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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Impact of climate change on Guyana In Paris, more than 150 world leaders have participated in the Climate Change Conference which is a clear indication of the tremendous importance of the event. It was a very important conference for President David Granger to attend, but sending the Minister of State for Natural resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, to represent Guyana was an excellent choice. President Granger who attended the Commonwealth Heads of State Conference in Malta, claimed that he had some pressing matters to discuss with other Heads of State at the Conference, presumably among them, was the country’s border dispute with Venezuela. Of late, climate change has had a direct bearing on Guyana because of its coastal region which is inhabited by almost 80 percent of the population and is below sea level. Its impact on the population of Guyana continues to be felt by elevated sea levels, heightened rain storm activity, changes in oceanic patterns and wildlife. The nation is particularly vulnerable to the effects. One of the objectives of the Paris Conference was for the World Leaders to set standards aimed at slowing the rate at which the planet is heating up. There is no dispute that climate change is caused by industry pollution but the issue for the world leaders is how to reduce the pollution and by how much without inhibiting production. Tackling climate change and other man-made environmental issues can be achieved by reducing the extraction of fossil fuel from the earth’s core and the development of clean energy sources such as solar, wind and hydrological. Guyana is not in a hurricane path, but the meteorological patterns in the past have revealed that the country is in the orbit of catastrophic rain storms which may last for generations to come. Not only that the people are faced with increased physical risks due to climate change, but they must also be aware that no one has control of the ecological system. If the new government is really serious about climate change, then it must be serious about green energy, economic diversification and the environment. Already there are households that have turned to solar energy to meet some of their energy needs. However, the government must do its share to reduce the threat of climate change by investing in cost-effective and sustainable sources of energy. The objective is very clear. According to scientists, global warming must not exceed two degrees Celsius and should not be allowed to increase by 6.3 degrees by the end of this century. Should this happen, it would spell disaster for countries in low lying areas such as Guyana for the fore-seeable future. Therefore while most developing countries look to the biggest polluters in the world-United States, China, Brazil and India-to play their part in reducing pollution, it is also the responsibility for all countries, no matter their size, to make a contribution. For years, Guyanese have experienced the effects of climate change due to unpredictable rainfall patterns, and the ensuing floods which have had a direct and personal impact on their lives at their residences, business places or at their farms. That is why the government must develop alternate energy systems such as wind and solar in order to reduce the harmful effects of pollution in the atmosphere. Guyanese are hopeful that the Paris Climate Change Conference would lead to better results than the previous climate talks in Kyoto and Copenhagen. The Kyoto Protocol which was adopted in 1997 put the obligation to reduce emissions on the developed countries only. The Copenhagen Summit, ratified in 2012 set the framework to keep any temperature increases on earth’s surface below two degrees. The Paris Conference ended with the agreement that all countries would adhere to the rules to reduce emissions in order to make the world a safer and better place for this and future generations.
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Complaints against the Rodney Commission Secretariat DEAR EDITOR, In our initial letter to the Commission of April 14, 2014 we pledged to assist the Commission in its task of arriving at findings that explain the circumstances of the unnatural death of Walter Rodney on June 13, 1980. For most of the period since then we benefited from timely reports of the hearings, and prompt responses to questions and queries regarding the work of the Commission. This facilitated us in our task of keeping our members across the world and the public at large abreast of developments as the inquiry progressed. We are thankful for the professionalism of the secretariat as it worked to ensure that the process and the proceedings were made public in a timely manner. However, we are now experiencing changed circumstances, as we are not getting any responses from the secretariat to our emails, nor did we get copies of the transcript for the final hearing - that is the 68 hearing held on July 28, 2015. While from hearing 1 to hearing 67, the secretariat furnished us with the transcript by the end of each session, it has been silent since July 28, 2015, at 2.22 am when it sent out the transcript for the 67 hearing. Since July 28, we have not received any communication at all from the secretariat. This noncommunication leaves room for questions as to the functioning of the secretariat. In our view, a commission of inquiry must be transparent. Its work is not over until its report is presented, following which those in charge of the secretariat are expected to hand over the records of the proceedings for safe-keeping. There seems to be uncertainty in Guyana as to responsibility and accountability of public authorities. The Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry secretariat is the th
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public authority charged with meeting the requirements of the constitution and common-law practice with regards to the conduct, reporting, and safekeeping of records of the Commission. We are concerned that we have not received the transcript for the last hearing held, and that our emails to the Wa l t e r R o d n e y S e c r e t a r i a t (walterrodneysecretariat@gmail.com) are not being answered. Reports coming from people who should have an idea of what is happening with respect to the secretariat suggest that it no longer has adequate resources to allow for efficient completion of its task. We ask the Government of Guyana to clear matters up by making a public statement on whether the final phase of the secretariat’s work has the necessary resources. Guyana has a chance to turn over a new page. As the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry moves to an end, let us have the kind of transparent process that characterized it until July 27. This requires the following: 1.The transcripts of the hearings should
be available to members of the public. 2. The report of the Commission must be public, and must be made available to the public. 3. The full record of the proceedings must be digitized. 4. The digital as well as the hard copy of the proceedings must be lodged in a public library and/or archive for easy access by anyone who may be interested in this matter. It is our belief that the authorities in Guyana would have an interest in ensuring that this inquiry ends without further questions and controversies. In this vein, the Justice for Walter Rodney Committee believes that it is not too much to expect that those in the government with ultimate responsibility for the Walter Rodney secretariat would ensure that the staff of the secretariat have the necessary assistance and resources to satisfy the basic and normal requirements of transparency of the process as outlined in this letter. Wazir Mohamed, Justice for Walter Rodney Committee
Plea from resident to stop Chubby’s loud music DEAR EDITOR, Permit me a place in your letter column to highlight this issue which I consider an of important matter please. I am a resident of Laing Avenue. There is a guy by the name of Chubby who operates a food bar, drinking bar and a domino club. For the longest of time, from about 10am to however late at nights, Chubby plays his music so loud to the discomfort of the residence in the area along with the foul language from the customers and the domino chatter.
Chubby has no toilet or any way convenient for his customers to relieve themselves; they urinate any way they like to the inconvenience of the people in the area. Asking this guy to turn down the volume of his music, falls on deaf ears. Enough is enough. We are working people and school children in the area that need peace and quietness for a good night rest. I will like the public health office and the agencies to please look into this matter. Concerned citizen (name supplied)
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Possession of 56 grams of ganja I am angry at so in Jamaica is not a criminal offence many aspects
DEAR EDITOR, With the current debate regarding marijuana legislation and sentencing policy in Guyana, I here share how Jamaica has recently updated its legislation and changed its policy with regard to marijuana. Earlier this year Jamaica enacted the “Dangerous Drug (Amendment) Act 2015” that decriminalized the possession of UNDER 2 ounces of marijuana, making it a “ticketable” offence instead. A brief summary of the legislation shows; 1.Possession of 2 ounces or less of ganja is no longer an offence for which one can be arrested, charged and have to go to court, and it will not result in a criminal record. (2 ounces = 56.7 grammes) 2. However, the police may issue a ticket to a person in possession of 2 ounces or less of ganja , similar to a traffic ticket, and the person has 30 days to pay the sum of J$500 at any Tax Office. 3. It remains a criminal offence to be in possession of over 2 ounces of ganja, and offenders can be arrested, charged, tried in court and, if
found guilty, sentenced to a fine or to imprisonment or both. The conviction will also be recorded on that person’s criminal record. 4. Smoking of ganja at privately-occupied residences that are not used for commercial purposes is not an offence, but is governed by the rules on possession of ganja referred to in 1 above. (As such persons having less than 2 ounces of marijuana in their homes will not be given a ticket). The Jamaica legislation aptly addressed the concern raised by the Minister of Public Health George Norton with regards to Guyana’s impending “anti-tobacco legislation” (Jamaica has already passed stringent anti-tobacco legislation), where it states. a) Smoking of ganja in a public place or within five metres of a public place is prohibited in a manner similar to cigarettes. b) A person who smokes in public cannot be arrested or detained. However, the police may issue a ticket to that person, who will have 30 days to pay
$500 at any Tax Office. c) For the purposes of these smoking rules, a public place includes a workplace, and any place which is for the use of, or accessible to, the public, such as sidewalks, bus stops, restaurants, offices, educational institutions, pharmacies, hospitals, areas used by children, supermarkets and parks. Please find link to factsheet about Jamaica’s “Dangerous Drug (Amendment) Act 2015”. (http:// moj.gov.jm/sites/ default/ files/ Dangerous % 20 Drugs %20 Amendment% 20Act % 202015%20 Fact %20 Sheet_0.pdf ). The legislation goes further, addressing medical and religious use of marijuana, cultivation and scientific research of marijuana among others. I conclude that Guyana adopting a similar approach would result in several positive outcomes. It would recognize the changing trend in United States (where some states have “legalised” marijuana use) and Europe, as the global order began to recognize
some of the failures on “the war on drugs”. It will free up police resources (time, manpower and money) to fight serious crime. It will reduce the clutter at the Magistrate Court, which should result in quicker dispensation of justice. It will reduce the cost of imprisonment, thus saving the state millions of dollars. It would inhibit young persons getting a criminal record that can be an albatross around their neck for the rest of their lives as they find it challenging to get into the workforce. It will reduce young persons becoming hardened criminal as is usually the case as they spend time in prison mixing with these elements. It will raise revenue through the imposition of fines. To be successful, I believe the fine should be small enough not to induce police corruption, but still act as a deterrent. I would recommend between GUY$1000 GUY$2000. At today’s rate the Jamaican fine of JA$500 is equivalent to GUY$865.07. Dexter Cummings
DEAR EDITOR It seems that some people are bent on giving misinformation to the public and also that they never wants to see a uncorrupted Guyana led by people who have Guyana’s development at heart in making sure that we move forward with accountability and transparency where all Guyanese will have a better live with equal opportunity. Recently we heard the crying of the members of the opposition the PPP\C saying all ill things about the projects the APNU+AFC government inherited that started under their corrupted administration and watch. We heard the Opposition Leader saying that the company that was hired by his administration to do the expansion of the airport will cheat Guyanese and the project is corrupted. Well this is sending a signal to all that voted for the PPP\C to listen and learn where the corruption started and who were the ones giving away the hard earned tax payers dollars to the Chinese company. Again we heard the former Attorney General saying that he will challenge the award of the contract for the specialty hospital which this government give to the next and only bidder in that project. Now
this man seems to be blindminded and have his personal agenda because he is no longer the AG and he cannot advise anyone in the Government to do things that will hamper Guyana like the proroguing of Parliament, etc. It is this corrupted party that was in Government that had the tendering process done for the project and it was his government that awarded it to one of the two bidders; mostly they awarded the contract to the most incompetent bidder who have no knowledge and experience in building such or was never involved in such a project. Because of that the contractor that was awarded went away with almost 1 billion Guyanese tax dollars without doing any major works on the project. It is clear that the project will go on under this government and it will be free from corruption and full of transparency with accountability every step of the way. Now I don’t know how the former AG will be challenging the award of the contract to the other bidder saying there was no tendering process. There was clearly two bidders who tendered for the job when it was advertised under his Government’s watch and now that one of the bidders who was awarded
the contract cannot be found, this government has took the initiative to give the existing remainder of the contract to the next best bidder who is the only one left for the project. What’s wrong with that Anil? But I am being made aware that somebody in the opposition camp wants to setup a new contracting form to bid for the project. So maybe if this is to happen, we will end up giving the contract to that new company. They too may leave with another 1 billion Guyana taxpayers dollars and the project will be stalled again. As a Guyanese, I think the government has done the true and correct thing to award the contract to the next best bidder without going back through the process of retenderning. It’s not a new project, it’s a project that was started and never ended un-
der the PPP\C because of the corruption in it. The former AG must now explain to us when he comes on NTN in Berbice as to where is the company that they give the 1 billion dollar to for the project? How much equipment they left in Guyana or if they had any? When will we, the tax payers get back our monies that he and his government give away to the company? Where is the company head quarters in Guyana and if they had who owned it? Etc. The AG need to ask Mr. Ralph Ramkarran to educate him more as to the ways of having an uncorrupted government and party. He also need to ask Mr. Ramjattan to school him as to how to become an anti corruption crusader in Guyana, the Caribbean and afar. Abel Seetaram
Anil Nandlall needs to know what an uncorrupted government is
of life in Guyana
DEAR EDITOR, Picture, if you will, the almost frantic atmosphere of Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). Nurses and doctors move methodically through the hallways, like preprogrammed robots, tending their flocks. The coldness of walls lined with charts; and tables lined with computers seems to be broken only occasionally by the scent of fresh flowers awaiting delivery to one of the rooms. Inside room after room lie patients awaiting surgery, awaiting news of their surgery, or awaiting the hand of a friend who walks through the door to say “I care”. Behind one of those walls, in one of those rooms, lies Mr. Bryan Divine. Mr. Divine is not a fictional character. He is not imaginary. He is a patient at GPHC following an accident. Editor, I wish you can show a picture of Mr. Divine with my letter. It’s said and rightly so that a picture is worth a thousand words. Because when I saw the picture of Mr. Divine in his hospital bed, I immediately became very angry. I was angry at GPHC for not doing more to find Mr. Divine a place to live such as a nursing home. I was angry with the police for not doing more to inform him of his accident case. I was angry with the judicial system for not doing more to get justice for him. I was angry with the Guyanese people for not doing more to help him. I was angry with the church for not showing compassion. I was angry with government for not having a nursing home for him.
Editor, Mr. Devine is a walking miracle. Almost a year after an accident that took his friend’s life and almost took his, Mr. Devine continues to live at the GPHC. His health conditions continue to deteriorate daily; his living conditions are horrendous. He is in constant and excruciating pain. He is unable to move around on his own and have bed sores. He is unable to help himself. He is unable to go to the washroom. He is unable to go home. He is unable to buy a wheelchair to move around. And he is unable to find anyone who cares. Editor, it all seems overwhelming to us. So instead of honestly looking and listening to him, we run... the other way. Day after day he sits, surrounded, but alone. He longs for someone to just stop running to and from long enough to listen... really listen... to how badly he hurts. I wonder...what Jesus would do? I’ll tell you what Jesus would do. He’d spend hours by Mr. Devine’s bedside, letting him know He still cared. Editor, I think it’s time we start caring about Mr. Divine. I want to know how many politicians, pastors or police officers have visited him to show that “they care” and how many of them tried to get him help? Editor how did we become so insensitive, uncaring and uncommitted to caring for people? If somebody asks me to describe some Guyanese in one word, I would answer: heartless. That’s how I felt when I saw Bryan Devine’s picture in Kaietur Newspaper on December 2, 2015. Anthony Pantlitz
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Tuesday December 08, 2015
No proven case of corruption Guyana spreads rice against PPP - Rohee market to 38 countries - nation just hearing about audits, reviews The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has come out swinging against the contention that it is the most corrupt party in post-independence Guyana. The party said while the nation is being told about forensic audits into state agencies and other inquiries, it is not being given the results. General Secretary, Clement Rohee, also zeroed in on former party stalwart Ralph Ramkarran, who recently described the party as most corrupt. At the party’s weekly press conference yesterday, PPP General Secretary Rohee questioned whether Ramkarran’s gripe against the party was not personal in nature. Ramkarran’s assertions took centre stage at the press conference yesterday, with Rohee declaring, “To say that the PPP/C government was the most corrupt administration of post-independence Guyana is not only misleading, it is a downright and gross misrepresentation.” “Not a single case has been proven.” Rohee said, on the audits. “All that we are hearing is investigations, Commissions of Inquiries, audits, reviews and so forth.” Rohee also demanded that Ramkarran supply proof of the PPP’s corruption to which he had referenced. Rohee pointed out that while there have been many claiming that the PPP is “corrupt” and there have been forensic audits launched into several aspects of the previous PPP government, the results of the
audits have not been released. To justify his contention that the PPP was not the most corrupt government, Rohee cited instances in the People’s National Congress (PNC) where there were alleged corrupt activities. He alluded to then Minister of Finance Peter D’Aguiar, who had allegedly stated that $1.5M was spent and could not be accounted for in 1967. D’Aguiar has been dead since 1989. Rohee also quoted purported statements made by former Mayor Archibald Codrington and Cleveland Hamilton to support his argument. When asked whether he was using these instances to suggest that one Government was more corrupt than the PPP’s own, Rohee backtracked and denied that he was justifying anything. Rohee’s comments come despite at least one PPP official- former Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford- being placed before the courts on four charges of attempted larceny. Her charge reads that she allegedly tried to transfer eight state vehicles to individuals including her husband, while she held public office. Her Ministry has also been investigated by police, who are probing a multi-million dollar fraud under her tenure. In addition, the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) has already recommended that several key figures from the PPP face criminal charges for their role in questionable
PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee transactions, specifically the Pradoville Two scandal. Those members were, then Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, Westford, former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, former Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul and Rohee himself. An expert on state asset recovery, Brian Horne, was recently brought in from the United Kingdom to liaise with Guyana’s unit. It is also expected that FraudNet (FN), an international fraud unit, will be lending its assistance to Guyana in unearthing and gathering evidence of corruption. Government has been insisting that there is no delay in releasing the results of forensic audits, which have reportedly cost over $130M. Minister of State Joseph Harmon recently took the position that the audits have to go through a process before they reach cabinet. He did, however, affirm that once they reach cabinet, they will be acted on expeditiously. The only report released thus far is the report on Carifesta X.
