mr. Lall, just a few days ago, he was caught trying to grab the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground and the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground worth millions of US dollars. When the secret plan was exposed,
Ramroop responded through a statement in which he said that the GCC executive approached him with the proposal. According to Mr. Lall, “he then had the gall to summon the GCC executives to see which of them would have leaked the document.” Yesterday, the GCC executive in a statement said, they “never approached the New GPC to engage in any business proposal. “The executive of the Georgetown Cricket Club never met with the Directors of New GPC/CPL OP CO to discuss any proposal. “It was never the intention of the executives of the Georgetown Cricket Club to make any decision with the New GPC/CPL OP CO without consultation and mandate of
membership.” Ramroop has been involved in numerous other secret deals, including the deal to acquire state assets, including the Sanata complex. More recently, he was a major beneficiary of this country’s spectrum that included radio, cable and telecommunication. In almost all these cases he used front men and he remained silent in the face of the revelations. Lall said too that “it was disgusting, the way he called on the Culture Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, to investigate the staff of the Archives to find out how Kaieteur News got the photographs.” Lall said that this is the height of eye pass to this nation but “as I believe, it is only time.”
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 08, 2013
An enthusiastic role model…
Randolph Latcha is a ‘Special Person’ By Leon Suseran Many of our ‘Special Persons’ featured here week after week would have experienced tough times. While these persons have the option of sharing those struggles with us for the inspiration of readers (and many opt not to), most of them are brave enough to talk about such experiences. And they must be commended for this. Randolph Latcha sacrificed everything for his love for cricket. He lived and breathed it from the age of five and now at the relatively young age of forty-five, he still does. But his struggles go way deeper than this. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND CRICKETING INVOLVEMENT At just five months old, Randolph’s mother and father could not continue caring for him. Luckily, adoptive parents, Baby and Tommy Senwasane took him into their Williamsburg, Corentyne home and have nurtured him into the community-minded, cricket enthusiast he has grown into today. The stack of trophies and medals in his living room is testimony of his stalwart accomplishments. Latcha was not hesitant to speak about humble beginnings, nor did he hide the fact that he dropped out of Lower Corentyne Secondary School to pursue his dream in cricket. He skipped school frequently to watch the games being played at the Albion Cricket Ground. And it was one day at the tender age of 13 during which he absconded from school and where he impressed senior cricket officials at Albion
during trying-out sessions. He later heard his name on the radio being announced as having made the Guyana Under-19 team. He recalled being spotted while playing a game at Hampshire on the Corentyne, “they saw me and decided to take me because I had the ability, so I went to the Port Mourant Cricket Club.” Latcha, in his school uniform, had ridden off to the Albion Cricket Ground (Albion Sports Complex today). “With no boots, a short pants and cricket gears, I took my father’s cycle and got away. I was 13-plus years, so I stand up and a guy named
the radio. Latcha made the Under-19 team! In 1986, he played for Port Mourant during a tour to Trinidad. He also played at Bourda, Albion and Hampton Court. He was in the Bristol Cup-winning team for three consecutive years. In 1988 Latcha was selected to tour Barbados with the National under-19, but hours before the team departed he was forced to pull out due to illness and his place was taken by fellow Berbician Devendra Deola. Latcha also played at the Albion Cricket Club for several years; and Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club
“I always reach out to youngsters - I have a few who play for Guyana Under-19 and Berbice Under-15 and -19…like Shawn Pereira - I taught him a lot about captaincy - I give him homework, because I see he has potential in leading a team, but not only that…in skills - batting and bowling.” Leslie Amsterdam was there.” They were having the Berbice Trials session whereby they were selecting the talented players. Then a selector, (Leslie) Amsterdam, a former Guyana player and former West Indies Manager, who was in charge of the trials, noticed the lad and asked him to bowl a spell “and then he gave me a bat.” Latcha bowled a spell of 45 minutes of medium pace. Amsterdam said, “Okay! But do you know to bat?” Latcha nodded. Amsterdam then said, “Pad up!” Of course, the young teen from a poor background had no gears. He then begged someone to borrow their pads, put them on and demonstrated his natural ability in that regard. Later that day, his father heard his name being announced on
from 1992. He represented Berbice at the Under-19 level for 5 years as well as the Senior Team from 1989-1998. He was Berbice senior inter county Captain in 1995. He received numerous awards and medals during his competitive playing years. He alluded to the fact that it was very difficult to get into the national team, “because there were big names around— Clayton Lambert, Sudesh Dhaniram, Roger Harper, Mark Harper, Andrew Jackman, Rabindranauth Seeram and Carl Hooper.” “It was very hard in the Guyana team -for example, cricket now, is very easy - you make 30, 40 runs and you make the Guyana team.” In 1996, he played the national trials and was included in the 24-man squad, to represent Guyana in
Receiving GuySuCo’s Sportsman of the Year Trophy in 1995 from Admin Manager of Blairmont Estate, John Bart
Posing with his medals and trophy collection the Red Stripe Bowl, but unfortunately, he did not make the team. ENCOURAGING YOUNG BERBICIANS Latcha has a strong interest in Berbice cricket. Today, he is a member of the Development Committee in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and he also served as a Junior Selector in Berbice. He encourages youngsters, especially his members in the committee, to get cricket further in the schools. “Come out, play the game and be disciplined,” he stated. He regularly travels back and forth between Albion and Rose Hall Town, “and I see a lot of talent in this Berbice area, but nobody is taking care (of them).” Working with young and promising cricketers is a challenge for him. “A former Test Player, Devendra Bishoo, never saw Alvin Kallicharran, and talking to him a few weeks ago, he said he would be glad to meet Kallicharran personally, so I think Berbice in general, should bring back former Test Players who people want to see.” This, he said, would motivate today’s cricketers and they can learn a thing or two from the experienced veterans. “With me being somebody in the cricket arena my son, Herman Steven Latcha, who I always wanted to play for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies, made it in both Junior and Senior and he plays for Berbice Under15,-17,-19 and Guyana Under15,-19 and he made the Guyana Senior One-Day Team.” His son was also captain for the Guyana Under-16 team in England. He recently returned from Canada on a contract in Highlanders Cricket Club. “He had a very good season over there….I advise him a lot…every day, I would sit and talk to him—take him to the ground and train him and I think it is paying off, big time.” His son has received the
support of the former UGBC Director Professor Daizal Samad as well during his [Steven’s] stay in Canada. “The Professor really came on board quickly. He helped in airfare; traveling to Georgetown called up overseas persons to make sure Steven gets good accommodation, so I admire Professor for doing that…he helped a lot in sports.” Latcha thanked Professor Samad with whom he [Latcha] worked side by side for the
A PROUD MOMENT! Lifting the Bakewell Trophy for the Rose Hall Team (Man-ofthe-Match and highest scorer) in 2001 at Canje Welfare Ground
development of cricket of youngsters in Berbice. REACHING OUT In 2011, they hosted 27 youths at a Cricket Academy at Port Mourant. They trained the youths with the support, too, of corporate entities and Vemen Walter, Mohin Persaud, David Armogan, and D. Samaroo. He is currently planning another such event to be held in the not too distant future. Our ‘Special Person’ is (Continued on page 39)
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Randolph Latcha is a ‘Special... From page 38 willing to work with youths across Berbice who wish to develop their skills in the game. “I always reach out to youngsters—I have a few who play for Guyana Under19 and Berbice Under-15 and -19…like Shawn Pereira—I taught him a lot in captaincy— I give him homework, because I see he has potential in leading a team, but not only that…in skills—batting and bowling.” CRICKETTODAY Latcha believes that cricket in Guyana, today, can be developed more. He criticized the shorter Twenty/ 20 format of the game as, “not giving the youngsters a chance in elevating themselves to Test Players, because it is just three hours... and when you see the Guyana team going down, it is because
of lack of application and batting skills.” He praised the Guyana team as the best in the Caribbean—Bishoo, Chanderpaul, Sarwan—”but they are not applying themselves.” “We have got to start back three-day cricket in Berbice and Guyana, where you have batsmen batting for hours,” he opined. Developing cricket in Guyana, he noted, can take place only if the sport is promoted in the schools themselves. “Every single school should have a qualified coach…and they develop the players.” Apart from his cricketing pursuits today, Latcha also lends his skills and leadership qualities during community volleyball and football matches on the Corentyne, “I assist—if there is any
fundraising activity, and I am called upon, I assist.” His advice to young cricketers in Guyana is “take their education seriously. When you are educated, you go into the sport and you would know how to behave.” “When you are not educated, you will get angry, walk away and curse. Cricket in this world brings a lot of money but you have to build it from schools and focus on the sport…The young players must avoid alcohol and drugs.” “I am here to assist any youngsters and cricketing club that need advice.” Latcha’s hero in cricket is Brian Charles Lara because “of his elegance, discipline and techniques.” Outside of cricket, his role models are Professor Samad and Contractor, Peter Lewis, “a reliable and good man.”
Collecting the Manof-the-Match cheque at the Bakewell 2nd Division Cricket Tournament in 2001
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Sunday December 08, 2013
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 08, 2013
Three teenage girls arrested after leaving Corentyne orphanage ...allegations of ill-treatment surface Allegations of maltreatment of children at a popular Corentyne Orphanage are surfacing at a time when three teenage girls of the home are being held in the lock-ups at the Albion Police Station. The girls, 12, 14 and 15-years- old (names given) were arrested on November 20, 2013 for “wandering” away from the home, placed before the courts and sentenced to be institutionalized at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) in Essequibo where they are expected to be deployed shortly. Magistrate Ravindra Singh made the ruling earlier last week at the court. This has caused outrage from residents and concerned citizens in the Albion area, including one police officer, who spoke with this newspaper. According to reports, the girls are originally from Skeldon and have been at the home for over four years now. Two of them are sisters. They have no parents who are alive nor do they have any close relatives. A resident of Albion slammed the administration of the orphanage. The administrators, the person claims, ill-treats the children on a regular basis and that this may have been the reason for the three girls leaving the home. “The lady does sell out all them children thing. Like she ain’t really fit to run that home anymore, because she get old
and she put responsibility on her daughter-in-law,” claimed the resident. “There was a time when she grandson and son used to live with all the big girls—as soon as they become mature, they lived with these children them! Let them go and investigate!” the person stated. “Three girls were going to commit suicide and they had to call the police—and these children break down! But they don’t talk—and the ill treatment!” A police officer, who spoke to this newspaper, claimed, “She sells out the stuff too. A set of things coming in for her for Christmas and she selling them out—What you think she does when she goes to Canada and America? Her daughter-in-law and son going overseas with orphanage children money!” The 12- year- old is a student of the Corentyne Comprehensive High School, while the 14- year- old attends Port Mourant Secondary. The 15- year- old does not attend school. Kaieteur News spoke to the teacher of the 12- yearold yesterday who is very concerned at the girls’ incarceration at the Albion Police Station. The teacher, like many other concerned persons, is also concerned that the girls are being posted to the NOC, and is angry at the Magistrate not having Social Services becoming involved first in the matter. The teacher is also
concerned and wanted to know what the police considered wandering, since she claimed that the girls were just outside the gates of the home on November 20. “I spoke to the [12- year- old] girl personally and the girl said sometimes she go to school without lunch and the teachers would have to buy lunch for her. We never knew the extent of her sadness. When she was absent, the teachers were trying to get in contact with the home but they were given the royal runaround, that there were two such homes in the county.” The teacher wants the relevant authorities to launch an investigation into the operations at the home. “If someone can [only] go there and do an investigation or call upon the older and younger boys in that place, persons will know about the atrocities that go on in that place.” But when contacted, Head
The girls at the Albion Police Station yesterday of the home, (name given) denied all of the accusations. “They [the three girls] ran away twice. They said nothing but that they wanted to leave!” she said. “It’s the second time they ran away, and I don’t want to keep them
anymore…they want to sport at Skeldon…the Magistrate put them to go and learn something at girls school. We are too strict; we don’t allow them to walk on the road,” the Head said. As for the allegations of
ill-treatment, she said, “Well if the children say they are being ill-treated, they should come and find out from the rest of the children.” Residents in the area are planning a protest in front of the home.
Public servants take protest to Public Service Ministry
Some of the protesters across the road from Public Service Ministry Members from the Guyana Public Service Union (GSPU) and other supporters were on Friday continuing their protest over the five percent increase that was touted by the Government. The public servants and their Unions have been complaining and protesting that the increase is too small to help offset the high cost of living. The protest continued in front of the Public Service Ministry at noon, on Friday, and lasted for one hour approximately. Some of the placards addressing Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford read “Public Servants are not Christmas Ponies, Jenny.” Friday’s protest came in the wake of Minister Jennifer
Westford stating that workers should be happy with their five percent increase. Westford had said that workers need to understand that Government is proposing what it can afford. She added that the workers should be happy because Guyana is one of the few countries in the world that has been offering any salary increases to its public servants. She said that Government has been consistently giving its public servants increases on an annual basis. Some of the other placards that the protesters used read “Budget does not cater for decent work, it caters for slavery,” “5% total eye pass to public servants,” “29 Billion for wages and salaries plus 4
Billion for revision of wages and salaries is equal to 15 percent increase, what happen to the 10 percent more?” and “5% is equal to further starvation Ashni” among others were hoisted by the protesters to get their messages across. The protesters identified themselves as “peaceful pickets” and they were. And even though the protesters were quietly protesting the five percent increase, two police officers wearing bullet proof vests were apparently summoned to the scene to “monitor” the protest. According to one of the protesters present, “The reason why we are out here is to inform the government that the money was approved in
Parliament to pay the public servants 15 percent. We know the money is there and we demand the government pay the public servants the money that was budgeted.” A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) leader, David Granger, said, “We have stated clearly that the five percent is inadequate but in keeping with our principles we do not interfere in the negotiation process between the employer and the union, in this case the GPSU. “We have called on the government to respect the collective bargaining agreement and to ensure that the negotiations to the union are conducted in good faith this has not happened...We support the Union and its (continued on page 57)
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Internal, external barriers have detrimental effects on trade in Guyana Non-tariff barriers as well as certain in-country conditions have been identified as the ‘evils’ which continue to hinder lucrative trade between Guyana and exporters on the international market. This comment was made by renowned Canadian professor and international business expert, Mr. Thomas Mc Kaig at a press briefing recently at the headquarters of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) on Waterloo Street, Georgetown. Mc Kaig is a published author of academic texts which are used at the Canadian University of Guelph where he serves as an adjunct professor in the Executive MBA and undergraduate business programmes. With over 30 years of experience, the professor is
known to have delivered business solutions on quality management and international trade in over 40 countries. “Non tariff barriers” simply refers to the method by which countries restrict imports of certain goods into their market despite the existence of trade agreements. These barriers which may be unfair in some cases, may take forms such as quality standards and other types of certificates at the Ports of Entry into the destination countries. According to Mc Kaig, these restrictions that many of Guyana’s exporters face have harmful effects on trade and export as well as business revenue for some time now. As a direct consequence, the expert has outlined that the cost of production of some Guyanese products rose significantly thereby rendering local products
uncompetitive in the external market place. Whilst this is the case, foreign products are allowed to enter Guyana’s market freely since non-tariff barriers are non-existent. He noted too, that the foreign suppliers and domestic importers do not always adhere to the rules and Guyanese Customs Administration neither makes nor enforces demands for safer, healthier or higher quality imports. With this in mind, the manufacturing association has decided to tackle this imbalance head-on and eventually propose a common Caribbean non-tariff regime that should do two key things; permit a level playing field across the import and export spectrum, and ensure that all exporters face the same nontariff requirements. GMSA in collaboration
Guyana gets early glimpse of phenomenal leadership publication (From page 10) General, Irwin LaRocque. Ahead of returning to Guyana after the Summit in the Bahamas, Astell was tasked with conducting a few of his leadership sessions in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. There he presented a copy of the publication to the Fort Lauderdale Mayor, John P. “Jack” Seiler. “I am passionate about the content of the book because it speaks of character, and character preserves your legacy as a leader,” asserted Astell during an interview upon his return to Guyana. According to him during Dr. Munroe’s Summit, “He challenged us to not prepare sermons but prepare your life. He said that the character with which you live your life gives your words w e i g h t . . . i t ’s l i k e t h e content is given credibility by your degree of character; so it doesn’t matter how well you can orate or how well you can express managerial skills if
your character is not intact.” It is the view of Dr. Munroe that the foundation of successful leadership is to address one’s character, Astell noted. The call at the Summit therefore was to “live your life in such a way that even your silence has weight...some people just by being around them you can draw substance from them, they don’t even have to speak...their lives speak so loudly.” As such Dr. Munroe challenged the participants to ensure that their characters are so intact that persons wouldn’t approach them to indulge in acts of corruption. In fact he emphasised that it is an indictment on a leader if “somebody approaches you to do something underhand. If you are approached to do wrong you have already failed because your character is so silent that people believe you could be corrupted.” “One must live in such a way that people will say don’t even approach him, I know
him,” was the pronouncement of Dr. Munroe, disclosed Astell who added that “one thing he wrote in my book was to be predictable...Character is predictable and fix like the characters of the alphabet or like the weather.” And even as he continues his leadership mission in the New Year, Astell said that he plans to implem e n t t h e principles related to the Power of Character and Leadership. His leadership sessions, are so much in demand that the young leader is scheduled to visit a number of territories in the Caribbean, North America and South African to disseminate his informative leadership strategies when 2014 dawns. Already he has conducted numerous sessions here in Guyana with a focus on taking participants on a journey of self discovery with a view of helping them to redefine what leadership is and to appropriate same where it is necessary.
