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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
In search of better guidance A frequent complaint in Guyana today is that the nation’s youths seem to be in crisis, and generally exhibit disturbing behaviour and attitudes. This problem is usually caused by poor parenting and a general lack of guidance. In a recent editorial, we highlighted troubling cases of youth intolerance and delinquency. Although youths contribute significantly to slipping standards in Guyana, they are often unjustly blamed for the slide. Many persons who blame today’s youths, say those of past generations faced similar circumstances and pressures and handled them better, emerging as upstanding citizens. They tend to overlook the fact that the current generation faces modern-day problems unique to this era, which youths of bygone ages did not have to wrestle with. In the first place, the family structure, in which many youths find themselves today, is distinctly different from what it was in past generations. Guyana’s economic decline and shifting social trends have put overwhelming pressure on the traditional nuclear family, making it weaker and more vulnerable. Also, the negative conditioning influences of the communication and entertainment media are increasing exponentially. The current age has brought with it more divorce, more migration and more women entering the workforce than ever before. This has resulted in extremely low parenting standards in many households. Parents are often distracted or tired out by problems related to their jobs or finances. Some have entirely abdicated their role as parents; others have embraced extremely permissive standards of parenting. With parents spending significantly less time with children, and with the general quality of parenting in steep decline, the amount of poorly supervised or unsupervised youths has increased dramatically. With too much slack time on their hands, many of these highly impressionable youths are vulnerable to unwholesome influences on the streets or in their homes via the media. Left to their own devices from a very young age, it is not surprising that many turn to vice and violence. A Soviet Belarusian psychologist in the early 20th century opined that the way children learn is by internalizing the activities, habits, vocabulary and ideas of the members of the community in which they grow up. Schools are communities where children from diverse cultures learn together. It was pointed out that teachers must help students to become active and goal oriented by building on their natural desire to explore, to understand new things and to master them. Teachers are indeed important, but parents and/or guardians are generally seen as the primary and earliest role models, and the conduct of those for whom they are responsible is most influenced by this. Charity, in essence, begins at home. It is because of serious deficiencies in parenting that an unacceptable number of Guyanese youths appear to be lazy, undisciplined, unmannerly and unlearned. That is why today’s youths seem far more inclined to indulge in vices like alcohol and drug abuse, crime, violence and promiscuous sex, than their counterparts of yesteryear. That is why Guyana is in danger of being overrun by a culture of lawlessness, and wayward youths are main contributors. With such serious consequences, the nation must squarely face the phenomenon of poor parenting. To turn this trend around, concerned Guyanese must agitate for effective development of parenting skills. This requires a course of action with pro-active intervention by all stakeholders: government, non-governmental organizations, social workers, community groups and others. It will be a long haul, but it is vital that Guyanese go back to sound parenting techniques in the interest of our youths. Just as people get the governments they deserve, parents get the children they deserve, and nations get the youths they deserve. The increasingly negative behaviour and attitudes of Guyana’s youths, is a monster in the making; we must deal with it before it gets too big to handle. There is a silent cry for better guidance.
Friday December 13, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
When speaking for the private sector, the PSC needs to be more careful with facts DEAR EDITOR, The Private Sector Commission in a statement issued on Wednesday December 11, stated that “As far as we are aware, the Government directly or indirectly has no investment in, or liability relating to, the (Berbice River) bridge at this time.” This is mindboggling ignorance given all the public revelations and exchanges over the Bridge Company’s ownership and performance. The ownership structure of the Company is made up of ordinary share capital of $400 million and preference shares of $950 million. The holders of the ordinary shares are NIS, New GPC,
Queens Atlantic and Secure International Finance Company, each having $80 million each, and Hand-inHand and Demerara Contractors each holding $40 million. What this means is that the Government, inclusive of the NIS, owns 76% of the issued shares of the company. Apparently, the PSC’s awareness, or lack thereof, also does not extend to knowing that NICIL, a government agency, owns what is called a Special Share in the company. The Articles of Amendment of the company expressly provides that in respect of specified matters, “no action can be taken by the [Bridge] Company,
without the affirmative vote of the holder of the Special Share.” And because the PSC claims not to know that the Government has this $950 million investment in the Bridge Company, it does not need to address the illegality of NICIL granting the Bridge Company an annual subsidy of around $110 million of dividends forgone. When purporting to speak for the private sector, the PSC is expected to be a little more careful with facts. Failure to do so may not embarrass those who cause such statements to be made but reflects poorly on the rest of the private sector. Christopher Ram
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
Letters... Where your views make the news
The Town Clerk’s appointment has reduced Guyana to mediocrity DEAR EDITOR, We have seen the recent appointment of Ms. Sooba to the position of Town Clerk of Georgetown where several more qualified and experienced candidates have been overlooked and unceremoniously cast aside by a stubborn and rigid regime that is embroiled in corruption and nepotism left, right and center. This pattern of wanton and unbecoming behavior has a significant negative effect on the people, especially the young professionals in Guyana. It goes to show that they do not have any regard for higher education and this is why they have allowed UG and other educational institutions to collapse. It is also very clear that this cabal does not want an educated population because of fear that they would riseup and challenge them. Their goal is to keep the workers in ignorance and poverty by paying them slave-like wages and denying them proper jobs. The passing over of more qualified and experienced men and women and appointing Ms. Sooba, who is less qualified and less experienced as the Town
Clerk of the country’s largest city is insulting and revolting to the residents of Georgetown. It also has a serious negative effect on this country and this is not only happening in the local government arena but in almost every government department. It is clear for everyone to see that the PPP has reduced Guyana to mediocrity. Ms. Sooba is just one of many unqualified PPP hacks who are placed in senior positions to manage institutions without any prior management skills. In this ruling cabal, everyone is somehow interconnected and interweaved into this fabric of corruption and nepotism throughout government. We have a Minister for example whose sister in law does not have a degree but holds a very senior position and is being paid a very high salary above and beyond what UG graduates are being paid in her Ministry. We have several inexperienced and unqualified permanent secretaries who are either related to a minister or are married to someone who is a sister of a minister or who has some other relationship with a senior official in the cabal.
We also have a relative of a senior official who is earning a huge salary he would not otherwise earn in North America, the Caribbean or anywhere else to manage the IT project. He would not even earn that amount of money in the Middle East where in Dubai and Qatar many high-tech companies are paying top dollars to get foreigners to work for them. He is working on the IT cable project where there is no accountability and where there is no return for investment for the taxpayers’ money to the people. This is yet another shady project mired in controversy and no one knows when the project will be finished. Two deadlines have already passed for the completion of the IT project. The project is way over budget and still there is no viable launch date in sight. The bottom line is that when young professionals are being treated in such a harsh and non transparent manner the message is clear to them. If you are not related to this clique or you are not associated with the PPP, you have no future in Guyana. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh.
There was a Mandela among our leaders
DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the article entitled “Where is the Mandela in our leaders?’ by Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh in your December 11, 2013 edition. Not being from the dominant races of Guyana, I think that without prejudice I can honestly answer that question. One only needs to look at the following similarities between Nelson Mandela and Dr. Cheddie Jagan: Mandela was locked up for 27 years by a minority government. Jagan was locked out for 28 years by a minority government. Like Mandela, Jagan stopped a race war by refusing to immediately replace the dominance of his predecessors in the security forces.Like Mandela, Jagan stopped a race war
by forgiving the injustices of his predecessors and, going further than Mandela, declining to call for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the architects of political assassinations. Like Mandela, Jagan was an honest, caring and incorruptible politician. Like Mandela, Jagan promoted peace, equality and harmony. Like Mandela, Jagan was not corrupt, greedy or spiteful and was never interested in personal wealth. Like Mandela, Jagan was for justice and equality and did not use his power to marginalize any ethnic groups or promote ethnic superiority. Like Mandela, Jagan harboured no ill-feelings, bore no malice or envy, and was forgiving. Dr. Kingsley Harrop
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Friday December 13, 2013
Govt. illegally spent US$17M - Opposition By Abena Rockcliffe The political opposition has accused the Guyana Government of spending as much as US$17M or just about G$3.4B, in violation of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act and the Constitution of Guyana. The accusations came yesterday as the National Assembly resolved itself into a Committee of Supply to consider a Financial Paper which represented a ‘Statement of Excess’ where the government expended billions that had been cut from the 2013 Budget. The Opposition argued that the House did not approve the money for expenditure and as such the Finance Minister did not have the right to go ahead and make the expenditure from the Consolidated Fund. At least one Government Minister, Robeson Benn, defended the expenditure to the point where he said he would face the consequences and go to jail rather than resign as a government Minister. Former Minister of Finance and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarian, Carl Greenidge, was first to question financial paper (No1/ 2013) over excess spending taken before the House for approval. The monies used and some answers provided as reasons for the expended sums resulted in Greenidge telling the National Assembly, that APNU will take legal action against the Finance Minister for the improprieties
- Minister Benn says he is prepared to go to jail over the expenditure. That document was one of the three financial papers taken before the House by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh - the other two being financial papers requesting approval for supplementary spending from the Contingencies Fund. The document on excess spending recorded a total expenditure of $3.4B, but the National Assembly only approved $3.1B. Dr. Singh was asking the house to approve sums utilized for the provision of subsidies to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the National Communications Network (NCN), subsidies to the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (under the Electrification Programme), monies for the completion of Hinterland/ Coastal airstrips, Equipment for the Civil Aviation Authority, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Modernization project as well as the Specialty Hospital project. But the House did not approve spending for GINA, NCN or the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion Project (CJIA). Sums utilized for “provision for Specialty Hospital” was only passed because one of the Opposition members— Volda Lawrence—fell ill during the sitting and another—Deborah Backer— was absent from the sitting. Greenidge told the National Assembly that it is unlawful and contemptuous
of the government to use monies that were deliberately denied by the National Assembly for provisions to various agencies and projects. He reiterated the opposition’s reason not to support the existence of NCN nor GINA. Those were well ventilated in the media. The Member of Parliament recalled the protest action taken by GINA staffers and g o v e r n m e n t ’ s pronouncement that budget cuts led to unemployment. With that being brought to the fore, Greenidge asked the National Assembly, “Why then should monies be approved for staffers if they are in the unemployment line.” Greenidge also questioned on what basis the government can take such a request to the National Assembly. Junior Minister of Finance, Juan Edghill, sought to defend the expenditure and said that article 218 (3) of the constitution gives authority for the government to make such a request. That article, according to Edghill, mandates that if it is realized in any financial year that the amount appropriated is insufficient or expended, a supplementary provision showing the sums required or spent shall be taken before the House. But APNU’s Jaipaul Sharma explained that Article 218 speaks to supplementary spending and the Constitution only provides for the Minister to spend excess under two circumstances; those being in the case of a late budget and if the Parliament is dissolved
“since neither is the situation then the Minister had no right spending.” Alliance For Change Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, called for the government to have respect for the National Assembly and not spend that which wasn’t approved. His party’s Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo, told the House in no uncertain terms that so long as the government refuses to democratize NCN and GINA, the “glorious scissors” will be rampant. Eventually the House voted against monies expended on NCN and GINA. It also rejected sums spent on the CJIA expansion project. However it approved sums spent on the Electrification Programme, the Hinterland/ Coastal Airstrip and Civil Aviation, but not before questioning the Ministry of Public Work’s tender process. This happened even as the Minister of Public Works informed the House that the monies for the airport project, some $65.4M, had already
been spent. He said that the money was spent because Government had already inked a contract and that failure to abide by the provisions of the contract would constitute a flagrant breach. Benn told the House that some US$20M has already been advanced to the Contractor and that any breach of contract would potentially cost Guyana more that the US$20M advanced. He said that he would willing the face the consequences of making the expenditure, given that it was done in the interest of the nation, and said that he would rather go to jail than resign as a Minister over his actions. The second Financial Paper considered by the House was for a supplementary provision allocated from the Contingencies Fund to the tune of $1,261,596,480 for the period of the second financial, August to November 5, 2013. The money was utilized by Ministries of
Agriculture, Home Affairs, Local Government and Health. That document was approved in its entirety. Financial Paper No. 3 asked for the National Assembly to support a supplementary provision of $7,737,984,510 for the period ended December 31 That amount was utilized by the Ministries of Agriculture, Public Works, Amerindian Affairs, and Home Affairs. The Agriculture Ministry asked for $4.5B for support to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and $500M for the Guyana Rice Development Board; those sums were approved after a plethora of questions from the opposition benches. The Ministry of Public Works asked for $400M for the maintenance of roads and $100M for maintenance of other infrastructure; both of those sums were also approved. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs requested $500M provision for projects and programmes in Amerindian Communities and (Continued on page 15)
Govt. brings back anti money laundering Bill to Parliament The Guyana Government has returned its Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill to the National Assembly. This was the Bill that was rejected in the House last month, causing Guyana to be blacklisted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force. The Bill was returned to the House by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall. The Legislation will be debated when the House sits again as it was only read for a first time, given that it was a resubmission and will have to start the process from the beginning. Minister Nandlall also resubmitted three Bills that
had been rejected by the House and were at the time piloted by Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee. The Bills on that occasion were rejected primarily because the opposition had passed a motion of noconfidence in Rohee, calling for him to be removed as Minister, but this was not done. Nandlall resubmitted the Evidence (Amendment) Bill, Firearm (Amendment) Bill as well as the Summary Justification Procedure (Amendment) Bill. The Alliance For Change (AFC) in its most recent pronouncement on the Bill said that the Party is cognizant of APNU’s intention to table a number of
amendments that will strengthen the Bill. “In a spirit of compromise, the AFC is prepared to work with the other parliamentary parties, APNU and the PPPC, to ensure that Guyana’s financial landscape benefits from both strengthened anti money laundering laws and oversight of public procurement…This is possible if the political will is there.” The party did warn that it will not stand by and allow itself to be manipulated into supporting the Amendment Bill while the Government filibusters over the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission. “Our Roadmap is clear,” the party said.
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
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EU promises more aid for Ukraine to sign EU deal
Bangladesh executes opposition leader
BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said yesterday his financially troubled country will soon sign a trade and cooperation deal with the EU after the bloc promised more aid to the former Soviet republic. Serhiy Arbuzov’s comment came after a day of talks with EU Commissioner Stefan Fuele in Brussels, which were being closely watched by anti-government protesters in Ukraine who are demanding such a deal. “Ukraine will soon sign this association agreement with the European Union,” Arbuzov said. That would mark a U-turn by President Viktor Yanukovych, who had refused to close such a deal with the European Union at a summit in Lithuania two weeks ago. Fuele said such an agreement would lead to “bigger and bigger” EU financial aid to Ukraine, and that the bloc has “made a clear commitment to match in our financial support the level of ambitions of our Ukrainian partners.” Earlier yesterday, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, said that
Stefan Fuele Yanukovych had told her he “intends to sign” at some point the trade and cooperation agreement he had rejected. For weeks, activists have been amassed in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, to protest Yanukovych’s decision regarding the EU deal. They are deeply concerned that he could instead sign an agreement to join a Russia-led customs union when he and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet next week. Yanukovych appears to be
in a tough corner. As protesters furious over his decision to turn away from the EU clog the center of Kiev, he appeared to be leaving his options open for the best deal he can get from his economically troubled country’s powerful suitors. Russia has put heavy pressure on Ukraine to join its bloc, which includes Belarus and Kazakhstan. Opponents say the bloc effectively tries to recreate the Soviet Union. Yanukovych has said he is still open to the EU association agreement, if he can get a deal providing more aid to Ukraine, which is concerned about the impact of losing trade with Russia. “We have explained the principle ‘more for more,’” said Fuele, and his commitment on aid, including promises to top up some International Monetary Fund loans with more assistance could provide the breakthrough. “Europe has yet again confirmed that the doors remain open to Ukraine, and the Ukrainian government yet again has confirmed that it still is on the same course to euro integration,” Arbuzov said.
White House bid to hold off Iran sanctions gains backing (Reuters) - President Barack Obama’s campaign for Congress to hold off on new sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program m e w o n a k e y endorsement yesterday when the chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee rejected tightening measures against Iran now. Senator Tim Johnson, a Democrat, said he agrees with the Obama administration that such legislation could disrupt delicate n e g o t iations seeking to curb Iran’s nuclear program. The Banking Committee oversees sanctions legislation in the Senate.
“We should not do anything counterproductive that might shatter Western unity on this issue,” Johnson said at a hearing. “We should make sure that if the talks fail, it was Iran that caused their failure. We should not give Iran, the P5+1 countries or other nations a pretext to lay responsibility for their collapse on us,” he said. Iran’s foreign minister also has said a new sanctions law would kill the interim agreement reached in Geneva on November 24. In that agreement, Tehran agreed to limit uranium enrichment in return for an easing of international sanctions.