Mexico is expected to become a major player in the local rice industry. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo on Saturday explained that Mexico could be going this route within the next five weeks. Updating residents of Region Two, a major rice producing area, the Prime Minister, who initiated the talks with Mexico on buying Guyana’s rice, explained that he recently received a letter from the President of Mexico reminding him of the conversation, and authorising the Mexican Ambassador to hold conversations with Guyana. “He told us in five weeks’ time that Mexico would conclude evaluating all the information we gave…about the quality of our rice, and they would decide,” the Prime Minister said. “…and it seems to me that Mexico will be a very great player in purchasing rice, maybe not at the price that Venezuela gave us, but at a price that would keep our farmers going,” he added. Despite the embargo placed by Venezuela on Guyana’s rice, the Prime Minister noted that today, the country is selling rice to 38 countries. “So Mr. (Nicolás) Maduro (Venezuela President), you have not shut the world, you have only shut yourself away from the goodwill of the Guyanese people and farmers,” the PM declared emphatically. Nagamootoo was referring to the decision by Maduro earlier to discontinue a five-year-old oil-for-rice deal in retaliation for Guyana finding oil offshore. Instead, the country struck a deal with Suriname for supplies, leaving Guyana scrambling to find an alternative market.
- Mexico poised to replace Venezuela as country’s biggest buyer
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo addressing Essequibo rice farmers at a meeting at the Anna Regina Multilateral School, Region Two. Venezuela is claiming twothirds of Essequibo and even the waters where the oil was found by US-owned ExxonMobil. The situation saw Venezuela recalling its Ambassador and Guyana asking the United Nations to find a solution that will once and for all settle the border controversy. “We are facing some tough situations, but we are dealing with them,” the PM assured the residents, even as he pointed out that the problem in the industry started with a conspiracy against the farmers. “There were people whom we had trusted and felt were our leaders, who knew Venezuela was going to cancel the rice deal, but did not share the information with anyone, not even with you before the elections. What they went
Guyana’s rice exports have been going to 38 countries, Government has disclosed.
Former PPP Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford in court
around and told people was, that Venezuela would not buy our rice if the coalition was voted in, so they knew about it and they were using it as a threat,” the PM pointed out. The Prime Minister, however, assured that despite naysayers’ pronouncements, “rice is here to stay. Those who are peddling the notion that farmers are running from the rice crops, you must know that grains are in need all over the world,” he said. Nagamootoo reiterated government’s commitment to further seek out more markets for Guyana’s rice.Venezuela’s market had accounted for an estimated 30 percent of the rice exports from this country. Rice has climbed the foreign currency earnings to the top within the last couple years, ahead of gold and sugar.
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
Oil slumps to near seven-year low on OPEC inaction, dollar (Reuters) - Crude oil futures tumbled to their lowest in nearly seven years yesterday after OPEC failed to address a growing supply glut, while a stronger dollar made it more expensive to hold crude positions. Brent and U.S. crude futures fell as much 5 percent in belated reaction to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) policy meeting on Friday which ended without an agreement to lower production. For the first time in decades, OPEC oil ministers dropped any reference to the group’s output ceiling, highlighting disagreement among members about how to accommodate Iranian barrels once Western sanctions are lifted. “We’re in a tug-of-war between a heavily shorted market and a glut of oil in the U.S. and globally, as Saudi Arabia continues to produce oil at elevated levels to maintain market share,” said Chris Jarvis at Caprock Risk Management, an energy
markets consultancy in Frederick, Maryland. “Couple this with a strengthening dollar as the market anticipates a U.S. rate hike this month, oil is heading lower with a near term target of $32 for WTI.” U.S. crude’s West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were down $2.02 at $37.95 a barrel by 12:42 p.m. EST (1642 GMT). WTI’s session low of $37.88 was barely above the 6-1/2 year bottom of $37.75 in August. WTI forward contracts out to 2024 dropped below $60. Brent futures fell $1.96 to $41.05, after sliding to $40.95, their lowest since March 2009. U.S. diesel f u t u r e s prices also hit their lowest since May 2009 while U.S. gasoline RBc1 fell to a one-month low as the selloff extended to a wider swathe of the petroleum complex. The dollar rose against a basket of currencies after jobs data on Friday bolstered the case for a U.S. rate
hike in December. OPEC’s output of more than 30 million barrels per day (bpd) has compounded an oil glut, pushing production by 0.5 million to 2 million bpd beyond demand. OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, thinks unconventional oil producers, including U.S. shale drillers who have fed the glut, will eventually be squeezed out of the market by high production costs and low selling prices. Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser told a conference in Doha he hoped to see oil prices adjust at the beginning of next year as unconventional supplies start to decline. Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of French oil company Total, said a 2016 rebound would be premature as production growth would still outstrip demand.
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Kaieteur News
Mining lands approval, $4M food and drinks bill…
GGMC’s Chairman should be relieved of duties immediately - Ramon Gaskin Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Clinton Williams, should be relieved of duties immediately by Government in light of recent revelations that he benefitted from mining lands that he helped approve for a close friend, says analyst Ramon Gaskin. Williams, who was appointed Chairman last year January as Head of the regulatory body, has also found himself in trouble in recent weeks after documents detailing his expenses, indicated that he spent almost $4M at city restaurants over an 18-month period that ended July. With regard to the lands, the Chairman, Clinton Williams, helped approve eight blocks of mining lands to Ivor English, a close friend and neighbour, last year. This year, in early May, days before early elections, he was granted control of those mining lands via an “Irrevocable Power of Attorney”. Over the weekend, GGMC issued a detailed statement defending the $4M spending, saying it was approved by the Board of Directors since last year. With regard to criticisms that Williams’ role in the approval of the mining lands to his friend and subsequent control gained via the “Irrevocable Power of Attorney”, GGMC denied that there was any impropriety. Yesterday, Gaskin, known for speaking out against Government corruption and other questionable policies, was harsh in his criticisms of two situations. “This is totally out of order. I was the Chairman of Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC) and GAIBANK and I never had an expense account. It is improper to spend that kind of money.” Gaskin said he has been
Clinton Williams GGMC’s Chairman, Clinton Williams following the issues closely and from his information, no approvals came from Boards for the $4M spending by the Chairman on food and drinks. “The information is there. The Commission paid for the food and drinks and all those who are responsible for those payments should be removed from there. The approvals for those mining lands are tantamount to misconduct…improper conduct.” Gaskin also warned that it would be a shame and indeed unjustifiable, if the new administration seeks to reappoint Williams as Chairman when the life of the Board expires this month-end. Shameless “It is a shameless statement that has been issued by the Board. The Chairman cannot continue to hold on to that position any longer. He must be removed…it is as simple as that.” Gaskin’s statement would also come as the GGMC’ Board seeks to remove Commissioner Rickford Vieira from his post. Vieira was sent on administrative leave last week, with GGMC Board asking Government to terminate his contract. Last week, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA)
announced that it was boycotting all meetings that Williams would be chairing for GGMC. In its statement over the weekend defending the cases, GGMC argued that the publications by Kaieteur News is evidence it is being used by others with hidden agendas and motives, and opens the entity to legal action for the defamation of character. The regulatory body claimed that the current exposure in the media is as a result of changes being made to the organization from the findings of a review last year. A Commission of Inquiry into a spate of deadly mining accidents had also called for reforms, especially regarding the non-performance by specific functionaries along with serious dereliction of duties and undertaking of practices which deviated from the Mining Laws and Regulations. GGMC said it sent Vieira, the Commissioner, on annual vacation for the month of November and he was scheduled to return to duty on December 2, last. The Commission claimed that Vieira came back one day earlier and it was he who requested information that somehow made its way into the media. With regard to the mining lands that Williams played a role in approving, GGMC said that its Board, inclusive of the Chairman, is not part of the processing of applications for Mining Permits. Rather, the law requires the applications to be signed by the Commissioner and then submitted to the Chairman to countersign to give legal effect to the document. Not Me “Second, the applications for the Mining Permits were made by Mr. Ivor English in his name in 2014, processed and approved by the relevant Departments and the (Continued on page 26)
Tuesday December 08, 2015
GPOC issues Christmas posting deadlines To ensure that items arrive at their designated locations by Christmas Day, the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) has issued its postal deadline. A statement from the GPOC stated that all items intended to arrive at overseas destinations for Christmas Day, should be posted on or before December 9, while local items should be posted by December 16. GPOC pointed out that all postings done on or before the aforementioned dates will increase the guarantee of timely delivery for the holidays, and customers are reminded to ensure that items
are addressed correctly and affixed with a return address. With all systems in place, and a few extra tweaks here and there, officials of the Guyana Post Office Cooperation (GPOC) indicated yesterday that they are set and ready to take on the hustle and bustle that usually occurs during the Christmas season. Deputy Postmaster General, Abdul Hassan, in an interview yesterday, related that in order to have full optimization at the GPOC, they have minimised the number of annual vacations leading up to the season. In addition to that, systems have also been
put in motion as it relates to service accommodation; a widening of the service areas in anticipation for clients who usually wait for the last moment to use their services. Postal costs will remain the same during the Christmas season, Hassan stated, with domestic postages at $80 and international postage ranging from $130 to $200. Public Relations Officer, Telesha Whyte, is calling on customers to take advantage of their “Express Service” where persons can pay an additional cost and have their mail prioritised and delivered to recipients both locally and international.
No extension for Rodney COI -President declines request President David Granger has declined a request from Chairman of Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (COI), Dr. Sir Richard L. Cheltenham, for yet another adjournment to submit the report of the Commission’s findings. Attorney General Basil Williams told this to the media yesterday during a press conference at his Carmichael Street office. Williams indicated that Sir Richard wrote President Granger requesting an adjournment to February 29, 2016. However, the President has given the Commission up to next week to tender its report. According to Williams, Sir Richard told the President that this is the “Season where work is hardly done”, so more time is needed. He said that it is “common” in the Caribbean that work is not done at this time. The Minister said that President Granger responded that there is an “intense” programme scheduled for next year. It includes Local Government Elections and the
country’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations, so the request could not be accommodated. On those grounds, Granger requested that the findings be released next week Tuesday. Williams maintained that the COI is a political witchhunt and had no honourable motive in the first place. He said that Walter Rodney’s wife had indicated that she had never asked for a COI to be launched, as former President Donald Ramotar had said. Williams boasted that the Commission was unsuccessful in its quest to smear the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) at a time close to the General and Regional Elections. He hinted that the Commission is making another attempt to smear the PNCR by this means. “Now we are asked to go to February month end, which is almost on the eve of Local Government Elections, so you can draw your conclusions,” Williams said. He also shunned allegations that Granger does not want continuous hearings based on the fact that the PNCR is involved, and claims that the Commission had more than enough time to examine the key witnesses. Williams made reference to the fact that the former
government, the People’s Progressive Party Civic had brought the former Crime Chief, Cecil ‘Skip’ Roberts, to Guyana, and put him up at SleepIn Hotel, but the Commission never made use of him. Asked what will be the implications if the report is not handed in on December 15, Williams replied, “It doesn’t make sense speculating now.” Almost 34 years after his death, a team of international jurists was selected to probe the killing of politician/historian, Dr. Walter Rodney. Dr. Rodney was killed on June 13, 1980, when a bomb exploded in a car in which he was an occupant. He was 38 years old at the time. His brother, Donald Rodney, who suffered injuries during the explosion, alleged that a former GDF electronics expert, Sergeant Gregory Smith, had given the politician the bomb that killed him. It was alleged that Smith planted the bomb in a walkietalkie that blew up on Rodney’s pelvic region while he was on John Street, Werken-Rust, between Hadfield and Bent Streets, less than 100 metres from the Camp Street Prison. Smith died of cancer 11 years ago in French Guiana where he had gone to live, after he had fled Guyana.
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
Jagdeo, Ramotar sue govt. to reclaim unlimited benefits By Abena Rockcliffe
Former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar remain vexed with the government over its move to cap their benefits. So upset are the former Presidents they have moved to the courts to get what they view as their “fundamental rights.” The former Presidents have caused the writs to be filed in the High Court since November 11. But there was silence over this act. None of them made an announcement as they are wont to do ever since they became the opposition. Jagdeo failed to inform the media about this during his conferences where he talked about the “greed” of the current government. The media only found out about this move yesterday when the Attorney General, Basil Williams announced that the former Presidents are seeking to “in effect receive the large sums of money” in benefits and other facilities that were capped on the coming into operation of the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act of 2015. Despite the fact that Jagdeo and Ramotar are using the same Attorney-atLaw, Murseline Bacchus, the applications were filed separately. The matter will come up before Chief Justice Ian Chang and Justice Narendra Singh on December 11. Williams will be seeking leave to defend the Applications. According to the Writ, Jagdeo and Ramotar are contending that the Act of 2015 should only affect the ben-
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo efits of future Presidents. Ramotar demitted office on May 16, 2015 and Jagdeo on December 3, 2011. Williams told the media, “The question is really whether this country could afford uncapped benefits for former Presidents which could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars annually.” Jagdeo, asked about keeping this legal action a secret, responded, “My lawyer will send out a statement in a short while because as usual, Williams has misrepresented the facts.” Bacchus indeed sent out a statement subsequently. However, it did not differ in actual content from what was related by Williams. Bacchus said, “I observe in the press certain misleading statements attributable to the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Le-
Former President Donald Ramotar
gal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams, conveying the impression that my clients are ‘seeking to receive large sums of money’. My clients are simply seeking from the Court the following among others: A Declaration that the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act No. 3 of 2015 does not retrospectively affect benefits which accrued to them under the Former President (Benefits and other Facilities) Act of 2009; an Order compelling the Minister of Finance and the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority to provide forthwith to the Applicants the benefits conferred upon them by the Former President (Benefits and other Facilities) Act of 2009. The other former President, Samuel Hinds has so far not complained about the
Dem boys seh...
Jagdeo still grabbing Old people got a saying that when dog accustom to suck egg it can’t stop. Dem same old people got a saying that de more some people get, de more dem want. Dem two saying fit Jagdeo and now he got he puppet following he. People now seeing Sam in he true light because he ain’t join wid Jagdeo and Ramotar. Before he stop being president he pass a law that mek all who tun president gun get a whole heap of money. He fix de pension so that whether he is president or not, he gun get de same pay almost as de president. That is greed. He then fix he benefits so that he can travel free, have how much car he want, hire how much made he want and then get de people of this country to pay he light bill, he phone bill and all he travelling expense, even when he going out of Guyana. It mean that although he getting a pension that can pay 12 senior public servants $200,000 a month, he still ain’t got to spend no money, not even for food and travel. De
thing is that Donald use to call dem boys and tell dem that Jagdeo had to be mad. He tell dem to fight against de Bill because he think that it too taxing to de country. When was time to vote fuh de Bill, Donald vote for it. When dem boys ask him he tell dem that was a party vote but that he gun mek sure that people don’t tek that kind of money. Soulja Bai cut de big spending and de same Donald join wid Jagdeo to fight fuh get back de big spending. Dem boys seh that is not only that Donald is a puppet but de money sweeten him. Everybody know that Guyana can’t afford it; this is de same Jagdeo who seh that de Ministers should not tek a pay increase. In fact, he pension alone more big that all dem Minister salary. Now he want de expenses too, and that an all more big than dem Minister salary. He shame to stand up and talk bout how people cut de money suh he get Donald Dumb to join wid him. Talk half and watch how Jagdeo only thinking bout heself.
capped benefits. The Bill to cap the benefits was unanimously passed in the National Assembly during the time when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic refused to take up its seats. The explanatory memorandum of the Bill says that it will repeal the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act of 2009, and replace it to provide greater specificity. The burden that the lifestyle of former President Bharrat Jagdeo placed on the Treasury was the focal point of speeches presented by those who spoke to the Bill.
Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, was keen to note and repeat that the Act of 2009 will be repealed. Jordan also said that the size of the economy and the ability to sustain such openended and uncapped benefits, were ignored when Ramotar refused to assent to a similar Bill. He said that that showed narrow self-serving interest. Jordan made reference to the fact that over the period December 2011 to February 2014, Jagdeo racked up in excess of $45M on transportation, security and electricity bills within 27 months. Jagdeo’s total electricity bill for the duration amounted to over $9.8M. His average monthly light bill was $365,766 at the time. For transportation, he utilised over $15.2M. The State spent over $20.3M for his security over that 27-month period, an average of $752,649 monthly. Jordan pointed out that Jagdeo’s light bill is 8.7 times the minimum wage and his security bill is 17.6 times the same and 1.7 times the salary of a sitting Minister of Government Former Presidents will now be given $25,000 per month for electricity, a further $25,000 for water and another $25,000 for telephone. The new Bill states that former Presidents will be given services of personal and household staff, including a gardener but, the total
Page 9
Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams number of such staffers cannot exceed three persons. There will be a limit of $200,000 per annum for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by a former President for himself and his children below the age of 18 years and his spouse, provided that the money was not spent on medical attention and treatment obtained abroad or at private health facilities in Guyana, and were available in Guyana at government institutions. Former Presidents will be given full-time personal security, not exceeding two persons including those at the place of residence. They will also be entitled to the provision of not more than two motor vehicles owned and maintained by the State; toll free transportation; and an annual vacation allowance equivalent to the cost of two first class return airfares provided on the same conditions applicable to Judges of (Continued on page 23)
Page 10
Kaieteur News
Tuesday December 08, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Have you seen the Brian De Palma thriller, “Dressed to Kill” starring a unique and world class actor married to a Guyanese woman? In the movie, Michael Caine plays a psychiatrist who goes about killing people. You can lift the title of that film and apply it to society in Guyana. In Guyana, the people who wear expensive clothes, own luxury houses, drive fancy cars and whose bank books are as high as when the
stallion meets the sun, have some nasty dimensions to their life, like literally murdering people. I read somewhere about society in one of those Asian republics that emerged after the break-up of the Soviet Union. I can’t remember which one it is; it may be Uzbekistan. But I may be wrong. The writer described a most surreal situation where the famous and the infamous, the powerful and the notori-
ous, the politician and the thief, the police officer and the drug baron could be seen dining openly in public or attending sporting events together or in hushed conversation at the cocktail circuit. Such a situation is identical in Guyana. A rich drug lady is pictured with the President. An unimaginably rich family compels its workers to buy their own soap and toilet paper for use in the family owned business in downtown
Georgetown. One can well imagine the large attendance if such a family throws a garden party. The killer of Monica Reece is quite accepted in the upper classes of Guyanese society. That man probably has more middle class friends from the crème de la crème of Guyanese society than the politicians, doctors, lawyers, engineers and beauty technicians. When he was President, Bharrat Jagdeo could be seen at Buddy’s Night Club with some unsavoury characters. Hundreds of patrons passed by the table to shake the hand of the Champion while his questionable friends enjoyed the moment. While President, Jagdeo embraced as a friend, a multibillionaire, who ordered his workers to imprison NIS inspectors on his work-site. For that Jagdeo should have lost his presidency. I wonder if that Asian republic’s surrealism is more extensive and permeating than Guyana’s. A high level operative in the Office of the President is discovered inducing a homosexual relation with an underage boy. But the enticer finds himself on the Rights of the Child Commission. Then his two Presidents promoted him. He was literally the de facto boss of the entire state
media landscape. He turns up as a debater on television sitting next to decent journalists and editors from the private media who were happy to engage him. Interestingly, he sat right next to the snobbish and elitist guy who rules the waves at Stabroek News. Guyana is a morally disheveled, lost world. President Ramotar turned up at the funeral service of Commissioner Henry Greene and heaped so much praise on him that if such a eulogy was to be measured in terms of gallons, it would amount to oceans of waters. But Henry Greene was one of the most corrupt, debauched and profane men who ever donned a police uniform. Out of safety for my life and fear of libel when Greene was alive, I did not bring out ninety percent of the perversities we, in the media know about Greene. For more on Greene read the Wikileaks tapes. This same Ramotar told Mark Benschop in 2010 that he, Ramotar believes in moral politics. It was not that Ramotar was lying. Ramotar does believe in moral politics. The only problem is, that he doesn’t know what moral politics is and wouldn’t recognize it even it appears like Jaws on his lawn. Some rich people are like the Michael Caine character in “Dressed to Kill.”
Frederick Kissoon These people have status and wealth and connections in the Guyanese society. The Joneses cozy up to them but they kill people. Remember the heiress who left a few millions for her handyman in her will? Her ultra-wealthy children thought that was too much for such a low level employee even though he worked forty years for the woman. The children then organized a hit on the poor handyman. If these children throw a party the Who is Who in Guyana would turn up. The wealthy class accepts that dirty things have to be done in the name of money. Like the killer of the Robb Street granny. By now citizens in and out of Guyana who followed the Robb Street granny murder trial know who killed her. A man from a car importation firm went all dressed up to Albouystown in search of hitmen to kill granny. They killed granny. Somewhere out there, Monica Reece’s mother still cries.
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Jagdeo to meet with his MPs to discuss new marijuana legislation - Bill published and
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday signalled his intention to meet with his Members of Parliament and PPP members to discuss the new Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2015. This new piece of legislation was drafted by Nigel Hughes and Mark Waldron. This comes in the wake of the imprisonment of former national footballer turned coach, Vibert Butts, by a city Magistrate for the possession of marijuana. Butts has since appealed his conviction and sentence. Jagdeo and Hughes were in conversation yesterday afternoon about the content and tabling of the Bill, which is expected to relax the mandatory marijuana conviction. Jagdeo said that he was in possession of a copy of the Bill and will be reviewing it with the Opposition Members of Parliament. However, he stated that he was not prepared to disclose his thoughts on the content of the Bill at the moment. Hughes remained tightlipped on who will be tabling the Bill. He did, however, indicate that the public will know soon. He said that he will be meeting with the Opposition MPs and the Minister of Public Health to debate on the amendment. Hughes is calling for the support of all political parties. “I hope all the political parties will have a conscience to vote in favour of the legislation,” he told Kaieteur News yesterday. The law stipulates that anyone found in possession of marijuana is liable to a fine of $10,000 or three times the monetary value of the drug. If in excess of 15 grams of cannabis it is mandated that the offender should be sentenced to a minimum of three years’ imprisonment. “As a service provider in the legal profession since the current legislation was enacted in 1988, the social carnage which has been generated as result of this Act is simply horrendous,” he charged. He said that the national situation at that time led to the adoption of this “foreign prescriptive legislation”. He stated that the country was bankrupt and was seeking to secure international fiscal aid. “We have witnessed too many daughters and sons’ lives ruined as a result of their incarceration whether on remand or pursuant to a sentence. Perhaps the time has come for us to take responsibility for having unjust, cruel and unusual penalties for possession of cannabis,” he
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo
Vibert Butts insisted. According to the draft legislation, the Act which amends the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Control Act 1988 may be cited as the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 2015. The Bill is founded on the experience of several citizens—predominantly youths who have been incarcerated for small quantities of cannabis or cannabis resin, and who as a result of their incarceration have been unnecessarily economically and socially disadvantaged. Additionally, it stated that many of these young people who were remanded and incarcerated have been exposed to persons who have been accused of and have been involved in much more serious violent offences. “The social intercourse and interaction afforded by the incarceration has resulted in regrettable contamination and education of many young persons in criminal behavior and anti social tendencies,” the Explanatory Memorandum read. It added that the proposed amendments will remove the mandatory imprisonment of persons who have been accused of having in their possession relatively small
amounts of cannabis and cannabis resin whilst increasing the quantity which will constitute trafficking in cannabis or cannabis resin to one thousand grams. The Bill is expected to be tabled on December 17, when Parliament sits for the last time in 2015. Meanwhile, Butts was released around 15:30 hours yesterday. His bail was set at $550,000-$450,000 for the possession of marijuana and another $100,000 for having in his possession marijuana utensils. The bulk of money secured for his release came from his family and the Benschop Foundation. An unrepresented Butts had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge. But he later changed his plea and begged for leniency, insisting that he only used marijuana for medicinal purposes. Nonetheless, he was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, along with a oneyear prison term for another offence. He was granted bail in the High Court by Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang after his lawyers, Hughes and Waldron, filed the appeal. “I don’t mind standing the consequence of this injustice again since it is bringing change,” an elated Butts told Kaieteur News last evening. He said that the criminalisation of people, especially youths, for possession of a small “joint” was destroying the future of the country. “They destroy our youths by sending them to prison for smoking a few grams of weed. I never had any brush with the law. I was never imprisoned before until I was charged with marijuana possession,” he said. Recalling the day he was sentenced, Butts stated that he felt grave injustice at the hands of the judicial system. He described his days in prison as a literal “hell-hole.” “I saw things I never dreamed I would see... hundreds of men in one room, people sleeping in a ceiling...unsanitary conditions. I was living in a hell hole,” he lamented, stating that he was happy to be out. Butts is calling on the legislature of Guyana to amend the current Act since it is only “making soft people hard core criminals”. He commended the move by Hughes and Waldron to draft a new legislation, stating that they were on the right track to protecting the people and youths of the country. “This should have been done a long time ago,” he posited. He added that the politi-
cians need to prove that they have the interest of the youths at heart. “They need to support this Bill,” he said. Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton, on Sunday stated that in-depth consideration must be given to the Bill along with widespread consultation. However, he
ready for Parliament
stated that the legalisation of marijuana smoking would fly in the face of the anti-tobacco legislation, which will be tabled next year. However, Hughes disagrees with Norton’s notion; he stated that such legislation
would not need consultation since “the evidence is clear that it does more harm than good”. Butts is one of many persons who was charged and remanded to prison for possession of small amounts of marijuana.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Education Ministry promises to teachers....
GTU voices disapproval at slow pace of execution Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, has said that the Ministry is currently trying to deal “with the sluggishness of things we would have agreed to.” This was in relation to the recent concerns voiced by the Guyana Teachers’ Union, over the slow pace with which the Ministry deals with the
benefits they would have promised, such as duty free concessions and debunching monies. Sometimes, said Dr. Roopnaraine, “Bureaucracy sometimes breeds this sluggishness.” Despite this, the Ministry is reportedly trying “to accelerate the rate to which these benefits are dis-
pensed.” The Minister said that it is a concern for the Ministry as that, coupled with the “pittance” teachers receives aids in the high turnover rate in the profession. “We can’t continue to underpay and undervalue teachers and expect them to perform.” The Minister said, “We
need to deal with the question of remuneration issues and benefits.” It is hoped that areas of benefits available for teachers can possibly be expanded in the near future. This, he said, will hopefully lessen the high turnover rate of teachers as, “Until we can really take hold of this whole situation with the teachers, we won’t be advancing in the education system.” At a recent press conference hosted by the Guyana Teachers’ Union, the General Secretary, Coretta McDonald, revealed that of the 46 Head and Deputy Headteachers eligible to receive duty free concessions since 2009, only 16 have thus far been approved by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.
She related that while the union is happy to have those 16 persons receive what was promised to them, there are still 30 more persons to be looked at and the process is much too long. It should not “take such a long time to have this process completed. We should have this whole process of duty free completed when we submit names in a matter of two weeks. We shouldn’t have this long drawn out period between the Ministry of Education and GTU,” said McDonald. She added that “(the union) has had a battle over the years ensuring our Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers are afforded their duty free concessions, which battle is now in place.”
Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine
Parika farm hand gets 20 years for manslaughter The High Court trial of Patrick Anthony Balgobin has ended, with a jury finding him guilty of the unlawful killing of 73-year-old, St Lawrence, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) farmer, Rudolph Moonsammy. Balgobin was initially charged with murder, but following hours of deliberation by a mixed 12-member Jury, yesterday, he was found guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter. The incident allegedly took place in June 2010 at Lot 3, St. Lawrence, EBE. The court heard that Balgobin had attacked and beaten the elderly farmer to death after they
Dead: Rudolph Moonsammy had a disagreement. The man had hired Balgobin to work as a labourer on his farm. The victim was reportedly found un-
conscious in a room, sometime after he sustained the beating. When he was given a chance to respond to the verdict, yesterday, Balgobin told the court that he was sorry for everything. Attorney Maxwell McKay asked the court for leniency on his behalf. Justice Joann Barlow afterwards, imposed a 20-year jail sentence on Balgobin. The judge had initially handed down a 25-year jail sentence, but she deducted five years for the time the man had spent in prison awaiting his trial. Before he could be led away to prison, the Judge advised Balgobin to use his time behind bars wisely, to better himself for the good of society. In her opening address State Prosecutor, Tuanna Hardy, had related that the two men had a quarrel when the accused followed the victim and dealt him a lash, with a piece of wood. She said that the wood broke, but Balgobin took up a cutlass and chopped the man about his body. Hardy presented the case in association with State Counsel, Diana Kaulesar. According to reports, Balgobin had attacked the farmer after he attempted to reprimand him for verbally abusing his (Balgobin’s) wife and attacking a co-worker. An allegedly intoxicated Balgobin is said to have attacked Moonsammy battering him in the head and chopping him. Residents later found the elderly man unconscious in his bedroom. Moonsammy was then rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital. He was thereafter transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, (GPHC) where he died three days later.
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 21
Local charitable organisations urged to take advantage of GPHC’s paediatric cardiac programme With support from an overseas-based charitable organisation which has a keen focus on helping to save the lives of children, Government through the Ministry of Health is now able to offer open heart surgeries and other cardiac care services to children here. This by extension means a marked reduction in the usually high cost that has, from time immemorial, been associated with making such health care services available to patients. The development, which only materialised this year, is the result of Government’s collaboration with the International Children’s Heart Foundation which is also referred to as the Baby Heart Foundation based in Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America. This year has seen close to three dozen paediatric cardiac procedures being conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) during the course of this year. But according to Head of Paediatric Surgery at the GPHC, Dr. Marisa Seepersaud, there still is need for more strategic collaborations if more children are to benefit from the service that is now available right here in Guyana. She was at the time responding to a question from this publication as it relates to the relevance of local charitable organisations that have over the years helped to facilitate the accessing of medical care overseas for children with cardiac ailment. But according to Dr. Seepersaud since forging the partnership with the Baby Heart Foundation, efforts have been made to offer the local charitable organisations an opportunity to take advantage of the paediatric cardiac care programme now available
at the GPHC. “We have offered them to be a part of our planning and everything that comes with it, and if they want to direct some of their funding to our patients to help them, we were open to that too,” related the Head of Paediatric Surgery. However, Dr. Seepersaud made it clear that accessing the local programme is not dependent on funding support from the local charitable organisations. “Even if they don’t want to do that they would still benefit from what services we have to offer,” she asserted. Despite this offer she continued, “they have not really taken us up on it completely...they have expressed interest in it and they may have attended one or two meetings (in this regard) but we have almost monthly meetings and some of these organisations have not been attending regularly.” Dr. Seepersaud is, however, not holding the representatives of the local organisations culpable, as according to her “...maybe we need to do more work to invite them so that they can see all that has been achieved so far.” It would be highly economical if the local programme is fully utilised, Dr. Seepersaud opined. This is in light of the fact, she explained, that taking an ailing child to North America, for instance, to have open heart surgery done could amount to as much as US$30,000. Having the same surgery done at the GPHC by specialists from the Baby Heart Foundation costs Government as little as US$5,000. The cost incurred is mainly to facilitate the transportation and accommodation of the visiting team, Dr. Seepersaud noted. This is in spite of the fact that cardiac services are usually very costly.