Public servants take protest ... From page 56 demand for a return to the table for a collective bargaining agreement and for the Government to consider the Union demands.” According to Granger, APNU is prepared to accept the outcome of this process but currently feel it’s unfair both on the amount and on the process. APNU shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge, also
speaking on the five per cent increase mentioned that the government is committed to having collective bargaining agreements and having those collective bargaining agreements lead to the wage adjustments that are supposed to follow. However throughout its 21 years of bargaining with Unions only on two occasions was any agreement
negotiated with government. “This, like the exercise in budgeting for government, is an exercise in window dressing and fooling the public. You cannot be saying that you have discussions that should take place between five or six unions over 21 years and over the 21 years only on two occasions in all of that time you can conclude negotiations.
with its business development partner, the Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO), invited Mc Kaig to conduct an assessment to ascertain whether the demands for additional certification of product standards and technical regulations amount to unfair practices. The consultant disclosed that his findings will be handed over to the GMSA soon. A statement on the way forward based on the given recommendations will be provided to the media as soon as possible by the GMSA. McKaig is expected to outline in his report, his advice on the most effective means of encouraging local companies to comply with existing legally enforceable product standards and trade requirements. Moreover, the consultant said that in Guyana’s case, two factors which continue to stymie lucrative trade are high electricity costs and the quality of energy supplied, as well as the shallow draught of the Demerara Navigational Channel and Georgetown Port. The port, he said, prevents vessels of a certain size from entering and reduces the amount of cargo freight allowable. He noted that while these internal barriers have a “spin off into other issues,” chief among them is higher shipping and transportation costs that are unavoidably passed on to “end-users.” However, at a recent workshop on energy
Renowned Canadian Professor and International Business expert, Mr. Thomas McKaig
management, it was disclosed that members of the GMSA are opposed to any audit by the Guyana Energy Agency which is one of the steps mentioned in addressing effectively, high electricity costs. Dr. Mahender Sharma, the Chief Executive Officer of the GEA, had stated at the seminar that his organization carries out energy audits for companies to help them better manage their energy consumption. However, Mr. Clement Duncan, one of the Directors of the GMSA said that it’s normal for companies not to be too fond of being audited by a government controlled agency. He said, “Frankly speaking, anything Government owned is government controlled and even members of the GMSA would not be open to audits by the GEA because they fear that certain sensitive information will be leaked to
certain government officials. It’s as simple as that. And in order for any audit to take place it would be preferred that it be done by an independent body.” Also of note was that members of the media informed the professor that there have been similar studies facilitated by the GMSA and to date there are no noticeable improvements in the sector. Whilst his report is of great importance, it was then asked about corrective measures that would be taken this time around to ensure that his work would not have been done in vain. To this, Mr. McKaig said that he strongly believes that the executives of the sector will take measures to improve the competitive ability of Guyana. Mr. McKaig is expected to return early next year to relate his findings with local companies.
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Female worker needed, 3 CXC subject or sound secondary school education- Call:612-1607 Labourers, Painters & Capenters with own tools to work with limited supervision Tel: 225-6070 Land wanted in Parfaite Harmonie – Tel:675-7292 Land to buy in Eccles, Herstelling, Parafaite Harmonie & Non- Pariel - Tel: 675-7292 Experienced Roti/Puri cooks, curry cooks, pastry makers, cleaners & handyboys – Apply @ Hack’s Halaal 5 Commerce Street. Salesgirls & porters: Apply with written application @ Best Buy Food Supplies: Lot 1E Middleton & Dennis Street, Campbleville Two joiners and one upholder to work in workshop – Contact:2191342 or 610-7005
2 - 2007 Toyota Avensis - Tel: 698-0674 VEHICLE FOR SALE Stretch limousine, Lincoln Town car, fully powered $6.5 million or credit available Tel 227-3939, 621-4000 Mitsubishi Pajero (Immaculate condition); automatic, fully loaded, 4×4, price $2.8M- Contact Rocky:225-1400 or 621-5902 AT212 Carina (private), automatic, fully powered, A/ C, CD player, price $1.350Mcontact Rocky:225-1400 or 621-5902 Toyota extra cab pick-up (22 R engine) manual, (EFI) 4×4, (GPP series) price $2.5MContact Rocky 621-5902/2251400
1 Labourer/handyman for half day – Call:226-3736
Toyota Tacoma (2006 model)VVTI engine, automatic, fully loaded, 22" chrome rims $4.1M- Contact Rocky 6215902/ 225-1400
Urgently needed live-in waitress to work in bar. Reasonable salary offered! Tel:259-0574
1 Toyota RZ bus - $1.6M. Immaculate condition – Contact Rocky: 621-5902/ 225-1400
Attractive live in waitress- Call:327-0252/ 674-4665
1 Toyota extra cab pick-up automatic (3RZ) 4x4 $3.7M – Contact Rocky: 621-5902/ 225-1400
Space for gym in Georgetown or immediate environment - Tel: 647-4587; 615-5315 URGENTLY WANTED: Thirty five (35) Security officers. Apply: SECURITY ALLIANCE Barrack Street, Kingston (upstairs FedEx) Attractive live in waitressCall:228-5129, 604-8277 Contract cars, Atlas Taxi Service- Tel:661-3043 Jet + Marack men, one male baheir - $80,000 monthly Tel: 694-2310 Indoor & outdoor sales representative must be computer literate, aggressive & able to work without supervision - Tel: 672-4090; 657-8380; 225-7532
VEHICLE FOR SALE BUY/SELL VEHICLES OR PROPERTY; SAVE TIME + MONEY USING PHOTO ADS – WWW.GYTRADER.COM ; TEL:651-4300, 670-4300 17ft fiberglass boat with 175 Yamaha Seadoo jet ski - Tel: 651-8870 Toyota Spacio PPP series $2.1M neg – Contact:6921051; 685-5011 1 Toyota Rav-4, IST, NZE Corolla, Fun Cargo, AT 212, AT192, AT170, Tacoma, Caldina Wagon – Tel:6445096; 697-1453
1 Suzuki R1 wagon (Jeep) Automatic, Fully Powered with A/C, hardly used – Price:$1.2M Contact Rocky: 621-5902/ 225-1400 Leroy Trident Car 250 CC, 4 doors, power window, keyless entry $495,000 cash or credit Tel 227-3939, 6214000 Hilux Surf 4 Doors, minor parts needed, sold as is $750,000 cash Tel: 227-3939, 621-4000 Nissan Maxima, fully powered needs repairs sold as is $300,000 cash 227-3939, 621-4000 Mitsubishi 3000GT sports car, fully powered, $1.8 cash or credit available Tel: 227-3939, 621-4000
600 Yamaha CBR bike $400,000 – Tel:647-0271 ALYEA AUTO SALE: PREMIO 2004, ALLION 2008 NEW SHAPE & CARINA 212 @ 40 CROAL STREET STABROEK – TEL:231-7284; 622-3823 Corrola Axio -$2,850,000 , Spacio PRR Series -$2.1M, CRVPJJ - $1.7M – Tel: 697-0294 PPP 3361 Runx – Tel:6414684 ($2,350,000) Tractor from Canada: 285MF $2.5M, 265MF $2M, 165MF $1.8M, 135MF $1.3M, Ford Ranger pickup $1.5M- Call: 682-5230/628-9596 1 Suzuki GSX–R 600cc, 1 Toyota Hilux Pickup 4X4- Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453 One 1995 Toyota Tacoma stick gear 4 wheel drive 3 RZ engine. Price:$1,650,000 negotiable -625-2516 1- F150 6CYL, fully loaded $3M Negotiable – Tel:6895254; 256-0504 New 2013 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabs- Call: 691-0234 Christmas Special! Premio $2.4M, Spacio-$2.1M, 2008 Fielder $2.7M, Unregistered - Tel: 617-2891 MRR Autos: Fully loaded 2004 Raum, Price $2.25 Neg. Great pre-order deals. Call Today! Tel: 657-1796; 626-9590 Unregistered Toyota Sienta 2004-Contact:617-5536 Toyota Runx, Nissan Wingroad wagon - Tel: 6455893 New ATVs: Introductory price $1,199,000 (Duty Free)Call: 691-0234 1 AT212 Carina, grey, excellent condition $1,250,000- Contact:6523066, 690-1611 (Old Model) One (1) TATA truck, GEE 9962- Contact:219-2395,6299286,642-5535
Sunday December 08, 2013
FOR SALE 5 acre fruit bearing organic farm with small cottage to lease or purchase. Leases $90,000; purchase US$125,000 – Call 261-2988 Brazilian line Pitbull pupsContact:667-0338
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
Prime commercial land on Charlotte Street between Camp and Wellington Streets, size:31 X 125Contact:223-8479,647-3768, www.spaceseek.gy
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
1.2 Megawatt Generator, 16 Cylinder Cummings engine, Onan 1250 KVA coil, 3 phase 440 Volts - G$15.5M Call:614-8960; Trinidad: 0011-868-297-4823
Houses & house lots, MonRepos -$23 million; East Ruimveldt-$10 million; Diamond-$ 34 millionContact:223-8479/647-3768, www.spaceseek.gy
Live and pluck chicken - Tel: 220-9203; 650-4421
Honda ATV 500 4X4 DBL shocks – Tel:688-6274; 6913851
Almost new Honda 6500 watts generator on wheels only 18 hours $ 430,000 - Call: 261-2988
NISSAN WINGROAD PRR SERIES - TEL: 695-4785
1 smoothie machine, 2 ice machine - Contact: 231-0655 ,683-8734 Clean Garden Earth & builders waste also Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing and leveling done- Call:6160617 or 663-3285 Cheap earth delivery to spot E.C.D and E.B.D- Call:6279977, 698-0182 Panel Doors & Arch Frame as low as $19,995 – Tel:6641109;626-8141 Prime Property. Great for investment / business. 100ftX80ft. Corner Lot. Next to University of Guyana. C o n t a c t houseinsophia@yahoo.com Chicken Hatchery (Robbins), 28,000 eggs capacity fully ready, $ 5.5 million or credit available Tel: 227-3939 6214000 Diesel Generator, 3 cylinder Lister pitter (England) key start, 15 kva, $650,000 cash 227-3939, 621-4000 Generac Generator 15 kva, portable, $500,000 cash Tel 227-3939, 621-4000 Clarke forklifts 3pcs 2000, 3000, 4000 Lb, lifting capacity $450,000 and up Tel: 2273939, 621-4000 Diesel Generator silent 28 kva SDMO John Deere engine, missing Fuel Pump, Panel, Avr $900,000 cash 2273939, 621-4000 TV Sale 27" To 73" some working and others needs checking all sold as is Tel 621-4000, 227-3939 60FT Antenna (Mass) for Radio, TV, Cellular, with cables, brackets, sky light $450,000 Tel:227-3939, 6214000 Piano and Organ in one, good for church services – Call:602-7057 or 266-1768
5 Head & 7 Head Moulders, 150Kw Genset, CC Saw, Resaw – Tel:626-0024; 6165595; 665-3676
WHOLESALE PLUCK CHICKEN AND PARTS – TEL:676-0931 New Xbox 360 with all accessories $55,000, home surveillance systems with 500GB DVR $85,000Contact:600-3038,611-3038 270 Amps, portable welders Telephone: 611-5114 Original Games- Call:6722566 1- Rome plough 20 dish, 11630 Bedford truck articulated with 2 trailer- Call: 693-4596 One 8000 Ford Tractor one Ford 450 2005 towing truck contact:694-5599; 689-1864 Potting soil, top soil and quality cow mould - Call: 6561326; 678-0058 Ducks & Pigs – Tel:688-7291 1-320 Cl excavator excellent condition - Tel: 699-3992 Live/pluck chicken call:6504421, 220-9203 DR Mower 10½ HP $120,000Call: 261-2988 Cheapest Online Vehicles!!! – Tel:626-2771 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call:225-9032,647-2943
Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566 One 40FT Cabin Cruiser with Five (5) Ins Seine Contact Tel: 665-2314 1 CAT standby 3306, 194 KVA 3 phase 60 cycle- Call: 641-8472 2- M132 Lavarda Combine, 1- 22RB Dragline, 3Pressure pump 4x3 for gold field, 1- 2640MF tractor 4WD- Call:627-0447 Massey Ferguson 6140 4X4 Turbo – Call:688-6274/6913851 Metal scaffold, size 5"X5" & 6.6"X5"-Call:691-3509,2671563. Price negotiable One pressure washer Honda Psi 2700 – Call:673-9501 One Dewalt circular saw, one Dewalt miter saw, one Hp office jet pro 8600 printer – Tel: 673-9501 Two cummings engine 6 Cylinder for sale: - Tel: 6919844; 673-9501 PORK wholesale only, whole half and quarter carcass - Tel: 266-2711; 6094594 Tee Shores for construction work all over 12ft long. Very Cheap! Tel:227-1830 3 Pcs furniture suite - Tel: 645-0240; 685-0942 Terrier puppies for sale – Contact:696-7467 or adorethemdogs@gmail.com
Curtains and carpet for sale - Call: 653-1192 after 6PM
One mini-bus BKK series Price:$1,350,000 - Tel:6852101
Back up camera systems – 22,000 Tel:680-6374
Sears 42" riding mower excellent condition. Kholer engine $240,000, 1- double door refrigerator (large) – Call: 261-2988
Farm at Yarrowkaara-Call:6931585 3 barber chairs, 2 deep fryer- contact:266-5197 New Led TVs from $39,000, LCD monitors 19" from $15,000, DVD players$7,000Contact:225-3391,695-6971 Cheapest iphones!!! - Tel: 626-2771
Happy acres- $66 million; Ogle- $65M; Hotel on prime commercial spot- $2M USD -Contact:223-8479/647-3768, www.spaceseek.gy 1 farm @ Yaracabra Linden Highway- Contact:265-3586 (Continued on page 59)
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 59
(From page 58) PENPAL
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Businessman in Trinidad seeks Guyanese woman for friendship & marriage between ages 30-40; email:ramphal mahadeo@ live.com – Tel:0011-868-7243155; 0011-868-4681075
Buy vehicles direct from Japan authentically – Call:600-5257( Before 9am & after 5:pm)
Overseas based Indian male is seeking a female age 29 & up. No texting! Call:661-3299 Male seeking Christian female for marriage, age 40Call:689-9883,442-3224 Meet your match! Lifelong partners, confidential: Rules Apply Tel:592-223-8237; 592648-6098 (8:30am-5:00pm), (both phones same time)
2005 Tacoma 1995 V6 4x4 Tacoma – Tel: 651-8870 10Pcs Trike Can-Am style Motorcycle, 200cc new, unregistered $450,000 neg or credit, Wholesale Tel 2273939, 621-4000 5Pcs Harley Davidson Motorcycles gas model 50cc key / pull start all = $300,000 or 1pc $70,000 621-4000, 2273939 AT170 Corona EFI flair, mags, alarm $650,000Contact Sham:669-2850 Driven Auto Blowout sale! Unregistered Mazda Axela $2,300,000- Pioneer CD, Crystal Lights, remote start alarm Tel:643-6565;226-9931
MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call: 657-5979 Massage therapy service call:674-8147 American Style massage services- Call:678-7499 FOR SALE / FOR RENT American pool table – Tel: 277-0578
Harmony Inn: Apartments fully furnished, airconditioned apartments: As low as $5000 per night- Call: 668-0306/602-8769/ 694-7817 Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 6797139, 639-4452. One bedroom apartment to rent @ 1 Church St Friendship E.B.D - Tel: 6432934; 266-2494 Self Contained one bedroom apartment, fully grilled for rental @ 70 Vieira H/S Landof-Canaan E.B.D Contact Navita :615-9441
1 Upright freezer -call:6027057 or 266-1768 1 Ice maker, large for business – Call:602-7057; 266-1768 1 Deli food case – cooler and freezer in one, 6ft with counter show case – call:602-7057; 266-1768 Large event B.B.Q grill good for business – call:602-7057; 266-1768 Calendars! Calendars 2014for your business. From $9.00. Many options. 50 Minimum. Alert Printing Hurry! –Tel:227-2679
For our advertising rates call: 225-8491, 2258465, 225-8458
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant- Call: 6910894/684-2838 PROPERTY FOR SALE
SERVICES
House & land @ Lot 35 Middle St. Mc Doom EBD; $7M negotiable- Tel: 6010803, 664-5985
Professional and affordable landscaping and tree trimming services. BUDRAM’S LANDSCAPING SERVICES - Call: 6561326; 678-0058 Services and repairs to gas stoves, washing machines Call: 688-0183 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call:2259032,647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick)
VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community - Call:592-624-8704/ 592-6849203 Property for sale- Call:6275416 4 bedroom top & bottom business place wood & Concrete@ Dairy Parfaite Harmonie; V/Hoop -$4M each – Tel:678-7355
Mark 2 2001 excellent condition- Contact:679-3662
Republic Park furnished/unfurnished two bedroom apartments $60,000/$80,000. Phone: 6216888
First Class Auto: Carina 212, Fielder, IST, Allex, Axio, Spacio, Raum (Old & New models) Please Call:6098188; 602-6307
New large unfurnished 3 bedroom top flat with master bedroom, AC etc US$1000 negotiable. Office Spaces from $50,000. Phone: 6216888
Durban Backlands- $800,000; Parfaite Harmony 4 bedroom- $3.500,000; Mandela Avenue- $16M; Diamond, Lagrange WBDCall Shawn:231-2199,6187483
1 Madza PPP series-Tel:6686329 1 strong open back customized canter in good condition, Model M bush truck for interior-Tel:2318417, 223-1238,624-0443
Large 5 bedroom house at Guysuco Gardens US$2000, 3 bedroom Bel Air Park US$1500. Phone: 6216888
‘BB’Eccles - $25M, Alberttown - $32M. Have properties to let or sell? Contact Diana 227-2256; 626-9382
New two bedroom apartment at Eccles $80,000/ $100,000. Phone: 6216888
One two- storey concrete house, Ave A DiamondTel:643-5161 2 Storey concrete building ( Corner Lot) @ Land of Canaan E.B.D 60x32 - Land 95X60 - $50M negotiable Call: 642-0867; 615-9441 (Navo)
CAR RENTAL FOR SALE
VACANCY
TO LET Furnished 2-bedrooms top flat & 2 bedroom bottom flat apartment for overseas guests @ Bent St, Wortmanville - Phone: 2222778/ 640-4130/ 226-3309
FOR RENT Executive houses and apartments- Contact: 2238479/ 647-3768, www. spaceseek.gy Rental of wedding dresses & clothing for sale Phone:6160505 One bottom flat 3 bedrooms house located at Land-OfCanaan opposite Gafoors Contact: 266-5469; 680-9252 House to rent in Friendship E.B.D.-Tel:266-0163 Yard Space for rent - Tel: 6546394
Premio Vitz (NM), Spacio, Rush latest models, best rates with low deposits – Contact:692-1051; 685-5011 Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www.dolly sautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:679-7139, 639-4452. Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup - Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Joshua’s Car Rental Call:6656485; 679-8400
TO LET Nice new house @ Diamond, Ogle sea side, South, and business spots – Contact Shawn:231-2199; 618-7483 Visiting Curacao? Then check Air Apartments with AC/ K i t c h e n . Weto.apartment@gmail.com – Call Mr Fung: 5999-5260011 (After 5Pm)
Excellent Middle Street Town House in drive, 2 modern apartments, garage. Must Be seen! – Tel:2253159; 662-1558 One two storied business property (Transported) @ Brickery Public Road E.B.D Tel: 660-8128 Property for Contact:699-9926
sale-
2 Storey business premises: 94 Campbell Avenue, C/VilleCall:680-8857/647-300-4294 Prime commercial property, Albertown, 3 lots with business, (Nut Centre) best offer. Tel 621-4000, 2273939 Two flat 6 bedrooms house $12.8M negotiable – Call: 6044174; 619-5332
LEARN TO DRIVE SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
Brains Construction & Rental Services: Excavator, Bobcat, Truck, Tools – Tel:6015024/ 227-4536 (Bobcat & Excavator Operator needed) We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Masons Seeks daily or Job work – Tel:619-3296 Programming & Anti-Virus for laptops & Desktops – Tel: 675-7292 We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699 We repair L.C.D, Plasma, Led TV, Microwave, Washer & Dryer, Amp etc. Call:6472677/693-3277 Technicians available for appliance repairs – washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves, deep fryers, etc – Tel:6190793; 218-0050 Visit, live, work, study in Canada, US, U.K authorized by Government of Canada 645-4789. Book appointment. Professional Pressure Washing: We clean homes, driveways, gutters, parking lots, business, $10.00 per square Ft.– call Kevin:592696-5424 Brian Moe @642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!! Flyers- $800 for 400. Business cards -$2,600. Bill books. Great for Christmas sales. Call Alert Printing:227-2679 Christmas cleaning! Power washing for residential & commercial properties – Call:648-1544
Experienced Cleaners Call:225-8572 Between 7am to 10am Hire car drivers from E.C.D @ A1 Taxi – Tel:220-1000 Vacancy exists for cleaners & drivers send application & passport photograph to Survival shopping complex, 173 Sheriff St Campbellville -Contact:227-5286-89 Vacancies exist for 1 experienced Accounts Clerk. Salesgirls & able bodied Porters. Apply @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. 1 Trained cosmetologist Tel: 622-2643; 225-8701 Vacancy for porters. Apply in person to Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry stelling. Computer legal clerk – Call:226-4283; 624-7087; 2580213
LAND FOR SALE Blankenburg Public Road WCD - 38x150, 39x150 $16M each - Tel: 666-3619 Wai a kabra, Linden Highway: 1,409’x403’ or 13.73 acres. Concrete house thereon. 1,100 feet from Highway- Call:619-4152 Promising Gold and Diamond mining lands in various areas - Tel: 699-3992 Prime Residential land (100ftX50ft) ($2.2M) - Tel: 675-7292 10 Acres land at Long Creek – Contact:699-3723 Westerbeck Mazaruni- $3M, Soesdyke water front - $35M, Melanie (Highway) 150X200 Ft $25M – Tel:231-2200; 6187483
TOURS Suriname Old Years Into New Years return Trip December 29th –January 2nd Tel: 6440185; 639-2663; 665-5171; 227-8290
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By Ralph Seeram “She had not talked to me for a year,” the e-mail said to which I replied, ‘The individual needs to grow up and realize life. “Life has an expiry date” I am sure many of you readers have gone through phases of life where someone is not talking to you or vice versa, relatives not talking to each other, division in families where sometimes brother not talking to sisters, children not speaking to their parents. To give you an idea of the silly reasons people stop talking to each other, in the example above, the “not talking “ relative died and was being buried the same weekend another relative was getting married. One decided to go to the funeral while the other decided to go to the out of state wedding; it was a difficult choice, so each made her own choice. The one sister who went to the funeral disagreed with the other who went to the wedding, hence she stopped talking to her.
Kaieteur News
Sunday December 08, 2013
LIFE DOES HAVE AN EXPIRY DATE FOLKS
Now tell me, is that a reason to stop talking to someone? I think when you get down to the roots of these disagreements, it is a case where one wants to impose one’s will or control over the other person. Some people tend to be very controlling and if you do not give in to their behaviour, you become the enemy hence, “I am not talking to you” Unlike the groceries on the shelves of the supermarket which state the expiry date, we humans do not know our expiry date, yet we go on in life carrying grudges, some to our graves. I have attended funerals where the relatives were not talking to the deceased in life but crying hysterically over the dead body, venting their regrets as if the deceased can hear. The festive season is upon us; it is the season of goodwill. I mentioned in a previous article how Guyanese on Christmas Day reach out to their neighbors to express season’s greetings, sometimes inviting them over
for a “drink”, neighbours to whom they may not have spoken for the entire year. Why should we wait until Christmas to extend goodwill? Some people carry grudges for decades. I recall some years ago, while on a trip to Guyana I was asked to deliver some money to the father of a cousin of mine. On my return to the U S I was confronted by the ex wife who was very annoyed that the daughter had sent money for her father, telling me all the faults of the father. But here is the sad part, she has been divorced from him for some forty years, and for those 40 years she has been carrying a grudge. In response I told her that
she needed to free herself of her hatred since it was like a cancer eating away at her heart. “A joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but by a painful heart the sprit is broken” Proverbs 15:13 This week I was drawn to a post on Facebook which partly prompted me to write this article, it spoke about five simple rules to be happy, (I) Free your heart from hatred FORGIVE, (2) Free your mind from worries, give more of you, (3) Live simply, appreciate what you have, (4) Give more. (5) Expect less from people but give more of your selves. This week my fouryear-old grandson was showing me on his Ipad, (yes he has his own Ipad, welcome
to the new digital generation) the story of the Lion and the Mouse, which he pulled up on YouTube. It’s a parable that was explained to me in my primary school days. I was surprised that the story is still being told. My grandson wanted to know why the mouse came to the rescue of the lion, eating away at the nets to free the Lion. So I had to explain the moral of the story about not making enemies and the need to forgive, as your enemy can be your friend in your time of need and distress as the lion found out in the story. Some 100 persons have lost their lives in road fatalities in Guyana so far this year. I am sure the adults killed never thought that they would not
see Christmas this year, we sometimes tend to think the uncertainty of life is for the other person, it does not apply to us, until it “hits” close to home. Today more than ever, communication is at our fingertip, be it phone or social media, so as the Christmas season descends on us, go ahead and make the call to the person you stopped talking to. If you do not want to talk on the phone, send an email to break the ice, and take from there. If the other party does not respond to overtures well your conscience is clear you did your part. Ralph Seeram can be reached at email ralph365 @hotmail.com
English freelance photographer sells Guyanese splendor abroad For some 18 years now, 55year-old Ian Brierley has been selling Guyana in photographic splendor. The freelance photographer was first introduced to our piece of paradise by a Guyanese businessman he met in Yorkshire, England so long ago. Brierley was ‘grabbed by the land of many waters’ and has been teaching the rest of the world about Guyana. He takes photos of Guyanese life and exhibits them in his homeland. These are mounted with those of several other countries the photographer tours. He considers himself a “freelance, adventure entrepreneur”. Additionally, Brierley has taken the popular “crabwood oil” and is distributing it to the world for its various purposes. Ian, who hails from Manchester, said that he recently exhibited Guyana at the Caribbean Cultural Centre in England for the country’s
Ian stands with Miss Guyana UK during his overseas exhibition earlier this year Independence Day celebrations. Over 10,000 photos have been gathered of
Guyana, and while they come in photographic form, Brierley also creates paintings which are of interest to many persons outside of Guyana. Brierley said that he and a friend were invited to the South American nation several years ago and saw that it was different from what he is usually accustomed to. “To me it was an undiscovered country. In England no one had heard of Guyana. We have heard of Ghana, but when we say Guyana no one has
heard of Guyana. So I went to Ghana and one week later I was in Guyana; a great contrast.” He added that several persons within the tourism sector would have aided in his travels and introductions to the people who would have been the subject of his work. The photographer said he recently acquired an underwater camera and is eager to start his discovery of the world beneath. (Zena Henry)
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 61
High Court deems ‘stop and search’ an... (From page 3) of the Plaintiff on the purported grounds of searching for drugs, guns and ammunition violates not only the Constitution but also the Firearms Act, Cap. 16:05.” The court also questioned whether the police were empowered to search for guns and ammunition as the law says that a policeman not below the rank of inspector has to be present when such a search is being conducted. Regarding the claims that one of the police rank when questioned about probable cause by the lawyer, pointed his rifle at the plaintiff and indicated that that was all the reason needed, the court was even more stern. “This I find was an obnoxious, outrageous and outright abuse of police powers by James. Further to this, the Plaintiff asked the No. 2 Defendant for his identification and the No. 2 Defendant said “you want dead, come out you vehicle now.” This is an open threat to the life of the Plaintiff…” The fact that other police ranks were present at the Brickdam station when the rights of the plaintiff were being violated makes them guilty as the defendants, Justice Ramlal said. OUTSIDE THE SCOPE The court found that ranks were not charged with
A High Court judgment has said that police just cannot stop and search vehicles unless justifiable reasons exist. traffic duties but with responsibilities of enforcing the law as it relates to “drugs, guns and ammunition” related offences. “It is clear that the No. 1 and No. 2 Defendant, as well as the other ranks present, were acting outside the scope of their duty they were charged with. Neither the No. 1 nor the No. 2 Defendant had any “reasonable suspicion” that the Plaintiff had committed, likely to commit or committed in their presence any “drug, firearm or ammunition” related offence.” With respect to the charge of obstruction, the Judge made it clear that it is not an arrestable offence nor is it one punishable by imprisonment. “Even if this offence took place, the police have no
authority at law to search and arrest for obstruction of traffic.” The court believed that there was an element of malice in the police’s handling and the charges that were later laid, dismissed and not contested in the civil action. Even the fact that the lawyer may have been driving an uncertified motor vehicle could not justify the “stop” on Charlotte Street, much less justify the search and arrest on Croal Street. “This must be so since there could be no “reasonable suspicion” or “grounds to suspect” the commission of this offence at Charlotte Street or Croal Street. Therefore, the police could not have stopped, searched or arrested the Plaintiff for this reason. Further, driving an
Sunday December 08, 2013 ARIES (MAR. 21- APRIL 20) You may want to have a heart-to-heart talk with a close and trusted friend. Children will be of major concern if you haven’t kept the lines of communication open. TAURUS (APR. 21- MAY 21) Social activity should be on your agenda. You will gain knowledge through your adventure. GEMINI (MAY 22-JUNE 21) You can meet new and exciting friends who will provide mental stimulation. You could experience delays in shipments or mail, and should be careful while traveling. CANCER (JUNE 22-JULY 22) You could find yourself caught in a one sided relationship. You’ll regret every word for some time to come. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Your unique approach to life will interest others. Don’t make large purchases unless you have discussed your choices with your mate. VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) You have been going through a period of change that has caused problems for you with your loved ones. LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) You will not impress others by being foolishly generous.