The administration’s push to hold off on sanctions gained further momentum when other senators including senior Republicans - said they did not expect action now. “I realized we’re sort of going through a rope-a-dope here in the Senate and that we’re not actually going to do anything,” said Senator Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee and a member of the Banking panel.
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — An opposition leader convicted of war crimes during Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 was executed yesterday, a move that raised fears of new violence before next month’s elections. Abdul Quader Mollah was hanged at 10:01 p.m., said Sheikh Yousuf Harun, chief government administrator in Dhaka, hours after the Supreme Court rejected a lastminute appeal. Mollah’s Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, immediately called a nationwide general strike for Sunday. Hundreds of people gathered at a major intersection in Dhaka to celebrate the execution, saying it delivered justice for crimes committed four decades ago.
Mollah, 65, is the first person executed after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 began trials for those suspected of crimes during the country’s nine-month fight for independence from Pakistan in 1971. The government says Pakistani soldiers, aided by local collaborators, killed 3 million people and raped 200,000 women during the war. Most of the defendants are opposition members. In February, a special tribunal convicted Mollah of killing a student and a family of 11, and of aiding Pakistani troops in killing 369 other people in the war. He was sentenced to life in prison, but the Supreme Court changed that to a death sentence in September. Until it gained independence in 1971,
Bangladesh was the eastern wing of Pakistan. Mollah’s party campaigned against independence. His execution had been placed on hold Tuesday night just before he originally was to have been put to death, but the court rejected his final appeal. Jamaat-e-Islami, an ally of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, had warned of “dire consequences” if he were executed. The two parties say the trials are an attempt to weaken the opposition and eliminate Islamic parties. Authorities have denied the allegations. Security was tight around the jail in Dhaka where Mollah was hanged. Extra police were deployed along with paramilitary guards on the streets of the capital.
North Korea says Jang Song Thaek, uncle of leader Kim Jong Un, executed (Reuters) - North Korea said yesterday Jang Song Thaek, the uncle of leader Kim Jong Un and previously considered the second most powerful man in the secretive state, has been executed after a special military tribunal found him guilty of treason. “The accused Jang brought together undesirable forces and formed a faction as the boss of a modern day factional group for a long time and thus committed such hideous crime as attempting to overthrow the state,” the North’s official KCNA news agency said.Earlier this week North Korea stripped Jang of all posts and expelled him from the ruling Workers’ Party, accusing him of criminal acts
including mismanagement of the state financial system, womanising and alcohol abuse. “From long ago, Jang had a dirty political ambition. He dared not raise his head when Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il were alive,” KCNA said, referring to leader Kim’s grandfather and father, who were previous rulers of the dynastic state. “He began revealing his true colors, thinking that it was just the time for him to realize his wild ambition in the period of historic turn when the generation of the revolution was replaced.”
Jang Song Thaek
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Kaieteur News
Proprietor granted bail on trafficking in person charge The proprietor of Satnam Variety Store was yesterday brought before the courts to answer to a human trafficking charge which was filed against him. At the hearing, Navin Kujreja, a Bel Air resident, was granted bail to the tune of $1M by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Reports indicate that the rescue of the young man was the result of a sting operation led by the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization (GWMO), the Human Services Ministry and the Guyana Police Force. The Indian national was
Navin Kujreja allegedly involved in an abusive labour situation at the store since his arrival in Guyana last December where he has been working with
Satnam Variety Store as a sales clerk. The victim had reported that he received no salary, though he was promised US$300 monthly. When an officer of the Ministry’s Trafficking in Person (TIP) Unit and a police rank walked into store under the guise of shopping, the victim, who was assisting customers, secretly expressed fear and the need to be rescued. Yesterday when the case was heard, the Chief Magistrate granted the accused bail and he is expected to make his next court appearance on January 7, 2014.
Cocaine for Thailand…
Duo jailed for four years Joslyan Congreaves and Dwayne Fraser who were last year apprehended for attempting to smuggle cocaine to Thailand, will now spend the next four years of their lives behind the prison bars. Yesterday, the accused made their final appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where they were told that coupled with their sentence, they will also pay a fine of $30,000 after being found guilty of being in possession of 1.726 kilograms of cocaine. The matter was first heard before Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry and the men had pleaded not guilty. However, after engaging the attention of the court for some time, the
Magistrate’s decision was handed down yesterday. The men were found guilty of possession the illicit substance for the purpose of trafficking on July 3 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. According to previous reports, the cocaine was found concealed in a shipment of dry goods. Of the eight boxes, four had cocaine in their walls. It was reported that in a bid to conduct illegal business, a fake shipping company called D.A Imports and Exports was set up and was said to be located at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, but checks to that location had proven that the company did not exist. The men reportedly tried to post the drug through Amerijet freight services at
CJIA. The boxes due for shipping had contained various food items such as curry, masala and stashed in between the lawyers of the cardboard where the cocaine had been planted. The Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU) had stated that the men, while their documents were being checked at the airport, sped off in a car. Quick action by CANU ranks in Georgetown saw the men being intercepted at Craig Old Road, East Bank Demerara where they were apprehended. After the illegal substance was discovered, the boxes were then escorted to the CANU Headquarters where additional investigations were carried out.
Shop owner remanded for illegal firearm, ammo A Durban Street shop owner was yesterday remanded to prison after he made his first court appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry to answer to two charges unlawful possession of firearms and unlawful possession of ammunition.
At the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, 54-year-old Colin Allicock was indicted for allegedly having in his possession a .32 revolver as well as five rounds of .32 ammunition on December 10 in Georgetown, without being the holder of a firearm licence. While Allicock pleaded not guilty to the claims, the prosecution relayed that the firearm and ammunition were discovered during a search the police conducted at his home. Corporal Bharat Mangru who spearheaded the prosecution said that the search was a result of information
they had received. He told the court that whilst under caution, the accused admitted to commtting the offence. Representing the accused was Defence Attorney Mark Waldron who said that Allicock was in his yard when the police approached him in an effort to seek out his eldest son. The prosecution maintained that there was no special reason given for bail and the Chief Magistrate remanded the accused. The father of two will await his next court hearing which is set to be called before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, on January 13.
Friday December 13, 2013
15 cadet officers receive ensigncy badges
‘Best graduating officer’ Ensign Simon Gordon (centre) flanked by relatives and Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips (right) By Kiana Wilburg After successfully surviving a nine monthtransformation course, 15 cadet officers (12 Guyanese and 3 Belizean) were duly rewarded with badges of promotion in rank yesterday at the Drill Square, Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri. Their promotion came upon their completion of the Standard Officers’ Course #46. The course initially started with 24 officers, but 9 of the candidates either withdrew for varying reasons. The Guyanese officer cadets promoted to ensigns were; Obitre Hymiah, Alvin Holladar, Malivai Forde, Dishon Harris, Steffhon Branche, Curtland Melville, Carlos Moore, Shaeed Zaiboon, Neil Asregadoo, Simon Gordon, Lawrence King and Kevin Salaru. The three Belizeans are Noel Lanza, Marion Hernandez and Austin Flores. The best graduating officer of the course was Simon Gordon whilst the runner-up was Marion Hernandez. The Cadet course, according to some of the senior officials, is not one for the faint-hearted. “This course is mentally and physically demanding. It turns the boy into a man and prepares him to deal with a crisis with limited resources. Only the fittest survive and it takes more than a brave soul to endure the rigours of this course,” one official explained. The course is made up of three parts, but of the three, Hernandez and Gordon agree that the most grueling part of
the programme was the Jungle training exercise. During this part of the course, the cadets are required to remain wet at all times and are only allowed a “lighter” and a cutlass in order to survive in the jungle for several days. In most cases, they were also required to do most of their work with just one hour’s rest or sometimes none at all. And even the diet is different. It is unimaginable to think that during this part they would have to consume worms, beetles and even drink animal blood. In the end, Gordon said that the course is something that he is extremely proud to have surpassed. “While I am really happy to have passed this course successfully and emerging as the best graduate, it goes without much saying that the journey was no easy one.” The 19-year-old expressed that the thought of being a step closer to his ultimate dream of one day becoming a Commander gave him enough fuel to withstand the trials of the course. While Officer Cadet Hernandez did not have his family by his side yesterday, he knew within his heart that his relatives are extremely happy and proud of him. The 21-year-old Belizean also expressed that it was very hard to adapt to the Guyanese diet. He said, “Unlike my culture, Guyanese consume a lot of rice. But I got accustomed to it after awhile.” As it relates to the training, “It was more like they train you to be a Spartan. No amount of pep-talk by your colleagues could even begin
to prepare your mind for this gruesome exercise. But mentally I tried my best to be ready. I attended University and got my associate degree in Biology and Marine Science and since then I just wanted to become an Officer of the Army. Unfortunately, our country does not have a cadet school and so I applied, and when the time came I got through and they sent me to Guyana.” Whilst the two outstanding performers of the course deemed the jungle training as the most testing, Major Eon Murray disclosed that the hardest part would definitely be initial regimental stage. “The course is a developmental programme and there is the initial regimental stage which progresses into other stages, where they are trained as platoon commanders. But I would say that the regimental stage is the hardest because it is the stage where you have to convert the civilian into a military person. That stripping process is the most difficult, because not everyone can truly embrace the reality when they have to leave the ‘civilian pleasures’ behind.” “The second stage will now see the officers going through some administrative work and in two months time they will become second lieutenants.” Moreover, a topic of discussion during the reception was the inspiring address given by the Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips. While the Brigadier in his presentation congratulated the graduating officers, he stressed upon them the importance of discipline, character, intelligence and leadership. These qualities he explained must form the pillars of any officer’s career. He also charged them to always respect the law as well as the people of the country. With this in mind, the 15 graduating officers made a vow yesterday to honour and live by the values that have been instilled in them.
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
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On not being invited to Mandela’s funeral service Why should the President of the Republic of Guyana have taken the Leader of the Opposition to the funeral of the late Nelson Mandela? Is it simply because the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago decided to have her opposite number tag along with her? Obviously the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago had her own reasons for inviting her country’s Leader of the Opposition to go with her. Many have seen it as a magnanimous gesture, because opposition personalities normally do not go along with government members on official visits. The Trinidad government had to charter a special flight to go to South Africa. This charter was necessary so that they could meet on time and the Trinidad leader said that in making that decision she consulted with the Leader of the Opposition who had no objection to the
arrangements. It would have been hard to see how he would have objected to a charter on which he was a passenger. Since the Trinidad government had to charter a plane and obviously since there would have been many empty seats available, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago in her capacity as Head of Caricom graciously invited other Heads of State of the Caribbean Community to be part of the charter. In the case of Guyana, our own President had left soon after the news broke of Mandela’s death since he took the longer route to South Africa. Perhaps if Guyana could have afforded a special charter, not only Mr. Granger, but other opposition leaders would have been invited to make the journey. Not that this would have given them a ticket into the service or to the viewing of the body of Mandela.
Over ninety Heads of State went to South Africa for the funeral. This when added to the long list of former Heads of State and other dignitaries amounted to quite a number of invitees. If each one of those Heads of State who went to the funeral service had invited their own opposition leaders, it would have created a logistical nightmare for the organizers. The fact that the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago decided to invite the Leader of the Opposition to be part of her delegation does not therefore mean that Guyana could or should have followed suit. It must be noted that the Leader of the Opposition in Trinidad was not part of the official service that was held for Mandela, since obviously there was a limit to the amount of persons that could be accommodated in the VIP section.
Almost one-third of deaths in Guyana heart-related With planning and commitment, the terrible occurrence of premature cardiac death in Guyana can be reduced. At least this is according to Dr James Wayne Warnica of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, Canada. Dr Warnica’s disclosure was forthcoming when he presented a paper at the recent hosting of the Sixth Guyana Medical Scientific Conference which was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre. His paper was entitled ‘Acute Coronary Syndromes in Guyana’. In his presentation, Dr Warnica alluded to reports of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which state that almost a third of all deaths in Guyana are due to cardiovascular causes. In fact, he disclosed that coronary artery disease accounts for the majority of cardiac deaths from myocardial infarction (heart attacks), congestive heart failure and arrhythmia; the latter being an irregular heartbeat. Dr Warnica explained that the initial presentation of a patient with coronary heart disease, in Guyana as well as all over the world, is often as an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). ACS, he outlined, refers to any group of symptoms attributed to obstruction of the coronary arteries. The most common symptom prompting diagnosis of ACS, Dr Warnica said, is that of chest pain, often radiating off the left arm or angle of the jaw,
- Canadian specialist pressure-like in character, and associated with nausea and sweating. This condition, according to him, usually occurs as a result of one of three problems: ST elevation myocardial infarction which could account for at least 30 per cent of all cases, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction accounting for 25 per cent or unstable angina accounting for 38 per cent. But according to Dr Warnica, “early and effective diagnosis and management of ACS has been shown to lower the risk of in-hospital deaths, and the risk of future complications of heart failure and arrhythmias.” He revealed that cardiac care centres in North America and Europe, for instance, have developed guidelines for the care of patients with an ACS that have become standards of care. Moreover, he noted that there is need for the local health sector to consider questions such as: “what are the current guidelines for ACS management? More importantly, how can they be applied most effectively in Guyana?” Dr Warnica further highlighted that the care of ACS patients ideally requires a three-pronged approach which should include a public health/community education limb to educate people about risks of coronary heart disease, and the symptoms that may occur as well as the
when, and how, to get to the hospital quickly. Another aspect of the approach, Dr Warnica noted, is the need to develop guidelines and systems in the hospital that recognise ACS as an emergency, and to identify the measures to address it. Added to this, he said that there is need for patient care and then follow-up after discharge to be sure medication and other programmes to reduce risk of recurrent cardiac events are being followed, even as complications are identified and treated effectively. However, measures are already in place to address cardiac challenges here. In fact, through the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), Guyana is gearing to take the lead in the provision of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablations for arrhythmias. Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation is a procedure that is performed to correct a disturbance in the heart rhythm. CHI’s Medical Director, Dr Mahendra Carpen, during an interview with this publication observed that the procedure is not one that is done on a wide scale in the Caribbean. This state of affairs was brought to his attention when he attended the 28th Caribbean Cardiac Society Scientific Conference in Curacao earlier this year, (Continued on page 11)
Heads of State were invited by the South African delegation for the funeral service. Opposition leaders were not. As such, even though the Leader of the Opposition was invited by his Prime Minister to go with him, it was hardly likely that he would have been part of the official dignitaries. In fact, the Trinidad delegation was only allowed two persons at the subsequent public viewing of the body of Mandela. It was for this viewing that the Trinidad Prime Minister took the decision to have the Opposition Leader accompany her. If our President, who went alone to the funeral, had his
own charter jet, I am sure he would have invited others to go with him. Former President of the United States George W. Bush, who was an invited dignitary, hitched a ride to the funeral on Air Force One. There was, of course, nothing preventing our Leader of the Opposition, if he was an invitee, from making his own way to South Africa. It is hard to think of any opposition leader who accompanied their president as part of an official delegation to State funerals of other heads of State. No one raised a storm over the exclusion of any opposition members on Guyana’s delegation to the funeral of
Hugo Chávez. So what makes Mandela so different that his funeral should have seen a break with protocol by having the Leader of the Opposition of Guyana accompany President Ramotar? The answer to that may be the reason why some persons are upset that the Opposition Leader was not part of Guyana’s delegation to the funeral of Mandela.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 13, 2013
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Guyanese love to criticize the opposition, but they must look at themselves Three well known civil society activists have spoken out against what they call an unsatisfactory struggle against the PPP since the historic 2011 general election results. There are well known financial analyst, Ramon Gaskin, Mr. Christopher Ram on his television programme, Plain Talk, and Leonard Craig. We can add many more to the list; me included. But while I have been critical of the less pugnacious opposition parties in Guyana, I have bitterly lamented the dead society that Guyana has become. Guyanese love to criticize the opposition, but they do so from the comfort of their bedrooms. If this columnist has to
document the comments he gets from Guyanese from all walks of life who ‘badmouth’ the Government, they will literally fill volumes. What is produced here is just the tip of the iceberg. I will start with the most recent. On Wednesday morning about 9:45, I was going home after a brief moment of shopping on Water Street. I normally have a later breakfast than most people in this world. My first meal for the day would be about 11:00 hours. I didn’t have breakfast that morning, so I was hungry and stopped at German’s for the famous spilt-pea soup. Yes, I know I had written before that I was boycotting
German’s, but let bygones be bygones. I was at the table enjoying my soup when this gentleman shouted across the hall while he was at the cashier; “Freddie, you need to write about Mandela and compare him to the nonsense going on in this country.” When I was about to leave, I went to his table and said to him, “For someone who dislikes what is happening to your country, you have to keep up with what is taking place.” He looked bamboozled. I said that I have done three articles from Sunday right up to Wednesday on Mandela and compared him to what is taking place in Guyana. He was speechless. I saw the
guilt on his face when I told him he has to read the newspapers to find out what is happening in his country and where it is going. This gentleman does not even read the newspapers. Are you going to expect him to come out on the streets? Monday midday, I had just come out of the Hot and Spicy restaurant on Albert Street. As I entered my car, this gentleman came up to me and was in an emotional mood about the need to have a change of government. He went on and on. Then in a style untypical of me, I quietly said to him, “I have been in all the protests against this government for the past five years and I have never seen
CXC putting measures in place to reduce youth unemployment Strategic moves are being embraced by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), to pave the way for increased employment for youths living in the Caribbean. This disclosure was recently made by CXC’s ProRegistrar, Glenroy Cumberbatch, during a press conference hosted by officials of the examining body at the Pegasus Hotel. Cumberbatch disclosed that because the Caribbean has reached another level in terms of where it is going with its collective economies, greater emphasis is being placed on knowledge economy. This comes at a time, he noted, when the unemployment among youths, between the ages of 18 and 24, in the Caribbean, can be anywhere from 40 per cent in the Region to about 56 per cent in some individual territories. “These are people who went through our education system, whether successfully
CXC’s Pro-Registrar, Glenroy Cumberbatch or unsuccessfully, and they can’t find jobs on their own,” Cumberbatch said. According to the ProRegistrar, who has the responsibility for curriculum development, this strategic action is one premised on the fact that most of the traditional ways of finding employment are almost fully saturated. He pointed out that although lucrative careers in
the traditional areas including: medicine, law and engineering may not be available to many young people, there are other fields such as tourism and electronics – digital media, gaming, animation and so on – that are yet to be infiltrated. “So in order to get into that, CXC has begun the process of prep a r i n g services and developing curricula that would take persons from school through a course of study to give them the option of either going on to university or opening for themselves opportunities in these various phases,” explained Cumberbatch. He pointed out that digital media, for instance, would give students who are good at English, History, Geography and Information Technology, an opportunity to start posting information on a blog or through some other process so that other people who are interested can come on board and read. “As people come on board, on your site, and begin to read, and so on, the opportunity is then created for you to sell advertising to that site...Persons can come and advertise and you can provide free information on
Guyana, about the beauties of Guyana, the wonderful nature of Guyana, such as the Kaieteur Falls, and all the other things, and nobody else can do that better than you who live here,” Cumberbatch asserted. Additionally, he disclosed that CXC has been encouraging students to embrace its Tourism Syllabus with a view of benefiting from those tourists who visit Guyana by creating off-shoot opportunities. These, according to Cumberbatch, could include the organising of concerts, having trails developed, and other activities that have the potential of growing through tourism. Even those in the performing arts can work towards film development, dance, music and drama, all of which are included in the new Performing Arts Syllabus, according to Cumberbatch. “Person s w i t h t h a t talent, with that ability, can then take it beyond just performing at a concert or just performing at an opening ceremony for CXC...they can also use it in order to make money,” the CXC ProRegistrar opined.