But according to Dr. Seepersaud, “the reason they are able to achieve the reduction is because they depend on volunteers.” A recent visit which concluded here saw an 18-member team offering their services. Of the team members, 15 were volunteers. “We don’t have to pay them anything...they are actually using their vacation time...they could be on a beach somewhere. Some of the volunteers even get donations from their hospitals to help us here. Cardiac surgery is very expensive, but we are able to offer it at a sixth or fifth of the cost available elsewhere,” said Dr. Seepersaud. The collaboration with the local charitable organisation is crucial too since, according to Dr. Seepersaud, several of the patients who were sent abroad for surgery in the past were not properly diagnosed. “In the past, patients have been sent for surgery, but when they got to where they were sent they did not have the correct diagnosis and did not need surgery, or they were not adequately prepared when they went over for surgery and the surgery had to be cancelled,” Dr. Seepersaud informed. It is for this reason, she added, “that is why we want some of the local charitable organisations that have an interest in Guyanese children to be a part of it, because it would be money that is better spent.” But even ahead of the support from the Baby Heart Foundation, Dr. Seepersaud disclosed that the GPHC had established a committee in 2013 specifically aimed at targeting children in need of cardiac care. The efforts in this regard revealed “a huge patient-load that was not being serviced at all. We identified the patients with the help of Dr. (Debra) Isaacs and some
Guyanese among two nabbed by Bajan authorities with coke in car Barbados- Members of the Drug Squad have arrested and jointly charged Guyanese national Lyndon Aubrey Kennedy, 34, and Barbadian Randy McCurren Agard of New Orleans, St. Michael, with three cocainerelated offences. According to police, officers carried out an operation in Hastings, Christ Church on Friday. The vehicle in which Kennedy and Agard were travelling in was stopped. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of five packages of cocaine, weighing six kilograms. The two men were
charged with possession, intent to supply and trafficking. Kennedy and Agard were ex-
pected to appear at the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court yesterday. (nationnews)
of our other Canadian colleagues; dozens of these patients were in dire need of surgical intervention,” admitted Dr. Seepersaud. It was against this background, the Head of Paediatric Surgery noted, that deliberate efforts were made to reach out to the Baby Heart Foundation to bring cardiac
relief to young patients. In addition to technical support, the Baby Heart Foundation, which has Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon, Dr Rodrigo Soto, as its Chief Executive Officer, has also been helping to train a local team that will eventually be able to conduct paediatric cardiac care independently.
Dr. Marisa Seepersaud
Page 22
Kaieteur News
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American Indian Male is seeking female, age 32plus, no texting –call: 679-9646
Cashier 6am-3pm & 3pm12pm. Submit application to Shell Station Providence EBD, shellramsburg @gmail.com
Desk staff (male), ages 2545yrs- Tel: 225-0198
Porters Ripsaw, RT saw, and wood mizer operator @ Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D –Call Richard: 609-7675; 6741705; 233-2614 1 Welder; apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling.
-Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Julieann’s Apartment Rentals: fully furnished apartments with aircondition & Wi-Fi -$9,000 daily - Call: 226-5336; 6926595; 616-4686 Apartment for rent in Nandy Park- Call: 227-5194 House in Bel-Air Gardens; 4 bedrooms with all modern convenience. No agents! Call: 231-7839 working hours. House in Bel-Air Park: 3 bedrooms upstairs/ downstairs, all modern conveniences -$1,600US monthly. Call: 231-7839 working hours
PROPERTY FOR SALE Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 227-6817; 624-7341 Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. 2 storied transported concrete property- upstairs: 2 bedrooms apartment, downstairs: 2 bedroom apartment, block ‘8’ MonRepos, E.C.D -$19M neg. Call: 625-1514; 231-7255
LAND FOR SALE Providence Scheme 115ftX81ft located on a Cul de Sac close to Bai Shan Lin -$8.2M negotiable –Call: 6014163; 223-0719
TO LET LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
SALON
Full & Part time & Seasonal, local & international work available, training provided $5,000 plus daily – Call: 6221957/ 233-6517, www.jobfairworldwide.com
Luxury gated community with pool, mall, swipe entry/ exit, underground irrigation. Contact: 609-0783
Suriname Old years into new- exciting fireworks, shopping, site-seeing & tours (Dec 30th- Jan 3rd). Call: 665-5171, 639-2663 PEN PAL
Experienced cocktail bartender, apply in person @ Tajoe’s Bar, 12 Public Road Pouderoyen W.B.D –Call: 604-0204, 264-0041 Assistant Kitchen attendant, waitress –Contact Sheikor or Donald: 227-1131; 646-4138; 661-8548 Business Opportunity: School Cafeteria for lease in Diamond, must have experienced running a Cafeteria – Email: sevosawh@gmail.com
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Prime 2 flat business place to rent on Robb Street, Lacytown between Camp & Alexander Streets - Tel: 226-9377
Two properties for sale at West Coast and West Bank. Excellent condition- Call: 660-3235, 668-3985 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities - Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Property at Soesdyke Suitable for apartment/bar/ lounge & rooms + space for recreational/parking lot-Tel: 653-8754 serious call only. House and land for sale @ Zeelught- Call: 601-2898
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. One 2011 Honda ATV Bike, only used for prospecting, air cool. One Model M Bush Truck with Winch Call: 6882597 PRADO: TOP CONDITION, SUNROOF, FULLY LOADED, 8 SEATER, FUEL, 2000 MODEL. CALL: 6845868 CRV EXCELLENT CONDITION, 1998CC, ALARM, DVD, MAGRIM, CLEAN ENGINE & BODYCALL: 684-5868 1 Hilux Surf, 2 Trucks (1 TM & 1TL) -Tel: 618-1967, 698-4321 Rottweiler and German Shepherd mix pups for sale –Call: 641-1771 and 654-0388 AMERICAN BULLY DOGS, REMYLINE & GOTTILINECONTACT HARRY: 6100 0 6 8 / 2 2 0 - 7 9 3 3 , WHATSAPP: 667-4845 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games & applications. Delivery also – Call: 672-2566; 265-3232 New and used parts for all types refrigerators, air conditioners, microwaves, stoves, washers etc.- call: 233-2008/ 613-8800
VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Noah & Voxy, Fully loaded, never registered, ‘G’ Series -$1.7M. Call: 617-2891 One Honda CRV, immaculate condition –price $1,650,000- Call: 626-2884 Nissan Titan 2004 model, GSS series, in immaculate condition - Call: 629-4392, 220-7958 Toyota Hilux extra cab with tray cover 2.5L full service history. Duty paid. Unregistered$6M negotiable- Tel:266-5282 1 Toyota Corolla Fielder PMM series in good condition. New tyres. $1.3MTel: 266-5282 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 Honda Accord 2003, Tan Leather, TV, CD, Radio, DVD, 36,000KM, like now – Call: 689-1194 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Bluebird, 212, IST, Fielder, Spacio- Call: 6523820/ 665-4529
One property in Nandy Park and one complete dredge for sale- Call: 642-3808, 644-7207
Unregistered Dualis -$1.6M, glass roof, fog lights and TV –Call: 669-7298
Used XBOX 360, PS Vita, PS3 I-pad & I-pods, XBOX one & games –Tel: 621-7497; 6038643; 649-3277 33.6 Acre Farm Land, located at Linden/ Soesdyke Highway also ideal for poultry farm –Call: 225-7794; 679-1151
HB yellow 192 Corolla in good condition. Price $550,000. Owner migratingCall: 684-2539, 647-0271
TIBETAN TERRIORS (FLUFFY) PUPS- CALL: 222-7891; 609-9202
Unregistered Fielder Wagon, fully loaded, rims, camera, bodykit, HID, dark interiorCall: 617-5536 FOR SALE/RENT American Pools table-Call: 277-0578
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news
Taxi driver carjacking murder…
Witness recalls Unacceptable occurrences at 704 Sports Club and Bar parking facility that accused made arrangement to sell car
DEAR EDITOR, Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to share our experiences that occurred about 3 weeks ago with the public. After a week of long intense hours on the job, a group of coworkers decided to go hangout after work. Many venues were considered however the 704 Sports Club and Bar was agreed upon by the majority mainly because of the proclaimed secure parking. We got to the Bar at around 18:30 hours. At approximately 20:45 hours, one of the person’s in the group went to retrieve his cell phone charger from a bag that was inside of the locked car that was parked opposite one of the guard huts in the parking lot. It was then discovered that the car was broken into, the small triangular glass on
the left back door was broken to gain entry (attached). What happens next is what surprised us all. After my co-worker informed the security personnel, he returned upstairs to inform the group of what had happened. As the owner of the car I immediately ask to speak to the manager on duty. After a few minutes, the manager came out saying that they knew of the break in more than an hour before however, they thought the vehicle belonged to someone who was not a customer at the establishment since they had sent their waitresses to each table to find out. I don’t know how true that was because of course no one came to our table which was situated on the left upon entrance via the sports club door. So I then suggested
that if they had lowered the music and announced the vehicle number that would have been a better method. The manager later replied saying, “we don’t have a microphone and there is a sign at the entrance of the parking lot saying don’t leave valuables in your car.” After getting the sense that no one was concerned or interested in our plight we left the bar. I returned early the next week and spoke to another manager named Ryan. He collected my contact information and promised to have the head of security go through security camera footage. However, he never called, so I decided to call back and he expressed surprise that I was not contacted by the head of security and he promised to return a call in 2 minutes. Low and behold that call
never came through. In conclusion, I admonished my fellow brothers and sisters of the public to be very careful when parking their locked vehicles at 704 Sports Bar and Club parking lot; Could one ask the question if the persons in place to look over these vehicles (i.e. 704 Security) are somewhat involved in orchestrating these break-ins? I am not stating that position but simply asking the question. The top management of 704 Sports Bar and Club really need to revisit their Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for their Security sector, so that in the future, problems of this nature would be dealt with in a better manner and some effective remedy could be put in place to curb this rampant situation. Chetwynd Osbourne
DEAR EDITOR, Given the legacy of abuses Indians and other groups have suffered ever since they arrived on the shores, and shared (at times similar) experiences with Africans, intellectuals from all ethnicities have an obligation to speak out on grievances the various groups have experienced. Their writings will help guide future generation of scholars in their research by offering their views on important issues. Too few (Indian) intellects are concerned with anything other than their own personal success in life and about themselves. Some forget that it was the struggle of others that helped made many intellects who they are today and responsible for the restoration of democracy and our freedom a la the struggle against the PNC ethnic dictatorship. Due to many social problems and the ongoing reality of racism and other systems of oppression being experienced by Indians, Amerindians, Chinese, etc., Indian (and other) intellectuals should be more active in addressing these issues. They must also be vigilant in confronting the many obstacles that may arise to hinder the progress of the communities where they live. This is even more reason for (Indian) intellectuals to speak up on critical issues relating to their future well being. They and intellects from other ethnicities simply cannot stand by and watch as they themselves and others suffer from various abuses. They have to join the struggle that a few of us are waging to
improve the lives of others. Africans must also speak up on issues impacting on groups other than their own. It is noted that few African intellectuals have objectively addressed issues impacting on the Indian community; they focus primarily on their own kith and kin and some tend to derogate Indians. Nothing is wrong with intellects focusing on their own group. It is okay to be an ethnic advocate and to speak out against racism or on issues affecting your group. But attacking other groups is unacceptable and must be condemned. It is noted that few Africans speak out against the poor governance of their parties or discrimination leveled by their own against other groups. Hardly any have condemned the racism being experienced by Indians, Amerindians, Chinese and other groups, and even fewer African intellects are activists against racism and ethnic hatred that has been perpetrated in the society over many decades. While ready to con-
demn Indian writers and the de facto Indian party, for perceived or real grievances, few Black writers are willing to criticize Africans or the de facto African party for misgovernance. Also, some Black writers are insensitive to discriminatory attitude experienced (or related) by Indians or Amerindians. I am of the view that Blacks (and Indians) should speak out objectively on matters impacting on all groups. Moral conscience dictates that people speak out against racism (or its kinship such as prejudice, discrimination, intolerance, etc.) regardless of the purveyors; racism must be condemned in all its forms. Intellectuals of all ethnicities must speak out on (or address) issues impacting on race relations. Everyone, regardless of ethnicity, must speak out. We may not agree with every viewpoint, as has been the case with Bakr, but at least we will have a variety of perspectives on an issue to examine and form our own conclusions. Hopefully, we learn from each other.
When intellectuals of different backgrounds address an issue, it is expected they will have different opinions because, obviously, they have varied experiences and live in different neighborhoods. It is better to have many voices than having a few doing all of the advocacy for a (persecuted) people or addressing issues facing a group. The liberating potential of the collective community is enhanced when there is full participation of comments from scholars irrespective of backgrounds. Indian intellects cannot do it alone. Black intellectuals and those of other ethnicities also have a role in addressing issues affecting Indians or other groups. Only then will it be easier to talk about “race”, and it won’t be a taboo issue or pushed under the rug. The burden to start and carry on conversations (writings) should not fall on the shoulders of a few (Indian) intellectuals. Vishnu Bisram
African Guyanese must condemn discrimination in the society
Riverview man ID’d in eight armed robberies
A Riverview, Ruimveldt man has been identified as a suspect in eight armed robberies in various sections of the city. Acting Crime Chief, Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, said that the 23-year-old was placed on identification parade, after he
was arrested in connection with a recent robbery. Ramnarine said the youth has been charged with eight counts of armed robbery. The Acting Crime Chief described the cooperation of the victims as “a very good boost” for the Guyana Police Force. “This is a welcomed
development. Their cooperation is very much appreciated.” The suspect was also remanded in May 2014 on armed robbery charges. It is alleged that he had robbed Rishi Ramdani of a silver band, a BlackBerry cellular phone and cash totalling $100,000, while in Riverview.
Prosecution witness, Travis David, yesterday told the court that murder accused Balram Singh had met with the owner of a taxi service to get rid of a car he claimed he had for sale. Singh is on trial before Justice Navindra Singh at the Georgetown High Court for the murder of taxi driver, Bhomeshwar Sukdeo Sukdeo was reportedly kidnapped and robbed of his vehicle before he was murdered. His charred remains were identified on the Mocha Arcadia access road days after he had gone missing. He was allegedly shot in the head and burnt. The incident occurred between January 19 and January 27, 2010. Reports are that the accused of Agricola, Greater Georgetown, admitted to selling Sukhdeo’s car to a taxi service in Grove, East Bank Demerara, following his arrest. Yesterday, Travis David testified that in 2010, he was living at Agricola, East Bank Demerara, the same village in which the accused resided. The man told the court that during that time, he was working for a taxi service owned by Bharrat Narine on the East Bank Demerara. The witness recalled that some time while working with the service, he met with the accused, who inquired from him whether his “boss man” does buy vehicles. He said that Singh told him he had a car to sell but that it was in Berbice. David recounted that he had told the accused that the taxi service at that time, had five cars, but one had crashed. He said that he eventually agreed to introduce Singh to his employer. David told the court that the accused later sold the car to his boss for $600,000. However, in January 2010, the witness said that police arrested his employer, (Narine), the accused and himself. He said that they were taken in, for questioning about a stolen car and the disappearance and murder of a taxi driver. The man recalled that a confrontation was held between them. The witness detailed that Singh told the police in his presence, that he had shot the taxi driver and dumped his body at a dam. But the man said that he denied the accusations and his boss was there, to verify his story. Defence Attorney, Jermaine Jervis, objected to
the evidence which David led. The lawyer described the evidence as fresh and prejudicial. But his objections were overruled by the Judge. David was called upon to testify in the trial by State Prosecutor Narissa Leander. The Prosecutor also called Government Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh to the witness box. Dr. Singh testified that the post mortem examination conducted on the body of Sukdeo proved inconclusive. Earlier in the trial, Police Detective Jermaine Landry told the court that Singh took investigators to the spots, where the body of slain taxi driver was dumped. According to him, Singh had taken police ranks to a dam and pointed them to the place where the taxi driver’s body was first dumped. At the home of the accused, the investigators unearthed a yellow and black bicycle and receipts from Courts and an auto sales dealership. Landry said that the accused told the ranks that he sold Sukdeo’s car and purchased the bicycle with some of the money he acquired. The detective said that Singh later led them to Eccles Industrial Site, and to Mocha access road. The officer said that at Eccles, the accused pointed out a spot where he said, the body was first dumped, but at Mocha access road, the man pointed to an area on the northern side of the road, where he said the body was finally disposed of. The officer told the court that he also observed that sections of the bushes, on the northern side of the road, were burnt.
Jagdeo, Ramotar sue govt. to reclaim unlimited benefits From page 9 the Supreme Court of Judicature. However, even with the benefits being capped, the new Bill states that “A Former President shall cease to be entitled to the benefits and other facilities provided under section 3, if the former President engages in business, trade or paid employment or is convicted of a criminal offence for which a term of imprisonment is imposed.”