Beware of individuals who are not that reliable or well known to you. Ferret out information that will hold them responsible. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Get involved in activities that will bring you knowledge about foreign land, philosophies, or cultures. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Try to curb your habits, or you could find yourself in an awkward financial position. You could be disillusioned if you let relative in on your emotional thoughts. CAPRICORN (DEC 22JAN. 20) Expect your workload to be heavy. Your personal secrets may be revealed if you let coworkers in on your family dilemmas. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) You will be emotional about your personal life. Don’t reveal any personal details. You must be careful not to reveal secrets or get involved in gossip. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Call siblings or old friends to catch up on recent news. Your need to use emotional blackmail will only cause more conflict.
“uncertified vehicle” or “obstruction of traffic” are not arrestable offences.” ATICKET Justice Ramlal, in the judgment, said the law only obligates a person to give his name and address and produce his driver’s licence for examination. Rather for offences, there should be
summons or issuance of tickets “rather than arbitrarily search or deprive a person of his liberty, both of which will be a violation of the Constitution as well as a violation of a person’s fundamental rights as guaranteed by Articles 138 to153 inclusive, of the Constitution.” Ramlal was also highly critical that the resultant search and arrest was an “outrageous abuse” of police powers and resulted in the plaintiff being falsely imprisoned for about four hours. “It follows, therefore, that the stop, search, arrest and detention of the Plaintiff were wrong, unlawful and unconstitutional.” The police ranks must have known, or at the least ought to have known, “that their conduct was unlawful and unconstitutional.” Justice Ramlal said that the conduct of the policemen were wholly unacceptable and
renders them incapable of discharging their functions as members of the Guyana Police Force in a manner acceptable to the public. “Secondly, it is not fair to the taxpayers of this country to “foot the bill” for the excesses of policemen of the ilk of James and Benjamin. The time has come for the Commissioner of Police and the Police Service Commission to take the necessary action to weed out these type of policemen from the Guyana Police Force.” The Attorney General, the Judge said, should move to recover the monies awarded by putting into place systems to surcharge the policemen the amounts. “It is only when this happens one would see any significant reduction in the incidence of such unlawful, unconstitutional and downright outrageous conduct of policemen of the ilk of James and Benjamin.
A Conflict of Interest to have EPA... From page 8 flagged when it reached a point where it infringed on the protection of the environment. However since both are intermingled within one Ministry, it is clear that one would be suppressed subjectively to suit the other said Harmon. This is also evidenced in the revelations that emanated from the EPA’s report that was mentioned about staffing issues where EPA staffers’ positions were being usurped by the MNRE. According to Harmon the EPA does not have the capacity to work and is being devoid of its resources so that the Natural Resources Ministry can be “bumped up.” Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Robert Persaud, in addressing that issue released a statement that established among other things that “the Ministry of
Natural Resources and the Environment has recognized that there is an increasing demand for services of the EPA and that it has been somewhat lacking in capacity to effectively achieve its mandate...for that reason,
MNRE has since engaged with the EPA and an international consultant to draft proposal to investigate means to strengthen the EPA, improve cost recovery mechanisms and improve staff retention.”
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Obama defends interim Iran deal, seeks to assure Israel WA S H I N G T O N (Reuters) - President Barack Obama yesterday defended an interim deal with Iran to curb its nuclear program and, seeking to reassure Israel, pledged to step up sanctions or prepare for a potential military strike if Tehran fails to abide by the pact. U.S. relations with Israel have been strained by the interim agreement, reached between Iran and major world powers including the United States, was designed to halt further advances in Iran’s nuclear program and buy time for negotiations on a final settlement. The United States says the agreement will give the international community time to see if Tehran is serious about curbing its nuclear ambitions, while providing some relief from sanctions that have crippled its economy. Israel believes any sanctions relief is a dangerous gift to a country that threatens its very existence and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
has called the deal reached in Geneva a “historic mistake.” Obama, speaking at forum hosted by Haim Saban, a major political donor, made a point of referring to Netanyahu as “my friend Bibi” while acknowledging that they occasionally have “significant tactical” disagreements. Obama said the interim deal, negotiated with Iran by the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany, would provide
space for a longer-ranging agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which Tehran says are purely peaceful. Obama said he viewed the likelihood of a satisfactory “end state” as a 50/50 proposition, and repeated that all options remained on the table if Iran did not follow through with its obligations. “If we cannot get the kind of comprehensive end state that satisfies us and the world community ...,
then the pressure that we’ve been applying on them and the options that I have made clear I can avail myself of, including a military option, is one that we would consider and prepare for,” he said. Obama said it was unrealistic to believe that Iran would halt and dismantle its nuclear program completely if the successful sanctions regime were continually strengthened and talks were not given a chance to
succeed. “One can envision an ideal world in which Iran said, ‘We’ll destroy every element and facility and you name it, it’s all gone.’ I can envision a world which Congress passed every one of my bills that I put forward. I mean, there are a lot of things that I can envision that would be wonderful,” he said to laughter from the audience. “But precisely because we don’t trust the nature of the Iranian regime, I think that we
have to be more realistic and ask ourselves: what puts us in a strong position to assure ourselves that Iran’s not having a nuclear weapon ... what is required to accomplish that and how does that compare to other options that we might take?” The United States says it will confer closely with Israel about crafting a permanent Iran agreement after the six-month confidence-building period laid out by the Geneva deal.
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Cuba throws wrench in WTO talks over trade embargo BALI, Indonesia (AP) — Cuba and three other Latin American countries refused to sign off on a World Trade Organization agreement early yesterday that had appeared close to approval after negotiations that dragged on through the night. Dozens of trade ministers were presented with a draft of a slimmed-down deal that satisfied India, which had earlier refused to budge on a provision that could endanger subsidies for grains under a policy to feed its poor. After consensus appeared close among the 159 WTO member economies, Cuba, backed by Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua rejected it due to removal of a reference to the decadeslong U.S. trade embargo that Cuba wants lifted. “We need to continue our consultations and find a way to overcome this problem,” WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell told reporters. Trade ministers had come to the four-day WTO meetings on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali with little hope that an agreement to boost world trade would be reached. But after draft proposals released late
Friday put the food subsidy issue on the backburner, hope for a deal emerged. The proposals also call for customs procedures to be simplified and more transparent to reduce barriers to trade. The deal could boost global trade by $1 trillion over time and help revive the WTO’s broader Doha Round of trade negotiations, sometimes known as the development round because of sweeping changes in regulations, taxes and subsidies that would benefit low income countries. The idea is that if all countries play by the same trade rules, then all countries, rich or poor, will benefit. But some critics say WTO rules may hinder countries from setting their own priorities in environmental protection, worker rights, food security and other areas. And they say sudden reductions in import tariffs can wipe out industries, causing job losses in rich and poor countries. The meetings in Bali were seen as crucial after more than a decade of inertia, with failure possibly signaling an end to the WTO’s relevance as a forum for trade negotiations among its 159 member economies.
Government criticises Britain over increases in APD ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada - CMC- The Grenada government says it is disappointed that Britain had not agreed to a reduction in the controversial Air Passenger Duty (APD) that Caribbean countries say put them at a disadvantage and could destroy their vital tourism industry. Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture Minister Alexandra Otway-Noel said she was disappointed that British Chancellor of Exchequer, George Osborne in his “Autumn Statement” to Parliament earlier this week, did not announce a reduction in the taxes at a time when tourist arrivals from the United kingdom were on the decline. In his address, Osborne said that the increase in the tax, which goes into effect from April 1, 2014, would increase the cost of medium and longhaul flights from Great Britain.
According to estimates, this essentially means that a family of four traveling economy to the United States will pay £276, (One British pound =US$1.63 cents) up from £268, while the APD would move from £332 to £340 if they were travelling to the Caribbean. Moreover, those opting for premium economy, business- or first-class cabins, will be required to pay double the sum. Noting that this is the sixth time there has been an increase in the APD, OtwayNoel said she was also
disappointed that the decision to follow through with the tax increases was carried out in spite of the lobbying done by Caribbean tourism officials for the British to halt the APD augmentation. Otway-Noel was recently part of a delegation that met with the Treasury Ministry in Britain while on her recent trip to the World Travel Market. Several Ministers and Caribbean tourism officials have lobbied with the British Government over the tax that, for several years, has been on the rise.
T&T Opposition Leader accepts offer to attend Mandela funeral with PM (Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar extended an invitation to Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and his wife, Sharon Rowley, to accompany her to the funeral of former South African president, Nelson Mandela. The invitation has been accepted, Rowley later told
the Express. Persad-Bissessar, to the cheers of the Parliament, also announced that she has agreed to settle on a date early next year that will be declared “Mandela Day” in Trinidad and Tobago. That will be accompanied by a public symposium on the life and work of Mandela that will be coordinated by local scholars and historians, including Prof Kenneth Ramchand, the PM said. Persad-Bissessar made the gesture in the Parliament at the Port of Spain Waterfront Complex, just as the House rose to observe a minute of silence for Mandela, who passed away at age 95 on Thursday, and also two local icons who passed away this week—Michael Als and Emmanuel McDonald Bailey.
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
Ukraine opposition seeks million-strong rally in Kiev (Reuters) - Organisers hope one million protesters will turn out in Kiev today to pile more pressure on Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich as he seeks closer ties with Russia after dumping a trade pact with the European Union. The rally will further heighten tension in the weeks-long standoff between the Yanukovich government and its opponents. The confrontation has raised fears for political and economic stability in Ukraine, a sprawling ex-Soviet republic of 46 million people which borders four EU countries and is the main transit route for Russian gas to Europe. “We want to send a message that we don’t want to live in a police state. We want to live in a modern state and we will achieve this,” said Vitaly Klitschko, an opposition leader who says Yanukovich wants to turn the clock back to the Soviet past. Klitschko, a 2-metre (6 foot 7-inch) tall world heavyweight boxing champion who is increasingly viewed as a national leaderin-waiting, urged all Ukrainians who back a European future for their country to join the rally at 12 p.m. (1000 GMT).
“Our protest is peaceful but we will bring pressure to bear on this government so that our demands are met,” he said. Around 350,000 people joined a similar rally yesterday, one day after riot police beat protesters and journalists in a crackdown that drew condemnation from Western governments. Police have since threatened to eject protesters occupying public buildings, including Kiev’s City Hall. Speculation has swept Ukraine about whether Yanukovich, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Friday, may be poised to sign up to a Moscow-led customs union, slamming the door on any move closer to the EU. Moscow and Kiev both sought to play down the speculation, saying the customs union was not even discussed in Sochi, but they confirmed the two governments would meet on December 17. “Any signature to a deal on forming a new Soviet Union means the breakup of the country,” Arseny Yatsenyuk, a former economy minister now prominent in the opposition, told reporters.
Yanukovich and Putin, who regards Ukraine as strategically vital to Moscow’s own interests, are widely believed to have struck a bargain whereby Ukraine obtains cheaper Russian gas and possibly credits in exchange for backing away from the EU. Ukraine sorely needs external help to meet looming gas bills and debt repayments, but the protesters camped around braziers in Kiev’s central Independence Square, braving snow and sub-zero temperatures, say their struggle is about more than money. “We want our country to be as civilised as the most advanced country in Europe. That means real democracy and equal rights under the law,” said Valentina Mysak, 58, who planned to attend yesterday’s rally with her daughter and 20 others from her native town of Obukhov, 50 km (30 miles) from Kiev. “Our hearts demand a revolution,” said Dennis Cherniavsky, 25, who works for an agricultural firm. “This is not any more about joining the European Union, it is about having a humane government.”
Iran presses ahead with uranium enrichment technology DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran is moving ahead with testing more efficient uranium enrichment technology, a spokesman for its atomic energy agency said yesterday, in news that may concern world powers who last month agreed a deal to curb Tehran’s atomic activities. Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi was quoted by state news agency IRNA as saying that initial testing on a new generation of more sophisticated centrifuges had been completed, underlining Iran’s determination to keep refining uranium in what it says is work to make fuel for a planned network of nuclear power plants. Although the development does not appear to contravene the interim agreement struck between world powers and Iran last month, it may concern the West nonetheless, as the material can also provide the fissile core of a nuclear bomb if enriched to a high degree. “The new generation of centrifuges was produced with a higher capacity
compared with the first generation machines and we have completed initial tests,” Kamalvandi was quoted as saying. “The production of a new generation of centrifuges is in line with the (Iranian atomic energy) agency’s approach of upgrading the quality of enrichment machines and increasing the rate of production by using the maximum infrastructure facilities”. Kamalvandi said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been informed of the development. Iran’s development of a new generation of centrifuges - machines that spin at supersonic speed to increase the ratio of the fissile isotope - could enable it to refine uranium much faster. Under the November 24 interim accord with the six world powers, Iran promised not to start operating them or install any more for a period of six months. But the agreement seems to allow it to continue with research and development activity at a
nearby Natanz pilot plant. Iran earlier this year stoked the West’s worries by starting to install a new centrifuge - the IR-2m - at its Natanz enrichment plant. Iran is testing the IR-2m and other models at its research and development facility at Natanz. Kamalvandi did not specify whether the new centrifuge model he was referring to was the IR-2m. It is currently using a 1970s model, the IR1, to refine uranium at the main Natanz plant and its efforts to replace this breakdown-prone centrifuge are being closely watched. Some experts believe the IR-2m can enrich uranium 2-3 times faster than the IR-1. U.N. inspectors arrived in Tehran on Saturday and are due for the first time in more than two years to visit a plant linked to a planned heavywater reactor that could yield nuclear bomb fuel, taking up an initial gesture by Iran to open its disputed nuclear programme up to greater scrutiny.
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“Seymour Nurse: A real West Indies class act and scourge of New Zealand” With West Indies trying hard to regain semblance and respect at being Test cricketers in New Zealand, after that debilitating thrashing received in India in its last two Tests, thoughts might wander to that distant, tumultuous tour by West Indies to NZ; 1979/80. At least, Darren Bravo is doing his best! After West Indies, including me, defeated Australia for the first time ever in Australia, we then, normal back then, proceeded to NZ. What a tour that turned out to be. Expect reflections on that 1979/80 tour later. But this is about a West Indies batting icon who performed brilliantly on another such tour to NZ, in 1968/9, a year before I h a d e v e n p l a y e d Yo u t h cricket for Guyana. Seymour Mc Donald Nurse has just achieved another massive milestone, celebrating his 80th birthday last November 10. That tour to New Zealand 1968/9 was his last.