you even holding a picket.” He gave me a gargantuan smile that was supposed to mask his embarrassment. He promised me he will show up the next time. Here is the final example that will irritate you. Most readers will know the name Frederick Collins. He is one of the founders of Transparency Institute – Guyana. Mr. Collins and I are on the same e-mail thread. There was an intellectual exchange and another friend sent off a mail castigating Mr. Collins for writing too much about intellectual stuff while the struggle is on the streets. Yes, those were his words. But this friend of mine who circulates among African rights activists has never been seen in the picket line. So shocked was I with the words he used that in front of his face I mentioned it to Tacuma Ogunseye and Elton McCrae of ACDA. So what is my point? We cannot criticize the opposition for lack of passion when we ourselves do not have energy, passion or even conviction. The opposition parties in this country are
Frederick Kissoon operating in a dead society. No citizen of Guyana would have the gall to say that UG is alive. Our academics at that institution are the number one group of sheep in the world. The UG students are the most cowardly and silent lot you can find anywhere in the world. The Guyana Human Rights Association is an organization no one ever hears about. The Guyana Consumers Association is dead. We have a Bar Association in Guyana, but where is it? Every conceivable bestial act committed against Guyanese by the Government is greeted with silence. Lesser cruelties will galvanize the peoples of most countries. The fact is the PPP Government knows that Guyanese are sheep. This explains their daily excesses. The opposition parties are not superhuman people.
Dem boys seh...
Reduce de Berbice Bridge toll by half Money ain’t deh fuh some things but fuh sure Ash Knee finding money fuh build lock ups. Brickdam getting a big one that mek all dem lock ups in de country look like stupidness. Dem boys seh that it look to some people that Ash building lock ups fuh heself but other people know that he gun get jail in Uncle Sam. He is not de only one who should get jail. De statements that de private sector put out pun projects in Guyana mek unscrupulous a mild word to describe dem. They are nutten but a bunch of crooks and con artists. Imagine that dem claim how private people wid a few penny in it, own de bridge. That is how scamps does operate. Dem would spend couple morning in you house and then tell people how dem own de house. Dem does want put you out too. De taxpayer invest 76 per cent in de bridge. This thing simple. Let’s say de bridge cost $100. Taxpayers put $76, and a few private people put de other $24. Is who own it? De few private people or de taxpayers? De private sector joining wid that fat crook Brazzy, and Jagdeo fuh tell de nation otherwise. Read de letter pun page 4. De opposition who talking fuh more than half de nation want people fuh pay a lower fare fuh cross de bridge. De private sector along wid Brazzy and Jagdeo don’t want that. Is greed. De bridge mekking tons and tons of money every year since it start. Guess what. Only de few private people does get all de profit. Fuh get that profit, Jagdeo ban de boat wha use to cross de river; people wid bicycle and motorcycle had to ride over de bridge suh he could collect even de penny from dem poor people pocket? Now you-all see de reason why de Webster and he kavakamites don’t want de toll reduce. Dem got dem own runnings wha dem set up fuh demself. Dem nurse striking fuh more money. People should tek a page out of Linden book last year. Talk half and reduce de bridge toll to de other half.
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
Four-year-old’s death at GPHC...
PM reveals cause as Pulmonary Embolism - Vigil planned for this evening outside hospital The family of four-yearold Jaden Mars, who died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) early Tuesday morning, is bent on getting justice for his unexpected demise. This publication understands there are plans apace to ensure that “no stone is left unturned” in this quest, which could even extend to a call for the implementation of a law to ensure that “healthy children are not admitted to hospital and end up in a mortuary.” A post mortem (PM) examination on Wednesday revealed that the child died from Pulmonary Embolism, commonly referred to as PE. PE is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream. The PM also revealed that there was no prior damage to any of the child’s internal organs. The young Mars was on Wednesday of last week admitted to the GPHC to have his tongue sutured. His tongue was split as a result of an accidental fall which saw him hitting his chin on a five-gallon bucket. His grandmother, Nancy Gittens, rushed him to the East La Pentience Health Centre where his mouth was washed and medical personnel there were able to halt the bleeding before referring him to the GPHC to facilitate stitching of the tongue. His condition at the hospital was not deemed an emergency. But in order to suture the wound at the public hospital, a doctor had
administered two separate 25 milligram doses of Ketamine to sedate the lad. However, the medicine appeared not potent enough, as the child did not fall asleep as expected. This resulted in the child being sent to the theatre for the required medical care. However, after being attended to in the theatre, medical officials informed the child’s mother, Natalie Caseley, that his heart had “crashed” and he remained hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital until Tuesday when he passed away. There are some reports that the child died from an overdose of the anaesthetic drug. According to medical experts, an overdose of Ketamine can cause, among other things, increased heart rate, a rapidly or forcefully beating heart, high blood pressure (hypertension), seizures or even respiratory arrest (stopped breathing). According to Caseley, the initial attending doctor had informed her that since she (the doctor) had already administered 50 milligrams of Ketamine to Mars, she could not administer any more due to his age and his weight (19 kilograms). She had disclosed that the child would be administered “controlled medication” in the theatre so that his tongue could be sutured. There are reports that the split in the child’s tongue was barely visible. In fact the attending doctor had told Caseley that the procedure in the theatre would take no more than 15 minutes. However, it lasted for about one hour. Medical personnel who attended to the child in the
Dead: Jaden Mars theatre reported to Caseley that he was unconscious and they were unable to resuscitate him. The state of affairs had caused the public hospital to commence an investigation, according to Chief Executive Officer, Michael Khan. He said that it was expected that the investigation would have ended yesterday. Khan told this publication that the result of the post mortem was already being perused by those tasked with investigating the case. According to Khan, too, there are plans to meet with the grieving family today. But those close to the family insist that the mere findings of an investigation will not put the matter to rest. This publication was also reliably informed that as part of a call for justice for Jaden Mars, a peaceful candlelight vigil is slated to be held outside the hospital at 18:30 hours today.
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Cops eye ‘homicide’ charges for Guyanese ‘subway pusher’ New York – (NYPost) - An elderly man pushed onto subway tracks in Harlem by a Santa Claus lookalike last month is in a vegetative state — and probers are now eyeing “homicide” charges, law enforcement sources told The Post. Shou Kuan Lin, 72, can only breathe through a respirator and is being moved from St. Lukes Hospital to a rehab center in the hopes that his condition will improve, sources said. But, sources say, that “improvement” is highly unlikely and Lin’s distraught family is refusing to pull the plug. Meanwhile, investigators are anxiously waiting to slap Guyanese Rudralall Baldeo, a vagrant, with upgraded
charges of “negligent homicide,” sources said. “It’s only a matter of time,” noted one law enforcement source. On November 22, a drunken Baldeo shoved Lin onto the tracks in the West 145th Street station as Lin was standing with his wife on the crowded platform, cops said. Baldeo — who cops say resembles Kriss Kringle with his white hair and white beard — claimed Lin accidentally fell and that he even said “excuse me” to the victim just moments before. But several witnesses said that Baldeo shoved Lin, sources said. And Lin’s wife told cops, “Push, push, push,” while pointing out Baldeo at the
Rudralall Baldeo scene. Baldeo was charged with attempted murder and assault. He was ordered held without bail at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.
Almost one-third of deaths... (From page 9) where he was required to make two oral presentations on the state of Cardiology in Guyana. According to him, the condition is known to happen mainly in young women and is usually caused by an abnormal electric circuit within the heart. He disclosed that “you have a lot of patients coming and say they feel like their heart is racing and there is palpitation that occurs from time to time.” But although there are medicines that can address the condition, Dr Carpen noted that there could be some sideeffects, thus the need for Radiofrequency ablations. The procedure will be one of several that CHI has
sought to introduce since its introduction in 2007 which embraces the fact that “there are lots of interesting things happening regionally in the world of cardiology,” said Dr Carpen. He disclosed that at the recent conference it was
discovered that while the level of cardiac service here has room for improvement it is comparable to what is offered elsewhere. “We are not where we want to be just yet, but we are certainly getting there,” the Medical Director said.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 13, 2013
Request for information on public service payout…
Finance Minister gives no commitment to providing paper trail Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has responded with reservation to questions pertaining to the submission of documents to support his explanation of the use of public funds allocated for payments to public workers. Controversy surrounds the spending of money allocated for public servants’ salary increase. Over 10 years now, workers have received government-imposed increases, but this year’s arbitrary five percent increase has been met with much resistance. There is further disagreement over an alleged unaccounted $8B budgetary allocation for Revision of Wages and Salaries for public servants over the past five years. The union representing the public servants has thus requested a paper trail of the funds and a complete report on the contracted workers in public positions. The Minister has however refused to state categorically whether he would - for the sake of transparency - be directing his team to make the documents available, as requested, to the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU). In a telephone interview with this publication, Minister Singh charged that
the use of the workers’ public funds “is a matter of public record”. “Every year, in parliament, the purpose and use of the funds is explained and it is voted on. Any one pretending not to know the use of these funds is downright dishonest.” The Minister went on to say that he is not directly linked to the spending of the funds, and related that technical officers are responsible for the use and pay out of the money. Also, the Minister charged that, the spending is viewed and audited by the Auditor General, returned to the parliament, and put before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where it is scrutinized. When asked whether he was in essence saying that he sees no need to provide the requested paper trail, Dr Singh questioned, “Did I say that?” The Minister, just before cutting short the interview, reiterated that the information is made public. Further questions relating to whether the Minister can actually provide the requested information and further direct his team to provide a report on the hired contracted workers, did not meet his ear. The GPSU has related, however, that protest action will continue until the
government listens. This is despite the administration stating clearly that it is unable to pay more than five percent, and that the increase will within a matter of days be paid out. GPSU President Patrick Yarde stated that he is unconvinced that the Finance Minister can make the necessary information available. He said that the Minister cannot point to his technical team since, “he is the Minister and he would have put forward the budget, therefore making him responsible for the public’s money.” Minister Singh in response to accusations of misusing the public workers’ money explained that the sums are not used only for pay increases, but for employment shortfalls; that is, promotions and additional staff. Yarde has charged however that the Minister’s explanation is misleading and dishonest, as he had stated previously that money allocated for increases cannot be spent for anything else. “He (Minister Singh) is in charge. He is the Minister and therefore must see that the spending of funds is consistent with the law. If he is saying that the information is put before parliament, then
it is available, and he can instruct his team to gather and hand over the information to him and subsequently hand it over to the union. “He could have gotten his staff to immediately provide the information and clear up the matter, but we know different about the spending of this money, and it has therefore led us to convene a comprehensive study of the matter where more discrepancies are being realized.” Yarde said he wrote the Minister on the issues in the fore and gave him a fair chance to provide an
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh
GPSU president Patrick Yarde
explanation. Yarde has continuously stated also that he believes this issue of contracting workers is being gravely misused. The union
has continuously requested in-depth information on the spending of the public funds, but has been regularly denied.
NIS has problems, but nowhere near a crisis Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon has sought to discredit reports that the National Insurance Scheme is in a state of crisis. Luncheon was at the time addressing the media at his weekly press briefing held at the Office of the President. Luncheon admitted that the scheme was experiencing some problems but it’s nowhere near a “crisis”. According to Luncheon exaggerating and proffering fallacious statements such as it being in dire crisis, “is downright uncharitable and is foisting all sorts of wrong impressions in the public domain.” Luncheon further stated that there are certain indicators that constitute a crisis; however, the NIS has been paying out billions of dollars every month in benefits religiously without being harassed or cajoled. At a recent press briefing, APNU’s David Granger had called for the PPP/C to reform the National Insurance
- Dr. Luncheon Scheme (NIS) to avoid it from collapsing. According to Granger, the scheme is in a crisis, as he pointed to records which indicate that the entity had a deficit of $371 million in 2011 for the first time in more than four decades. Granger had stressed that contributions collected over the period January to August 2013 were approximately $7.754 billion, while total expenditure over the same period was approximately $9.120 billion. To support his claim of a crisis, Granger pointed to the eighth actuarial review in 2011, which indicated that NIS was rapidly approaching a “crisis stage”. It was contended that if nothing is done to rescue the scheme, it can become exhausted in less than 10 years, and that the Scheme faces a plethora of problems, including heavy political control. Granger had stated that
Dr. Roger Luncheon PPP policymakers who have dominated the NIS Board for the past two decades have not responded to the changing socio-economic conditions and deteriorating finances. Additionally, APNU is contending that the NIS h a s i n d u l g e d i n r isky investments as it alluded to the scheme’s investments of US$30 million in the b a n k r u p t e d C LICO and US$10 million in the Berbice River Bridge.