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Kaieteur News
‘Fusion of cultures’ depicted at Hebrew Family ‘Sisterhood’ event
Tuesday December 08, 2015
From the Council President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) The Council President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, and ICAO Secretary General, Dr. Fang Liu, in a joint statement on the occasion of International Civil Aviation Day, 2015, noted:
Hebrew Family of Guyana Sisterhood dressed in the colours of the flag. It was a fusion of cultures when the Hebrew Family of Guyana Sisterhood, celebrated its 18th annual Evening of Elegance recently. The extravagant affair, which was held under the theme ‘Celebrating Cultural Diversity’, was held at the Georgetown Club, Camp Street, Georgetown. Those in attendance were treated to entertaining presentations from the Amerindian, African, Chinese and East Indian cultures. The soulful sisters and brothers from the Hebrew Family of Guyana, the House of Israel, ACDA and Kenric Cheeks, showcased their phenomenal dancing through
song and drums. In similar fashion, Charmaine Blackman charmed the crowd with beautiful renditions from Bob Marley and Itana, just to name a few. Also ‘Indus Voices’ entertained the audience with a beautiful love song. By the same token, the surreal fusion of various African drums and the Indian table, saw guests of various ethnicities leaving their seats to join in an impromptu unity dance to the beats. This was probably the highlight of this year’s event, as it allowed for people of different cultures to dance on one stage to an amalgamation of drums. Food was certainly not lacking at this auspicious
event. Heavenly Foods Soul Vegetarian catered in style to guests, and certainly enticed their taste buds with delicious cuisines from each ethnic group represented. Additionally, a group of modest models wowed the attendees as they displayed snippets of classical and contemporary cultural – casual and evening – garments of the cultures. The event was rated a success. In a statement, the Hebrew Family of Guyana’s Sisterhood expressed “heartwarming thanks to the sponsors who came on board.” Among the sponsors were Jochelle’s Magnetic Craft, Idea Graphics, Genesis Fitness Express, Fun Park Rentals, the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture Youth and Sport, Edward. B. Beharry and Company Limited, Prem’s Electrical and the Ministry of Tourism.
Four jointly charged with... From page 17 commence and 20 witnesses are slated to testify. At several court hearings, the men's Attorneys had expressed their frustrations about the delayed PI. They had pointed to the fact that their clients have the right to be given a trial within a reasonable time. The lawyers also stressed that it was unfair for the accused to be on remand for such a long time. But this was not done without them acknowledging the nature of the offence. In addition, Rayon Paddy and Orin Arthur are jointly charged with the murder of Sterling Products Limited guard, Wilfred Stewart, which occurred on December 24, 2014, at Providence, East Bank Demerara. Stewart of Graham's Hall, East Coast Demerara, was shot dead by gunmen who forced their way into the Sterling Products Limited Compound.
The air transport sector today stands on the cusp of a very important era in the history of international civil aviation. Given the established pattern whereby the global air transport network doubles in flight and passenger volumes every 15 years, and its significant importance to the prosperity of societies and businesses all over the world, the commitments and actions on behalf of world States and organisations toward modernised and expanded civil aviation infrastructure and capacities have never been more important. Under its ‘No Country Left Behind’ programme, ICAO is working with great determination today to raise global awareness on the fundamental importance of the effective implementation of ICAO Standards and Policies, which together support the enhanced safety, efficiency, security, economic devel-
opment and environmental protection of the international aviation system. This is the most important and urgently required first step which must be undertaken, if a State or Region hopes to improve its ability to access and realise the significant socioeconomic benefits which derive from the availability of safe and reliable air services. ICAO and its Governing Council also recognise that cooperation and consensus have been the most important qualities contributing to air transport progress since the dawn of the civil aviation era, and that future objectives and solutions will require even greater partnership and collaboration, on the part of all players to ensure that air transport will continue to serve as an significant enabler of global peace and prosperity, wherever aircraft fly. The ICAO Council has therefore selected a new theme for International Civil Aviation Day. This theme will stay in place for the years 2015-2018 inclusive. The Council is stressing its value and importance to civil aviation everywhere, and which reinforces the above priorities and considerations, as follows: “Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind”
From Director General (Ag), Guyana Civil Aviation Authority The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority joins the aviation fraternity in observing International Civil Aviation Day under the theme “WORKING TOWARDS ENSURING NO COUNTRY IS LEFT BEHIND”. Raymond Benjamin, Secretary General of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) remarked at the World Aviation forum, “that the role of connectivity and aviation development is important to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”. The “No Country Left Behind” initiative is seen in a much broader context when it comes to human rights of the peoples of the world, and supports many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Aviation is no longer only a national matter; it is a global phenomenon; it connects the world. It has completely transformed the ways in which travel, tourism, trade and commerce are accomplished. However, the continued growth and demands of this system have presented many challenges. We need to address these challenges so that we can build a safe, secure, economically viable, and environmentally friendly aviation system that will be sustainable for the future. This theme has been chosen to transform civil aviation over the next four years. These four years are critical for Civil Aviation in Guyana and more so, for the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Within this period, Guyana has to improve its level of compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), which will aid in the attainment of the Federal Aviation Administration’s International Aviation Safety Assessment - Category 1. In order to achieve this, however, there must be “political will” by all involved, starting with the recognition of aviation as a catalyst for economic and social development that will support poverty eradication, job creation, access to better education and health facilities, and other benefits to the entire nation. From 2005, ICAO expanded its requirement under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), from auditing three
Annexes to auditing all safety related Annexes in the Chicago Convention for compliance to their Standards and Recommended Practices. This significantly decreased compliance level for many States whose aviation activity is low. In 2013, a new Annex to the Convention on International Civil Aviation was introduced. This expanded audit programme required States to review and revise their legislative and regulatory framework, to ensure compliance with all SARPs contained in nineteen Annexes to the Chicago Convention, so as to support the effective functioning of the Regulatory and Safety Oversight agency. The surge in aviation activities on the national scale requires an increased number of technically trained and qualified personnel to support the industry through safety and regulatory oversight and enforcement. This institutional strengthening and capacity-building of GCAA has required robust intervention and implementation to keep abreast of these activities in order to enable Guyana to attain a higher level of compliance with ICAO’s SARPs. The negligence in addressing this ongoing increase in requirements, while not peculiar to the Guyana situation only, continues, and has placed our country, a contracting State to ICAO, below 50% compliance. ICAO compliance is a State’s responsibility, and as such, while other aviation infrastructural development is essential, a robust regulatory and safety oversight body is much more needed to sustain a safe, secure and vibrant industry. As we observe this day and recognise the significant development in Guyana’s aviation sector along with the efforts of all aviation personnel who directly or indirectly support this industry, and ensure its safety on a day to day basis, I urge that aviation be accorded a higher level on our country’s agenda so that it can be recognised as an enabler for economic and social development and as an important tool to support the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
St Vincent PM denies financial wrongdoing days before election KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — The prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has issued a forceful denial to claims of financial wrongdoing on his part. The claims began circulating on social media on Sunday, three days before Vincentians vote for a new government tomorrow. Via his Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) Facebook page, Gonsalves denied holding a Swiss bank account with millions of US dollars in it. In a statement issued on Sunday, Gonsalves said he has instructed the Attorney General Judith Jones Morgan to contact the United States government immediately under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty to investigate a fraudulent bank document said to be proof of an alleged bank account domiciled at an address in Brooklyn, New York. He has also instructed the Commissioner of Police Michael Charles to open a
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves criminal investigation locally into the fraudulent document. This investigation is said to include any regional or international operatives currently working in St Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as the involvement of INTERPOL, the Regional Security System (RSS) and the Joint Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre of IMPACS to assist in the investigation.
Gonsalves, who is minister of national security and legal affairs, has also instructed the commissioner of police to alert the director of public prosecution (DPP) to these investigations. His statement said it is illegal under American, French, Swiss, European Union and Vincentian law to fabricate documents and make slanderous and untrue allegations against individuals. The statement added that checks confirm that the account number given in what it called a fraudulent document does not exist. The prime minister has therefore requested the relevant authorities in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the United States, Switzerland, France and the European Union to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice. This “monumental lie”, the statement said, indicates the extent to which the opponents of the ULP will go to gain political power.
Tuesday December 08, 2015
T&T finance minister blasts Central Bank Governor over “recession” statement PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Finance Minister Colm Imbert has described as “discourteous” the decision by the Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, Jwala Rambarran, to announce that the oil-rich twin island republic was “officially in a recession” without informing the government first. Rambarran, addressing the Fifth Monetary Policy Forum organised by the Downtown Owners and Merchants last Friday, said the country is “facing austere
economic circumstances. “The economic priorities in 2016 must be aimed at supporting a firm enough recovery through appropriate monetary and fiscal policies, setting forth a medium-term framework which balances consuming, saving and investing energy wealth.” Rambarran said that the grim reality is Trinidad and Tobago is in a recession, stuck in a low growth cycle, vulnerable to further declines in energy prices and production.
Trinidad and Tobago Finance Minister Colm Imbert
GGMC’s Chairman should be... (From page 8) Commissioner. The Power of Attorney for the lands was done this year and as such, even the notion of “undue influence” does not hold given the fact that the applications were not made by the Chairman. “For the sake of argument, one may say that the Chairman may have influenced the favourable processing of the applications, but this argument would not hold, since it would imply that any other application can be influenced and the third point below addresses this.” GGMC also insists that it processes applications for mining lands on a “first come, first serve” basis which negates the exercise of subjectivity. “The date and time the payment of the application fees and first year rental is paid, is used to determine the “first come, first serve” eligibility. Therefore, if someone else applied for the said mining lands prior to Mr. Ivor English, then it would have been granted to that applicant.” GGMC also insisted that
the laws do not preclude members of the Board from owning mining lands or having interest in mining. “In fact, the Act states that the persons appointed to the Board must have the expertise and capacity in the areas of the functions of the Commission; such functions which deal with mining. More importantly, the Act allows for Board Members to be owners of mining lands or to have such interest given that Section 6 (1) to 6 (4) of the Schedule deals with the issue of Conflict of Interest and how Board Members are expected to act if such situations arise.” GGMC also said that there are numerous members of the Board who currently have vested interests in mining and own mining properties. As it relates to the $4M entertainment expenses, GGMC said that last year, the Board of Directors had approved expense accounts for the Chairman, Commissioner and two Deputy Commissioners. “This was deemed
necessary for two reasons. First, the senior officers of the Commission often times were engaged in activities/ engagements on behalf of the Commission and thus, it was deemed prudent for the Commission to fund these engagements rather than the expenses being borne personally. “These engagements were in the form of dinners and other social events and were for external and internal stakeholders of the sector, inclusive of management of the Commission and not necessarily for personal engagements.” GGMC stressed that it would be placing the senior officers of the Commission in a difficult moral and conflict of interest position, if such engagements were funded by current and potential stakeholders of the Commission. Gold is one of the top earners for the country, playing a critical role in the last seven years or so. However, there have been criticisms over monitoring, allocations of mining lands and a number of issues.
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Obama in speech to nation vows to defeat ‘new phase’ of terrorist threat (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Sunday laid out the most sweeping defence yet of his strategy to defeat Islamic State, but he offered no U.S. policy shift to confront what he called a “new phase” in the terrorist threat after a mass shooting in California. In a rare Oval Office address, Obama sought to calm a U.S. public increasingly jittery about the fight against Islamist militancy that once appeared to be waged overseas. His remarks failed to quiet Republican critics who have long accused him of underestimating the militants’ strength and staying power. Speaking in a measured tone, Obama used his 14minute nationally televised appearance to draw a careful line about what he would and would not do. He pledged, for example, to “hunt down terrorist plotters” anywhere they are. But he insisted: “We should not be drawn once more into a long and costly ground war in Iraq or Syria.” Obama spoke just four days after U.S.-born Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his Pakistani wife, Tashfeen Malik, 29, opened fire on a holiday party for civil servants in San Bernardino, California, killing 14 people. The pair were killed hours later in a shootout with police. Obama condemned the attack as “an act of terrorism designed to kill innocent people.” But he also said San Bernardino showed that “the terrorist threat has evolved into a new phase” as Islamic
State used the Internet to “poison the minds” of potential assailants. Obama also made a connection between national security and the need for gun control following America’s latest mass shooting. The FBI is investigating the paramilitary-style attack in California as inspired by Islamic State, which controls swaths of Syria and Iraq and has shown an expanded reach beyond its Middle East strongholds, including complicity in the Nov. 13 assaults in Paris that killed 130 people. But Obama, whose restraint contrasted sharply with French President Francois Hollande’s impassioned words after the Paris attacks when he vowed a “merciless” response, said there was no evidence the California assault was directed by a militant group overseas or part of a broader conspiracy at home. Nevertheless, Obama sought to show his administration was on top of the crisis, despite new questions raised about the country’s defences against homegrown extremism. “The threat from terrorism is real but we will overcome it,” Obama said. Obama’s Republican critics, including the party’s presidential candidates, quickly panned his speech, just the third he has delivered from the Oval Office since he took office in January 2009. “People are scared not just because of these attacks but because of a growing
sense that we have a president that is completely overwhelmed by them,” Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination for the November 2016 election, told Fox News. DIGITAL DEBATE LOOMING WITH SILICON VALLEY Delivering his speech from a lectern, Obama called on Silicon Valley to help address the threat of militant groups using social media and electronic communications to plan and promote violence, setting up renewed debate over personal privacy online. Obama also seized the opportunity to make the case again for U.S. gun control, something he has done to little avail because of stiff Republican resistance, following numerous shooting sprees during his presidency. “We also need to make it harder for people to buy powerful assault weapons like the ones that were used in San Bernardino,” Obama said. “What we can do - and must do - is make it harder for them to kill.” A senior administration official said Obama had no immediate plans to visit San Bernardino. At the same time, Obama cautioned against overreaction to the militant threat at home. “We cannot turn against each other by letting this fight be defined as a war between America and Islam,” he said, alluding to the incendiary rhetoric by Republican presidential candidates like
Britain calls crisis meeting as floods hit northern England, one killed (Reuters) - Britain’s emergency response committee met on Sunday after prolonged heavy rain caused widespread flooding in northwest England and forced emergency services to evacuate residents from their homes. The meeting was called after storms battered the country overnight, killing one man and leaving hundreds of homes flooded and without power. Police declared a major incident and coastguards were called in to rescue stranded residents. Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said the government committee had been called to “urgently assess the scale of the floods and ensure the response remains coordinated, effective and gets help
to those affected as quickly as possible.” Police said they believed one man was killed in London, which also experienced high winds, after he was blown into the side of a moving bus. There were no other reports of deaths or injuries. Britain has suffered several heavy floods in recent years. In 2014 thousands of acres of farmland in the south of the country were submerged for weeks and the northwest region was badly flooded in both 2009 and 2005. Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter that the army had been mobilised to help those affected. “Looking down the main street where I am now I can’t tell where the river starts and where it ends ... it’s dirty
brown water. It’s a real mess,” Mark Walker, a local teacher, told Reuters by telephone from the badly-affected city of Carlisle. He said the water was waist high at points along the road and had flooded local businesses including a car dealership and a convenience store. Emergency services had been evacuating homes by boat and helicopter, he said. Britain’s national weather service, the Met Office, said in one of the worst affected areas 201.8 millimetres (7.94 inches) of rain had fallen on Saturday - only slightly below the 215 mm usually seen during the whole of December. Gusts of wind reached 90 miles per hour, a spokesman said.
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about counter-terrorism and the United States fight against Islamic State during an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, December 6, 2015 (REUTERS/SAUL LOEB/POOL) Donald Trump, which is seen by critics as fear-mongering against the Muslim community. Given that the California couple were not on the U.S. national security radar before they launched their shooting spree on Wednesday, Obama faced the challenge of convincing the U.S. public he is doing everything possible to deal with an evolving militant threat. There was mounting evidence that the pair were “lone wolf” assailants who may have become radicalised by Islamic State propaganda and then acted independently, making it all the more difficult for authorities to track them. Last week’s massacre, if proven to be linked to or motivated by foreign Islamist
militancy, would be the deadliest such incident on U.S. soil on Obama’s watch and since the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks on New York and Washington. Obama’s address came amid growing pressure from Republicans and even some Democrats for a tougher response to Islamic State now that the San Bernardino shootings have raised fears among Americans about the threat of more attacks at home. Obama’s last speech in the Oval Office, a symbol of presidential power, was in August 2010, when he hailed the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq, a milestone in his campaign promise to extract the United States from the war there.