Batsmen Nurse and (Sir) Everton Weekes, and fast bowler Charlie Griffith were, still are, my most favorite cricketers, anywhere, of all time. I had come, as a ten year old, to fully appreciate international cricket generally; West Indies cricket specifically; with West Indies tour to England 1963. I liked Grif ’s outright aggression as a fast bowler and Nursey’s poise and elegance. Having never seen Sir Everton bat “live”, his always positive persona, unbelievable historical statistics and sharing of a name, have made him my hero too. So, no-one would ever understand my great pleasure and fortune when, for my Test debut; v Pakistan 1976/7, Barbados; the person overseeing preparations of pitch and ground at Kensington Oval was Seymour Nurse. Additionally pleasant was that Liaison Officer for West Indies in Barbados back then was Charlie Griffith. As a Guyana and West
Seymour Nurse (cricinfo) Indies fast bowler, I always sought Grif’s council, which was always given with encouragement and frank, honest assessment. 1398 runs; 279 runs per day; 39 wickets occurred in those five glorious, fluctuating days of Test cricket, West Indies just staving off Imran Khan and Mustaq Mohammed, and defeat, by a miraculous last session batting resilience by fast bowler Andy Roberts and yours truly. With seven wickets in the game and saving West
K&S Secondary School Football Championships set for grand kickoff today All roads lead to the Georgetown Football Club Ground this afternoon when the 24th edition of the K&S Secondary School Football Championships g e t s u n d e r w ay at the Georgetown Football Club Ground (GFC) and 24 participating teams of slickly dressed schoolchildren are expected to conform to the ceremonial march past where Minister of Culture Youth & Sport, Frank Anthony will take the salute before delivering the keynote address. Activities get underway at 15:00hrs and several other dignitaries are
expected to deliver brief remarks including P r e s i d e n t o f t h e G. F. F, C h r i s t o p h e r Matthias, Director of K&S, Kashif Mohamed and a representative of one of the major sponsors, Ansa McAl Trading. Following the official opening ceremony, two exciting matches are scheduled to be played. Wisburg Secondary will take on East Ruimveldt Secondary in the first e n c o u n t e r w h i l e A n n ’s Grove Secondary will clash with Christ Church Secondary just afterwards. All school children will
be permitted to view the games free of charge up until the semifinals and even then, the organizers are attempting to retain this arrangement for the final phase of the competition. The teams will be easily recognized after Mishal’s For Kids & More of Ogle Airstrip Road ECD donated an equivalent number of name boards to the K&S Entertainment group. Participating schools will be drawn from Linden (4), West Bank Demerara (4), Georgetown (8), East Coast Demerara (4), East Bank Demerara (2), Mazaruni and Berbice (1 apiece).
GSCL/DIGIMAX C’SHIPS….
Finals on today at DCC THE FINALS in both Masters and Open category of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Incorporated organized Digimax sponsored Masters and Open tournament, will bowl off at the Demerara Cricket Club ground today from 10:00hrs, following the playing of the semifinals yesterday.
In the Master’s Category which is being contested as a T20 affair, Regal Masters will collide with Success Masters, while Regal XI will oppose Wolf Warriors in the Open category. In the Master’s semifinal matchup which was contested at the DCC ground yesterday, Regal defeated Ogle by 10 runs while Savage
Masters overcame Success Masters. Regal got the better of Farm XI by 6 wickets and Wolf’s Warriors got a walk over from Trophy Stall in the open division. The winning teams in both categories will receive a trophy and $100, 000 each, while the runners-up will collect a trophy and $50, 000 apiece.
Indies from defeat with the bat, I had arrived, I guess. Also, Kensington Oval pitch, circa 1977, was noted to be the best cricket pitch in the world then. Seymour had done a masterful job as head ground curator! In my cricket and life, that all-encompassing respect for these men continue. I still address them as “Mr. Nurse”, “Mr. Griffith” and “Sir Everton”. Anyway, in a time when West Indies had only one home or away Test series p e r y e a r, N u r s e p l a y e d only 29 Tests; 2523 runs; two double centuries, four additional centuries, average 47.60. Overall; 141 First Class matches; 9489 runs, average 43.93. By today’s standards, he is nearly genius. In 1968/9, he was considered that too, a classical batting genius! After jumping over the fence, as I could not afford entrance fees, I first saw Nurse bat at Bourda in 1968, opening with Stephen Camacho for WI v England, 5th Test, a game WI had to win to draw that series. That Nurse opened batting at all is exactly about his greatness, flexibility and adaptability as a batsman, since West Indies’ middle order
included Rohan Kanhai, (Sir) Garfield Sobers, Clive Lloyd and Basil Butcher. Nurse needed to find his niche, as he had batted from No. 6 up to No. 1. His first ball received, 2nd innings, 1968 Test, a bouncer from that tremendous fast bowler, John Snow, was top-edged, from a slow-reaction hook shoot, into Regent Street for six! Nurse was eventually out for 49, LBW to Snow. I went home immediately, satisfied that I had seen the most classical batsman ever, more so than Carl Hooper or Australia’s Mark Waugh. I still think so! England drew that game; 206-9 chasing 308 to win; but winning that series 2-1. With middling scores of 25, 16, 22, 74, 03, 17, 05, 40, 0 9 , 1 3 7 i n 5 Te s t s v Australia 1968/9, Nurse decided, knowing that this was his last international tour; quitting for personal, family and business reasons; to produce his best in the accompanying tour to New Zealand. His scores for three Te s t s , w i t h t h e s e r i e s drawn 1-1: 95, 168, 21, 16, 258, the last his best Test score ever. Unlike present-day West Indies, whose Coach Ottis Gibson and main wicket-
Colin E. H. Croft says: keeper Denesh Ramdin have complained about geographical and temperature changes of moving from the heat of India to the cold of New Zealand, Nurse had no such problem moving from even hotter Australia to NZ. Sometimes you have to wonder who is really representing West Indies these days at cricket. As shown by Nurse and others, international cricket tours are about adaptation and resilience. Former West Indies captains both, opener Desmond Haynes and middle-order batsman Hooper, have been likened to Nurse as batsmen. Haynes admitted that he patterned his style after Seymour. But if you combined Haynes’ achieved excellence and Hooper’s underwhelming returns, given his ease of batsmanship, they could not compare to Seymour Mc Donald Nurse, a real class act! Enjoy!
Turfites prepare for Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club Boxing Day horserace extravaganza Time has flown and it seems as only yesterday that the administrators of the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club have staged their Xmas race meeting at their Bush Lot Farm Corentyne, Berbice location. In fact, one year has elapsed and turfites are getting ready for similar excitement when that entity stages a similar event at the same venue on Boxing Day, Thursday December 26 next. This time there will be 8 exciting races with millions of dollars at stake. The feature event will be contested among the 3 year old West Indian maiden and Guyanese bred horses over a distance of one mile. The winner and second place finisher will ride off with $600,000 and $500,000 respectively with lucrative prizes up to the 4th place finisher. The race among
horses in the A & Lower category will also be contested over one mile with similar prizes for jockeys coming in first and second There will also be 4 races, each over a distance of 6 furlongs in the J & Lower, J3 & K, G I & Lower, the D3 Maiden and E Lower and the 2 years old. These winners will also pocket lucrative purses. The event is conducted under the aegis of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority and all rules will apply. Owners of horses are reminded that they must pay at least $5,000 for each horse at the time of entry otherwise the horses’ names would not appear on the official programme thus debarring the horses’ participation. Entries close on Sunday, December 15 and late entry will not be accepted. Horses can also be
registered with Roopnarine Matadial (Shine 325-3192), Ivan Dipnarine (331-0316), Justice-Kennard (623-7609, 225-4818/226-1399), Isabella Barton (693-7812) or Dennis Deroop 325-3301(609-9143). Several entities have contributed towards the success of the programme including DDL, Ansa Mcal Trading Co, Republic Bank, Neal & Massy (Guyana) Ltd, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Winston & George Baijnauth – Sawmillers, Digicel, Pomeroon Oil Mill, Nand Persaud & Co, Berbice Bridge Co. Inc, Gobin Agri Spares Center, Goodwood & Horse Shoe Racing Services, N. Mattai & Co, Ariel Enterprise, P & P Insurance Brokers, Kanhai Guyana Electrical Agency, Torginol Paints Inc, Gift Land Office Max and Kharag Family.
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
Female Canadian duo aiming to roll heads at Flex Night Int.
Eustace Abraham flanked by Farrah Rahaman (right) and Cassandra Linton at the Kaieteur News Gym. By Franklin Wilson They were aiming to surprise the audience and to bring another level to female competition on the body building stage, but that plan did not quite work out as the 2013 edition of Flex Night International organised by Flex Night Incorporated was put back to March 2, 2014. Director of Flex Night Inc. Donald Sinclair had disclosed that the decision to put back the show was due to a number of challenges and in the interest of pulling off an event that is second to none, the Directors decided on a new date. Guyanese based Canadian professional bodybuilder and personal trainer, Eustace Abraham who has been doing his bit to enhance the development of the sport in his homeland, was continuing in this vein for the Flex Night Int. Show which was set for this month. Abraham, who was responsible for bringing the Guest Poser for the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation 2012 seniors; Canada’s National female Masters Heavyweight Champion, Tananarive McGowan says he is committed to motivating more Guyanese females to get involved competitively and is prepared to work with them also. To this end, Abraham brought to these shores, Cassandra Linton and Farrah Rahaman who were eager to show off their bodies and set
tongues wagging while at the same time motivating their fellow women folk. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Abraham disclosed that Rahaman is a success story and a wonderful example of what the sport can do for women pointing out that proper diet makes a major difference in one’s life. He also noted that diet is not only a science but also an art. Rahaman, who is Canadian born and daughter of Race Ace Ray Rahaman, was at one time 200lbs overweight to the extent that she felt that there was no hope of ever sporting an attractive body. Rahaman was advised by her doctor to go on a diet and that’s when Abraham came into the picture and set about working with Rahaman to change her thinking of no hope and to bring about positive change which has resulted in a different individual altogether; a young lady that is now confident enough to compete. Rahaman, an aspiring fitness and figure competitor said that she wants to be a role model to other female bodybuilders to let them know that the sky is the limit and nothing is impossible. Like Farrah, Cassandra Linton, a Canadian citizen whose father is Guyanese (Leroy Linton) and mother Jamaican (Pauline), is also a fitness and figure competitor. Linton says she just loves the sport and is also capable of
competing in hard core bodybuilding. Both athletes stated that they are very happy to be in Guyana and while the show is not taking place this month anymore they will try their best to motivate and boost the confidence of as many women as possible while here. Along with their trainer Abraham, both Rahaman and Linton have promised to be back for the Show on March 2, 2014 and are looking forward to see many Guyanese women coming on stage to compete also. The trio also took the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on Director of Flex Night Inc. Donald Sinclair and held fruitful discussions on the sport. Abraham said that he was pleased to have met with Sinclair along with the two young ladies and will be back next year. Sinclair also commented: “The Directors of Flex Night Incorporated deeply appreciates the surprise gesture of Mr. Eustace Abraham in bringing Ms. Rahaman and Ms. Linton to participate in the now postponed Flex Night event. Both ladies are in very fine shape and their participation would certainly raise the level of the game on the local scene. We do intend to follow their progress very closely (as we do with all local bodybuilders) and would be more than happy to welcome them to the March 2 event.”
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Down Memory Lane Part 4
WEST INDIES 1987 TOUR TO NEW ZEALAND SERIES DRAWN ONE ALL
Malcolm Marshall
Gordon Greenidge
Statistician Charwayne Walker follows up today with his look back at the previous West Indies tours of New Zealand with the 1987 tour which ended in a 1-1 stalemate. The Caribbean side is currently touring New Zealand. Playing under the Captaincy of Vivian Richards, West Indies fourth tour to New Zealand ended one all, the first Test drawn at Wellington, the West Indies won the second by 10 wickets at Auckland and the host took the third match by 5 wickets at Christ Church. Summary of matches played: first test Basin Reserve, Wellington - New Zealand first innings 228 all out - John Wright 75, Jeff Crowe 37, Richard Hadlee 35 not out; Bowling for West Indies Joel Garner Captured 5 for 51, Courtney Walsh 2 for 46, Malcolm Marshall 2 for 57. We s t I n d i e s F i r s t Innings 345 All out Desmond Haynes 121, Gordon Greenidge 78,
Ri chie Richardson 37, Malcolm Marshall 30; Bowling for New Zealand Ewan Chatfield 4 for 102, Ewan Chatfield 4 for 102, Stephen Boock 3for 76, Richard Hadlee 2 for 77. New Zealand Second Innings 386 for 5 declared John Wright 138, Martin Crowe 119; Bowling for West Indies Joel Garner 2 for 72. West Indies Second Innings - 50 for 2, Gordon Greenidge 25; Stephen Boock took 2 for 8 bowling for New Zeeland. Second test, Eden Park Auckland - West Indies won by 10 wickets. WI 408 for 9 declared -Gordon Greenidge 213, Jeffrey Dujon 77, Richie Richardson 41, Augustine Logie 34; Bowling for New Zealand Richard Hadlee 6 for 105, Stephen Boock 2 for 96. New Zealand First Innings 157 all out - Ian Smith 40 not out, Dipak Patel 21; Bowling for West Indies Malcolm Marshall 4 for 43, Anthony Gray 3 for 45, Clyde Butts 2 for 21. New Zealand Second Innings
Courtney Walsh following on, 273 all out Martin Crowe 104, John Bracewell 43; Bowling for West Indies Courtney Walsh 5 for 73, Anthony Gray 2 for 44, Malcolm Marshall 2 for 71. Third Test, Lancaster Park Christ Church - New Zealand won by 5 wickets. West Indies first Innings 100 all out - Richie Richardson 37, Courtney Walsh 14, Anthony Gray 10 not out; Bowling for New Zealand Richard Hadlee 6 for 50, Ewun Chatfield 4 for 30. New Zealand 362 for 9 declared batting a second time Martin C r o w e 8 3 , J o h n Bracewell 66, Jeff Crowe 55, Jeremy Coney 36; Bowling for West Indies Joel Garner 4 for 79, Anthony Gray 2 for 47. West Indies Second Innings 264 all out Malcolm Marshall 45, Jeffrey Dujon 39, Vivian Richards 38, Larry Gomes 33; Bowling for New Zealand Martin Snedden 5 for 68, Richard Hadlee 3 for 100. New Zealand Second Innings 5 for 33 - Courtney Walsh took 3 for 16.