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 13
Sugar production trudges to 23-year low The majority of striking sugar workers returned to the fields yesterday, but hopes for a miracle to pull the industry from the slump it has found itself are fast dwindling. Yesterday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Paul Bhim, said that striking cane harvesters have resumed work except for two gangs at Albion Estate, East Berbice. The industry has now further revised downwards its production for the year and it is likely to be at around 190,000 tonnes of sugar, Bhim confirmed. In 1990, the industry recorded 129,000 tonnes, one of its lowest production years. Workers downed tools on Tuesday after talks between GuySuCo and its main workers’ union, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), fell through when the Corporation reportedly said that it could not afford to pay the traditional production bonus this year. The union had been demanding almost seven days’ pay for 201,000-tonne production. During the meeting
Tuesday, the Corporation said that it does not have the money to pay. On Wednesday, workers on all eight estates downed tools. With estates to cease grinding until December 21, eight days from now, and with rains threatening, the writing on the wall had become all too clear for both the unions and GuySuCo that even the revised 203,000 tonnes was a tall order. Coupled with this is the fact that workers’ turnout has continued to plague operations. According to the CEO, the industry’s average was 42 percent yesterday. With just over 7,000 cane harvesters, this meant just over 3,000 have actually been turning out. The poor turnout has become progressively worse over the years as workers migrated or moved unto other jobs. Even a programme to use mechanical harvesters has failed to arrest the labour problem. GuySuCo has over 16,000 workers, inclusive of office staffers. After last year’s twodecade low of 218,000 tonnes, the industry had set a 260,000 tonnes target for this year. It was revised downwards a number of times to 203,000
GuySuCo has further revised its industry production to 190,000 tonnes.
tonnes before the 190,000 tonnes. GuySuCo has recorded just over 180,000 tonnes for the year. The 190,000 tonnes would be significant as it is around that amount that Guyana is contractually obligated to deliver to its European customer, Tate and Lyle. On Wednesday, the Corporation said that the strike will only exacerbate its ability to meet financial obligation. “Despite low production, strikes and low turnouts, the
Corporation in good faith continues to enhance wages.” GuySuCo claimed that it reached an agreement with the unions for an across the board increase of four per cent, effective from January 1, 2013. The retroactive payments totalling $735M will be paid on December 20, 2013. GuySuCo’s performance has been troubling Government for a number of years now with the US$200M Skeldon expansion programme and new factory
and a US$12.5M packaging plant at Enmore failing to turn fortunes around. Government has since green-lighted the hiring of technical experts from India to help repair faults at the Enmore factory. Billions of
dollars in assistance have been also approved by the National Assembly to help the ailing industry. Further talks on the production bonus between GuySuCo and GAWU are expected to continue today.
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Kaieteur News
5% increase for Public Servants… A total shutdown of all public agencies may be looming as public servants continue to lobby for a 25 percent increase from the government. Government through the Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon insisted on Wednesday that salaries will be paid on December 16, with an increase of five percent, a figure that was outrightly rejected by public servants. Industrial Relations Officer for the GPSU, Jermain Hermanstyne yesterday told Kaieteur News that public servants will continue to protest for what they deserve, which is an increase of 25 percent. According to Hermanstyne, workers became more motivated after the government showed their “unbending” approach. He said that public servants are well aware of what was passed in Parliament and would not be accepting anything less. Hermanstyne further told Kaieteur News that they know government will pay the five percent and they are contemplating their next move which could be a countrywide shutdown. He said that workers’ rights have being trampled upon for far too long and it’s time for the government to treat public servants with respect. On Wednesday leaders from the two major opposition political parties David Granger and Khemraj Ramjattan, along with head of GPSU Patrick Yarde, joined the protest for better wages for workers. Granger had stressed that the Ministry of Finance has
Friday December 13, 2013
Countrywide shutdown may be looming
to explain why the money that was passed since April will only be paid in December. “All you are being confronted with are lies and more no cuts in revenue….so where did the money go?” Granger queried. According to Granger, Government had commenced the process by saying that because of the budget cut, it couldn’t pay more. “The joint opposition only slashed the expenditure and Granger said that his party is standing in solidarity with the workers, but is not going to get involved in the negotiation between the union and the government. “We support the workers and we hope to get a favourable outcome so that the workers can earn a decent living wage.” Leader of the Alliance for Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, was adamant that there was a clear allocation made for a 15 percent increase. “The National Assembly made this allocation for the increase -at least a 10 to 15 percent - for all public servants,” Ramjattan said. According to Ramjattan, the “little explanation” offered by the Finance Minister Ashni Singh is full of holes. He added that it is obvious that the Minister expects the media and the Guyanese people to be appreciative of the explanation given by him. According to Ramjattan, Government had initially said that the Opposition had cut the budget, but since that explanation fell through it is now saying that this was money intended for promotion and additional staff.
Workers outside Parliament Buildings yesterday He explained that the March budget had catered for all the increases in each of the Ministries and also in each subset of the various Ministries. “This $4.4B is a totally separate set of money from what we allocated for an increase during the course of the year.” Ramjattan opined that Government must have used the money which was budgeted for public servants for “some slush fund to deal with other expenditures” “That is not how you treat your public servants.” Yarde said that Government must explain to workers how the money which was approved by the National Assembly for the Revision of Wages and Salaries (which would have at least guaranteed a 10-15% increase) was utilized. He described the government as ‘anti-working class’ and expressed his disappointment with President Donald Ramotar on this subject.
Since the announcement of the five percent increase by government, there has been protest by public servants in several pockets across the country. The GPSU has also warned of mass industrial unrest if necessary. Public Service Minister Jennifer
Westford when contacted last week said that she was unaware that workers were protesting the five percent increase. Westford had told Kaieteur News that she was uninformed of any plans to review the proposed five per
cent offer. She added, “This is not how a government operates.” Government, she said, is not going to review the five per cent proposal because of any protests and added that the workers should, in fact, “be happy with the increase.’
Preparedness and response to flooding…
Hydromet had no early warning data to provide Guyana’s preparedness to respond to flooding caused by changing weather patterns is questionable since the country lacks the relevant modern hydrometeorological equipment, mirroring that of the developed world. The Hydrometeorological Office did not provide warning of the record-setting downpour that caused last month’s flooding in the city, because there was no data. Its current system could not have predicted the emerging weather pattern. This was indicated by Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsmamy whilst
- Dr. Ramsammy responding to a query as to the findings of the investigations into why the Hydromet Office failed to provide warning of the November occurrence. The Minister was quick to clarify that there is no investigation but rather “…a study to see what we can do when those emerging weather patterns happen that we can be in a better situation to respond.” He also admitted that his statement contradicts earlier comments by Cabinet (Continued on page 15)
Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsmamy
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
PSC wrong on Berbice River Bridge ownership
Page 15
Injured prison officer to receive new house today
“Taxpayers own 76%”- Christopher Ram Prominent Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram has described the position of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on the ownership of the Berbice River Bridge as “mindboggling ignorance”. While the PSC has claimed that the bridge is mainly privately owned, Ram is adamant that the Government of Guyana, through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), is the majority shareholder. The present controversy follows an announcement by a section of the parliamentary opposition that it will be seeking a reduction of the tariffs charged by the facility. The PSC had claimed in a statement that the Berbice Bridge Company is 80% owned by Guyanese Private Sector interests, including pension funds, and 20% by an institutional investor, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), that also holds nonvoting preference stock in the Company. “As far as we are aware, the Government directly or indirectly has no investment in, or liability relating to, the bridge at this time,” the PSC had stated. The PSC said it will vigorously oppose any form of non-regulatory interference in the management of Private Sector
Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram companies, which in this instance if allowed to proceed, will negate against attracting private investment in similar infrastructural projects. But Ram in a recent Letter to the Editor said that, “This is mindboggling ignorance, given all the public revelations and exchanges over the Bridge Company’s ownership and performance.” He explained that the ownership structure of the Company is made up of ordinary share capital of $400 million and preference shares of $950 million. The holders of the ordinary shares, he said, are NIS, New GPC, Queens
Atlantic and Secure International Finance Company, each having $80 million, and Hand-in-Hand and Demerara Contractors each holding $40 million. “What this means is that the Government, inclusive of the NIS, owns 76% of the issued shares of the company. Apparently, the PSC’s awareness, or lack thereof, also does not extend to knowing that NICIL, a government agency, owns what is called a Special Share in the company,” Ram wrote. He added that the Articles of Amendment of the company expressly provides that in respect of specified matters, “no action can be taken by the [Bridge] Company, without the affirmative vote of the holder of the Special Share.” “And because the PSC claims not to know that the Government has this $950 million investment in the Bridge Company, it does not need to address the illegality of NICIL granting the Bridge Company an annual subsidy of around $110 million of dividends forgone.” Ram in his missive stated that the PSC is expected to be a little more careful with facts, for failure to do so may not embarrass those who cause such statements to be made, but reflects poorly on the rest of the Private Sector.
Hydromet had no early... (From page 14) Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon that an investigation is ongoing into the matter. Dr. Luncheon had said, “For authorities, for citizens, what matters are warnings, preparedness and responses in the extant situation of November 26 and onwards. Hydromet failed us.” He had said that warnings were not provided in a “timely way”. The Hydromet Office is a constituent of the preparation of the national disaster preparedness strategy that is currently being compiled. According to Dr. Luncheon, the office gets information from the satellite system and capital investments made by Government to improve forecasting. He added that its information is predictive and feeds into the early warning system located at the Civil Defence Commission. The Cabinet Secretary said that it was unfortunate that for the November 26
rains, no information was fed into the early warning system. He said the possibility exists that either the hydromet office received information and did not feed it into the early warning system or no information was received. However, Dr. Ramsammy maintained that the hydromet office was unable to predict the “change in weather pattern that emerged over a
short period of time which even (United States of) America can’t do.” Dr. Ramsammy nevertheless opoined that Guyana needs to build a system that is equal to America’s, and for this to be a reality, this country would probably have to spend its entire national budget to buy equipment and train personnel.
Govt. illegally spent US$17M - Opposition From page 6 after some amount of drama and extensive questioning that too was approved. The Ministry of Public Works also sought approval for a further $400M for provision of additional inflows to facilitate the completion of bridges and structure and another $1B for provision of construction and rehabilitation of community roads, and those were approved. Just when the government
must have thought that the House was in a streak of approval, the Opposition voted against a request for $500M to facilitate construction and supervision of sections three to seven of the Amaila Falls access road. Making its name as one of the few line items that went though without a single question was the Ministry of Home Affairs’ request for $337,984,510 as provision for the completion of the Citizens Security Programme.
This new house at Nabaclis will be officially handed over to Roxanne Winfield today.
A spanking new, singleflat, concrete, two-bedroom house will be officially handed over to injured former Prison Officer Roxanne Winfield today. This is 11 years after she was shot in the head during a daring jailbreak by five criminals while she was on duty at the Camp Street Prison. For several weeks after the incident, Winfield
remained in a coma on life support machines. Today she is partially paralysed and is cared for by her sister Jackie, but there are others who continue to honour her heroism with tangible support. One such group is the Rotary Club of Stabroek. They say it’s better late than never and with the help of the Government of Guyana, The Guyana Prison Service,
Habitat for Humanity, the Guyana Relief Council, Food for the Poor, TCL, Glass Inc and the Hand in Hand Insurance Company, the Club has kept its promise to build a home for the heroin. Today, Winfield is expected to move into the house, which sits on a plot of land that was owned by Winfield’s father at Nabaclis on the East Coast of Demerara.
Brother stabs sibling to death at Port Kaituma Police have detained a Port Kaituma man who allegedly stabbed his brother to death in the North West location at around 13:00 hrs on Wednesday. A release stated that Richard France, 20, of Fallstop, Port Kaituma, was involved in an argument
with his brother when he was fatally stabbed. The suspect has been detained. Police had also reported the murder of a Terrence France, whose body, with several chop wounds, was found at around 05:00 hrs on December 1 at Eight Miles
Backdam, Port Kaituma. Recently-rele a s e d police statistics showed that there have been 33 recorded murders in the interior (F Division) up to the end of November; exceeded only by the 48 in Georgetown for the same period.
Page 16
Kaieteur News
Friday December 13, 2013
Amerindians demand Guyana is the best kept secret of developmental money South America - National Geographic - Protest AFC’s motion to cut $300M supplementary funding Scores of Amerindians from across the 10 Administrative Regions yesterday protested the Alliance For Change (AFC)’s motion to cut $300M in supplementary funding allotted for developmental projects and programmes for their communities. The protestors, who gathered outside Parliament Building, ridiculed the Opposition Parties in the National Assembly - AFC and A Partnership for National Unity - for the motion filed by leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, on Wednesday. In November, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh tabled a motion in the National Assembly for $500M supplementary funding for Amerindian development. It was expected to be debated in Parliament yesterday. With the main mantra “we want development” the protestors displayed placards that read “AFC and APNU cut our development”, “Ramjattan does not want development”, “We demand development like other
Guyanese”. “Ramjattan does not know Amerindians’ hardships and therefore should not opt to cut funding direct for our development. For him to cut our money is a disgrace and injustice,” one male protestor said. The man related that Amerindian communities are depending on the money to finance their village economies. He said that Ramjattan needs to understand that Amerindian communities need sustainable projects to generate employment for youths. According to the man, each community has its own developmental needs and the money would have been used for transportation, farming, eco-tourism and other areas of development. He stressed that though the money was intended for Amerindian development it would have benefited the entire country. “Without the money for the projects, development would be stagnant. This is detraction from development,” he said.
Guyana has been referred to as the best kept secret of South America, by the prestigious National Geographic Traveler Magazine, and is also among the 20 destinations being touted to visit in 2014. With most of the country still covered in wild forests, and the stunning natural wonders- stretching from newly restored mangroves near Georgetown to the mighty Kaieteur Falls and the pristine Iwokarama rain forest, Guyana offers curious travelers an opportunity to experience one of the only four remaining intact rain forest eco systems on the planet. “The list reflects what’s authentic, culturally rich, sustainable, and superlative in the world of travel today,” National Geographic said. The destinations are featured in the December 2013/January 2014 issue of Traveler magazine. “Our annual Best of the World list doesn’t reflect hot spots drawn from celebrity sightings or travel statistics,” Keith Bellows, Editor in Chief of National Geographic Traveler Magazine explained.
The majestic Kaieteur Falls
”It reflects the expertise and experience of National Geographic Travel’s huge network of global travel experts. If you want to explore places worth visiting now, this is a great place to start,” Bellows added. Meanwhile, according to Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (ag) Irfaan Ali, the fact that Guyana was listed in the top 20 list is great breakthrough for the local tourism industry that will indeed solidify Guyana on the eco-travel map, and which will lure even more visitors to these shores in search of
adventure, relaxation and that unique Guyanese experience. He reminded that just two years ago, the destination was also featured in National Geographic’s Traveler Magazine 50 tours of a lifetime; Guyana was featured among the best tours in Central and South America. Minister Ali said too that this magnitude of exposure will help raise the destination profile and create more awareness for Guyana. In this regard, he pointed to his Ministry’s and the Guyana Tourism Authority’s aggressive strategy to create
more awareness about Guyana’s tourism product, in an effort to encourage and attract more international travel writers, filming crews, and host more familiarization tours (FAM) . In 2013, Guyana has been featured in regional and international publications such as Caribbean Beat, Lime Magazine, 16 Birding Publications – including Cox and Kings, the Guardian- UK and the CTO- Caribbean Destination Magazine. More significantly, Guyana was featured in a six page spread in Fortune 500 Magazine; this is a global leader in business journalism with a circulation of over 850,000 and a global readership of nearly 5 million. This year too, the History Channel returned to film an entire season of Gold Rush in Guyana, and Blue Paw from Germany concluded filming in the Essequibo. There has also been an expression of interest from Alcon Entertainment (Twilight Films) to shoot part of a film at the majestic Kaieteur Falls. Ali said that while there is much to celebrate this year, industry leaders and sector players must not lose sight of the need to continuously develop the industry and to raise the bar in every aspect of service delivery, particularly as Guyana continues to gain regional and international recognition.
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 25
‘Smart’ meters introduced to target electricity theft In an effort to reduce the growing number of electricity theft, the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), has introduced the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. During an interview with reporters yesterday, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aeshwar Deonarine said that this “smart” technology will be installed around the city business hub for now. The first phase of the AMI project will see approximately 2,000 smart meters being installed, and is expected to eventually be implemented countrywide. This Project is financed under a loan agreement with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and facilitated by the Government of Guyana. Deonarine said that this initiative will serve as a platform to eliminate manual meter reading, while providing remote monitoring of the electric distribution
system, and enabling customers to manage their bills by tracking their consumption and demand via the internet. “Inaccuracies of meter reading will be gone,” Deonarine stressed. He explained that should customers attempt to tamper with the new meter, a motion sensor will be triggered, alerting the company of any illegal activities. These “smart” meters have an automatic disconnect switch, and as such, with the press of a button, persons’ services will be disconnected. Upon reconnection, the meter will recognize this, and a message will be sent to the company, which will then reactivate the service. The GPL official admitted that electricity theft continues to be a persistent problem for the company and its predecessor. This, Deonarine said remains a huge challenge with the company losing on two fronts – where persons who
Deputy GPL CEO, Aeshwar Deonarine are not customers tap into the network while some customers would bypass the meter or tamper with it. In addition, the existing meters which are attached to private properties will be removed and placed on the utility poles, so as to further ensure compliance before the AMI becomes fully operational countrywide.