His policy was upended, however, with the meteoric rise of Islamic State. Since late last year, Obama has deployed about 3,500 U.S. troops back to Iraq on a train-and-advise mission. The Pentagon announced last week it was sending scores more in a special operations expeditionary force against Islamic State. Critics are calling for more aggressive action. Among the few specific requests in his speech was for Congress to pass legislation that would block individuals who are on the government no-fly list from purchasing guns. That would not have stopped the California couple, however, since they were not on any government terrorism watch list.
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Triumphant Venezuelan opposition looks to free prisoners (Reuters) - Triumphant opposition leaders vowed yesterday to use their new majority in Venezuela’s legislature to free jailed opponents of the Socialist government, but also promised not to go after political foes. The Democratic Unity coalition won more than twice the number of National Assembly seats as the Socialists in Sunday’s vote that punished President Nicolas Maduro’s government for deep economic and social crisis in the oil-producing country.
It was the first time in 16 years that the “Chavismo” movement, named for former socialist President Hugo Chavez, lost its majority in the 167member assembly, and gives the opposition a platform to further erode Maduro’s power. The 53-year-old president, who was handpicked by Chavez but lacks his charisma and political guile, quickly accepted defeat in a speech to the nation in the early hours of yesterday that calmed fears of violence.
Aware that victory owed more to public discontent with Maduro than support for the opposition, coalition head Jesus Torrealba urged Venezuelans to bury their differences. “We have been divided for years and the country has gained nothing from this mistake in its history,” Torrealba, who was mocked by Maduro as an “evil Shrek” during the campaign, told supporters in a victory speech early yesterday.
“The Democratic Unity is not here to mistreat anyone.” Reiterating that an amnesty law will be the opposition’s priority when the new assembly begins work on Jan. 5, Torrealba promised to return the rights of “those who have been unjustly persecuted, jailed, blocked from politics or exiled.” Venezuela’s best-known jailed politician is Leopoldo Lopez, who was sentenced to nearly 14 years on charges of promoting political violence in 2014 that killed 43 people.
Lilian Tintori (centre L), wife of jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, celebrates next to candidates of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD) during a news conference on the election in Caracas, yesterday. (Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins) But the opposition has a list of what it says are more than 70 other political prisoners. Torrealba also reassured despondent government supporters the coalition would not try to dismantle welfare programs that were wildly popular during Chavez’s 1999-2013 rule and which Maduro repeatedly warned they want to end. HOW BIG A MAJORITY? Investors reacted positively to the OPEC nation’s swing away from the left, with dollar bonds rising strongly on hopes of business-friendly change. With 99 seats to the Socialists’ 46 in counting so far and results not yet in for the remaining 22 seats - the opposition looks certain to reach a three-fifths majority, meaning they could in theory have ministers fired after a censure vote. Democratic Unity leaders said on Monday they had reached the crucial bar of two-thirds of seats - but there was no confirmation of that from the national election board. With two-thirds, or 112 seats, they could try to shake up institutions such as the courts that are widely viewed as pro-government. Even with just a simple majority, though, the opposition can exercise control over the budget, begin investigations that could embarrass the government, and pass the amnesty law. Torrealba has also said the assembly will open an investigation into the arrest last month of two relatives of Maduro, nephews of his wife, caught in a sting in Haiti and indicted in a New York court on charges of cocaine smuggling. The United States, which has had an acrimonious relationship with Venezuela under both Chavez and Maduro, has long accused the Socialists of complicity in the drug
trade, as well as human rights abuses. The government dismisses those charges as lies and frequently recalls U.S. support for a short-lived 2002 coup against Chavez. Secretary of State John Kerry said the vote showed Venezuelans’ “overwhelming desire” for change, and urged dialogue among political parties to resolve the country’s problems, adding Washington was ready to support such an effort. In a statement, Kerry said the electoral authorities should publish final election results “in a timely and transparent fashion.” A former bus driver and foreign minister who narrowly won election in 2013 after Chavez died from cancer, Maduro may face a backlash in the ruling party and from grassroots supporters who think he has betrayed his predecessor’s legacy. Though his term ends in 2019, hardline opposition leaders want to oust him in a recall referendum n e x t y e a r. T h e y w o u l d require nearly 4 million signatures to force the recall vote. “I can’t see this government finishing its term because it is too weak,” said opposition leader Henry Ramos, touted as a possible leader for the new assembly. “Internal frictions are beginning. They’re blaming each other for this huge defeat.” ‘COUNTER-REVOLUTION’ Maduro, whose government has replaced Cuba as Latin America’s most vocal adversary of the United States, blamed the election result on an “economic war” waged by business leaders and other opponents out to sabotage the economy and bring him down.
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Turkey defends ground troops in Iraq as war escalates (Reuters) - Turkey said yesterday it would not withdraw hundreds of soldiers who arrived last week at a base in northern Iraq, despite being ordered by Baghdad to pull them out within 48 hours. The sudden arrival of such a large and heavily armed Turkish contingent in a camp near the frontline in northern Iraq has added yet another controversial deployment to a war against Islamic State fighters that has drawn in most of the world’s major powers. Ankara says the troops are there as part of an international mission to train and equip Iraqi forces to fight against Islamic State. The Iraqi government says it never invited such a force, and will take its case to the United Nations if they are not pulled out. Washington, which is leading an international coalition against Islamic State that includes Turkey, Arab states and European powers like Britain and France, has told Ankara and Baghdad to resolve the standoff, and says it does not support deployments in Iraq without Baghdad’s consent. The Turkish troops’ presence is an embarrassment for Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abadi, under strong pressure from powerful Iran-backed Shi’ite political groups to kick them out. Shi’ite parties linked to militia groups armed and funded by Iran have also complained about U.S. plans to station special forces in Iraq to conduct raids and guide bombs against Islamic State. Political pressure on Abadi could make those plans more difficult to carry out. Political analysts saw last week’s deployment in northern Iraq by Turkey, which has the second biggest army in NATO, as a bid to assert its influence in the face of increased Russian and Iranian involvement in Syria and Iraq. “Turkey seems to be angling to prove to the Russians and Iranians that they will not be allowed to have either the Syrian or Iraqi war theaters only to themselves,” said Aydin Selcen, former consul general of Turkey in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region. OUR DUTY The troops arrived on Thursday with tanks and armored personnel carriers at a camp in territory held by Iraqi Kurds near the Islamic Stateheld northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Ankara said they were there to help protect a
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (Reuters/Yiannis Kourtoglou) training mission close to the front line. “It is our duty to provide security for our soldiers providing training there,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview on Turkey’s Kanal 24 television. “Everybody is present in Iraq ... The goal of all of them is clear. Train-and-equip advisory support is being provided. Our presence there is not a secret,” he added. Abadi has called the Turkish deployment a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. Government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said Iraq was still waiting for Turkey to respond officially. “In case we have not received any positive signs before the deadline we set for the Turkish side, then we maintain our legal right to file a complaint to the Security Council to stop this serious violation to Iraqi sovereignty,” he said. A senior Turkish official said Baghdad’s objections had come as a surprise: “There was no single development ... that happened without informing the central government.” “The military personnel for training will stay. Not because we want them (there) particularly but because there is a demand from the Iraqi side. The discussion with the central government still continues,” the official told reporters. He said the total number of Turkish troops across Iraq was much less than 1,000 soldiers, with some having arrived from Turkey and others sent to the base from other parts of Iraq. Islamic State militants overran Mosul, Iraq’s main northern city and home to around 2 million people, in June 2014. An expected counter-offensive by Iraqi forces has been repeatedly postponed because they are involved in fighting elsewhere. The U.S.-led coalition has been staging air strikes on Islamic State bases in both Iraq
and Syria for more than a year. Russia joined the regional conflict with air strikes of its own on Syria two months ago, and like Iran is allied to Syria’s President Bashar alAssad, who is opposed by Turkey, the United States and their allies. Turkey shot down a Russian warplane last month, causing a breakdown in relations with Moscow. IRAQI ULTIMATUM Brett McGurk, U.S. President Barack Obama’s envoy to the global coalition to counter Islamic State, said on Twitter that Washington did not support missions in Iraq without permission of Baghdad, which he said also applied to U.S. missions there. The camp occupied by the Turkish troops is being used by a force called Hashid Watani, or national mobilization, made up of mainly Sunni Arab former Iraqi police and volunteers from Mosul. It is seen as a counterweight to Shi’ite militias that have grown in clout elsewhere in Iraq with Iranian backing, and was formed by former Nineveh governor Atheel alNujaifi, who has close relations with Turkey. A small number of Turkish trainers were already there before the latest deployment. The government of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, whose security forces control the area where the Turks are deployed, b a c k e d u p A n k a r a ’s e x p l a n a t i o n : T h u r s d a y ’s d e p l o y m e n t was intended to expand the capacity of the training base, said Safeen Dizayee, Kurdish government spokesman. “The increase of personnel requires some protection.” Although Turkey is strongly suspicious of Kurds in Syria, it has good r e l a t i o n s w i t h I r a q ’s Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani. “ Tu r k e y, w o r k i ng through the Nujaifis and the Barzanis, is trying to establish its own sphere of influence in northern Iraq,” said Aaron Stein, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
Wolf’s Warriors capture Winston Murray Memorial softball crown
Members of the victorious Wolf’s Warriors team with their accolades. Wolf’s Warriors overcame Speed Boat by eight wickets to win the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) organised annual Winston Murray Memorial 10/10 softball title on Sunday at Everest Cricket Club. Speed Boat batted first and scored 72-9. Wazir Hussain scored 28 as man of the match Steve Mohamed
snared 3-8, Kelvin Olford 2-9, Azad Zaman 2-12 and Khemraj Samsundar 2-18. Wolf’s Warriors responded with 75-2 in 6.1 overs. Safraz Karim led with 32 not out while Azad Azeez made 23 and Amrit Rai 14; Singh and Hussain had one wicket each. Speed Boat beat Mercenaries by seven wickets in their semi final match up.
Mercenaries got to 92-7, batting first. Shazim Hussain took two wickets for Speed Boat who responded with 93-3 in seven overs. Anand Bharat hit 45 and Greg Singh 38. Wolf’s Warriors got the better of Regal by 17 runs in their semi final game. Wolf’s Warriors managed 102-7, taking first knock. Ravindra Ramnauth scored 29 and
Tuesday December 08, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Tension between you and a business partner could have you doubting your professional future in the current situation. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) A long-term dream toward which you've been working for a long time, could finally show signs of coming true. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Congratulations to you! Career progress is in the wind! If you've wanted to create a dream career, you'll be able to do so today. CANCER (June 21–July 22) A business opportunity in a distant state or even foreign country could be in the works. It could require a lot of travel or perhaps even relocation. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A chance to increase your income could come your way. This could involve extra work or investments. Investments involving land or other real estate could be especially profitable now. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A partnership that may have been moving steadily forward might seem stalled in its tracks.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You should be at your peak of health. Physically, you feel strong and energetic. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The result of a creative innovation you've been working on should make itself apparent today. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) The opportunity to run a business out of your home could arise today, perhaps involving a metaphysical subject. Don't be surprised if it takes off right away. Friends or past business associates may want to be involved. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) A neighbor might be having a hard time and need some extra support now. A new business could open up in your neighborhood that in some way opens doors for you. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) As career and money matters continue to advance for you, more ideas and opportunities for expanding your horizons could come to you. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your life, business, and money matters are going very well, and there are no signs that this will change any time soon.
Diaram Persaud 22. Fazal Rafiek captured 3-24. Regal were limited to 85-7 in reply. Ricky Sargeant struck 22; Narine Bailey had 3-9. In the preliminary round, Speed Boat overcame Success by eight wickets. Success made 86 while Speed Boat replied with 87-2 in seven overs. Bharat stroked 47. Wolf’s Warriors got a walk over from Leguan. Wolf’s Warriors received a trophy and $100,000 and Speed Boat a trophy and $50,000. President of the GSCL Inc Ian John congratulated the winners while Mark Walkes a representative of People’s National Congress/Reform, lauded the GSCL Inc for a well organised tournament and thanked the participating teams. Winston Murray was a former member of the PNC and also represented Leguan in first division cricket. (Zaheer Mohamed)
Hard work and belief... (From page 30) fair chance. But he says if it’s God’s will he get back into the Regional side once again but to do so he knows he has to make consistent big scores which he intends to do. It is said that if you feed your faith your doubt will starve to death and for Assad Badyr Fudadin, a devoted Father of a seven year-old son, that’s how he lives his life.
Karamchand Ramnarine and... (From page 29) Blair 2 for 22. Kennard’s Memorial 119 for 4 in 17.1 Overs with Junior Blair 35 and Thomas George 23. At Fyrish, Fyrish beat Albion Front Travellers by 7 wickets. Albion Front Travellers 95 in 20 Overs with Munilall Shivdyal 4 for 16 and Altaf Hussain 3 for 20. Fyrish 99 for 3 in 8 Overs with Yuvendra Chinapen 35 and Ray Nelson 24. At Mibicuri, Courtland All Stars beat Mibicuri Jaguars by 7 wickets. Mibicuri Jaguars 77 for 6 in 15 Overs with Tamesh Ramsundar 26, Michael Cummings 3 for 17, Timothy Mc Donald 2 for 7 and former Berbice pacer Eon Gibson 2 for 14.
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Uitvlugt Warriors are WDFA qualifier champs Beavers take third Uitvlugt Warriors defeated old rivals Pouderoyen 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time in the final of the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) qualifier competition. The two sides faced off on Sunday last at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground where Beavers FC got the better of Stewartville 5-2 to win the third place matchup. Starring for Uitvlugt was Keon Duke in an exciting and fast paced game with the two young sides going at each other. Pouderoyen took the early lead through a Marvin Frank goal midway through the first half; his angled drive across the goalkeeper ended in the back of the nets as a result of sustained pressure
in the penalty area. Second half substitute for Uitvlugt, Keon Duke scored equaliser with his first touch, running on to a forward pass to drill home a first time strike from just inside the penalty area. He also scored the winning penalty for his team who pressed and dominated most of the second half. The WDFA has informed that by virtue of their win, Uitvlugt will the association’s representative team in the GFF Elite tournament. The WDFA will continue its programme over the Christmas season with the Annual Banks sponsored Josiah KO tournament; Slingerz FC won last year’s competition. All matches will be played at the Leonora Athletics Complex on December 11, 13, 20 and 27.
Roach enthused... (From page 27) now skipping Test duty to play in the Big Bash League, and more recently Simmons being suspended from his role for disputing the choices made by a selection panel of which he was a part. Roach said Simmons’ return had a positive effect, while also welcoming the “underdog” tag that is indisputably theirs this week. “I think Phil Simmons is a great coach,” Roach said. “I like him around, he has been
working with the guys very well, he has a comfortable dressing room, and that’s what most guys need to perform, once they’re comfortable then there’s no other reason you can’t perform. “I love being the underdogs. If we can come out on top then it’s going to be a whole different story, they will change their mouths, I think we’ve got to go out there, do the best that we can and give Australia a good run.”