2013 Norman Singh Memorial Second Division 20-Over Cricket Competition in West Berbice
D’Edward, Bath clash in final today at Bath The Bath Community Centre ground is the venue for the 2013 Norman Singh Memorial Second Division 20-Over Final today. The two teams who fought their way through in this specially arranged competition for teams in West Berbice are Bath, who defeated favourite Cotton Tree Die Hard in the semifinal and D’Edward, who got the bye through to the final after dispatching Hopetown United easily in their third round encounter. The highly favoured D’Edward have the most recognised batting line up which will be led by
opening batsman Lakeraj Sukra, who has the highest score in the competition so far, 93 in his only innings, former Berbice batsman Eon Abel, Devendra Lalsa, Mahadeo Persaud and the dangerous hard hitting Jaipaul Heeralall. Their bowling attack consists of offspinners Lalsa, Abel and Brian Roopnarine who had a 4wicket haul against Hopetown as well as two frugal medium pacers Christian France and Navin Rampersaud. Bath for their part have two batsmen with half centuries under their belts in Ravi Gossai and Shawn
Kadim as well as Chetram Dhanpersaud with scores of 37 N.O and 31 in his two i n n i n g s s o f a r, N a v i n Ramnauth, Kapil Armogan and Norman Chattergoon. Their bowling will centre around offspinner Gossai, Kadim and Vinod Ramjattan as well as medium pacers Armogan and Ramnauth. The match is scheduled to start at 13:00 hours. Meanwhile, the third place play-off between Hopetown United and Cotton Tree Die Hard is also fixed for today at the same venue starting at 09:00 hours.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 08, 2013
UG administrators to transform sports sector to a contemporary institution By Michael Benjamin The University of Guyana is the nation’s highest learning institution and every year it churns out hundreds of graduates with unbelievable academic accomplishments. However, the pundits are adamant that not much is being done to enhance the sports life of interested youths. They have said that the purpose of any learning institution worth its salt is to prepare the individuals for the challenges of life while fostering personal development, two variables that can be addressed through involvement in sports. Registrar of the University of Guyana, Vincent Alexander, is cognizant of such concerns and even as he acknowledges the merits, assures the students that the modalities are currently being addressed to transform the sports sector to a contemporary state. Consequently, UG administrators are presently examining the contents of a Green Paper submitted by the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) to the Academic Board to fashion a sports policy that would serve as a tool for developing students into well rounded, civic minded citizens. Mr. Alexander spoke with Kaieteur Sport at his Turkeyen office and expressed his views on this matter. He is adamant that the
Discuss sports policy Vincent Alexander
general perception towards sport will have to firstly undergo a metamorphosis if his administrators are to succeed in any transformation. “It is unfortunate that sports locally do not offer a basis for economic development and you will find that students would opt for their academic furtherance over sports excellence,” the Registrar opined. He further posited that the providence of such opportunities could very well cause more students to take advantage of sports as a supplementary to other academic activities. He also said that his
administration is currently confined to a restrictive budget of approximately $6M, accumulated from a mandatory s ports fee of $1000 per semester levied on all students of the University. He blamed the overdependency on that sum for the poor output of sport events and incentives. “That is why University organized sports activities are lacking in incentives, shortened, u n d e r - r esourced, poorly marketed and poorly attended,” explained Mr. Alexander. He said that the document now under consideration will examine strategies to deal
with such anomalies and to ensure that the sports sector is financially sustainable. The UG also hopes to form partnerships with the Government, private sector and other sports associations to achieve its objectives and one of the fundamental ploys would be to examine ways of achieving financial sustenance to address the sports calendar. As such, administrators plan to apply robust tactics in cleverly designed marketing proposals while influencing tangible contributions from the corporate community in the form of event paraphernalia, sporting equipment and other relevant materials. “This would significantly reduce costs incurred by the administration for staging these events,” said Mr. Alexander. The very students that are agitating for the employment of strategies will be required to bear some of the costs associated with the implementation of the initiatives. “Obviously, there will arise a need to increase the yearly sports fee to about $2000,” warned the registrar. He quickly pointed out that such implementations will require slight changes to the current social contracts. “The new arrangement could only be justified if a new contract evolved whereby students, as a result of witnessing improvements in the University’s sports amenities
and culture, become willing to pay these increases.” The absence of proper facilities and infrastructure is also a worrying factor and Mr. Alexander said that the policy document will address the rectification of such impediments while encouraging broader participation. “The patent lack of sports facilities, in particular, a sports field with a pavilion and gymnasium for weights and other indoor training is, perhaps, the greatest constraints to the enhancement of wider student participation in sports,” bemoaned the UG administrator. He said that his executives will discuss counteracting strategies which include franchising or other Administration/Private Sector arrangement to have a fully equipped and staffed gym at the Turkeyen location. “This is a Green Paper which we wish to develop into a White Paper and ultimately, a policy document,” said Mr. Alexander. The UG Registrar said that the academic board has recently established a sports committee comprising faculty staff and students to deal with the modalities for the establishment of the sports policy. He further said that this very group would be asked to monitor its implementation. “We are not procrastinating on this one,” pronounced Mr. Alexander, “We intend to have a refined
document to present to the Academic Board by May next year,” he confidently pronounced. This initiative should promote the UG on par with other territorial institutions like Jamaica which has distinguished itself as a strong athletic nation and has partnered with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to enhance its fortunes in this department. Conversely, over in Barbados, the sports programme at Cave Hill offers a range of sports including athletics, water sports (sailing, scuba, windsurfing and swimming), football, cricket, volleyball, netball, lawn tennis and basketball. UWI Games are held every two years with all three campuses competing in several sports. The games are held on each campus on rotation. The Mona Campus is presently the reigning champions for these games. The UG Registrar assures that his administrators are urgently addressing these concerns to refine and develop the current Green paper into a White Paper and subsequently, a policy document. “An ad hoc committee would be formed to hold consultations with stakeholders, including students of the UG, to expand on these proposals and present them for ratification very soon,” he confided.
Bronze Medal in Peru was my proudest moment
From page 77 in Georgetown on June 3, 1998 and lived all of his life in East Bank Demerara Village of Peter’s Hall. It is of little surprise that the Marian Academy Fourth Form student eats, sleeps and breathes Badminton. His father, Gokarn Ramdhani, is a former National Badminton player and now National Coach and President of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA). They along with 11-year-old sister Priyanna have ‘Badminton blood’ running through their veins. The pair dominated the last National Sports Commission (NSC) Age Group Badminton tournament. Priyanna is two times junior sportswoman and medaled at the PANAM games for the ladies in addition to winning her age group at the Caribbean games for the last five years.
Priyanna, who is also the reigning national women’s champion, copped the Under13, U-15 and U-17 Girls singles title. Her brother, the national junior and senior champion, won the Boys Under-17, U-19 and U-21 titles. “I became interested in Badminton by watching my father play and from being around the badminton courts from the time I was born,” Narayan revealed. Their mother was also a competent Badminton Player for the Yonnex Badminton club and while admitting their ability has something to do with their genes Narayan explains that the siblings work hard on their game to stay on top. “We are naturally talented players but also work hard on our game to stay on top. Practice and training is done three times a week for three hours each day. For tournaments we
practice five days per week,” Narayan disclosed. Although the Ramdhanis are proud of their off-springs achievements in sports they understand the value of a sound Academic foundation and ensure that Badminton does not interfere with school work. “Badminton does not affect our school work as we have a study schedule on the days we do not practice” Narayan pointed out. Narayan said his toughest challenge would have been in Peru where he had to acclimatize to the cold weather and compete against very competitive opponents, who were much older than him. Although still very young in his trade, the teenager has already represented his country in Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Barbados,
Canada, Jamaica and Peru. Asked if it was easier having his dad as his coach or if that put extra pressure on him, Narayan answered, “No it’s not easier having my father as my coach. He is a perfectionist and a high level of discipline is always expected.” Narayan’s favorite subjects are Physical Education and History and the youngster is working towards a career in Sports Education or Engineering. He says it’s a bit difficult making a career of Badminton in Guyana due to the school system of having extra classes and lessons and also because of the unavailability of the Halls to practice at his convenience. “The facilities in Guyana are not up to standard for professional Badminton. At International compe-
titions we play on synthetic and rubberized courts,” lamented Narayan, whose hobbies are playing basketball and cricket, sports disciplines in which he represents his school team. His favorite food is lasagna and roti and curry and the persons that inspire him the most are his father and Lin Dan, a topranked International Badminton player. “The standard of Badminton in the Caribbean is very high. I am ranked in the top two in my age category” Narayan disclosed. He says his parents, Mr. Pritipaul Singh and my Badminton colleagues are among the people that have helped him the most in his Badminton career adding if he was not a badminton player he would have been a Basketball
player. “My advice to persons my age is to get involved in a sport as Sports gives you a strong mind and a healthy body. Education is important too because it can help you to get a scholarship for your future and pave the way for the success you desire in life,” the level-headed youth stressed. His father disclosed that Narayan is presently in the process of working towards a Badminton scholarship as in his view that’s the only way forward for him to be a World Champion. Narayan won the first tournament he ever entered, the GBA age-group competition in the under-10 division. He was just seven at that time and a promising career beckoned. He has gone a long way in ensuring he is right on track.
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
CONCACAF and CFU mourn the passing of Nelson Mandela President of CONCACAF Jeff Webb has joined millions around the world in mourning the passing of Nelson Mandela noting that the confederation is deeply moved by his passing. Following is the full text of the CONCACAF message: “As a token of respect and admiration to the inspiration he has infused during my personal journey, I would like to pay tribute to Madiba’s legacy. A man whose existence has inspired such universal admiration on his lifelong quest for undeniable heightened human values. The world should hope to see more heroes like him, able to touch countless hearts with his fervent passion for an altruistic cause, while spreading words of wisdom with selfless humility for the sole good of humankind. Let us never forget what a natural leader of such great stature looks like. With gratitude for his unequivocal legacy, we
extend our condolences to Mr. Mandela’s family, friends and the world at large on this sad day. Our prayers are with you.” President of the Caribbean football Union Gordon Derrick also conveyed his Union’s regret at Mandela’s passing. Following is the full text of the CFU message: The world has come to a pause, as we, its inhabitants, brothers and sisters all over, recognise and reflect on the extraordinary life, work and endless influence of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. People from so many and varied languages, cultures, political orientations and other mores are joined now, today, in this moment of sorrow, and yet, of celebration. For infused in Mandela, like the great sport of football which unifies its followers as the most popular in the world, were the special qualities of profound joy and optimism. He also was the very expression of tolerance, and a profound sense of justice,
which endeared the world to him. We still remember that special moment when South Africa was named Host of the 2010 World Cup. In the midst of the competition and anticipation as to which country would have launched the successful bid, the impact of that moment was superseded only by the sight of Mandela – Madiba – holding the World Cup. That was a moment, a global moment, when we felt that he was holding all of us to himself. The Executive and Member Associations of the Caribbean Football Union stand in salute with the rest of the world, in honour of a sportsman, a visionary, a revolutionary, a statesman, and ultimately, an untarnished symbol of justice. We salute the people of South Africa for producing its greatest son, who, through his exemplary life, became one of the greatest the world has ever seen.
FIFA changes World Cup kickoff times in hottest venues
The groups for the 2014 World Cup finals are shown on the screen after the draw was made at the Costa do Sauipe resort in Sao Joao da Mata, Bahia state, December 6, 2013. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes (Reuters) - World soccer body FIFA has revised kickoff times for seven group matches at next year’s World Cup finals in Brazil, including four in the hottest venues. In a statement on their website (www.fifa.com), FIFA confirmed the 64-match schedule for the finals with amended start times for three fixtures in the Amazonian city of Manaus and one in Recife. These included England’s
Group D meeting with Italy in Manaus on June 14, and the United States’ Group G clash with Portugal in the same city on June 22. The following kick-off times have been adjusted (all times stated are local): Saturday 14 June Ivory Coast v Japan, 2200 (from 1900) in Recife England v Italy, 1800 (from 2100) in Manaus Wednesday 18 June
Cameroon v Croatia, 1800 (from 1500) in Manaus Spain v Chile, 1600 (from 1900) in Rio de Janeiro Sunday 22 June United States v Portugal, 1800 (from 1500) in Manaus Belgium v Russia, 1300 (from 1900) in Rio de Janeiro South Korea v Algeria, 1600 (from 1300) in Porto Alegre.
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Man Utd slump to defeat by Newcastle
Manchester United looked a dejected bunch after the loss. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - Manchester United slumped to their second home Premier League defeat in the space of four days as Yohan Cabaye’s goal gave Newcastle a first victory at Old Trafford since 1972. The home side struggled to break down the Magpies, other than a flurry of chances at the start of the second half, with Patrice Evra heading against the post before the ball rebounded against Vurnon Anita’s arm. Newcastle struck on the break when Cabaye fired home Moussa Sissoko’s cross. Robin van Persie had a header disallowed as Manchester United tried to respond, but Newcastle held on for a famous victory which means home form that had been cause for concern for boss David Moyes is now turning into a crisis. The Scot’s side have dropped 13 points out of 24 in front of their own fans this season and suffered back-to-back league defeats at Old Trafford for the first time since the end of the 2001-02 season. We d n e s d a y ’s l o s s t o Everton meant Moyes’s side came into this game already trailing leaders
Arsenal by 12 points and in danger of being out of the title race by Christmas. At this rate, a top-four place will also be beyond them. Old Trafford has been the site of many a late goal to deny visitors victory in the past but large numbers of home fans had left before the end, clearly believing an equaliser was beyond their side. The same problems that have haunted Moyes all season were present here a lack of creativity in midfield, and a vulnerability on the break at the back. Chances were thin on the ground in a cagey first half, as Newcastle’s fiveman midfield worked hard to keep their hosts quiet. Wi t h Wa y n e R o o n e y suspended, Van Persie’s return after four games out was a welcome boost for Moyes and the Dutchman was expected to provide the spark in attack. There was little inspiration in that department, however, and a tame Phil Jones shot from the edge of the area was the only time Krul had to make a save in the first half. In fact it was Newcastle who had the best effort before the interval, when
Mathieu Debuchy found space to fire in a shot from the right of the area that was pushed away by David De Gea. Manchester United looked more like their old selves at the start of the second half, when Javier Hernandez tested Krul and Evra’s header was only kept out by a combination of the post and Anita. But Newcastle survived and hit back in style just after the hour mark when Sissoko escaped down the right and found Cabaye waiting to fire home from his pull-back. And, for the third time on home soil this season, there was to be no Manchester United comeback. Van Persie had a goal ruled out for offside, Adnan Januzaj was denied by Krul a n d s u b s t i t u t e Wi l f r i e d Zaha curled a shot wide but, in truth, Newcastle did not face anything like a late onslaught. Van Persie was otherwise anonymous, and this was a largely insipid display. The last time Manchester United lost successive home league games, the title was already lost and they finished third. To most of their fans, even that must seem like a distant dream.
Renole Bourne to host tapeball cricket at Cultural Centre Tarmac December 28 Former Demerara Under19 cricketer Renole Bourne will host a Holiday Bash sixover knock-out Tape Ball Cricket competition on the Cultural Centre Tarmac on December 28. The event, which caters for teams of
seven players each, has an entrance fee of $7,000 and as you lose you go home. Teams will battle for the winner take all prize of $50,000 while the winner of a special exhibition match will walk away with $10,000. There will
also be prizes up for grabs for the best Batsman, Best Bowler and Batsman with the most sixes. Interested teams can contact Bourne on telephone number 687-9078 or e-mail – holidaybash2013@gmail.com
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Kaieteur News
Sunday December 08, 2013
Mitchell Johnson leaves Simmons extends stay at Ireland England in disarray BBC Sport - England are teetering on the brink of a second humiliating defeat in two Tests after fast bowler Mitchell Johnson rampaged through their out-of-form batting once again. Johnson took 7-40, including a wonderful spell of 5-16 in five overs after lunch, as England were rattled out for a feeble 172 to concede a first-innings deficit of 398 runs. Only Ian Bell, with an unbeaten 72, and Michael Carberry (60) offered any resistance as their team-mates either tossed their wickets away or were simply unable to cope with Johnson’s fearsome pace. Twice the left-armer was on hat-tricks after both Stuart Broad and James Anderson were bowled first ball, while Matt Prior’s dismal run of form continued with his fifth duck in nine Tests. With time on their side, Australia then opted to bat again, and had extended their lead to 530 with seven wickets still in hand by the close. But with two full days to come, England need a miracle in the city of churches to prevent themselves going 20 down in this Ashes series. So abject was this display, and so one-sided has been the series thus far, that Australia are now unarguable favourites to win back the urn for the first time since 2009. Needing 371 to avoid the follow-on after Australia’s runaway 570-9 declared, England had begun with determination and discipline, only for all that to rapidly evaporate into the warm south Australian air in the hour before lunch. Joe Root set the tone, slog-sweeping the first ball he faced from Nathan Lyon to Chris Rogers at deep square leg to throw away his wicket for 15 after 79 previously patient deliveries. If that was wasteful, Kevin Pietersen - scorer of 158 and 227 in his previous two Tests on this ground - was then guilty of a crass misjudgement when, with two men in catching on the leg side, he attempted to flick Peter Siddle over them and instead picked out George Bailey at mid-wicket for just four. Carberry and Bell briefly arrested the descent, Carberry going to his maiden Test half century, before David Warner clung on to a diving onehanded catch at mid-wicket to see off the opener. But the real horror began
Phil Simmons
after lunch, when Johnson tore in from the Cathedral End like some fast-bowling banshee to blow the England middle order away. In the space of one extraordinary over he had debutant Ben Stokes trapped lbw on review for one, Prior caught behind after being roughed up with two short ones and Broad bowled behind his legs the very next ball. Graeme Swann survived the hat-trick ball at the start of Johnson’s next over but then swiped at a wide one to be brilliantly caught by Michael Clarke at second slip for seven. Next into the mincing machine was Anderson, bowled for a golden duck and given a fierce send-off by the close fielders as he departed, head bowed. In five and a half overs Johnson had taken six wickets, England losing six for 24 either side of lunch. Alone amid the wreckage stood Bell, who went on the attack with only Monty Panesar for company and raced past his half century as Johnson was rested. But when the fast bowler was recalled to the attack, he bowled the brave Panesar to leave England adrift in a sea of scorn. As Australia looked for quick runs, Anderson had Rogers caught behind for two and Shane Watson taken in the gully for a duck before Panesar bowled Clarke with a
Mitchell Johnson celebrates one of his three wickets in an over. (Getty Images)
beauty that drifted and turned. But the pugnacious Warner (83 not out) and Steve Smith (23 not out) saw them to the close at 132-3 to leave
their side in total control. Scores: Australia 9 for 570 dec and 3 for 132 (Warner 83*) lead England 172 (Bell 72*, Johnson 7-40) by 530 runs.