“The meters will be on the poles, so it becomes harder for customers to tamper with them, so it will further reduce the numbers of electricity theft.” The GPL official said that with more than 170, 000 customers, there is a “mad rush for meters” during the Christmas season. To address this demand, orders have been placed for additional devices. These, which include 18,000 prepaid meters, are expected to arrive later this month. “The prepaid meters escalated to a level we never expected, so the demand for it far exceeded what we had anticipated when we had ordered.” The arrival of the meters is expected to further bolster the strides of GPL to reduce the impact of electricity theft. Kaieteur News was told that the incidence of theft among new customers have reduced because of the advent of prepaid meters.
These meters were taken off of several residences on Charlotte Street, Georgetown, and placed on this nearby utility pole
Page 30
Kaieteur News
WANTED
SERVICES
Magazine writers needed. Email resume & CV to teshawnalall@gmail.com. Contact: 629-2206
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115
Driver for compactor truck Contact:220-8110/ 622-4364 Wanted: contract cars & experience dispatcher @ West Site Taxi - Tel: 6130419; 600-0688 1 daytime security, 1 female Office Assistant, 1 handyman/ handywomanContact:265-3586 Urgently needed: cleaners & waitress on W.C.D. Contact:592-684-8231 Labourers, Painters & Capenters with own tools to work with limited supervision Tel: 225-6070 1 Couple or small family to live and work on live stock farm @ New Hope E.B.D 2662711, 609-4594 1 Labourer/handyman for half day – Call:226-3736 Urgently needed live-in waitress to work in bar. Reasonable salary offered! Tel:259-0574 Attractive live in waitress- Call:327-0252/ 674-4665 URGENTLY WANTED: Thirty five (35) Security officers. Apply: SECURITY ALLIANCE Barrack Street, Kingston (upstairs FedEx) Attractive live in waitressCall:228-5129, 604-8277 Contract cars, Atlas Taxi Service- Tel:661-3043 2 low income land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie - Contact: 675-7292 1 whole day domestic for East Bank area- Contact:6144358 1 experience nail technician specialized in nail art design & air brush- Tel:231-6000 Wanted 1 driver to work in interior must have bus and lorry license - Tel: 681-6044 Person to slaughter and clean pigs at new Hope, E.B.D. call: 266-2711, 609-4594 Experienced hotel maids ( Shift System) Age: 25years & above –Contact:223-6284 or come in @ Lot 12 Henry Street Werk- En Rust One live in domesticContact:627-2550,658-9495, 699-7782 Waiters/ waitresses $ 3000 daily- Tel:233-6517,622-1957 Permanent salesperson for high-end establishment must be well presented, reliable & responsible. Write to PO Box 101599
Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call:2259032,647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) Brains Construction & Rental Services: Excavator, Bobcat, Truck, Tools – Tel:6015024/ 227-4536 (Bobcat & Excavator Operator needed)
VEHICLE FOR SALE 17ft fiberglass boat with 175 Yamaha Seadoo jet ski - Tel: 651-8870 2 - 2007 Toyota Avensis - Tel: 698-0674 600 Yamaha CBR bike $350,000 – Tel:647-0271 ALYEA AUTO SALE: PREMIO 2004, ALLION 2008 NEW SHAPE & CARINA 212 @ 40 CROAL STREET STABROEK – TEL:231-7284; 622-3823 Corrola Axio -$2,850,000 , Spacio PRR Series -$2.1M, CRV PJJ - $1.7M – Tel: 6970294 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & cheap RZ buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 1- F150 6CYL, fully loaded $3M Negotiable – Tel:6895254; 256-0504
We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar
New 2013 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabs- Call: 691-0234
Masons Seeks daily or Job work – Tel:619-3296
1 strong open back customized canter in good condition, Model M bush truck for interior-Tel:2318417, 223-1238,624-0443
Do you need an experienced car/van driver?- Call:6155609 Technicians available for appliance repairs – washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves, deep fryers, etc – Tel:6190793; 218-0050 Kerrin Stanley Immigration Services, Canada, U.S, U.K visa services. Authorized by Government of CanadaContact: 645-4789, kerrinstanley@gmail.com Flyers- $800 for 400. Business cards -$2,600. Bill books. Great for Christmas sales. Call Alert Printing:227-2679 Christmas cleaning! Power washing for residential & commercial properties – Call:648-1544 Holiday house washing service- Tel:233-6517,6221957 WANTED One maid, age 35-40yrs, preferably country side- Tel: 231-4815, Cell: 699-9380 Experienced roti/ puri cooks, pastry makers, counter servers, cleaner & handy boys. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal @ 5 Commerce St Looking for a work shop to rent or a place to open a work shop- Contact:682-7470 or 617-0532 Hire car drivers & experienced dispatchersContact:622-8350 Female to draw cones from machine, small family for caretaking duties & driver (car/van)- Contact:610-2978
1-5L diesel Toyota Hilux ready for the interior, in excellent condition - Contact: 662-5570 or 667-2703 Unregistered Toyota Sienta 2004-Contact:617-5536 Toyota Runx, Nissan Wingroad wagon - Tel: 6455893 New ATVs: Introductory price $1,199,000 (Duty Free)Call: 691-0234 1 Suzuki 600 GS X – R 600cc, 1 Toyota Hilux Pickup 4X4Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 2005 Tacoma 1995 V6 4x4 Tacoma – Tel: 651-8870 Canter truck BJJ 5205Contact:680-2275/693-6060 First Class Auto: Carina 212, Fielder, IST, Allex, Axio, Spacio, Raum (Old & New models) Please Call:6098188; 602-6307 1 Madza PPP series-Tel:6686329 Toyota Allion PNN 9626 $1.9MContact:2335557,610-1309 Toyota 212 car $ 950,000Contact:613-1810,697-2550 1 Toyota Rav-4, IST, NZE Corrola, Fun Cargo, AT 212, AT192, AT170, Tacoma, Caldina Wagon – Tel:6445096; 697-1453
Friday December 13, 2013
VEHICLE FOR SALE Christmas Special! Premio $2.4M, Spacio-$2.1M, 2008 Fielder $2.7M, Unregistered - Tel: 617-2891 1 Nissan Canter, long tray, GFF 218, unladen WGT 4910 KGS- Tel:266-5986,256-3156 Nissan Pathfinder ($1.65M) & Nissan Laurel ($750,000) immaculate condition, fully loadedTel:698-7878,225-8427 1 RZ longbase minibus BLL series, fully loaded- Tel:6737934 Mitsubishi Canter 4 D32GHH series, short base, open tray, in working condition. Owner drivenContact:627-6305,680-7119 1-55 Leyland DAF truck, excellent working condition. Price $2.8M, Must Go!Contact:656-8346 1 -AT 170 Car: AC, CD, rimsContact:695-8528 One 1995 Toyota Tacoma stick gear 4 wheel drive 3 RZ engine. Price:$1,650,000 negotiable -625-2516 BMW sports (unregistered)Contact: 650-0979
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
American clothing: Jessica Simpson, American Eagle etc. Wholesale & retail. 126 Thomas St Kitty- Contact: 680-2177
Live and pluck chicken - Tel: 220-9203; 650-4421 Large scanner, 1 GPS map 76Tel:652-6894,223-1719 WHOLESALE PLUCK CHICKEN AND PARTS – TEL:676-0931 270 Amps, portable welders Telephone: 611-5114 One circular sofa, one shed (greenheart wood) 45X40x20ft. Price negotiableTel: 613-0836 Blackberry Bold 2 & 4, reasonable price- Call:6851231 Sears 42" riding mower excellent condition. Kholer engine $240,000, 1- double door refrigerator (large) – Call: 261-2988
Leroy Trident Car 250 CC, 4 doors, power window, keyless entry $495,000 cash or credit Tel: 227-3939, 6214000
Ducks & Pigs – Tel:688-7291
Hilux Surf 4 Doors, minor parts needed, sold as is $750,000 cash Tel: 227-3939, 621-4000
Live/pluck chicken call:6504421, 220-9203
Nissan Maxima, fully powered needs repairs sold as is $300,000 cash 227-3939, 621-4000 Stretch limousine, Lincoln Town car, fully powered $6.5 million or credit available Tel 227-3939, 621-4000 7Pcs Trike Can-Am style Motorcycle, 200cc new, unregistered $450,000 neg or credit, Wholesale Tel 2273939, 621-4000 5Pcs Harley Davidson Motorcycles gas model 50cc key / pull start all = $300,000 or 1pc $70,000 621-4000, 2273939 Ford F-150 (2009), immaculate condition, GRR 7452Contact:227-3728,676-2784 FOR SALE Builders and Home Owners (1) Beeson Windows and Doors are located At New Eccles Industrial site Tel# 622-4197 Massey Ferguson 6140 4X4 Turbo - Call: 6886274/691-3851 Honda ATV 500 4X4 DBL shocks - Tel: 688-6274; 691-3851
1-320 Cl excavator excellent condition - Tel: 699-3992
DR Mower 10½ HP $120,000Call: 261-2988 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call:225-9032,647-2943 Curtains and carpet for sale - Call: 653-1192 after 6PM Farm at YarrowkaaraCall:693-1585
Chicken Hatchery (Robbins), 28,000 eggs capacity fully ready, $ 5.5 million or credit available Tel: 227-3939 621-4000 Dell computers complete with 20" LCD $69,000, 6 months warranty @ Futuretech- Call:231-2206 7 piece polished kitchen dinette set, 1 living room cabinet- Contact:685-0942 Fully vaccinated mixed (Pitbull, German shepherd & Rottweiler) puppies. Price $40,000- Call:678-1771 PORK wholesale only, whole half and quarter carcass - Tel: 266-2711; 6094594 Diesel Generator, 3 cylinder Lister pitter (England) key start, 15,000 watts $650,000 cash 227-3939, 621-4000 Generac Generator 15,000 watts portable, $500,000 cash Tel 227-3939, 621-4000 1 smothie machine,2 ice machine- Contact:2310655,683-8734 1 farm @ Yaracabra Linden Highway- Contact:265-3586 Almost new Honda 6500 watts generator on wheels only 18 hours $ 430,000 Call: 261-2988 Clarke forklifts 3pcs 2000, 3000, 4000 Lb, lifting capacity $450,000 and up Tel: 227-3939, 621-4000
Prime Property. Great for investment / business. 100ftX80ft. Corner Lot. Next to University of Guyana. Contact houseinsophia @yahoo.com
Diesel Generator silent 28,000 watts SDMO John Deere engine, missing Fuel Pump, Panel, Avr $900,000 cash 227-3939, 621-4000
Brazilian line Pitbull pupsContact:667-0338
Metal scaffold, size 5"X5" & 6.6"X5"-Call: 267-1563. Price negotiable
Calendars! Calendars 2014for your business. From $9.00. Many options. 50 Minimum. Alert Printing Hurry! –Tel:227-2679 One boat cupeller R-H -24" – Contact:676-8324 Terrier puppies for sale – Contact:696-7467 or adorethemdogs@gmail.com 5 acre fruit bearing organic farm with small cottage to lease or purchase. Leases $90,000; purchase US$125,000 – Call 261-2988
New arrival: 1 Toyota Tacoma, aluminum boats (12ft & 14ft)- Call:2201981,685-8282,690-1945 TV Sale 27" To 73" some working and others needs checking all sold as is Tel 621-4000, 227-3939 60FT Antenna (Mass) for Radio, TV, Cellular, with cables, brackets, sky light $450,000 Tel: 227-3939, 621-4000 (Continued on page 31)
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 31
Letters... Where your views make the news
Functions of the police complaints authority
DEAR EDITOR, There seems to be some misconception as regards the way the Police Complaints Authority functions. Accordingly, I would crave your indulgence in having this letter published for the benefit of members of the public. On receipt of a complaint by the Police Complaints Authority, it is sent to the Commissioner of Police for an investigation to be carried out, after which a report with relevant statements are forwarded to Police Complaints Authority to consider whether or not the rank against whom the complaint was made should face disciplinary charge. If it is so decided, then the matter is sent back to the Commissioner of Police for a disciplinary hearing. If the rank
is found to have been at fault the matter is referred back to the Police Complaints Authority for a recommendation as to the appropriate penalty to be imposed. The Police Complaints Authority does not have its own team of investigators. Therefore each complaint has to be forwarded to the Commissioner of Police for an investigation and report, which often takes some time. If there is a delay in determining a complaint, this would be because the relevant report has not been forwarded to the Police Complaints Authority. Where there has been a delay in forwarding the reports, reminders are usually sent to the Commissioner of Police. Where a complainant has not heard from the Police Complaints Authority after
lodging a complaint, he/she should get in touch with the Police Complaints. He/she would then be informed of the status of the complaint. The Telephone Numbers Are: 2 26-13 99 and 226-2095. The Police Complaints Authority cannot deal with a matter where a complaint has not been lodged with it. Finally, I wish to state that the Police Complaint’s Authority can only entertain complaints against members of the Guyana Police Force from the ranks of Assistant Commissioner of Police to a Constable. C.C. Kennard Chairman
PENPAL Overseas based Indian male is seeking a female age 29 & up. No texting! Call:661-3299 Meet your match! Lifelong partners, confidential: Rules Apply Tel:592-223-8237; 592648-6098 (8:30am-5:00pm), (both phones same time)
TO LET Harmony Inn: Apartments fully furnished, airconditioned apartments: As low as $5000 per night- Call: 668-0306/602-8769/ 694-7817 Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452.
(From page 30) MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:678-7499
PROPERTY FOR SALE VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community - Call: 592624-8704/ 592-684-9203
The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979 Professional cocktail mixer and massage expert, call now to book your appointments, Ksean @ 651-5260
Property for sale - Call: 6275416 Durban Backlands- $800,000; Parfaite Harmony 4 bedroom$3.500,000; Mandela Avenue$16M; Diamond, Lagrange WBD-Call Shawn:2312199,618-7483 One property for sale in Kitty; 20M negotiable Contact:592-656-9990/592696-3166 One two- storey concrete house, Ave A DiamondTel:643-5161
Section “K” C/Ville- 2 flat 3 bedrooms solid building, need some repairs $22M negotiable @ B&G’s RealtyContact:227-4125,617-9717 Prime commercial property, Albertown, 3 lots with business, (Nut Centre) best offer. Tel 621-4000, 2273939 2 Flat Concrete Building @ Chateau Margot ECD – $32M Tel:661-9431
Hire car drivers from E.C.D @ A1 Taxi – Tel:220-1000 Va c a n c y e x i s t s for cleaners & drivers send application & passport photograph to Survival shopping complex, 173 Sheriff St Campbellville Contact:227-5286-89 Salon station to rentContact:695-5336 Sales boys, attractive wages. Apply @ Avinash Water St , Athina’s ECD bus park- Contact:226-3361/2277828
Wai a kabra, Linden Highway: 1,409’x403’ or 13.73 acres. Concrete house thereon. 1,100 feet from Highway- Call:619-4152
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
LAND 40FTX600FT, LA GRANGE, W.B.D. (INDEPENDENCE ST) $12.8M (NEGOTIABLE). SERIOUS ENQUIRES CALL “MAX”:672-8569/ 609-8132 NOW!