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2015 New Building Society Second Division 40-Over Cricket Competition in Berbice
Khemraj Mahadeo (5 for 30 and 80 N.O.) propel Rose Hall Town into play-offs Former Berbice Under-19 allrounder Khemraj Mahadeo turned in an outstanding allround performance that propelled his team Rose Hall Town Bakewell to a 9-wicket over Whim National in their final Zone K preliminary match of the 2015 New Building Society Second Division 40Over Cricket Competition in Berbice. This win left Rose Hall Town tied with Port Mourant and Tain Block Four on top of the Zone but they having the superior run rate of the three, were declared the winner of the Zone, thus earning their place in the playoffs. Mahadeo firstly took 5 for 20 from 6 Overs with his
offspin to bowl out Whim for 157. Then opening the batting he hot 80 not out (10 fours) being involved in a 73-run opening partnership with Vidal Crandon (33) and an unbroken 87-run 2nd wicket stand with West Indies Female cricketer Shemaine Campbelle (30 N.O.) to steer Rose Hall Town to 160 for 1 in 23-Overs. Led by 94 (6 fours and 6 sixes) from Vinode Samaroo, Letterkenny Young Star made a decent 198 in 29.3 Overs against Tain Block Four. However, Imran Khan slammed 82 (4 fours and 8 sixes) to steer Tain to 202 for 4 in 29.1 Overs and victory. Other batsmen scoring
half centuries were Baichan Deonarine of Kendall’s Union A and Davendra Baijnauth of Kendall’s Union B. In summarised scores: At Whim, Rose Hall Town Bakewell beat Whim National by 9 wickets. Whim National 157 in 30Overs with Parasram Tilkutam 29, Khemraj Mahadeo 5 for 20 and Randall Lewis 2 for 30. Rose Hall Town Bakewell 160 for 1 in 23-Overs with Khemraj Mahadeo 80 N.O, Vidal Crandon 33 and Shemaine Campbelle 30 N.O. At Tain, Tain Block Four beat Letterkenny Young Star by 4 wickets. Letterkenny Young Star 198 in 29.3 Overs with Vinode
Samaroo 94, Mahendra Maynard 3 for 25, Winston Charles 3 for 25 and Veeran Baldeo 2 for 29. Tain Block Four 202 for 4 in 29.1 Overs with Imran Khan 82, Devendra Dullum 40, Mahendra Baldeo 29 and Prem Kanhai 3 for 32. At No. 19, Kendall’s Union A beat Courtland All Stars by 8 wickets. Courtland All Stars 117 in 21.2 Overs with Keon Sinclair
33, Ravin Seecharran 3 for 12 and Baichan Deonarine 2 for 26. Kendall’s Union A 121 for 2 in 19.3 Overs with Baichan Deonarine 56 N.O. At No. 19, Kendall’s Union B beat Fyrish Road by 6 wickets. Fyrish Road 119in 25Overs with Richard Dhuman 3 for 10, Rakesh Kalicharran 2 for 15 and Satersh Totaram 2 for 21. Kendall’s Union B 120 for 4 in 15.5
Overs with Davendra Baijnauth 53 and Hassan Hussain 2 for 18. At No. 43, No. 52 Survival beat No. 43 Scorpion by 43 runs. No. 52 Survival 159 in 29.5 Overs with Michael Kendall 45. No. 43 Scorpion 116 in 23.3 Overs with Devoin Baldeo 37, Dalton Harvey 3 for 30, Peer Tello 3 for 31, Michael Kendall 2 for 20 and Suraj Persaud 2 for 30.
India seal 3-0 win after dour South Africa crumble
Virat Kohli takes off after his first Test series win as captain at home, India v South Africa, 4th Test, Delhi, 5th day, December 7, 2015 ©BCCI NEW DELHI (Reuters) South Africa’s spectacular stonewalling came unstuck in the final session as India cruised to a 337-run victory in the final test to win the four-match series 3-0 at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium on Monday. Beaten inside three days on either side of the rain-ruined second test in Bangalore, Hashim Amla and his men had finally managed to take a test into its final day with some dogged resilience. Resuming on 72-2, South Africa employed the same ultradefensive approach that marked their batting on Sunday, hoping to eke out a pride-salvaging draw than chase an improbable 481-run victory target. Amla (23) led their dour reply with his 244-ball resistance and AB de Villiers (43) battled for about six hours, much of it with a swollen thumb, before the slow-scoring tourists folded for 143 in 143.1 overs. Their single-minded blocking also allowed India’s left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja to send down 17 consecutive maiden overs. Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 5-61 to finish with 31 wickets which also earned the off-spinner the man-of-theseries award. “All wins are pretty spe-
cial but this one because we had to work harder for this,” captain Virat Kohli said after India rose to number two in test rankings with the series victory. “We were surprised with the way they were defending the ball, but the bowlers didn’t go off their plans. “It tested our patience but I think it’s more special to get wickets in that situation,” said Kohli. The Indian captain employed as many as eight bowlers, including himself, to overcome the Proteas’ resistance and populated the crease with up to six close-in fielders for his spinners. AMLA’S TOIL Jadeja earned the breakthrough in the fifth over after the hosts had taken the new ball, spinning one past Amla’s tentative bat to hit the top of the off-stump before embarking on a celebratory run. Amla departed after nearly five hours of dour defending, scoring 25 painstaking runs in what was the slowest ever test inning of 200 or more balls. The 27 runs he added with de Villiers in 253 balls was also the slowest test partnership of 175 balls or more. New man in Faf du Plessis displayed the same obduracy
with the bat and took 53 balls — seven more than skipper Amla — to get off the mark. Jadeja ended du Plessis’ (10) two-hour stay after lunch but it was once again Ashwin, the standout bowler in the series, who virtually sealed the match in India’s favour by dismissing de Villiers soon after tea. It was one of the slowest innings by de Villiers, who holds the record for the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in one-day cricket, made more remarkable by the fact that he had been hit on the thumb by an Umesh Yadav delivery. “It was a tough series for our batters. Unfortunately we didn’t manage to get that much runs most of the times,” Amla said after South Africa’s first away test series defeat in nine years. Ajinkya Rahane was adjudged man-of-the-match for his twin centuries in the final test of a series in which no other batsman managed to get to three-figures. Scores: India 334 (Rahane 127, Jadeja 56, Abbott 5-40, Piedt 4-117) and 267 for 5 dec (Rahane 100*, Kohli 88, Morkel 351) beat South Africa 121 (Jadeja 5-30) and 143 (de Villiers 43, Ashwin 5-61, Umesh 3-9).
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Roach enthused by green Hobart deck ESPNcricinfo - What better to lift the sagging spirits of a West Indies touring team after their hiding at the hands of a modest Cricket Australia XI than the unveiling of a verdant green surface at Bellerive Oval? While the pitch’s appearance four days out from the Thursday start of the first Test for the Frank Worrell Trophy is likely to be deceiving, as warm temperatures will affect its colour and moisture content, there was an unmistakable spring in the step of the pacer Kemar Roach as he contemplated a kind of strip seldom seen in the Caribbean. For all their recent woes,
West Indies have a strong enough bowling unit to cause Australia’s transitional batting line-up some problems, given the right conditions and circumstances. Plenty of members of Steven Smith’s team can remember Jerome Taylor’s piercing spells in Jamaica earlier this year, and many will also recall the duel Roach fought with Ricky Ponting at the WACA Ground in 2009 - his pace causing an uncertainty hitherto unseen in the then captain. “Of course, there aren’t many wickets in the world like that, so it’s good to see that for a change. I’m pretty excited to get a go on Thurs-
day,” Roach said of the pitch. “Yeah I think so [it will still be green on Thursday]. I know Australians play very hard cricket and they believe in what they do, so that’s what they give us, and that’s what we’re going to take. “There’s some very good fast bowlers in our group, our job is to go out there and give it our best shot. Jerome Taylor has been leading the attack very well, he’s in good form, one of the fastest bowlers in the world Shannon Gabriel, and then myself. And Jason Holder the captain has been good as well. I think we can give the Australians some trouble.”
Flex Night International 2015
Suriname’s Wendel Sedro is new King; Fortune and Malitia cop Best Legs & Ms. Bikini titles By Franklin Wilson On an entertaining and memorable evening at the National Cultural Centre, Sunday last, Suriname’s Wendel Sedro, winner of the Over 176lbs category was crowned Mr. Flex Night – Overall following a five-way tussle with local musclemen who were competitive but could not make the final cut as decided by the seven-member judging panel. Barring minor decisions that did not go to the liking of the fair sized and appreciative audience, it was another quality show that saw the local athletes having to pull out all the stops to keep the well toned and competitive Surinamese contingent at bay. Sedro, sporting a tattooed body was definitely a class above the local competitors as he flexed his way to the overall title, dethroning 2014 champion Godfrey Stoby, easy winner of the Under 176lbs title in a 2-way clash. Sedro, in making the final, toppled fellow countrymen Melvin Tolud and Anthony Nekrui in a clean sweep of the top three positions in the Over 176lbs big boys showdown; either of the three could have been declared winner. The judges requested two sets of comparisons in order to satisfy them before their final decision was arrived at. USA based Guyanese Timeon Peters had to settle for the 4th place in this class despite presenting a balanced and competitive body. On another night, minus the Surinamese, Peters, Rhon Loncke who placed 5th and company would have feared a whole lot better but they were not up to the level of the visitors. Third overall was the indefatigable Marlon ‘Bolo’ Bennett who was a notch above his competition in the Under 154lbs division; no
comparisons were requested by the judges to decide. Fourth place overall went to another seasoned campaigner, Alfred Jordan who had earlier won the Under 165lbs battle that involved Guyana’s most successful competitor at the CAC level, Sylvan Gardner who had to settle for 2nd place. The up and coming Zallim Bacchus of Berbice was 5th overall having qualified as a result of his first place in the Under 143lbs category staving off a close battle with fellow Berbician Chaitram Nagessar. Returning to retain the Men’s Physique crown was Surinamese Deas Burgzorg who again relegated Emmerson Campbell to the runner-up position in the 10-man contest. On the distaff side, Alisha Fortune who continues to defy the odds not only won the Ms. Flex Night – Best Legs (Overall) but created history as her daughter, Andrea Foster, also an athlete like her mom, became the first mother/daughter to compete on the Flex Night stage and probably any bodybuilding stage in Guyana. Foster placed 9th of the 12 ladies in the best legs competition. Galimo Militia of Suriname who placed 2nd to Fortune in the best legs competition, and who many felt could have been the winner, turned the tables on Fortune in the Ms. Bikini (Overall) contest to take the top spot. Fortune could only manage 5th this time around as another crowd favourite, Kavita Ganpat placed 2nd to Militia. Fortune, Militia and Burgzorg were all recipients of $100,000 for their efforts, while Mr. Flex Night was rewarded with $200,000; Stoby, ($150,000); Bennett ($100,000), Jordan ($50,000) and Bacchus, $25,000.
Following are the full results: Men’s Physique – Daes Burgzorg, Emmerson Campbell, Yannick Grimes, Caerus Cipriani, Paul Meusa, Troy Major, Oswin Savory, Uree Varswyk, John Caesar, Troy Kattow. Best Legs (Overall) Alisha Fortune, Galimo Militia (Suriname), Suelle Shepherd (Suriname), Kavita Ganpat, Fiano Spencer, Joelle Issa (Suriname), Nadina Taharally, Junica Pluck, Andrea Foster, Denzlyn Clarke, Shirly Parta (Suriname), Shivene De Mendonca. Under 143lbs – Zallim Bacchus, Chaitram Nagessar, Rashleigh Bentick, Faraad Mohamed, Anil Persaud, Bertrand Fitzpatrick, Mohamed Aslan Madina. Under 154lbs - Marlon Bennett, Clifton Graham, Leonard Daphness, Raymond Rabindranauth, Linden Williams. Under 165lbs – Alfred Jordan, Sylvan Gardner, Jermaine Bacchus, Robert Doe, Mahendra Singh, Timothy Fraser. Ms. Bikini - Galimo Militia (Suriname), Kavita Ganpat, Joelle Issa (Suriname), Suelle Shepherd (Suriname), Alisha Fortune, Fiano Spencer, Junica Pluck, Denzlyn Clarke, Tekesia Taylor, Kenita Wilkinson, Shivene De Mendonca, Mahala Goodluck. Under 176lbs – Godfrey Stoby, Pernell Christie. Over 176lbs – Wendel Sedro (Suriname), Melvin Tolud (Suriname), Anthony Nekrui (Suriname), Timeon Peters (USA based), Rhon Lonke, Alex Hamilton, Christopher Miller. Overall - Wendel Sedro (Suriname), Godfrey Stoby, Marlon Bennett, Alfred Jordan, Zallim Bacchus.
A grassy pitch is West Indies’ best chance to get into the contest, as their batsmen have commonly lacked the application and technique required to build the more substantial innings required by flatter wickets. This much was confirmed by a glance at their morning net session, where edges abounded, and the young right-hander Shane Dowrich was at one point clean bowled, by a ball the coach Phil Simmons delivered with a “dog thrower”. Roach’s speed and skiddy bounce had been similarly disconcerting for Ponting six years ago. He was struck a painful blow near the elbow, its effects on tendons and muscles described by the team physio Alex Kountouris as similar to a cut of meat being tenderised by a mallet. Years and injuries have dulled Roach’s speed, but he is a useful man to have on tour for his experience and effervescence.
Kemar Roach was enthused by the Hobart pitch. (Getty Images) “It was good memories, Ricky Ponting was a great batsman for Australia, and to go out there and give him a hard time at the crease was a good thing for me at a young age,” he said. “My role has changed since 2009, I’ve had a lot of injuries the last couple of years and that’s set me back a bit. “But I’m here and there’s a reason I’m here, the selectors have put their faith in me to come down here and do the job. I believe in myself as well,
so given a go on Thursday I’ll go out there and give it my best shot. Consistency, hitting the areas as much as possible has always been the way in Australia. I watched Australia and New Zealand and it’s simple, just keep the ball in good areas and just do something with the ball as well, then you should be on top.” West Indies’ troubles have been many and varied, with several of their best players (Continued on page 25)
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday December 08, 2015
GTT / Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Football Competition
Brilliant Leacock secures title for Milerock in penalty shootout -Topp XX win in similar fashion against Winners Connection Victoria Kings valiant effort after conceding the lead as early as the 3rd minute of play ended in disappointment due to brilliant goalkeeping from Milerock’s net stopper Martin Leacock, who made two crucial saves in the penalty shootout to secure a 4-3 victory and the title as the curtains came down on the GTT / Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Football Competition on Sunday, at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground. Played before a large crowd that included Director of Sport Christopher Jones, President of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) Sharma Solomon, GTT’s Eusi Francis, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Communications
Officer Rawle Toney, Guyana’s own reggae superstar Natural Black and Petra Organisation CoDirectors Troy Mendonca and Marlan Cole, the two teams treated the fans to an exciting brand of football that lasted until a winner was decided via the penalty shootout after regulation and extra times failed to break a 11 stalemate. Returning to the Mecca of their greatest achievement to date, the Kings, who had a solid band of supporters in attendance, got off to the worst possible start when Owen Williams, who was lurking just outside the penalty area sprinted on to a weak parry by the goalkeeper from a cross from the left side, before finishing with aplomb
down the centre of the goal to evoke wild celebrations among the team’s supporters. It was the perfect start for a team that begun the tournament in disastrous manner, but gradually found its rhythm, before claiming the scalp of counterparts Winners Connection who had finished the round robin phase with the best record. The visitors squandered an opportunity to level the proceedings when Alden Lawrence outran his marker and with only the goalkeeper to beat saw Leacock make a fantastic stop from point blank range to keep their slender lead intact. Meanwhile, leading marksman Clarence Huggins was being kept on a tight leash, not given any space to
weave his magic, but broke loose on one occasion, firing just outside the right upright. The enthralling contest went to the break with Milerock clinging to their slim 1-0 advantage as the fans braced themselves for a frenetic final period that lived up to all expectations. Pompey just like Huggins was not given any freedom to operate and appeared to be a non-factor for the better part of the game as Milerock’s coaching staff did a wonderful job in containing him. However, they eventually gained the equaliser in the 77th minute through Akeem Holder, who was left unmarked following a cross that was fumbled by the goalkeeper initiating a goalmouth scrimmage, before punching into the goal to give their ecstatic fans reason to celebrate. The two teams battled hard for the ascendancy, but when the whistle sounded it signaled extra time which also failed to produce an outright winner, before spot kicks determined the final outcome and made Milerock $500,000
richer. Victoria Kings will receive $250,000 for its effort and the runner-up trophy. Earlier, Topp XX beat Winners Connection 4-1 on penalty kicks after their third place playoff encounter ended 2-2. After fierce exchanges early in the game, Winners Connection grabbed the lead through the consistent Keon Sears, who netted a penalty in the 33rd minute following a hand ball infringement and that ascendancy lasted until half time. Ten minutes after the resumption, the wily veteran Collie Hercules accepted gleefully a ball directed into his path in the box and he hit it past the keeper to level the tie which lasted until regulation time concluded. In extra time, both teams scored with Topp XX’s Travis Waterton edging them ahead in the 95th only to see the nippy Rawle Gittens respond three minutes later to instigate a penalty shootout that Topp XX won 4-1. With the win, Topp XX is guaranteed $125,000 and a trophy, while Winners Connection will receive
$75,000 and a trophy. Among the other sponsors on board were National Sports Commission and Sterling Products. The presentation of prizes will be done tomorrow at Bransville Hotel on Pike Street. The night’s full results are seen below: Victoria Kings-1 vs Milerock-1 Milerock won 4-3 on penalty kicks Milerock Scorer Owen Williams-3rd Victoria Scorer Akeem Holder-77th Yellow Cards Orwin Bishop-42ndVictoria Kings Winners Connection-2 vs Topp XX-2 Topp XX won 4-1 on penalty kicks Topp XX Scorer Collie Hercules-55th Travis Watterton-95th Winners Connection Scorer Keon Sears-33rd Rawle Gittens-98th Yellow Cards Monty Simon-21st-Topp XX Andre Phillips-45th-Winners Connection
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 35
2015 Raffik & Sons Construction Second Division 20-Over Cricket Competition in Berbice
Karamchand Ramnarine and Junior Blair ensure Kennard’s Memorial reach semi-finals The 2015 Raffik & Sons Construction Service Second Division 20-Over Cricket Competition organised by the Berbice Cricket Board for teams in Central and Lower Corentyne continued with Kennard’s Memorial of Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, winning their final two Group D preliminary matches to end unbeaten and winners of that Group, therefore earning a place in the semi-finals. In their match against Mibicuri Strikers after they made 126 for 7 in their 20Overs, former Berbice Under-19 left arm spinner Karamchand Ramnarine took 5 for 12 from 3 Overs to
Karamchand Ramnarine bowl out Mibicuri for 79 in their response. With Devendra Sydney taking 3 for 23 and former
Berbice Under-19 pacer Junior Blair 2 for 22, they restricted Port Mourant to 116 for 8 in their 20 Overs and then Blair came back and scored 35 to guide Kennard’s to a 6-wicket win. Yet another former Berbice Under-19 cricketer, this time offspinner Munilall Shivdyal took 4 for 16 from 4 Overs which together with 3 for 20 from 4 Overs from medium pacer Altaf Hussain helped Fyrish bowl out Albion Front Travellers for 95 in 20 Overs. Yudendra Chinapen then scored 35 to see Fyrish to a 7-wicket victory. In summarised scores: At Bush Lot Farm, Kennard’s Memorial beat
Mibicuri Strikers by 47 runs. Kennard’s Memorial 126 for 7 in 20 Overs with Andrew Persaud 32, Ravi Bassoo 30, Dwayson Watson 3 for 10 and Richard
Matadeen 2 for 22. Mibicuri Strikers 79 in 13 Overs with Karamchand Ramnarine 5 for 12 and Devendra Sydney 2 for 14. At Bush Lot Farm,
Kennard’s Memorial beat Port Mourant by 6 wickets. Port Mourant 116 for 8 in 20 Overs with Devendra Sydney 3 for 23 and Junior (Continued on page 25)
Team Minions celebrate GSA/Digicel Farfan and Mendes Junior championship
Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition
Explosive semi-finals envisaged tonight Members of the successful Team Minions display their prizes after the presentation on Sunday last at the Georgetown Club.