Cricinfo - Dublin, Ireland - Phil Simmons has signed a two-year contract to extend his tenure as Ireland coach until the end of the 2015 domestic season. Simmons, a former West Indies allrounder who took over as Ireland coach following the 2007 World Cup, guided them during a period of unprecedented success. Under Simmons, Ireland qualified for six consecutive global events, and won nine trophies including three ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, two Intercontinental Cups, the 2008 European Championships, 2009 ICC Trophy, 2010 World Cricket League Division One title and the 2012 World Cricket League Championship. He will have a chance to add to that collection next week, when Ireland take on Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup final in Dubai. “It wasn’t a difficult decision to agree a further two years,” Simmons said. “I love Ireland and the people, who have a similar outlook to life as West Indians. The team has been very successful, but importantly for me, they are still hungry for success and willing to learn and improve all the time. “We still have a long way to go and it’s an exciting period to be involved with Irish cricket, both on and off the field. We’re putting in place foundations that will serve the sport well in the generations to come.
“There’s always been quality in the Irish team, but we’re adding genuine depth which can be seen now in the players who aren’t in the squad. It’s certainly made selection meetings a lot longer though. “We’ve dominated at Associate level and now have ambitions to take the game in Ireland to the next level with our desire to become a Test nation by 2020. We’re on course to meet the challenges and targets that have been set, and I’m delighted to be part of that set-up” Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom was upbeat after securing the deal. “We are delighted that Phil will be staying with us for at least another two years. It is obvious that he has been one of the main catalysts for the continued success not just of the squad, but also of Irish cricket itself, that is now generally regarded as the c o u n t r y ’s fastestgrowing sport,” he said. “Like us, he believes that this team is capable of great things both in limited-overs cricket and, eventually, in the Test arena and his passion for the Irish cause remains undimmed. “Irrespective that Phil is already the longest-serving coach at this level, it didn’t require much persuasion for him to remain at the helm of a squad that he continues to lead with enormous skill and conspicuous success.”
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
Draw yields mouth-watering World Cup match-ups COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil (AFP) — Reigning champions Spain will begin their defence of the World Cup with a rematch of the 2010 final against the Netherlands, while England were paired with Italy in Friday’s draw. Spain, who won their first title in South Africa four years ago, start their Group B campaign against the threetime runners-up on June 13 in Salvador. They will also meet Chile, whom they beat in the group stage in 2010, in Rio and Australia in Curitiba. Hosts Brazil were drawn to face Croatia in the opening game, scheduled for Sao Paulo on June 12 — assuming the venue is ready after a fatal accident last week delayed prospective completion until April. The Brazilians will then take on Mexico and Cameroon in a Group A that appears on the face of it unthreatening, if not easy. England, meanwhile, will start off with a Group D meeting against four-time champions Italy in the heat of Amazonian venue Manaus on June 14. That match is a repeat of the Euro 2012 quarter-final, which Italy, who knocked England out of the
1978 World Cup qualifiers, won on penalties. “It’s a tough group, there’s no doubt about that,” said England coach Roy Hodgson, whose team also face Uruguay and Costa Rica. “In Italy and Uruguay it’s almost as though we have got two number one seeds in our group.” Hodgson’s side then take on Uruguay in Sao Paulo and Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte. “It’s a tough, tough group. Also we didn’t want to play in one of the hottest places where there is 99 per cent humidity,” former England striker Alan Shearer told the BBC. A notable subplot will see Germany go up against the United States, now coached by former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Also in Group G are Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Ghana. After a poignant homage to the late Nelson Mandela, the draw began to the exhilarating sound of samba at the northeastern beach resort of Costa do Sauipe. The draw build-up had been dominated by news of stadium delays and antiWorld Cup campaigners threatening public protest.
Yet Mandela’s death changed the tone as participants remembered how he saw in sport a means of fostering social progress. Friday’s lottery involved some complex juggling by FIFA to separate as far as possible teams from the same continent. And, while five groups unavoidably contained two European sides, given the Old Continent’s 13 qualifiers in the 32-strong field, they just about managed it. All eight former champions are taking part and only surprise package Bosnia-Herzegovina will be making their debut. France, champions in 1998 but forced to come through the play-offs, will meet Group E seeds S w i t z erland as well as Ecuador and Honduras in what should leave coach and 1998 winning captain Didier Deschamps generally optimistic. Other groups threw up some mixed bags as Japan were lumped in with seeded Colombia, Ivory Coast and Greece in Group C, while Bosnia have to impress against the might of two-time champions Argentina, Iran and Nigeria in Group F.
BBC Sport - Oussama Assaidi scored a superb late winner as Stoke City came from behind to stun Chelsea and earn just their fourth Premier League win this season. Andre Schurrle’s fine low shot gave the Blues the lead, but Peter Crouch’s closerange strike levelled matters. A lovely curled effort by substitute Stephen Ireland put the Potters ahead after the break only for Schurrle to level with a magnificent halfvolley. Schurrle then hit the bar but Assaidi’s angled strike left Chelsea in third. The gripping finale, and a home victory, seemed highly unlikely as a Blues side who could have moved within one point of leaders Arsenal dominated the first 35 minutes. Having fallen behind in each of their past three games, a seemingly more defensively minded Chelsea line-up saw manager Jose Mourinho leave out Frank Lampard and Willian for John Mikel Obi and Schurrle. But Mourinho’s changes allowed Chelsea to boss the midfield and also had an immediate impact in the final third.
Mikel played a pacy pass into Schurrle, who turned sharply before running purposefully towards goal and drilling a fine low crossshot into the bottom corner. It was the start of a lengthy spell of Chelsea domination, both in terms of possession and territory. Ramires wasted several excellent shooting chances, Eden Hazard almost teed up Fernando Torres and Juan Mata shot straight at Asmir Begovic from the edge of the area. The chances were not clear-cut but the visitors looked in control and Stoke, who had won just once in 11 previous games and had failed to score in seven of their 14 games, were barely threatening. A tame Jonathan Walters header that went well wide of the post after a decent move was their only noteworthy attempt, however they managed to draw level by the break and took full advantage of Chelsea’s failure to kill the game off. Blues keeper Petr Cech hesitated as a long corner drifted into the box and was unable to recover his position in time to keep out Crouch’s
low strike. Buoyed by their equaliser, Stoke started to show the belief and intensity they were missing before the break and their attacking intent was rewarded within five minutes. Walters, restored to the side after his run of 102 consecutive Premier League starts came to an end in midweek , outmuscled Cesar Azpilicueta on the right flank and found Ireland, who curled a brilliant shot past Cech and into the far corner. But a Chelsea side well versed in fightbacks were level just two minutes and 21 seconds later when a venomous first-time halfvolley from Schurrle flew into the net from 20 yards following a Mata free-kick. Schurrle almost completed his hat-trick soon after, but his curled effort from the edge of the box smashed against the bar and to safety. But Stoke, who had won only once in the league since August, were posing just as great a danger. Ryan Shawcross knocked a shot over the bar and Ireland should have scored from the angle of the box on the left, but shot wastefully over. And with both sides
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Lakers’ Bryant to make injury comeback today
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant dives for a loose ball during their NBA game against the Chicago Bulls in Los Angeles, March 10, 2013. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson) (Reuters) - Kobe Bryant will make his long-awaited return from injury for the Los Angeles Lakers today at home to the Toronto Raptors, the shooting guard said on his Facebook account on Friday. The 35-year-old posted a two-minute video link that showed his “No. 24” jersey fluttering through sunshine, clouds, wind, rain, snow and lightning, then
Stoke stun Chelsea with late winner leaving big gaps, Stoke broke forward and Assaidi, on loan from Liverpool, cut in from the right to score his first Premier League goal with a beautiful strike that found the top corner. Chelsea slipped a place as a result, with Liverpool ahead of them on goal difference after a 4-1 defeat of West Ham.
being torn down the middle before being repaired by a beam of light. Preceded by the inscription: “Seasons of Legend. Lakers announce Kobe’s return”, the video segment ended by flashing the words: “The Legend Continues…. December 8.” Bryant has been sidelined since mid-April with a torn left Achilles’ tendon but was given full medical clearance to resume all basketball activities midway through last month. The return of the 15-time All-Star and five-time NBA champio n w i l l b e a significant boost for the Lakers who are 9-9 this season and sit 12th in the 15team Western Conference. Bryant practiced with the team for a third straight day on Thursday without suffering any setbacks, and said afterwards that his range of motion was a lot better.
“The last time I practiced (for two days in a row), my range of motion became restricted,” Bryant, known throughout his career for his determination to play through pain and various other setbacks, told reporters. “It became kind of locked up and I wasn’t able to run, change directions or sprint like I wanted to. “Now I don’t feel like I have any limitations, really. The change of gear is not where I want it to be, but it’s easy to compensate and go out there and be effective.” Bryant ruled out the possibility of making his return on Friday against the Kings in Sacramento. “My sea legs aren’t there yet,” he said. “The pull-up jump shots and the fadeaways, my sea legs aren’t quite there yet to be able to do that.
Tiger Woods retains lead ahead of World Challenge final round BBC Sport - World number one Tiger Woods birdied two of the last three holes to hang on to his twoshot lead after the third round at the World Challenge. The American made four birdies and four bogeys in a level-par round of 72 at the Sherwood Country Club. Zach Johnson, who holed a 20-foot birdie on the 18th, is second after a 68, while Bubba Watson is up to third, two shots further back, after a 69. Graeme McDowell is the leading European in tiedsixth, nine shots adrift. England’s Ian Poulter finished two shots further back on level par, while Rory McIlroy, who captured his
Tiger Woods (AP)
first win of 2013 last week at the Australian Open, shot a 68 - the best round of the day - to climb back to two over. Lee Westwood dropped further out of contention at seven over in a tie for 14th place. World Challenge third round leaderboard
-11: T Woods (US) -9: Z Johnson (US) -7: B Watson (US) -4: M Kuchar (US) -3: W Simpson (US) Selected others: -2 G McDowell (NI); Par I Poulter (Eng); +2 R McIlroy (NI); +7 L Westwood (Eng).
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NBA roundup: Atlanta Hawks bounce Cleveland 108-89
ATLANTA — Kyle Korver set the NBA record for consecutive games with a 3pointer, Al Horford scored 22 points and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-89 Friday night. Korver’s 3 with 5:29 remaining in the first quarter gave him at least one in a record-90th straight game, breaking a tie with Dana Barros (1994-96). Korver was 2 for 3 from beyond the arc and finished with 10 points. Dion Waiters scored a season-high 30 points for the Cavaliers. Andrew Bynum tied his season high with 20 points and grabbed a seasonbest 13 rebounds, and Jarrett Jack added 13 points. The rest of the Cavs, however, combined to shoot 12 for 50 and starters Kyrie Irving and Alonzo Gee went scoreless. Irving, who entered the game averaging 20.8 points per game, shot 0 for 9. BOBCATS 105, 76ERS 88 CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jeffery Taylor matched a career high with 20 points, leading six Charlotte scorers in double figures. Subbing for injured starter Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at small forward, Taylor scored nine of Charlotte’s first 22 points. Gerald Henderson and Kemba Walker added 18 apiece, and Walker also had a season-high 1 0 assists. Al Jefferson had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Bobcats. Ramon Sessions added 13 points and rookie Cody Zeller chipped in with 10. Philadelphia was led by Tony Wroten’s 21 points. Evan Turner added 16, Hollis Thompson scored 12 and Spencer Hawes had 10 points and 13 rebounds. The Sixers played without starting point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who came in averaging 17.7 points. The rookie sat out because of a sore right knee. KNICKS 121, MAGIC 83 NEW YORK (AP) —
Carmelo Anthony had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and New York snapped a sevengame home losing streak. Andrea Bargnani and J.R. Smith each added 17 points for the Knicks, who followed their 113-83 rout of Brooklyn on Thursday with an even more powerful performance, giving them consecutive victories for the first time this season after a nine-game losing streak. The Knicks hadn’t won at home since beating Milwaukee in their season opener on Oct. 30. The sevengame skid had matched the longest in franchise history, set during the 2007-08 season. Arron Afflalo scored 20 points for the Magic, who dropped their fourth straight. Victor Oladipo added 17 points and nine rebounds. CELTICS 106, NUGGETS 98 BOSTON (AP) — Kris Humphries came off the bench and had a season-high 18 points and seven rebounds for Boston, which scored the first 14 points of the game and held on for the win. Jordan Crawford had 22 points and eight assists, and Avery Bradley scored 18 as the Celtics won their second straight game to remain in first place in the Atlantic Division despite a 9-12 record that would rank no better than fifth in any division in the Western Conference. Ty Lawson scored 20 points and J.J. Hickson had 17 for Denver. BUCKS 109, WIZARDS 105, OT WASHINGTON (AP) — Khris Middleton scored a career-high 29 points and Brandon Knight added 20 as Milwaukee outlasted Washington in overtime. John Henson had 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Bucks (4-15), who had lost 13 of their previous 14. John Wall scored 30 points and Trevor Ariza added 22 points and 12
New York Knicks’ Andrea Bargnani, left, drives under the basket as Orlando Magic center Glen Davis defends during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Friday at Madison Square Garden in New York. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) rebounds for Washington. With the score tied at 102 heading to the extra period, Hensen’s jumper put the Bucks ahead in the opening minute and Ersan Ilyasova layup made it 106-102 with 3:12 to go. Ariza was fouled and made three free throws with 42.8 seconds left to pull the Wizards within one. Knight answered with a jumper with 21.1 seconds left and added a free throw 12 seconds later to seal the win. THUNDER 109, PELICANS 95 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 29 points, Russell Westbrook added 25 and Oklahoma City beat New Orleans for the ninth straight time. Serge Ibaka added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunder, who have won 14 of their last 15 against the Pelicans, with most of those
games occurring when the team was called the Hornets. Ryan Anderson scored 18 for the Pelicans, who lost their second straight at home while playing their third full game without power forward Anthony Davis, sidelined by a broken left hand. New Orleans also lost Tyreke Evans to a left ankle sprain late in the third quarter. ROCKETS 105, WARRIORS 83 HOUSTON (AP) — James Harden scored 34 points and Dwight Howard had 22 points and 18 rebounds to lead Houston. Terrence Jones added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who had lost two straight. Harden shot 13 for 22 from the field and 7 for 9 on free throws two nights after shooting 3 for 17 — including 0 for 10 on 3pointers — against Phoenix. Howard was 12 for 20 on
free throws as the Rockets finished 25 for 39 from the line. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 22 points and five assists, but was just 5 of 14 from the field while making all 11 free-throw attempts. Harrison Barnes had 14 points and seven rebounds, and Kent Bazemore added 12 and David Lee 11 points as the Warriors saw their twogame win streak end. SUNS 106, RAPTORS 97 PHOENIX (AP) — Markieff Morris made his first 11 shots en route to a 25-point performance and Phoenix handed Toronto its fifth straight loss. Morris, who also grabbed 11 rebounds, finished 11 of 14 from the field, tying his career high in field goals made. His scoring total was three shy of his career best. Eric Bledsoe added 19 points, including 3 of 3 on 3-
pointers, and P.J. Tucker had 18 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for the Suns. Amir Johnson scored a season-best 22 for the Raptors. Kyle Lowry added 19 and Rudy Gay 17. The Raptors lost Tyler Hansbrough with a sprained left shoulder in the first quarter. LAKERS 106, KINGS 100 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jodie Meeks made two huge 3-pointers in the final minutes to finish with 19 points, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers past Sacramento in what was expected to their last game before Kobe Bryant returns. Pau Gasol had 19 points and seven rebounds, and Steve Blake added 13 points and 10 assists. The Lakers held the Kings scoreless for nearly 3 1 / 2minutes until Ben McLemore’s 3 in the final seconds. The Lakers are figuring to get an even bigger boost when Bryant returns against Toronto on Sunday, nearly eight months since undergoing surgery on his torn left Achilles tendon. TRAIL BLAZERS 130, JAZZ 98 PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Wesley Matthews scored 24 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 points and 15 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz for their 15th win in 16 games. Damian Lillard added 21 points and Nicolas Batum had 13 for the Blazers, who set a franchise mark with 17 3-pointers en route to a season high for points.