Now in stock body lightening cream, body toning gel, needed 1 hair dresser- Contact Melissa @ 592-668-0503
Double lot of land situated at #148-149 North Enterprise, E.C.D. Price $7.5 million negotiable- Contact:6193388,231-1578,639-7817 Parfaite Harmonie (100ft X 50ft) $1.8M, Herstelling (110ft X 56ft) $4MContact:675-7292
Two flat 6 bedrooms house $12.8M negotiable – Call: 604-4174; 619-5332
One wooden shopping complex at Kurupung landing. Price $ 6M- Call: 226-9492, 226-9485. Monday- Friday (9am-4pm)
Herstelling - $3.8M, Diamond- $6.5M, LBI (ECD), Republic Garden, Continental Gardens (EBD) – Tel:231-2200; 618-7483
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant- Call: 6910894/684-2838
Promising Gold and Diamond mining lands in various areas - Tel: 699-3992
One two storey business property (Transported) @ Brickery Public Road E.B.D Tel: 660-8128
Prime property opposite Leonora Primary School – Contact:652-0709/268-3572
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Soesdyke -57.21 acres of land 215’.36 X 8,755’.2 near Linden H/Way junction $125M negotiable @ B&G’s RealtyContact:2274125,617-9717 Parfaite Harmonie $ 1.3MTel:675-7292 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968 Soesdyke land -166.00’ X 131.98’ $4.5M negotiable @ B&G’s Realty- Contact: 2274125,617-9717 FOR SALE / FOR RENT American pool table - Tel: 277-0578
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 1 salon station to rent at the back of Bourda Post OfficeTel:225-4665 Rental of wedding dresses & clothing for sale Phone:616-0505 Two salon stations available for rental : Touch of Class Beauty Salon @ 61 David Street KittyContact:685-2832,667-2219 Space to rent as Sports Bar and restaurant – Call:6573274 One bedroom apartment for rent @ SoesedykeContact:604-7022 Cement ransom for rent $ 15,000 daily- Tel:233-6517 We have space for rental for a Chinese Restaurant @ a popular hotel @ Tuschen Public Road- Tel:638-1627 EDUCATIONAL Big Christmas deals on computer classes. Diploma in computers $25,000. Micrographics @ Vreed- inHoop – Tel:264-3057
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 13, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
Phase out the cane, phase in a more economical crop like tilapia farming DEAR EDITOR, In 2012 with a production of 218,000 tonnes, the sugar industry earned US$132,000,000 according to GuySuCo’s own 2013-2017 strategic plan, but if we were growing Tilapia on the 120,000 acres of GuySuCo we would have made US$23,958/ acre x 120,000 acres = $2,874,960,000. US 2.8 billion! Gold which earned $700,000 million in 2012 gave us 51.4 % of our foreign exchange earnings. This tilapia farming can be four times bigger. It’s not going to happen overnight, but instead of taking that already established sugar cane fields and selling it to the PPP boys to level them out to make house lots thereby undoing the work of hundreds of years of slave and indentured labor, we could have had fields with this perfect layout to form aquiculture ponds for our national wealth. I am not a madman advocating that we return to manual labour, I am saying in my letter that we continue as is with the manual labor and machines we do have, on the area which is currently already
converted and not waste more money on further conversions which will never be competitive worldwide and phase out the cane , and phase in a more economical crop i.e. tilapia. The above attachment tells us that our conditions are perfect for aquaculture. Our field layout of natural 10 acre ponds that we currently have and the rainfall are perfect for this sort of activity even fresh water prawns which is even more lucrative can thrive here, we are wasting money growing sugar cane which can never prosper under these conditions. With the introduction of mechanical harvesting, it will never be efficient here to compete with the world market price, but we have an alternative which is much more lucrative than the sugar and can make us a world class producer. Last year the US imported 1.5 million tonnes of the tilapia at two dollars a pound, this study uses a low $1.10 US a pound. So today we can earn two times more than 2.8 billion US a year!! that’s 5.6
billion US a year!! Also last year 90 percent of the prawns sold worldwide came from aquaculture and not the ocean! Also we have in this country fish processors Noble house, Pritipaul Singh, Bruce Vieira etc. If we did our own processing we can get 3-4 dollars a pound in the attachment I am adjusting from 2008 to 2013. That’s US$2.8 billion x 3 = 8.4 billion, that’s 10 times our national budget! John You need to check if my arithmetic is accurate, since this seems too good to be true even to me who have been advocating it for nearly a decade now. The conversion of the sugar cane fields to our production is potentially a bigger disaster to the industry than Skeldon. And let me tell you this: 120,000 acres of fish farming can offer employment to more than 30,000 people women included since the work is not as strenuous as cane cutting since a cutter who has to cut and load 2.4 tonnes of cane a day on his head and because of the more lucrative nature of the income we can offer a far better salary and this is 365 days a year work, not like sugar which only really offers 36 weeks a year and an out of crop work of 3 days a week! this is a win win & win win situation Adam. Finally, we can’ t do this on our own in the time available, since we have done no ground work on it, so we are going to need a strategic partner and the biggest producer in this hemisphere is Ecuador, so I suggest that we pay them a visit and offer them a joint venture partnership. Tony Vieira
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Syrian opposition seeks Islamists’ protection against al Qaeda ISTANBUL/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria’s Westernbacked opposition said yesterday its military arm had invited Islamist fighters to secure its weapons depots on the Turkish frontier after an attack by al Qaeda militants. The United States and Britain suspended non-lethal aid to northern Syria after reports that Islamic Front forces had taken buildings belonging to the coalition’s Syrian Military Council (SMC) in Bab al-Hawa on the border with Turkey. But the opposition Syrian National Coalition said the SMC had in fact asked the Islamic Front, a union of six major rebel groups, to defend the premises against fighters from the al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). “The SMC warehouses were overrun by ISIL ... As a result of that, (SMC leader) General Salim Idris sent a request to the Islamic Front to protect these warehouses,” coalition spokesman Khaled Saleh said in Istanbul. “The Islamic Front came in and managed to push ISIL back and they are waiting for General Idris’s group to come and take control of their warehouses,” he said. A media officer in the
Khaled Saleh coalition said that after taking control of the two warehouses, the Islamic Front had given Idris an inventory of their contents. One warehouse was reportedly empty and the other contained ammunition and paramilitary equipment. The U.S. and British aid cut-off underlined a crisis in the rebel leadership, which seeks international backing to reinforce its credibility and stop fighters joining al Qaedabacked groups now leading the struggle against President Bashar al-Assad. The SMC’s inability to control its own storehouses without help from Islamist groups has exposed its military weakness.
Idris was in Reyhanli in southeast Turkey on Thursday meeting Islamic Front brigade leaders, the media officer said, adding that both sides were agreed that control of the warehouses would be handed back to Idris once he has enough troops available to protect them. Abu Talha, an Islamic Front leader, confirmed his fighters had been responding to the SMC’s plea for help. “In truth, the call came a bit late,” he told al Jazeera television. “There was more than one case of theft or looting from the Command and unfortunately the Supreme Command doesn’t have the power yet to defend its weapons depots and its bases,” he said, referring to the SMC, which the West has tried to build up as the body in overall command of the campaign to topple Assad. For months rebel leaders have discussed how to restructure the SMC into a more organized body which would give the Islamic Front representation reflecting its presence on the ground. But with hundreds of brigades to be consulted, progress has been slow and the Bab al-Hawa standoff is a new hindrance, rebel sources said.
Mysterious ‘white widow’ eludes police in Africa AYLESBURY, England (AP) — She is called the most wanted woman in the world, a suspected terrorist charged with plotting to blow up resort hotels in Kenya packed with Christmas t o u r i s t s , a We s t e r n e r who wrote an ode praising Osama bin Laden, a jihadist who has eluded the law even as she has traveled through Africa with four young children in tow. Samantha Lewthwaite’s saga is one of betrayal and revenge in a murky world where, somehow, a white woman born to a British soldier becomes a Muslim convert and then an international fugitive accused of conspiracy. Her first husband blew himself up as part of Britain’s worst ever terrorist attack in 2005, an act she first condemned — and her second partner adhered to the same militant brand of Islam and also apparently met an early death. Her notebooks, seized in
2011, are filled with lavish praise for extremists who slaughter civilians and hopes that her children will do the same. And yet, since she disappeared some months after the London bombing, no one can say h o w t h e “ w hite widow” became radicalized, moving from mainstream Islam to a “holy war” against the West — or why she would embrace a movement that denies a woman’s right to education and other basic liberties. “That is the mystery,” said Niknam Hussain, a community organizer and former Aylesbury mayor. There was never a hint that Lewthwaite had chosen jihad during her years in Aylesbury, the small English city 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of London where she grew up. “What was the journey from there to here?” asked Hussain. “I don’t think you wake up
Samantha Lewthwaite radical. One is educated, inculcated, pulled into it. This is a small community. One would hope that if anything unusual was going on someone somewhere would have noticed it. No one seems able to paint a picture of what happened. What is her role? What does she do? “We’re at a loss.”
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
With Brazil-U.S. links frosty, Hollande pushes jet deal RASILIA (Reuters) French President François Hollande sought to take advantage of a chill in U.S.Brazil relations to push a French bid for a multibilliondollar fighter-jet contract during a visit to Brasilia yesterday. The Rafale fighter, built by France’s Dassault Aviation, is competing against U.S.based Boeing Co’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and the Gripen, made by Sweden’s Saab, to win a contract worth at least $4 billion, with probable follow-up orders that would greatly increase its value. Although Brazilian officials say budget constraints now make a decision unlikely before 2015, Hollande’s visit highlights French efforts to clinch one of the most coveted defense contracts in the emerging world, which comes at a time when developed nations are slashing military budgets. “We must increase our trade and economic ties. Despite the crisis, our trade exchange never stopped growing,” Hollande said after officials signed several bilateral agreements. Rousseff thanked Hollande for his support for Brazil’s efforts to strengthen global Internet governance after allegations that the United States spied on both countries, and on Rousseff’s personal communications. The diplomatic row between Brazil and the United States over the allegations could help Dassault’s chances to win the jet-fighter contract, with some Brazilian officials saying it is difficult to ink a deal with a country that can’t be trusted. Hollande and Rousseff talked about the jet-fighter contract in their one-on-one meeting at the presidential
François Hollande palace, a senior Brazilian official told Reuters. But the official, who declined to be named because he was not allowed to speak publicly, said that a tight budget and Rousseff’s expected bid for re-election next year make it nearly impossible for her to pick a winner before 2015. Before the spying scandal, which prompted Rousseff to cancel a state visit to Washington in October, Boeing was widely seen as the frontrunner in the race. In what some considered a sign of the frostier relations with the United States, Brazil chose a consortium led by France’s Thales to build and launch a satellite to help protect the South American c o u n t r y ’s communications. The contract is worth about $600 million and the satellite is expected to be launched in 2016. Dassault Aviation Chief Executive and Chairman Eric Trappier, who was among the French business leaders traveling with Hollande on the two-day trip, told Reuters yesterday that his company remains in the competition,
and is “pushing hard for our jets in talks to officials here”. He acknowledged that the U.S.-Brazilian spat may help his company’s chances. A Brazilian government official said on condition of anonymity that offers of partnerships with France to build submarines and helicopters, and promises to share technology, have given Dassault an edge in the contest to renew Brazil’s aging fleet of fighter jets, but that price remains a sticking point. Another key talking point at the meeting included efforts to relaunch free trade negotiations between the European Union and the Mercosur trade bloc, which is made up of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela. The trade groups are getting ready to exchange offers for opening markets in a pact that would encompass 750 million people and $130 billion in annual trade. The Europeans have asked the South American trade bloc to push the date for exchanging offers back to January after setting a deadline for late December, Brazilian and Argentine officials said. Brazilian negotiators point to France’s refusal to reduce subsidies to its farmers as one of the reasons talks on a trade deal collapsed a decade ago. “We are consolidating our proposal. We hope that the European Union can present its offer as soon as possible, even it is not able to do so this year,” Trade Minister Fernando Pimentel told French business representatives in Brasilia. France is the sixth-largest foreign investor in Brazil with businesses in the oil, auto, electricity and retail sectors.
Venezuela blasts World Bank envoy over Haiti handling of PetroCaribe funds PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (HCNN) — The Venezuelan government has rejected comments made last week by a World Bank’s envoy to Haiti, Mary Barton-Dock, who suggested that the Caribbean country’s handling of Ve n e z u e l a n - s p o n s o r e d PetroCaribe funds lacked transparency. The Venezuelan ambassador to Haiti, Pedro Antonio Canino Gonzales, called Barton-Dock’s comment disrespectful and denounced the Bank’s interference in bilateral Haitian-Venezuelan affairs and cooperation relationship. “(Venezuelan) President Nicolas Maduro is very
satisfied with the way the Haitian government has spent PetroCaribe funds,” Canino told HCNN on Tuesday in a phone interview. “It does not belong to the World Bank to determine whether the funds were well used or not,” he said.” This is simply insolent,” Canino said. Under the leadership of late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, PetroCaribe was created in 2005 as an alliance allowing its member states to accumulate funds by purchasing oil from Venezuela at favourable rates and with easy payment plans. The funds are used to finance projects and
programs with social impact and a potential to create jobs and sustainable development. In an article published last week by the Haitian daily Le Nouvelliste, Barton-Dock was quoted as saying that there was a lack of transparency in the use of PetroCaribe funds by Haitian authorities. Canino underlined the fact that “questions related to the cooperation between Venezuela and Haiti are only the responsibility of President Martelly, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, President Maduro and the populations of both countries.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 13, 2013
Thousands witness rebirth of yearend...
Opening night winners Blue Berry Hill United poses along with other teams at the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday evening at the MSC ground.
Friday December 13, 2012 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You might start the day optimistically, but sink into the cool waters of contemplation as the day wears on. However, between moments of doubt, your energy level may be so high that you’re ready to take on the world. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may worry others today by jumping into a wild sea of bold actions. However, you might have slipped on a life jacket when no one was looking. Accordingly, you’re prepared for nearly anything that might come your way. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You can easily set the world afire today with your clever thoughts and easy charm, yet you may grow more subdued as the day progresses. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You might have an emotional encounter that stirs up uncomfortable feelings when the evocative Moon moves into your sign this afternoon. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You might try to tread lightly today, yet anything you do will probably still be quite noticeable. Unconscious patterns can overtake your day while circumstances grow out of control pretty quickly. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your day may start as if it’s going to conform to your expectations, but unfortunately, life won’t be that simple now. There is too much energy floating around and the intensity must go somewhere.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Brilliant ideas have propelled you into the realms of big schemes and grandiose proportions. Now, your energy level is running high and you are psyched for whatever comes your way. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might not feel like a rock of stability today, yet there is peace in knowing that you are free enough from tradition to embrace your vision of the future. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Real world obligations require you to downplay your craziest ideas while still acknowledging that the wild dreams are not going away. You may talk about your fantasies as you imagine your life unfolding, but don’t place too much stock in any thoughts that lack foundation. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Strong feelings may arise through relationship dynamics today and you’ll be better off if you can share what’s on your mind. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) There’s plenty of activity going on at work now and all the stress can be distracting. Nevertheless, you might find that your creativity is rekindled by being in the PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Even if you want to fly below the radar today, you still may be noticed and admired because everyone sees you as more exciting and upbeat than you really feel. Although you’re running on intuitive energy, you still must show up and do the work in order to be successful.
From page 46 playing opportunities; creating a safe and positive environment free of abusive behavior; developing better players through the promotion of a culture of learning where there is an emphasis on player development over results and leading and governing the game by developing the UDFA Football Partnership, bringing together a forum of key partners to support plan delivery and identify key issues/solutions. Additional plans also include the improvement of FOUR community grounds through the installation of sufficient lighting which will provide teams the opportunity to perfect their game, while another imminent plan includes a partnership with football governing body FIFA. The FIFA Goal Programme is aimed at associations with the most pressing needs that lack the necessary resources to respond to them and the UDFA has acquired funding for the complete renovation of the Bayrock Community Center Ground with a turning of the soil set for February, 2014,” Solomon disclosed. Matthias in his remarks spoke of happy he was to be back at the same place where the GFF Premier League was launched a few weeks ago and at a place he considered home. The GFF Head said the making of the tournament was due largely to a few vital components and pointed to the UDFA President, sponsor Banks DIH, the Planning Committee, the 14 teams who were all decked out in outstanding uniforms and the people of the community. He urged the supporters to spread the word of the tournament around so that every playing day there will be a massive turnout that will ultimately bear success. He then thanked Solomon and his excutive for brining back the game to the commu-
nity at this time of the year and pledged his and the GFF Congress’s support throughout its duration. Peters in his brief remarks reminded all present that the Company was indeed happy to be associated with the tour-
nament and even more elated to be responsible for bringing back football at the end of the year to the community. Meanwhile in on-field action, Blue Berry Hill defeated South Amelia’s Ward 6-1 in the opening encounter.
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
GT&T, Hand-in-Hand inter county cricket
President’s XI humble E’bo by an innings and 52 runs inside three days
Essequibo’s Kemo Paul pulls to leg during his innings to the total before off spinner Collins Butts bowled Harry for 04. Paul who timed the ball well to remain unbeaten on 24 the previous day then pushed at a delivery out side off stump and was caught by wicket keeper Jason Sinclair off left arm pacer Andre Stoll for 27 at 134-8; he stroked five fours. Leg spinner Steven Sankar wrapped up the innings by having Ricardo Peters (01) taken at the wicket and trapped Hemchand Persaud (02) leg before. Butts was the leading wicket taker with 3-20, while Stoll claimed 3-24 and Sankar 2-19. In an invited comment coach of the Essequibo team Nandkishore Andrews stated that he looking forward to a
better performance from his team going into their final round game against Berbice on Sunday. He said that he is disappointed with the lost adding that their preparation for the tournament was somewhat hampered by the rain. “I am not making any excuses for the defeat, but the batsmen need to occupy the crease for longer periods”, he added. Scores: Essequibo 104 (Paul 22, Stoll 4-34, Daniels 331, Sankar 2-11) and 141 (Federicks 38, Paul 27, Butts 3-20, Stoll 3-24, Sankar 2-19) lost the President’s XI 297 (Singh 85, Sinclair 60,Ramdass 59, Williams 52, Adams 4-90, Harry 3-49, Heyliger 2-59) by an innings and 52 runs.