Part of the action in this year’s Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition. Even though all four teams are guaranteed prizes, the fight for the top spot in the Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition is anticipated to produce rivetting action as teams’ battle for places in the national playoffs. The venue is the National Cultural Centre Tarmac tonight and kick off time is 22:00 hrs with the opening encounter between upstarts Channel 9 Warriors and Back Circle promising to be a humdinger. The other semi-final pits defending champions North Ruimveldt against Sparta Boss and this too has all the hallmarks of being a bruising clash between two teams that are laden with experienced players in the futsal version. However, before these
two encounters, there will be three exhibition games and a Karate demonstration to wet the fans appetite ahead of the semi-finals showdown. The Channel 9 Warriors versus Back Circle affair could go either way judging frm the teams’ performances to date, but the slight edge must go to the latter due to their vast experience in this format. Once again inspirational captain Andy Duke is expected to marshal their charge for victory with support anticipated to come from Vincent Thomas and Devon Harris, while the Warriors search for victory will be spearheaded by Kevin Barrow and Joshua Fiffie. However, the feature game should be an explosive encounter and while Sparta
Boss have some known ‘big’ players, their opponents are champions who know how to win. North Ruimveldt will be led by Linris Carrington, while Sparta’s pursuit of a place in the final will be placed in the hands of the livewire Sheldon Shepherd, Denis Edwards, Devon Millington and Gregory Richardson. The winning team will take home $500,000, the championship trophy and the right to represent the zone at the national tournament, while the second, third and fourth placed finishers receive $200,000, $150,000 and $100,000 respectively. The fixtures: 22:00 hrs Channel 9 Warriors v/s Back Circle 23:00 hrs Sparta Boss v/s North Riumveldt
Team Minions are in celebratory mode after they were crowned champions of the Farfan and Mendes Junior Christmas Squash Te a m To u r n a m e n t o n Sunday last when they edged team Rising Stars at the Georgetown Club. Makeda Harding, Lucas Jonas, Daniel Islam, Aliyah Persaud and Mikhail Persaud were the victors for the champions as they got by team Rising Stars 5-4 on aggregate. With team Rising Stars
relegated to second, Team Avengers placed third. Team Minions Makeda Harding pulled off her first victory over Rebecca Low in a solid 3-1 performance. Harding’s clean sweep of matches earned her the Most Outstanding Girl Award, while Shomari Wiltshire copped the male prize with a 3-0 victory over Alexander Cheeks. Nyron Joseph ensured he finished his Junior Squash Career on a high note with a 3-1 victory over Ben Mekdeci.
The Guyana Squash Association is expressing gratitude to the sponsors Digicel and Farfan and Mendes, the players and officials for ensuring another successful event this year. The top individual placing show: Most Improved Girl: Aliyah Persaud Most Improved Boy: Daniel Islam Most Outstanding Girl: Makeda Harding Most Outstanding Boy: Shomari Wiltshire
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Hard work and belief in God helps Fudadin through tough times By Sean Devers in Trinidad In association with Stag Beer, Noble House Seafood & Cascadia Hotel Assad Fudadin, the talented 30-year-old Guyanese left-hander has been through some tough times during his cricket career in recent times but on Sunday at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad he reached his first century since his 103 for West Indies ‘A’ against Sri Lanka ‘A’ in October 2014 in Sri Lanka. Fudadin, a devoted Muslim, proves that tough times don’t last for long but tough people do.
When the Berbician, who has played three Tests for the West Indies, bent to the ground to pay homage to the Almighty after he had magnificently cover driven Marlon Richards for four to reach his fifth three-figure score, all his recent hard work was beginning to pay off. “It feels good to get a hundred after so long. Alhamdulillah…. without God nothing is possible,” said Fudadin, who explained that ‘Alhamdulillah’ means ‘all praise is for God’. Fudadin who played Test cricket in 2012, attributed to his success in Trinidad to hard work, perseverance, patience and believing in
himself and in God. “I have been working hard on my game. I was batting well for a long time but not spending enough time at the crease to build big scores. I never doubted my ability to bat. It was not a technical problem but more of a mental one,” Fudadin said. Fudadin struggled to get a starts in this season’s tournament with scores of 4 & 0 in the first round, 5 in the second round and nine in first innings of the third round before finding some form and confidence in the second innings against Barbados when he made 42. “I did not spend much time at the crease in my
previous innings in this tournament because I did not manage too many runs. In addition to Perseverance, patience and self belief, having a supporting family helps. My wife (Akeema) and friends are always there for me.” Fudadin, who plays for City team GNIC in addition his Berbice Club Rose Hall Youth & Sports Club, says it was much easier to bat on the pitch at the Oval than the ones at Providence in Guyana. “You could trust the bounce here (Oval) so you could score much freer than you could in Guyana where you had to be watchful of the low bounce and that helped
Assad Fudadin batting againstthe Red Force during his 5th First-Class century. here,” revealed Fudadin who has played at the highest level against England in England and New Zealand in
Regal conquer Wolf’s Warriors to claim DJ Stress open softball title Parika Defenders take Over-40 crown Regal defeated Wolf’s Warriors by 18 runs to capture the DJ Stress open softball title on Saturday night at Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara. Regal posted a challenging 185-9 off their allocation of 20 overs, batting first in front of a large crowd. Opener Richard Latif got Regal innings off to a flier hitting two fours and four sixes before he was dismissed for 36. Fazal Rafiek scored a shot-filled 47 aided with three fours and a similar number of sixes while Sewchand Budhu made 20 (1x4,2x6) to prop up Regal’s batting. Wazim Hussain claimed 2-18, Narine Bailey 2-56 and Travis Drakes 2-59. Wo l f ’s Wa r r i o r s threatened but were limited to 167-7 in 20 overs in reply. Mohamed Karim struck one four and two sixes in a top score of 29 while Safraz
The victorious Regal team Karim and Hussain got 26 each. Amrit Rai made 18 and Lincoln Leander 16 not out. Rohit Dutchin snared 2-22. Parika Defenders overcame Savage by four runs to win the masters segment. Batting first, Parika Defenders scored 183-7 in 20
overs. Asif Ahmad stroked 67, R. Narine 35, Ramesh Rambharose 31 and Kabish Baksh 17. Nadir Baksh took 3-41. Savage were restricted for 179-6 in 15 overs in reply. Dinesh (only name) scored 69 and Baksh 59. S. Alli, Rambharose and O. Chandlier
had one wicket each. Speed Boat beat Zeeburg Volcanoes by six wickets in their encounter. Zeeburg took first strike and made 151-6 in 12 overs. Khemraj Ramsundar hit 61, Vikesh Dhaniram 27 and Michael Matura 21; Imran Hamid
took 2-23 and Anand Bharat 2-39. Speed Boat responded with 154-4 in 8.5 overs. Wazir Hussain led with 77 while Greg Singh and Cornelius Jaisingh made 22 and 12 not respectively. Klint La Cruz claimed 3-31. (Zaheer Mohamed)
the West Indies. “When I began this competition my goal was 1,000 runs and five centuries. With six matches so I still believe that is possible but the way we (Jaguars) are beating teams by an innings will make that goal harder,” Fudadin said with a chuckle. “But I can’t do it on my own it has to be the will of God,” Fudadin quickly added. The opening batsman feels that the Guyana Jaguars have been successful in PCL cricket because the team has been well prepared and playing consistent cricket. He said the ability to adapt to different situations and conditions has also helped. Fudadin could be considered unfortunate not to be selected for the West Indies after the selectors taught he was good enough to be sent as a replacement for the Test series in South Africa before he broke his finger and could not play. Since then he was overlooked for both the English and Australia home series and the one in Sri Lanka without being given a (Continued on page 25)
Tuesday December 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 37
Hope, Deonarine century stand in vain as Permaul grabs 5-62 in Jaguars’ win
Narsingh Deonarine strokes Veerasammy Permaul for four in a classy 47 for T&T yesterday. By Sean Devers in Trinidad In association with Noble House Seafoods, Stag Beer & Cascadia Hotel Trinidad &Tobago Red Force’s overseas pair of Barbadian Kyle Hope and Guyanese Narsingh Deonarine shared in a century partnership which failed to deny defending champions the Guyana Jaguars their fourth consecutive victory as they romped to an emphatic innings and 49 runs on the final day of their fourth round encounter of the WICB PCL four-day FirstClass Franchise cricket at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday to maintain their lead with 70 points. Left-arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul (5-62) and 20-year-old Gudakesh Motie (4-43) did the damage with Motie extending his lead in the wickets tally to 27, two more than Jamaica’s Nikita Miller who is second. Hope faced 148 balls, batted for 151 minutes and hit 13 fours in an entertaining 74 and added
104 for the third wicket with Deonarine who fell three short of his 45th half-century at this level after batting for 91 minutes, facing 100 balls and reaching the boundary eight times as the Red Force, needing 265 to make the Jaguars bat again, fell for 216. Scores: Red Force (210 & 216) Jaguars (475). The Red Force resumed on 51-2 and Deonarine pulled Man-of-the-Match Christopher Barnwell for four off the day’s first ball, while Hope kept hope alive of the Red Force drawing the game when he punched Ronsford Beaton through extra cover and flicked him disdainfully for boundaries as the pair began in positive fashion. Deonarine steered Barnwell behind point for four before a flowing cover drive raced to the boundary in the same over, while Hope, who looked solid against the pacers on the easy paced track opened the face of the bat and steered Beaton to the vacant third man boundary as both batsmen looked untroubled. Conditions became
Johnson wins TCL Road Race in Trinidad -D’Andrade second in 43rd race this year Trinidad-based Guyanese duo, Kelvin Johnson and Lionel D’Andrade finished first and second respectively in the Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) Sports and Social Club in collaboration with CEMCU Credit Union 6km Road Race on Saturday. Johnson finished in 20:34 while team-mate D’Andrade ran 20:43 and Trinidadian, Illey Bruce 21:39 in that order at Point-a-Perre, Trinidad. “I felt better than last week. However, I am still experiencing some cramps during my races,” D’Andrade said yesterday. “I have been training hard and wanted to close off the year with a bang; the same way I started with my win in Suriname in January. Johnson edged me out, so I had to settle for second place. I have closed the season with 43 races this year,” he noted. According to D’Andrade, it has been an “up and down” year for him. He said that he is looking forward to the New Year with “a new strategy”. The TCL 6km race had 300 participants and all the proceeds from the race will go towards a Children’s Home for the Christmas Season.
overcast and after a short delay due to a sharp drizzle the sun returned and so did the players. The pair of Deonarine and Hope and the threatening weather combined to frustrate the Jaguars with Permaul being clipped sweetly off his legs by Deonarine for four and Hope caressing Raymon Refier through extra cover for consecutive boundaries. Hope climbed onto his toes and tucked Refier behind square for another four to post his second FirstClass fifty and first since March 2012. Deonarine then gave himself room and smashed Permaul like a bullet to the cover boundary. Hope took a liking to Reifer and elegantly stroked him behind point for four as the Red Force mounted a grand fight-back much to delight of the handful of spectators at the venue. Hope continued to go
Kyle Hope works Ronsford Beaton off his body during his 74 for the Red Force yesterday. after Reifer; hitting the pacer for successive fours as boundaries came fast and furious as the third wicket stand flourished. A sweetly timed cover driven boundary off Permaul took Deonarine to 47 before a crunching sweep by the left-handed Guyanese was stupendously taken at shortleg by 18-year-old Shimron Hetmyer as the ball ‘stuck’ to give Motie the breakthrough at 136-3. Their stand was only the third century partnership by the Red Force this season following the one by Marlon Richards and Uthman Muhammad in the first innings of this game and the one between Jeremy Solozano and Steven Katwaroo against Jamaica in last round. When well set for his maiden ton, Hope was caught at the wicket by A n t h o n y B r a m b l e o ff Permaul at 146-4 and with
his dismissal all hope of saving the match was gone. By Lunch the home team were 146-4, still needing another 119 to avoid an inning defeat with Skipper Mohamed on five and Yannick Ottley yet to score. Ottley (0) was bowled behind his back sweeping at Permaul in the second over after the interval without addition to the Lunch time score. Mohamed and Katwaroo took the score to 160 before the Skipper was LBW to Motie for 12, while Khan (2) was taken at slip off Permaul by Leon Johnson, who had dropped him off the previous ball and the Red Force were a spent force at 163-7. Katwaroo, the last of the specialist batsmen, and Richards joined forces and took the score to 187 before Katwaroo (15) was LBW to give Permaul his 15th fivewicket haul at this level. K a t w a r o o ’s d e m i s e
brought Muhammad to the crease but unlike in the first innings when he and Richards both made fifties, Richards (15) was caught behind off Motie at 191-9 and the hosts were in danger of making an even lower total than they made in the first innings. But the last pair had other ideas and Kavesh Kantasingh cut Motie for four and Muhammad dumped Permaul back over his head for a six and a four off consecutive balls. A four off Motie in the next over by Muhammad took the Red Force past their first innings score. The end came at 14:23hrs when Muhammad (16) lofted Motie to long-off leaving Kantasingh unbeaten on nine. The Jaguars leave for Jamaica tomorrow where they oppose the Jamaican scorpions from Friday in their final match for the year.
t r o Sp Flex Night International 2015
Suriname’s Wendel Sedro is new King; Fortune and Malitia cop Best Legs & Ms. Bikini titles
Mr. Flex Night Int. 2015, Wendel Sedro of Suriname. Ms. Flex Night Best Legs (Overall), Alisha Fortune.
Bikini (Overall) - Galimo Militia of Suriname receives her prize from Jamie Mc Donald of Fitness Express.
GTT / Limacol Round Robin / Knockout Football Competition
Brilliant Leacock secures title for Milerock in penalty shootout -Topp XX win in similar fashion against Winners Connection
GTT’s Representative Eusi Francis hands over the winning trophy to a member of the victorious Milerock team in the presence of teammates and supporters on Sunday.
Hope, Deonarine century stand in vain as Permaul grabs 5-62 in Jaguars’ win
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