Liverpool move second after... From page 76 goal. Nor was it a vintage display from Suarez, who single-handedly demolished the Reds’ last opponents Norwich in midweek, but still he added another goal to bring his season’s tally to 14 in 10 league games. By contrast, West Ham’s leading striker Modibo Maiga has not scored for a year, but he came mightily close to doing so twice within the first 20 minutes as West Ham began with purpose and vigour. First, the Malian failed to make contact with a clever through-ball from Mohamed Diame, then he saw a powerful header brilliantly saved by Simon Mignolet. Suarez’s afternoon began in inauspicious fashion when he fired feebly at Jussi Jaaskelainen with an uncharacteristic lack of aplomb, while another Liverpool chance was wasted
when Raheem Sterling prodded a shot wide when through on goal. The Reds were lacking the attacking panache shown in their previous three home games, but they soon found themselves 2-0 up courtesy of scrappy goals either side of half-time. The first came on 42 minutes when, after West Ham squandered possession on the edge of their own box, Suarez’s low drive was parried by Jussi Jaaskelainen only to rebound in off Hammers defender Demel. Two minutes after the restart, Sakho met Steven Gerrard’s free-kick with a toepoke at the far post and the ball bounced into the ground and over the line. The assist was Gerrard’s final contribution before he pulled up with a hamstring injury that could cause concern for Rodgers and
England boss Hodgson. Liverpool coped comfortably without their skipper, in the short term at least, as they began to dominate against an increasingly ragged Hammers side. Sterling was guilty of two glaring misses, including one that brought a fine save from Jaaskelainen, but just as West Ham appeared to be crumbling they found a way back into the game via another scrappy goal. Demel was its creator, sending in a cross for Matt Jarvis whose header back across goal was inadvertently volleyed in by Skrtel. The complexion of the game was suddenly transformed as Liverpool became nervous and West Ham, without a win at Anfield since 1963, pushed for an unlikely equaliser. Maiga missed the
opportunity to grab it when he sent a close-range effort wide, and soon afterwards the Hammers’ hopes were extinguished when Suarez nodded home Glen Johnson’s superb cross. West Ham captain Nolan deservedly re c e i v e d a straight red card after he caught Jordan Henderson from behind, before Suarez was involved yet again as the Reds wrapped up the win. The Premier League top scorer’s strike took a wicked defection off O’Brien and into the net making this only the second game in Premier League history to yield three own goals. The defeat leaves the Hammers outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone, and next week’s home match against Sunderland will be one they can ill afford not to win.
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
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GT&T, Hand-in-Hand inter-county cricket
Mohamed grabs 6-11 as Demerara trounce E’bo by an innings and 54 runs By Zaheer Mohamed Off spinner Zaheer Mohamed grabbed 6 wickets for 11 runs off 11.4 overs as Demerara defeated Essequibo by an innings and 54 runs in the opening round of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) organised Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T)\Hand-in-Hand Insurance senior intercounty 4-day tournament yesterday. Needing to score 165 to make Demerara bat a second time, Essequibo were bowled out for 110 in 34.4 overs in the final session on the third day at Enmore Community Centre ground, East Coast Demerara. In reply to Essequibo first innings score of 198, the home team resumed on their overnight first innings score of 172-4 with Christopher Barnwell on 48 and Chris Patadin yet to score. The pair carried the score to 229 before Barnwell was leg before to left arm spinner Anthony Adams for a well played 81. He slammed five fours and four sixes and faced 96 balls; his fifty came off 57 balls. Adams then trapped Joseph Perry leg before for 02 at 229-6 before Patadin and
Half centuries for Barnwell, Patadin, Mohamed, Federicks
Off spinner Zaheer Mohamed takes a return catch to get rid of Kemo Paul
Essequibo top scorer Royan Federicks hits a boundary during his half century knock Mohamed put together 87 for the seventh wicket. Patadin who faced 148 balls and struck four fours was then leg before to Royan Federicks for 63 with the score on 316. Mohamed whose half century came off 135 balls then featured in an eight wicket stand of 46 with Paul Wintz who was dismissed for 16. Mohamed was unbeaten on 70 when
Demerara declared on 3628 off 104.1 overs just after lunch. His innings contained one six and four fours and came off 134 balls. Adams was the pick of the bowlers with 3-105 off 35 overs while Federicks claimed 2-38 off 8.1 overs. Essequibo second innings got off to a solid start as openers Federicks and
Kevon Boodie took the score to 51 off 10 overs at tea with the later on 37 and Boodie on 5. However Essequibo lost their first wicket just after the break when Boodie was leg before to Mohamed with out addition to the score. The consistent Mohamed then made further inroads into the visitors batting; he uprooted the stumps of Ricardo Peters (04) and Dillon Heyliger (00)
and took a fine return catch to get rid of Kemo Paul (00) to leave the score at 65-4. Rovindra Parsram (01) was then caught behind as he attempted to cut a delivery too close to the off stump off Khan before Federicks who executed a number of lovely shots especially on the off side was well taken by Patadin on the long on boundary for a well played 51; his innings
came off 70 balls and included four fours and two sixes. The rest of the batting failed to show any resistance with only Parmesh Parsotam (12) and Rajiv Balgobin (16) reaching double figures. Mohamed ended with match figures of 10 for 57 while Khan who captured 3-48 off 14 overs finished the game with figures of 8- 112.
Hand-in-Hand/GT&T inter-county cricket
Four batsmen reach fifties as B’ce take 1st innings points from President’s X1 By Sean Devers In sweltering heat at the Everest ground four halfcenturies led Berbice to first innings points against the President’s X1 on the second day of their four-day Hand-in-hand/GT&T intercounty cricket contest yesterday. Berbice, on the back of an unbeaten half-century from Royston Crandon (79) and three more from Assad Fudadin (58), Sewnarine Chattergoon (55) reached 265-6 in reply to the 185 all out posted by the President’s X1 to handthe lads from Guyana’s second largest county a lead of 80 runs going into the final day today. Berbice began their innings when play resumed yesterday and by Lunch had progressed to 98-1 after losing Anthony D’Anrade for duck by fast bowler Romario Shepard with just a
single on the board. At the Interval the second wicket stand between Chattergoon and Fudadin was worth 97 as Chattergoon in particular played an array of elegant drives and cuts o n t h e heavy outfield a slow track. When play resumed the 32-year-old Chattergoon with four Tests and 79 First-class games under his belt, seemed very unlucky to be given out LBW after hitting four fours to leave Berbice on 109-2 as the 108-run partnership was finally broken. The 28-year-old Fudadin who played all of his three Tests year and now sporting a flowing beard, fell at 145-3 when he was trapped in front by national leg-spinner Steven Sankar after reaching the boundary four times and by Tea the
team from the Ancient county were 166-3 from 63 overs. The 30-year-old Crandon, who made five in his only ODI, batted confidently and picked the gaps well and along with 23-year-old Jonathon Foo shared in a 114-run stand to give Berbice first innings points in the final session. Foo batted intelligently and was looking set for a big score when he pushed long forward to off-spinner Collis Butts and was adjudged LBW at 259-4. Butts, the son of West Indies selector and former Te s t o ff - s p i n n e r C l y d e Butts, struck twice in the s p a c e o f f o u r r u ns as Berbice slipped to 265-6 in fading light. Rajiv Ivan (1) and Anthony Bramble (2) fell minutes before the 17:00hrs
(From left) Berbicans Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Jonathon Foo and Royston Crandon all got half-centuries at Everest yesterday. close leaving Crandon, who has one First-Class ton, unbeaten at the end of the day’s play with Berbice
pressing for an outright win today to join defending champions Demerara on top of the points table after the
opening round. Butts has so far picked up 3-40 from 29 overs of controlled spin bowling.
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Sunday December 08, 2013
Guyanese world champion Rain earns Windies... female boxer Gwendolyn O’Neil weighs in on Mandela’s legacy Gwendolyn O’Neil and the late Nelson Mandela. (Gallo Getty Images)
In January 2007, the world stood still for Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil, otherwise affectionately known as “Big Red”. She came face to face with two of the biggest influences in her life, Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali, by way of his daughter, Laila Ali, her opponent for the February 3, 2007 WBC and WIBA super middleweight title fight. “I was so nervous about meeting this man, Mandela, who had sacrificed his freedom for 27 years to see his people in South Africa free and the unjust apartheid system dismantled. He
immediately made me feel comfortable because he was so humble even though he was this great powerful leader.” He told me, “May the best woman win and I wish both you and Laila good luck.” I would like to extend my condolences to Nelson Mandela’s entire family. The world has lost a compassionate, loving and very, very forgiving man who cared about all peoples of the world regardless of race or religion. I’m happy for the inspiration of meeting Mandela and his legacy of defending the rights of the poor and the oppressed.”
Meanwhile, O’Neil, who is under new management, plans to continue fighting and will be in action come the New Year. Via a release she said, “I am looking forward to a productive and active 2014. I’m excited about my new management team and will be defending my world heavyweight titles in 2014 against all the top contenders. I wish my fellow Guyanese a prosperous and happy new year and look forward to your continued support. God and the universe has blessed me with this boxing talent and goodness and love,” the champ noted.
Liverpool move second after West Ham win BBC Sport - Liverpool went second in the table with victory over West Ham in a match that featured three own goals plus another strike for the in-form Luis Suarez. The Reds took the lead when the ball ricocheted in off Guy Demel, before Mamadou Sakho scuffed in a second. Martin Skrtel’s own goal briefly gave the Hammers hope, but Suarez’s bullet header restored Liverpool’s cushion. West Ham’s Kevin Nolan was sent off for a poor challenge, before Suarez’s strike deflected in off Joey O’Brien. A day after Suarez’s national side were pitted against England in the World Cup draw , the Uruguayan provided the latest reminder of the task that will face Roy Hodgson’s defenders in Sao
Luis Suarez (Getty Images)
Paulo on 19 June 2014. Brendan Rodgers’s side have now scored a formidable 17 goals in four home matches, seemingly having dispelled concerns from previous seasons that they struggle at Anfield against the Premier League’s so-called
lesser sides. Not that this victory was as straight-forward as the scoreline suggests, after the lowly Hammers more than matched the Reds in the first half until conceding an unlucky opening (cONTINUED ON PAGE
From back page failed to make a significant impact in the first innings – but he rebounded in the second innings to give the Windies a long-shot chance of victory. Opening the bowling, the lanky off-spinner grabbed the scalp of opener Peter Fulton caught behind down the legside for three from a faint edge that required the video umpire to confirm, as New Zealand went to lunch on three runs for one wicket. After the interval, Shillingford struck every four overs, removing Aaron Redmond caught at leg-slip for six, opener Hamish Rutherford caught at long-on for 20 and home team captain Brendon McCullum caught at short square leg by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin for nine, as the New Zealanders wobbled to 44 for four. But the Windies failed to make further inroads into the Black Caps’ batting, as Corey Anderson, not out on 20, joined Ross Taylor, not out on 16, and batted through until the rain left the host stranded with 33 required. Earlier, West Indies had been dismissed for 507 in their second innings about 20 minutes before lunch with Darren Bravo going early for the top score of 218 and captain Darren Sammy the last wicket to fall for 80. The visitors lost their last six wickets for 64, as New Zealand’s three fast-medium bowlers shared the wickets with Neil Wagner ending with 3-112 off 30 overs, fellow left-armer Trent Boult 281 off 35 overs, spearhead Tim Southee 2-101 off 29.1 overs and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi 2-155 from 49 overs. The Windies suffered an early setback to their plans to chase an unexpected, comefrom-behind victory, when Boult bowled batting hero Darren Bravo in the third over of the morning with a delivery that kept low. Bravo, a stylish left-hander, struck 31 fours from 416 balls in just over 9 ½ hours at the crease and came close to earning the Man-of-the-Match award which was presented to hometown hero Taylor for his first innings double hundred. Shillingford came to the crease and resisted for close
to an hour with Sammy before he was caught at first slip off Wagner for 15 and Tino Best was dismissed six overs later in the same manner for three. With Shannon Gabriel his remaining partner at the crease, Sammy tried to take things to the Black Caps’ bowlers with an eye on increasing the lead and a second Test hundred to silence the critics of his batting, but he was caught on the cover boundary off Southee to
bring his innings to a close. West Indies have not won a Test, let alone a series in New Zealand since Courtney Walsh claimed a match haul of 13 wickets and bowled them to an innings and 322-run victory inside four days 18 years ago at the Basin Reserve. New Zealand have not won a Test since late year when McCullum took over the captaincy, having drawn five and lost four of their matches.
La Belle Sports Bar Dominoes set to kick start tomorrow La Belle Sports Club, Hotel and Bar Dominoes competition is slated to commence tomorrow at Dynasty Sports Bar. Twenty seven teams are expected to take part and games will be played
on a two in one out basis. The winning team will receive a trophy and $150,000, the runner up a trophy and $75,000 and third place $35,000. The player of the final and the player who share
the first love in the tournament will collect $5,000 each. The finals will be played on December 14 and 15 at La Belle Sports Bar, Norton Street. Entrance fee is $9,000.
Sunday December 08, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 77
Bronze Medal in Peru was my proudest moment - Says Badminton player Narayan Ramdhani
Narayan Ramdhani By Sean Devers He began playing the game as a four-year-old and now, 11years later the gifted15-year-
old Guyanese Narayan Ramdhani is the number two ranked Badminton player in the Caribbean in the under17 division. His recent Bronze Medal performance in the South American Youth Championships in Peru, playing in the under-19 division, where he was the youngest player in the tournament, is described as his proudest moment, narrowly being beating into second place after winning the Nationals Open title earlier this year. Narayan was born to Gokarn and Emily Ramdhani (Continued on page 70
t r o Sp
Rain earns Windies a draw
Shane Shillingford is mobbed after he picked his third wicket. (Getty Images)
Seagulls walk in the puddles formed on the covers. (AFP)
DUNEDIN, New Zealand – Shane Shillingford sent a few shivers through the New Zealand dressing room before rain and their opponents’ cautious approach combined to earn West Indies a draw in the first Test on Saturday here. Shillingford, who opened the bowling, collected 4-26 from 15 overs, as the New Zealanders, chasing 112 for victory, reached 79 for four in their second innings when rain prompted the tea break five minutes earlier than scheduled on the final day at University Oval. The players never returned to the field, although there was a last-ditch effort by groundstaff assisted by security officers about half-hour past the scheduled close to mop up and allow the Black Caps to a chance to complete their first Test win for the year. The result meant that the three-Test series remains level at 0-0 with the second Test due to start this coming Wednesday at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Shillingford, whose bowling action was investigated last week in Perth in neighbouring Australia prior to the start of this series, had (Continued on page 76)
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