GCUC BGM set for February 22, 2014 The Biennial General Meeting (BGM) of the Guyana Cricket Umpires Council (GCUC) will be held on February 22, 2014 at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda from 13:00hrs. Members are asked to note that notice of motions or resolutions shall be sent in writing to the Secretary or the Management Committee not later than twenty eight days before the BGM. Nominations for the
positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Trea s u r e r, Assistant Secretary/ Tr e a s u r e r, Public Relations Officer and four Management Committee Members shall be made by members of the Council not earlier than two months and not later than o n e month before the Meeting. The agenda reads as follows; 1. Call to Order 2. Prayers
Norman Singh, Jumbo Jet, Horse owners go big with $11M Meet December 29 As the final countdown of the 2013 horse racing season gains momentum preparations are moving apace for a number of race meets on the end of year calendar. One such meet is the event organised by the Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club (NSMTC) in collaboration with Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and racing stables and a number of horse owners as they present a Grand Pre New Year’s horserace meet on Sunday December 29 at the Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club at No6, West Coast Berbice. In an effort to get horse owners involved, the organisers have put together a sumptuous $11M package with hefty prize monies in each race which will see eight action packed events being featured. This is the only event being held at the club for the year and the organisers are making sure that they end on a high note as is synonymous with race meets held at the Norman Singh Turf Club. As such the arena is undergoing rehabilitation for the end of year spectacle. According to coordinator Nazrudeen ‘Jumbo Jet’ Mohamed, most of the big
Wicket keeper Jason Sinclair is ecstatic after taking the catch to get rid of Essequibo’s Ricardo Peters.
By Zaheer Mohamed President’s XI defeated Essequibo by an innings and 52 runs inside three days in the second round of the Guyana Cricket Board organized Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T)\ Hand-in-Hand Insurance senior 4-day inter county tournament yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda. Needing 68 runs to make the President’s XI bat again, Essequibo resumed on the second innings overnight score of 126-6 and were bowled out for 141 in 47.2 overs, one hour and six minutes into the day’s play. Kemo Paul and Keanu Harry added a further six runs
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3. Minutes of OGM 4. Matters Arising from the Minutes 5. Correspondents 6. Secretary’s Report 7. Treasurer’s Report 8. Report from Sub Committees 9. Reports from Sub Associations 10. President’s Remarks 11. Presentation of Certificates 12. Any other Business 13. Election of Office Bearers
- $2M for winner of ‘A’ class event stables including- Jumbo Jet, Shariff, Jagdeo, Elcock and Jagmohan are coming together for the meet. There are a number of feature events listed on the day’s programme which includes the much anticipated A class main event, and races for the three year old Guyana and West Indies bred horses, the E1class horses, an event for two year old West Indies Bred horses, while the G and three year Guyana bred events will also be crowd pullers. The feature “A” class race will see the horses racing for total prize money of over $3.8M. The winning horse will race away with whopping winners money of $2M and trophy over 1600M. The Three Year old race for horses bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies has a $1M reward for the winner over 1600M. The Two year Guyana and West Indies Bred horses will gallop over 1200M for the $700,000 first prize and trophy on offer.
The E1 class event has a wining haul of $600,000 and trophy over 1200 meters. There is a race for G1 class horses also over 1200M and will see the champion horse taking home a winners money of $500,000 and trophy. The race for Guyana bred three year old horses is for a pole position taking of $400,000 and trophy over 1200M. The ‘I ‘and lower 1200M event is for a winning money of $250,000 and trophy. The other event is for the animals classified J, K and L and lower, which is also a 1200M affair for a winner ’s pocket of $200,000. Entries closed on Sunday 21stDecember 2013 and interested horse owners are asked to make contact with – Rajendra ‘Jin-Jo’ Jagdeo on 6187278, C. Ramnauth on telephone numbers 337-5311 or 697-1979, Campton Sancho 690-0569, Ganesh Singh on 600-3626 or 649-3636, Lenny Singh on 642-3172 or Romel Jagroop on 624-1798 or the Jumbo Jet office on numbers 232-9711, 232-0633. Race time is 12:30hrs.
Farfan & Mendes Junior Christmas Tournament underway The Guyana Squash Association in collaboration with its number one corporate sponsor, Digicel, is hosting the Farfan & Mendes Junior Christmas Tournament at the Georgetown Club Ltd Squash Courts. Matches are being contested in six categories, and on day one, play took place in four of these categories. In Category E and F matches are best of three, while in categories A to D matches are best of five sets. This will be the final junior tournament for 2013 and several of the country’s top junior squash players are vying for honours in this skill level tournament. Players have been grouped according to their skill level. Action
starts from 6:00 pm every day except for Sunday when the matches will start at 11:00 am. Guyana players are already in full preparation for the Junior Caribbean Squash Championships which will be hosted by Bermuda in 2014 as they seek to win the Overall Team Title for the tenth year in a row and this tournament will serve as good preparation for these players and also the up and coming squash players in the Junior Squash Programme. In results from the matches played: Category F Rayad Boyce defeated Tome Reis 11 -8,9 – 11, 119 Nechemiyah Levans
defeated Kirsten Gomes 11 – 4, 11- 1 Category E Daniel Lowe defeated Nathan Rahaman 12 – 10, 11 - 6 Category D Zachary Persaud defeated Demetrius DeAbreu 11 – 6,10 – 12, 11 – 6, 11- 4 Jonathan Edwards defeated Dominic Collins 9 -11,11-4,11-7,9 – 11 – 5 Category C Anthony Islam defeated Jael Gaskin 11 – 2,5 – 11,11 – 5,10 – 12,13 – 11 Michael Ramroop defeated Savannah Mendes 11 – 5,11- 7,14 – 16,11 – 9 Makeda Harding defeated Dennis Bagot 9 – 11,11 – 8, 11 – 13,11 – 5,11 – 7.
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Kaieteur News
GT&T/Hand-in-Hand inter-county cricket
Friday December 13, 2013
Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club Xmas race meeting
Torginol Paints Inc supports Defending Champs blown away by Berbice inside 3 days organizers as race day looms By Sean Devers at Enmore Superb team cricket provided Berbice with crushing 10-wicket victory over defending champions Demerara 45 minutes before Lunch on the penultimate day of their lop-sided GT&T/ Hand-in-Hand four-day intercounty second round cricket match at the Enmore ground yesterday. Scores: Dem: 161 & 96, Berbice 243 & 15-0 This was Berbice’s first outright win against arch rivals Demerara since the team from the Ancient County defeated the hosts at Everest in 2009 and it was one of the shortest completed games between the two sides since inter-county cricket began in 1958. Demerara resumed the penultimate day on 68-6 and quickly slumped to 79-9 with Bishoo and Crandon, who bowled in tandem, striking in rapid succession to dismantle the Demerara tail. It took Berbice just an hour to dismiss Demerara’s last four batsmen with another glaring Umpiring error accounting for the last wicket when Zaheer Mohamed (3) was given run out by Umpire Nandkumar Shivsankar to end the innings, leaving last man Paul Wintz unbeaten on 11. West Indies Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who took 4-24 from 23 overs to finish with 10-74 in the match and off-spinner Royston Crandon (4-28) combined to orchestrate the home team’s humiliating demise. Berbice, set 15 to win raced to 15 without loss from 11 balls after Khan who is only behind Bishoo with 14 wickets in the competition,
Bishoo grabs 10 wkts in match
Devendra Bishoo
Royston Crandon
opened the bowling with his leg-spin. Test opener Sewnarine Chattergoon ended the match in emphatic fashion in the next over with consecutive boundaries on either side of the wicket off Wintz. Fellow opener Surujnarine Kandasammy was not out on one. Earlier, night watchman Amir Khan (9) was LBW to Bishoo, the leading wicket taker in the tournament with 19 scalps and Demerara were 76-7. Crandon, who made 95 in the Berbice first innings, then removed Chris Patandin (3) without addition to that score. Demerara, with senior We s t I n d i e s p l a y e r s Ramnaresh Sarwan, Christopher Barnwell and Leon Johnson in their side, were soon 80-9 when wicket keeper Joseph Perry (3) was LBW to Crandon before Mohamed was run out. Berbice collected first innings points from their drawn first round encounter against the President’s X1 and will now oppose
Essequibo at Everest in final round which is scheduled to commence on Sunday. Berbice Manager Albert Smith described his team’s performance as a very good one since they managed to beat Demerara outright, something they have not achieved in years. “Any victory over Demerara is sweet and I believe it was a very good team effort. I think the century partnership between Crandon and ( K r i s e n dat) Ramoo who batted out the entire first sessions on the second day was important in setting up the victory because the pitch here was not the best to bat on”. Coach Hubern Evans agreed that the pitch was not ideal for batting since it began keeping low since on the first day. He was also high in praise for his bowlers, especially Bishoo. “I have to commend the bowlers for going out there and completing the job by bowling out Demerara twice” the former Guyana First-Class batman said.
Mr. Kennard accepts the gift from Ms Blackman, while Percival Boyce (centre) observes. Several corporate entities injected cash and other prizes in support of the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club Xmas horserace meeting scheduled for Boxing Day, Thursday December 26, at their Bush Lot Farm Corentyne, Berbice location. Turfites are gearing up for the excitement when the nation’s top jockeys compete in 8 exciting races with millions of dollars at stake. Yesterday morning, Torginol Paints Inc joined with several other sponsors and injected some $300,000 that will be used by the promoters to accommodate the J3 & K event that will assure the winner of $150,000, while the second place finisher receives half that amount. There will also be lucrative monetary prizes for the3rd and 4th place finishers ($38,000 & $19,000). Handing over this prize at Mr. Kennard’s office yesterday were Company Secretary (Torginol Paints Inc), Percival Boyce (jnr) and his Assistant PRO, Sharon Blackman. The former individual expressed delight at having been given the honour to support the event while pledging full support to
the organizers for future events. Mr. Kennard was delighted by the show of support and expressed gratitude to his benefactor. The former Chief Justice said that the sport is dependent on the chivalry of the corporate community and as such he felt obliged to express his gratitude to those organizations that have supported the meet. Other supporting entities include DDL, Ansa McAl Trading Co, Republic Bank, Neal & Massy (Guyana) Ltd, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Winston & George Baijnauth – Sawmillers, Digicel, Pomeroon Oil Mill, Nand Persaud & Co, Berbice Bridge Co. Inc, Gobin Agri Spares Center, Goodwood & Horse Shoe Racing Services, N. Mattai & Co, Ariel Enterprise, P & P Insurance Brokers, Kanhai Guyana Electrical Agency, Torginol Paints Inc, Gift Land Office Max and Kharag Family. Meanwhile, the feature event will be contested among the 3 year old West Indian maiden and Guyanese bred horses over a distance of one mile. The winner and second place finisher will ride
off with $600,000 and $500,000 respectively with lucrative prizes up to the 4th place finisher. The race among horses in the A & Lower category will also be contested over one mile with similar prizes for jockeys coming in first and second There will also be 4 races, each over a distance of 6 furlongs in the J & Lower, G I & Lower, the D3 Maiden and E Lower and the 2 years old. These winners will also pocket lucrative purses. The event is conducted under the aegis of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority and all rules will apply. Owners of horses are reminded that they must pay at least $5,000 for each horse at the time of entry otherwise the horses’ names would not appear on the official programme thus debarring the horses’ participation. Entries close on Sunday, December 15 and late entry will not be accepted. Horses can also be registered with Roopnarine Matadial (Shine 325-3192), Ivan Dipnarine (331-0316), Justice-Kennard (623-7609, 225-4818/226-1399), Isabella Barton (693-7812) or Dennis Deroop 325-3301(609-9143).
From page 43 Super50 they were beaten by eventual champions Windward Islands in the semi-finals.. The 2014 Super50 is scheduled to be held in Trinidad beginning in late January, while Four-dayers are set to start in late February. Jamaica Training Squad: Tamar Lambert, Marlon Samuels, Chadwick Walton,
Sheldon Cottrell, Nikita Miller, John Campbell, Horace Miller, Nkrumah Bonner, Danza Hyatt, Brenton Parchment, Brandon King, Tristan Coleman, Cassius Burton, Delbert Gayle, Jon-Ross Campbell, Kerry Holness, Jermaine Blackwood, Kenar Lewis, Andre McCarthy, Zeniffe Fowler, Paul Palmer Jr, Kirk Harris, David Bernard Jr, Wayne Morgan, Andrew
Richardson, Jerome Taylor, Nicholson Gordon, Christopher Powell, Marquino Mindley, James McDonald, Andre Russell, Krishmar Santokie, Jason Dawes, Brian Buchanan, Odean Brown, Akeem Dewar, Donovan Nelson, Jamie Merchant, Patrick Harty, Fabian Allen, Yannick Elliott, Christopher Lamont, Carlton Baugh Jr and Aldane Thomas.
Taylor back as Jamaica call up 44
Friday December 13, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Interest heats up as Waramadong Secondary invades K&S Inter-School championships Football buffs that followed the action in the recently staged countrywide Digicel U-18 School’s Football championship would reflect with nostalgia on the keen tussle for honours between the Waramadong Secondary School and the Christianburg Secondary School at the Police Sports Club Ground Eve Leary. The former team had led the latter for most of the match until the dying stages when Christianburg Secondary School sunk two quick goals to claim the honours. The Waramadong supporters were disappointed but were still proud of their team after remarkable performances in
earlier matches. Despite failing to clinch the top prize, the team out of region seven has impressed and fans just love to witness their brand of football. It would therefore be regarded as good news that the interior based team is gearing up to compete in the Chico/Kashif & Shanghai Secondary Schools Football Tournament currently being contested and is scheduled to arrive in Georgetown three days ahead of their December 21st engagement with North Georgetown Secondary. The latter team is oozing confidence after their match against Patentia Secondary
The Waramadong based squad take time out for a photo during a training session. Wednesday afternoon last on penalty kicks after the regulation period ended in a 1-1 stalemate. On that very day, Charlestown Secondary dismissed Lodge Secondary 2-0 in a keenly contested affair. Shane Morris converted from the penalty spot in the 5th minute for the winners while Jaleel Evans supported
with a scorcher in the 74th minute. The action resumes this afternoon with another exciting double header at the Den Amstel Community Center Ground at 16:00hrs. President College will oppose Stewartville Secondary and the winner will go on to play
Berbice team, Ash Education, on Christmas Day at the BV Community Center Ground. Uitvlugt Secondary also will play Annandale Secondary with the winner advancing to play Queens Collage on December 19 at the GFC Ground. School children will be allowed into the venue free.
Soesdyke Te Huis Te Coverden NDC donates football gears to Soesdyke Falcon FC The executive of the Soesdyke Falcon Football Club (SFFC) are now better equipped to undertake their mandate of development of their entity after officials of the Soesdyke Te Huis Te Coverden Neighbourhood Democratic Council (STTCNDC) donated several pieces of football gears to their organization to aid in their continued development. Yesterday afternoon, President of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA), Wayne Francois journeyed to the office of that NDC to receive and received the gift. He was accompanied by the Acting Secretary/Treasurer of the SFFC, Toralv Munru. Chairman of the STTCNDC, Aaron GrantStuart, was joined by Overseer of his organization Fazila Manna and another employee, Sharada Manna, at a simple ceremony at their Coverden, Soesdyke office and handed over the gears which included boots, shin pads, footballs and uniforms. Mr. GrantStuart said that his entity was extremely delighted to have been of assistance to the
Mr. Francois gratefully accepts the gears from Fazila Manna in the company of Aaron Grant-Stuart (3rd R) Toralv Munru (extreme right) and Sharada Manna]. footballers. He said that he felt duty bound since the SFFC formed a part of the community and were engaged in developmental works for the benefit of the community. Mr. Francois also thanked the Chairman of the STTCNDC for his good
gesture and assured him that the young footballers would be the beneficiaries. Mr. Francois explained that the community is undergoing a leadership crisis where the youths are reluctant to rise to the challenge. He then challenged them to step forward and contribute to the
developmental process which would be beneficial to them all. He also intimated that the EBFA is currently working in tandem with the STTCNDC to have a playfield for residents to engage in sporting and other extracurricular activities.
Edwards, Samuels... From page 44 lunch. Light to moderate showers delayed the start of the day by 1 ¼ hours before wicketkeeper/batsman BradleyJohn Watling took advantage of inconsistent bowling from the Windies and anchored the bottom half of the Black Caps’ batting with a resolute 65. Tino Best was the most successful of the visitors’ bowlers, taking 4-110 from 21 overs, Shannon Gabriel grabbed 2-86 from 25.1 overs and West Indies captain Darren Sammy collected 292 from 25 overs, but none of them distinguished themselves or made effective use of a greentop pitch with the kind of accurate bowling to put the New Zealand batsmen under pressure. The Windies did not have to wait too long for their first scalp after New Zealand resumed from their overnight total of 307 for six. Sammy had Southee caught at deep mid-wicket for 21, essaying a pull in the fifth over of the morning period, but the Caribbean side met resistance, when Ish Sodhi came to the crease and spent close to an hour with Watling, putting on 49 for the eighth wicket. Best, who bowled the first over of the day which cost 12 before he was replaced by Sammy, was more successful when he returned for another spell with New Zealand 377 for seven. He struck twice in his second over, when he had Sodhi caught behind for 27 trying to force a delivery through the offside and left-hander Neil Wagner caught at second slip for a firstball duck chasing a delivery angled across, leaving the New Zealanders 383 for nine.
But the inconsistent bowling continued to haunt West Indies and Boult joined Watling to further torment them in a record last-wicket stand of 58. Key off-spinner Shane Shillingford suffered the most with both batsmen using the slog/sweep effectively to gather runs in the vacant deep midwicket position, as Watling reached his 50 from 106 balls with a cut through square cover for a single and Boult indulged himself with a typical tail-ender’s slog of 38 not out that included five fours and two sixes from 27 balls in close to 45 minutes. Shillingford should have ended the fun, when Boult, on three, slog/swept him to deep mid-wicket in his 27th over – but Best muffed the chance right in front of West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson – and fortunately, Gabriel finally brought the flurry to a close, when he bowled Watling with a yorker a couple minutes before the interval. The three-Test series is level 0-0, following a draw in the first Test which ended last Saturday at University Oval in Dunedin. The Windies have lost their last two Tests at this venue, but the Black Caps have had a hard time playing in their capital city – failing to win on the last seven occasions dating back to third Test of their 2008-9 home series against India. The visitors’ previous victory at this venue by an innings and 322 runs was under the captaincy of fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh. It was nearly two decades ago and was also the last time they won a Test – and consequently, a Test series – in this country.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 13, 2013
Joint Opposition shoot down Cricket Bill Petition by Stakeholders Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Odinga Lumumba, attempted to move a petition in Parliament to call for expeditious passage of the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill. Even before the petition was formally put to the House, A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU), Basil Williams, objected to it being admitted and claimed that not only did it violate the standing orders with its language, but that the officials named are not in the House to represent themselves and further the matter is before the courts. In the petition, it is argued that there is no legitimate Executive Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board and charged further that the assets, including funds of the Guyana Cricket Board and the Assets of the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) have been transferred to private individuals without authorization. The petitions argued also that, “there is an apparent collusion between the West Indies Cricket Board and the illegal executive of the GCB”. Williams in arguing against the petition being heard said that it not only offends, but would scandalize the parliament. Government’s Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, in defence of the petition being laid in the House, told the Speaker that it is the Clerk who decides whether or not the petition can be submitted. This she said was the job for the Clerk and he had already approved the motion. Teixeira said that in the past petitions were submitted that had in it loaded language but were accepted because it is the right of the citizenry to be able to petition the Parliament. She submitted that her fear is that each petition is going to be scrutinized with a fine teeth comb to ensure “that it satisfies us.” This, she said, will diminish the right of citizens to petition the Parliament which is their only avenue to
access the parliament. “Citizens have a right to petition the House,” according to Teixeira. Speaker Raphael Trotman did put the petition for a vote but it was defeated. Kaieteur Sport presents the petition so our readers can have a view of the contention of the stakeholders and draw their conclusions. Petition Of Constituent Members And Of Stakeholders Of Guyana Cricket Upper Demerara Cricket Association Wherefore, given the crises that have consumed our cricket over the past three (3) years, your petitioners humbly pray that the Parliament of Guyana expedite the passage of the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill 2012 as we are convinced that this is the only solution to resolve the cricket crises and to preclude the possibility of cricket being used as a conduit for laundering money. GUYANA COUNTY OF DEMERARA In the matter of recognizing the illegality, disorder and chaos into which cricket has fallen and the poor and potentially harmful image being projected especially to our young cricketers and the importance and urgency for the National Assembly to enact legislation through the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill 2012 towards a legal and lasting remedy for cricket. Petition TO: The Honourable Members of the National Assembly of Guyana FROM: Constituent Members and Also Stakeholders of Guyana Cricket 1. That the petition represents the interest of the major Constituent Members of Guyana Cricket including but not limited to the Berbice Cricket Board, the East Coast Cricket Board, the
Georgetown Cricket Association and SubAssociations and Clubs of the Essequibo Cricket Board, the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association and the West Demerara Cricket Association and also cricket stakeholders throughout Guyana. That the petitioners are all adults and are citizens of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. WHEREAS there is no legitimate Executive Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) as only one (1) of the three (3) Constituent Member Boards took part in the purported elections held in July 2011 and again in January 2013. AND WHEREAS there is no legitimate Executive Committee of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) as a court order was issued in January 2013 prohibiting the holding of the DCB elections. AND WHEREAS there is no transparency or accountability for the monies remitted by the West Indies Cricket Board Inc (WICB) to the purported GCB. AND WHEREAS for the past three (3) years, there has been no Ordinary General Meeting nor financial statement as is stipulated by the constitutions of both the GCB and the DCB. AND WHEREAS the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) was founded in 2000, has a membership of eighteen (18) clubs, covers the vast area in Upper Demerara including Linden, Kwakwani, Ituni and riverain communities and is populated by upwards of fifty thousand residents (50,000) and the UDCA has a constitution and an Executive Committee in place and despite several attempts over the years, the UDCA has not been affiliated to the DCB and sadly remains outside of the cricket structure and ipso facto cannot access funds nor participate in competitions run by the GCB and the DCB. AND WHEREAS the assets of the GCB and the assets of the DCB (including funds) have been transferred
Letter to the Sports Editor
Horseracing Authority debunks false rumors Dear Sports Editor, It is being alleged that the Guyana Horse Racing had written to Digicel informing it that the race meeting fixed for December 15 at Port Mourant race track ha s n o t b e e n sanctioned by the
Authority and, t h e r e f o r e , sponsorship should not be provided. I must categorically deny this allegation as the Authority some weeks ago did in fact give written approval to the Club for the running off of the
race meeting. I have spoken to a high official of Digicel, who has informed me that the Company was not approached for sponsorship With regards, Cecil C. Kennard President GHRA
to private individuals without the knowledge and authorization of the Constituent Members of those Boards. AND WHEREAS there is an apparent collusion between the WICB and the illegal Executive of the GCB and that the WICB continues to recognize the GCB as the governing body for cricket in Guyana without addressing the critical issue that the persons holding themselves as the Executives of the GCB were not constitutionally elected. AND WHEREAS the GCB and its Constituent Members In their present state are unregulated, unregistered and unincorporated entities and have no legal status and cannot sue or be sued and this Bill seeks to empower the GCB and its Constituent Members through Parliament, the supreme authority for the enactment of laws in the interest of the people of Guyana. AND WHEREAS Guyana cricket is in crisis and the past three (3) years have seen a rapid decline with Guyana losing all competitions played during this time and that the GCB has
no cricket development plans and statutory Cricket Development Committee meetings are non-existent and that youth cricket is at an alltime low. AND WHEREAS the majority and major Constituent Members of Guyana Cricket have perused the Bill and the attached Schedules and wish to state categorically that they are in full support of these documents pursuant to the passage of the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill 2012 and we are assured that, with both the Bill and the GCB Constitution, there will be no involvement by Government in the administration of Guyana Cricket and we are further assured that the Bill will engender order, accountability and transparency in the administration of Guyana Cricket and will pave the way for the holding of free and fair elections for the GCB and its Constituent Members. AND WHEREAS the GCB, in its present unincorporated, unregistered and unregulated state and being in sole control of vast sums of money inflow and
outflow including foreign currency is accountable to no one, thereby creating the opportunity for money laundering activities. AND WHEREAS there is an inordinate delay with the passage of the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill 2012 in the National Assembly. AND WHEREAS we are advised that the ninemember Parliamentary Special Select Committee has completed its work pursuant to the passage of the Bill in Parliament and that the delay is facilitating a continuation of the chaos and disorder that have consumed our national game over the past three (3) years Wherefore, given the crises that have consumed our cricket over the past three (3) years, your petitioners humbly pray that the Parliament of Guyana expedite the passage of the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill 2012 as we are convinced that this is the only solution to resolve the cricket crises and to preclude the possibility of cricket being used as a conduit for laundering money. (Reporting by Gary Eleazar)
Ramdhani back at the helm of GBA
Part of the Guyana Badminton 2014 – 2016 executive. President Gokarn Ramdhani is seated at centre. Gokarn Ramdhani was reelected to the presidency of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) when that entity held its Bi-Annual General Meeting on Wednesday last at the Queens College Badminton Courts. The new executive will serve until 2016. According to a release from the association, the GBA noted that it is
pleased with the success for the year 2013 where the Guyanese players excelled at both local and international tournaments especially at the Suriname Junior International (April), Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico (September), inaugural South American Yo u t h G a m e s i n P e r u (September) and the Suriname Senior
International (November). Full list of executives: President – Gokarn Ramdhani, Vice-President Dr. Nicholas Waldron, Secretary - Emelia Ramdhani, Assistant Secretary - Ernesto Choo-A-Fat, Treasurer Darrell Carpenay, Assistant Treasurer - Gillian Mangra, C ommittee Members Marlon Chung, Ryan Chang, Paul Braam (LLB).
Kaieteur News
Friday December 13, 2013
Taylor back as Jamaica call up 44 Jerome Taylor
Jamaica Gleaner Kingston, Jamaica Injury-plagued fast bowler Jerome Taylor is among 12 West Indies players who have been named in a Jamaica 44-member training squad to prepare for upcoming regional Four-day and Super50 tournaments. Ta y l o r, w h o l a s t represented the West Indies in June 2010 against South Africa in Trinidad and Tobago, makes a return to the national set-up after a two-year absence primarily due to a recurring back injury. He last played for Jamaica against Trinidad in March 2011 at Sabina Park in a Four-day encounter. The 29-year-old was also a part of Jamaica’s squad for the 2011 Super50 tournament in Guyana, but did not play a game due to his injury. His last internationally recognised match was in August last year where he turned out for the Ruhuna Royals in the Bangladesh Premier League T20. Ta y l o r h a s a l s o participated in national tournaments, including the just-concluded Jamaica Premier League T20, where he represented Mandeville Thunders. In 29 Test matches, Taylor has taken 82 wickets at an average of 35.64, and in 66 one-dayers he has captured 98 wickets at 26.82 apiece. Meanwhile, current West Indies players Marlon Samuels, Sheldon Cotterrell, Chadwick Walton and Nikita Miller headline the list of o t h e r r e g i o n a l
representatives in the training squad. The others are AndrĂŠ Russell, Carlton Baugh Jr, Krishmar Santokie, Danza Hyatt, Nkrumah Bonner, David Bernard Jr and Brenton Parchment. The training squad, which is set to participate in a number of training sessions and trial matches, also includes captain Tamar Lambert, Andrew Richardson and Odean Brown. There has also been a recall for out-of-favour young players, batsmen Horace Miller, Kennar Lewis, Jon-Ross Campbell; pacer Jason Dawes and wicketkeepers Aldane Thomas. Also of note is the inclusion of the five Jamaican players who were a part of the West Indies Under-19 team, which recently withdrew from their tour of Bangladesh. They are captain and offspinner, Ramaal Lewis, batsmen Brandon King and Tristan Coleman, fast bowler Marquino Mindley and leftarm spinner Fabian Allen. The squad members, who will be supervised by recently reappointed head coach Junior Bennett, in the meanwhile, is set to undergo a physical examination next Tuesday at Sabina Park. T h e p h y s i c a l examination is to be conducted by fitness trainer David Bernard Jr. Jamaica, the former fivetime champions, were dethroned last year of the regional Four-day title by Barbados, while in the
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 13, 2013
Edwards, Samuels prop up WI batting WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Kirk Edwards scored his second straight half-century of the series and Marlon Samuels his first in six innings, but another toporder batting slump left West Indies under a cloud in the rain-marred second Test against New Zealand on Thursday here. Edwards, once more opening the batting, hit 55 and Samuels was unbeaten on an even 50, as West Indies, replying to the New Zealanders’ first innings total of 441, reached 158 for four at the close on the second day at the Basin Reserve, where 28 overs were lost due to the weather. Given a chance to revive his Test career following Kraigg Brathwaite’s delayed departure from the Caribbean due to visa issues, Edwards showed his versatility, following up his 59 in the second innings of the first Test with another solid innings that included half-dozen boundaries from 74 balls in close to two hours. He reached his landmark from 65 balls, when he drove Tim Southee through cover for a deuce and again looked composed at the crease before he was caught at cover off left-arm medium-fast bowler Corey Anderson from a leading edge, leaving the Windies wobbling on 103 for three. Samuels, who has endured a lean period following his half-century in the first innings of the first Test against India last month in Kolkata, appeared to be close to his best, striking the ball cleanly and leaving alone deliveries that posed no threat to his survival. He has so far struck nine fours from 57 balls in an hour-and-a-half of batting,
taking advantage of some loose New Zealand bowling in the closing overs to add some respectability to the innings. P er s is tent rain had delayed the start to the West Indies’ first innings, as not a ball was bowled between the re-scheduled lunch interval and tea break. Edwards and fellow opener Kieran Powell endured a few testing deliveries from the New Zealand new-ball pair of Southee and Trent Boult to give West Indies a steady start before two wickets in quick succession had the visitors scrambling. Typically, Powell looked unflappable at the crease, but he was trapped lbw by an inswinging delivery from Southee for 21, which he challenged thinking he had gotten an inside edge, only to be disappointed. Bravo, a double centurymaker in the previous Test, never got chance to settle before he edged Anderson three overs later and was caught at second slip for four. After Edwards was dismissed, veteran lefthander Shivnarine Chanderpaul joined Marlon Samuels at the crease and never looked trouble until he drove loosely at a delivery outside the off-stump from Boult – in the first over of a second spell – and was caught at cover for six, leaving Samuels and Narsingh Deonarine, not out on 11, to bat through until stumps were drawn. Earlier, West Indies were frustrated by the weather and stubborn batting from the New Zealanders’ lower order before they dismissed their opponents just before the rescheduled (Continued on page 41)
Kaieteur News
Friday December 13, 2013
UDFA/Banks GT Beer KO Football Tournament
Thousands witness rebirth of yearend football in Linden His name is recognized throughout Linden and by extension Region 10 communities and when he delivered the feature address during the Opening Ceremony to mark the inaugural Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA)/Banks GT Beer Knockout Tournament on Wednesday evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground (MSC), President of the Association Sharma Solomon as customary ignited a rapturous applause from all in attendance. Known for his dynamism and potent representation of the people of Region 10, the UDFA President, who also serves as the Regional Chairman, told the gathering which included Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Christopher Matthias, executive members of the UDFA, senior officials within the community, Banks DIH Communications M a n a g e r Tr o y P e t e r s , Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart and the large turnout of fans that what they were witnessing was a rebirth of football in the Region. According to Solomon, the day marked a special day for football in Region 10, adding that the turnout proved irrefutably that the sport has returned to the community and it is the best way to preserve the rich cultural legacy that is associated with playing football in Linden at yearend and which was absent for the past five years. “Today, (Wednesday December 11, 2013) marks the rebirth of Region 10 football… our football…our players…our fans…our ground…our thing. For too long, Linden has suffered without its beloved game occurring at a time to which we have grown accustomed. For too long, this MSC Ground has stood silent…its stands empty…at the beginning of each year,” Solomon remarked. He said the creation of a major football tournament, which from start to finish will be played right in the community, will put the future of football development and the development of the town and Region on the right track to
Sharma Solomon. future. Solomon added that by hosting the tournament at this time, it is the hope of both UDFA and Banks GT Beer that it will create a positive, competitive and inspiring environment that is conducive to the enhanced development of players, coaches and the people of Linden, Region 10. Fourteen (14) teams totaling 252 of the Region’s most talented players gathered for the Ceremony and according to the UDFA President it symbolized the rebirth of hope for players and a chance to develop their ability, to train and compete and an opportunity to win big, whilst playing the beloved game. “This yearly event has the potential to inspire players and coaches to improve their game on a familiar turf against familiar opponents. It also serves as an opportunity for the game of football to attract a wider base of talent which will see the game of football rise to new heights. It is for the love of the game that Banks GT Beer, the UDFA and 104.3 Power FM have joined together to make – what is a dream for so many of us – a reality,” he remarked. Solomon then spoke of some of the plans that the UDFA has in store for the further development of the sport and they include: Sustaining and increasing the number of players through a range of services such as coaches education and in-service events which will support a network of quality clubs to provide coaching and (Continued on page 38)
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Edwards, Samuels prop up WI batting P.44
Marlon Samuels plays the ball to the off side during his unbeaten fifty. (Getty Images)
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